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EDITED BY PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.RBS., SECRETARY TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. it = nn VOU. TIT 1890. SIXTH SERIES. Cognovi omnia volatilia cceli. LONDON: GURNEY AND JACKSON, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW, (Successors To J. VAN VOORST.) 1890. PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STRFET, PREFACE. A PREFACE is, we suppose, necessary for the thirty- second, as for the preceding volumes of ‘ Tux Isis,’ but we need not detain our readers long on the present occasion. It will perhaps be observed that the second volume of the Sixth Series of this Journal is not quite so bulky as those which immediately precede it; but it will be allowed, we trust, that it does not fall behind them in interest or variety. By the list of contri- butors it will be seen that the Editor has received valuable support from many of the older members of the British Ornithologists’ Union, for which he begs leave to tender them his most hearty thanks. He would, however, venture to suggest that some of the younger members, by whose names the roll of the B. O. U. is annually increased, should take a more decided interest in our favourite subject. It is diffi- cult, no doubt, and becomes every year more difficult, to find new ground to work and new birds to describe ; but in the Anatomy, Osteology, and Pterylography of Birds there is still an ample field open, and one which will yield abundant fruits to energy and experience. It should be always recollected that, of the twelve thousand birds known to science, eleven thousand or lv PREFACE. more are only known to us by their dried skins, their beaks, and their feet. These organs, although affording valuable help towards a preliminary arrangement, are, as we are now beginning to discover, by no means sufficient to establish the correct place of any bird in the Natural System. It may also be added, for the benefit of those who are not well qualified for the examination of the above- named structures, that much still remains to be done in the study of the habits and nidification of exotic species. Field-notes on this subject, based on personal observation, are always most valuable. As regards the birds of many parts of the world, such informa- tion is still sadly deficient, although great advances have recently been made in this direction. B.S: 3 Hanover Square, London, W. Sept. Ist, 1890. Io 5 BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION. Date of Election. 1881. 1887. 1888. 1885. 1879. 1889. 1890. 1872. 1885. 1884. 1881. 1885. 1884. 1875. 1890. | An asterisk indicates an Original Member. | Wittram Ranpat, Earl of Antrim; St. James’s Palace, London, 8.W. Freperick Cuarztes Artin ; Bodicote, Banbury. QOttver Vernon Artin; Bloxham, Banbury. James Backxuousp, Jun., F.Z.8.; 2 Eton Terrace, Harrogate. Vatentine Batt, F.R.S.; Science and Art Museum, Dublin. Ricwarp James Barston, F.Z.S.; Springfield, Maidstone. Francis Huserr Barctay; Knott’s Green, Leyton. Hansury Barctay, Colonel, F.Z.8.; Cross Oak, Great Berk- hampstead, Herts. Hven G, Barctay ; Colney Hall, Norwich. Henry E, Barnyns, Lieut.; Commissariat Department, Aden. Ricwarp Mantirre Barrineron, LL.B. ; Fassaroe, Bray, co. Wicklow. E.: F. Becuzr, Major R.A., F.Z.8.; care of Rev. W. Becher, Wellow-green Cottage, Wellow, Newark-on-Trent, Notts. Frank E. Bepparp, F.Z.8., Prosector to the Zoological Society of London; 138 Castlebar Road, Ealing, London, W. Joun Brpputren, Colonel, Bengal Statf Corps, F.Z.S.; Ajmere, Rajputana, India. . Epwarp Binwetz; 1 Trig Lane, Upper Thames Street, Lon- don, E.C. . C.T. Bryenam, Major, F.Z.S.: Deputy Conservator of Forests, Moulmein, Burma. . W. T. Branrorp, F.R.S., F.Z.S., &c. ; 72 Bedford Gardens, Kensington, London, W. . WrertAM Borrer, M.A., F.L.S.; Cowfold, Horsham. 20 25 3° 35 40 Date of Election. 1885. 1890. 1868. 1872. 1884, 1884, 1889. 1888. 1879. 1888. 1890. 1888. 1884, 1882, 1889, 1880. 1876. vi Wim F. Brocxnotrs; Claughton-on-Brock, Garstang, Lancashire. Harry Brrxsney Brooke; 33 Egerton Gardens, Kensington. Tuomas Epwarp Bucxzey, B.A., F.Z.8.; Millerton House, Inverness, N.B. Sir Warrer Lawry Burrer, K.C.M.G.,8c.D., F.R.S.,C.M.Z.8., &e.; Wellington, New Zealand, and 15 Victoria Street, Westminster, 8.W. FE. A. Burrer, Lieut.-Col.; Herringfleet Hall, Lowestoft. Grorrrey Fowrrt Buxton ; Sunny Hill, Thorpe, Norwich. Ewen Somertep Cameron, F.Z.8.; Burgar, Evie, Orkney. Joun Duncan Cameron ; Lowwood, Bethersden, near Ashford, Kent. Tomas Davip Grsson Canmicnart, F.Z.S.; Chiefswood, Mel- rose, Lanarkshire, N.B. James Carter; Burton House, Masham, Yorkshire. Cuarues Jonn Purr Cave; Ditcham Park, Petersfield. Watrer Cuampersarn, F.Z.8.; Harborne Hall, Harborne, near Birmingham. Apri CaapmMan; Roker, Sunderland. Ronert Wirt1AMCuAsE; Southfield, Priory Road, Birmingham. Sreruenson Rosert Crarke, I'.Z.8.; Croydon Lodge, Croydon. WitriAM Eactn Crarxn, F.L.S.; Science and Art Museum, Edinburgh. Epwarp Henry Srvart, Lord Curirron, F.Z.S.; Dumpton Park, Ramsgate. . E. H. Coorrr, Lieut.-Col., F.Z.8.; 42 Portman Square, London, W. . Joun Corpuavx; Great Cotes, Uleeby, Lincolnshire. . Wittram Wiirrip Corpraux, Lieut. 2nd Dragoon Guards ; Queen’s Bay’s Cavalry Depot, Canterbury. . Cuartes B, Cory, F.Z.8.; 8 Arlington Street, Boston, Mass., U.S.A. . Puinie Crowrry, F.Z.8,; Waddon House, Waddon, Croydon. . J.J. Daretursn; 8 Atholl Crescent, Edinburgh. . Coarues G. Danrorn, F.Z.8.; Villa des Jets d’eau, Pont de Briques, Pas-de-Calais, France, and Conservative Club, St. James’s Street, London, 8.W. James Davinson ; 82 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh. WituiAM Roxon Davison, F.Z.8.; care of Messrs. Dawson & Son, Booksellers, 121 Cannon Street, E.C. 45 50 55 60 65 . 7° vil Date of Election. 1889. Witrram Henry Dosre, M.R.C.S. ; 22 Upper Northgate Street, Chester. 1883. Scrore B. Dore; Public Works Department, Bombay. 1880. Arruur Dowserr, F.Z.S.; Castle Hill House, Reading. 1865, Henry Exres Dresser, F.LS., F.Z.S.; Topclyffe Grange, Farnborough, Beckenham, Kent. *Henry Maurice Drtwmonp-Hay, C.M.Z.S., Lieut.-Col., Royal Perth Rifles; Seggieden, Perth. 1890. James A. G. Drummonn-Hay; Coldstream Guards, Victoria Barracks, Windsor. 1878. W. Arruur Durnrorp; Elsecar, Barnsley. 1876. George Le C. Ecerton, Commander R.N.; The Lodge, Stoke Road, Gosport. 1870. Danret Grravp Exxiot, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S., &e.; Fuller Build- ings, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A. S4. Ateernon Ettiorr, Assist. Comm., Amraoti, Berar. 866. Henry Jonn Etwes, F.Z.S.; Preston, Cirencester. 79. Artnur Humsie Evans, M.A., F.Z.S.; 9 Harvey Road, Cam- bridge. 1888. Wittram Evans, F.R.S.E.; 184 Morningside Park, Edin- burgh. 1873. H. W. Fritpen, Lieut.-Col., C.M.Z.S.; West House, Wells, Norfolk. 1886. Haroxp Sruarr Ferevson, Lieut. Nair Brigade ; Trevandrum, Travancore. 1890, Lronex Fiser; Kandy, Ceylon. 1884. Henry Oce Forses, F.Z.S.; Canterbury Museum, Christ- church, New Zealand. 1880. Witrram Foster; The Hill, Witley, Surrey. 1887. W. W. Fowter, M.A.; Lincoln College, Oxford. 1865. Rev. Henry Extrorr Fox, M.A.; 12 South Bailey, Durham. 1. Percy Evans Frexe; 9 Sydenham Road, Dundrum, co. Dublin. 1881. Hans Gapow, Ph.D., F.Z.S.; Zoological Museums, Downing Street, Cambridge. 1886. Caartes Wittiam Francis, Earn or Garnsporoven; Exton Park, Oakham. 1885. Sir Raten Payne Gattwey, Bart. ; Thirkleby Park, Thirsk. 1879. Ernest Grsson ; 1 Eglinton Crescent, Edinburgh. *Freperick DuCanrs Gopman, F.R.S., F.Z.S., &e.; 10 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, London, W. 75 80 85 go Date of Election vill *Prrcy Sanpen Gopman, B.A., C.M.Z.S. ; Muntham, Horsham. 1874. 1884, 1886, 1890, 1878. 1885. 1876. H. H. Gopwin-Avsten, Lieut.-Col., F.R.S., F.Z.8., &e. ; Shal- ford House, Guildford. J. G. Goonentp, F.Z.8.; Museum of Science and Art, Edin- burgh. Wirriam Grama, F.Z.S.; Manor House, Crayford, Kent. Wit1am R. Ocirvin Grane; 6 Stanhope Place, Hyde Park, Nee Henry Grey, Bengal Staff Corps; care of Messrs. Grindlay & Co. F. H. H. Gurttemarp, M.A., M.D., F.Z.S.; Eltham, Kent. Apert C. L. G. Ginrner, M.A., M.D., F.R.S., F.Z.S. &e.; Keeper of the Zoological Department, British Museum (Natural History), London, S.W. . Joun Henry Gurney, F.Z.8S.; Keswick Hall, Norwich, and Athenseum Club. . JosovuaA Reynonps Gascorean Gwartxin ; Manor House, Potherne, Devizes. . Joun Preypett Witron Harnes; The Lodge, Gloucester. . Epwarp Hamirrton, M.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S.; 16 Cromwell Place, S.W. . Geratp Barrerr Hamiiron ; Kilmannock House, New Ross, Wexford. . Epwarp W. Harcovrt, F.Z.S. ; Nuneham Park, Abingdon. . Lewis Vernon Harcourr; Malwood, Lyndhurst, Hants. . H.C. Harrorp, 99th Regiment; Stapleton Lodge, Chelsea Road, Southsea. . KE. Harerrr, F.Z.8.; 1 Gladstone Villas, South View, Basing- stoke, Hants. . JAmes Epmunp Hartine, F.L.S., F.Z.S.; Linnean Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W. . Jonn A. Harvin-Browy, F.Z.S8.; Dunipace House, Larbert, NB. . Rev. Hersert 8. Hawkins, M.A.; Beyton Rectory, Suffolk. . Coarzes T, Huppert, F.Z.8.; 12 Hereford Gardens, London, W. J. Hotpsworta ; Oxenholme, Westmoreland. C. 7. E. W. H. Hotpswortn, F.Z.8.; 84 Clifton Hill, St. John’s Wood, London, N.W. 8. Herserr Kyicur Horsrretp ; Oaktield Terrace, Headingley, Leeds. 95 100 105 Ilo 115 1x Date of Election. 1881. Rosert James Howarp; Hawkshurst, Blackburn, Lancashire. *Witrrip Hupieston Huopzteston, M.A., F.RS., F.Z.S. ; 8 Stanhope Gardens, 8.W. 1879. Baron A. von Htcrn; Museum of Archeology, Cambridge. 1890. Axttan Octavian Hume, C.B.; Simla, India. 1890. Henry Cuaries Vicars Hunter; 7 Bury Street, St. James’s, S.W. 1870. Hepworra Hytton, Lord Hytron, F.Z.8.; Merstham House, Red Hill, Surrey. 1870. Leonarp Howarp L. Irsy, Lieut.-Col., F.Z.S.; 14 Corn- wall Terrace, Regent’s Park, N.W.; Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, London, S.W. 1888. Freperick J. Jackson, F.Z.8.; 13 Westbourne Square, London, W. 1886. Harry Berxeitry James, F.Z.8.; The Oaks, Woodmansterne, near Epsom. 1889. Freperick Ponsonpy Jounson; Castlesteads, Brampton, Cumberland. 1880. Henry Rozperr Ketnam, Major Highland Light Infantry ; Roydon Lodge, Camberley, Surrey. 1882. Puitir M. Kermone; Seabridge Cottage, Ramsey, Isle of Man. 1874. 1889. Leet. 1886. Rey. Kpw. Ponsonsy Knustey, M.A.; Stavely Rectory, Leeds. Herrpert Laneron; 11 Marlborough Place, Brighton. Hon. Grratp Lascertes; Queen’s House, Lyndhurst. GrorcEr Lawson, C.B.; 36 Craven Hill Gardens, Hyde Park, London, W. . Witiiam Vincent Leaer, Col. R.A., F.Z.S.; Commandant’s Office, Hobart Town, Tasmania. . Hamow Le Srravyer, F.Z.8.; Hunstanton Hall, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. . Pager Watrer Lz Srranee, Col. R.A.; Dol-Uan, Llandyosil, South Wales. Harotp Lirrtepatr, B.A. &e.; Vice-Principal, The College, Baroda. *THomas Lytrietron, Lord Litrorp, F.L.S., F.Z.8., &c.; Lilford Hall, Oundle, and 18 Princes St., Cavendish Sq., London, W. Joun Hayns Luroyp, Col., F.Z.8.; Sudley House, Bognor, Sussex. ArtHur Purvis Loyp, F.Z.S. (Late Major 21st Hussars); 3 Queen’s Mansions, Victoria Street, S.W. J. Lumspen, F.Z.S.; Arden House, Alexandria, N.B. Rey. Hue AtexanpdeR Macrnerson ; 20 Cecil Street, Carlisle. 120 130 135 140 Date of . Election. 1875. 1878. 1870: 1878. 1882. 1876, 1872. 1890. Joun Winerietp Matcorm, F.Z.8. ; 7 Great Stanhope Street, Mayfair, London, W. Henry Sracy Marks, R.A., F.Z.8.; 17 Hamilton Terrace, St. John’s Wood, London, N.W. C. H. T. Marsnatt, Col., F.Z.8., Secretary to H.H. The Nizam, Hyderabad, Deccan; 18 Connaught Square, W. Rey. Murray A. Maruew, M.A., F.L.S.; Buckland Dinham, Frome, Somersetshire. . Epmunp Gustavus Broomrirry Mrapr-Waxvo; Rope Hill, Lymington, Hants. . Joun Guitte Mitrats, F.Z.8.; 2 Palace Gate, Kensington, W. . Frepertck Sxaw Mrrcuetz; Hornshaws, Clitheroe, Lancashire. . Tuomas JAmEs Monx; St. Anne’s, Lewes, Sussex. . ALEXANDER GoopMAN Morg, F.L.S., &c.; 74 Leinster Road, Rathmines, Dublin. . Grorce Morean, Lieut.-Col.; Biddlesden Park, Brackley. . Georck Murrugap, F.Z.8.; Mains of Haddo, Aberdeen. . AvBert Irving Mountz; Umberslade, Birmingham, and Trinity College, Cambridge. . CuristopneR Joun Naytor; Brynllywarch, Kerry, Mont- gomeryshire. . Epwarp Neratz; 43 Charlotte Street, Portland Place, London, WwW, Tuomas Hupson Nutson; Apsley House, Redcar, Yorkshire. Hver Nevirtt; Newton Villa, Godalming. Francis D’Arcy Witiram Crouen Newcomer; Feltwell Hall, Brandon, Suffolk. C. M. Haves Newineron (Major King’s Regt.); Lee, Kent, and Army and Navy Club. *ALFRED Newton, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.8., Professor of Zoology in the University of Cambridge ; Magdalene College, Cam- bridge. *Sir Epwarp Newton, M.A., K.C.M.G., F.L.S., C.M.Z.S8. ; 1886, 1876. 1887. 1882. 1889. 23 Wellington Esplanade, Lowestoft. Howarp Hitt Joun Nicnorts, M.R.C.S.; The Moat, East- bourne. Francis Nicnorson, F.Z.8. ; Oakfield, Ashley Rd., Altrincham. Gxrorce Cameron Norman, F.Z.S8.; 68 Lombard Street, E.C, Everene WitziaAm Oates, F.Z.8.; care of Grindlay & Co., 55 Parliament Strect, London, S.W. BerrRam Savity Ocre; Hill House, Steeple Aston, Oxford. 145 150 155 160 165 Date of Election. *Sir Jonn W. P. Camppett Orpve, Bart., F.Z.S., late Captain 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment; Kilmory House, Lochgilphead, Argyllshire, N.B. 1883. Hrnry Parker, C.E., F.Z.S.; care of Messrs. Hutchison & Co., 4 Guildhall Chambers, 33 Basinghall Street, E.C. 1880. Tuomas Parkin, M.A., F.Z.8.; Fairseat, High Wickham, Hastings, 1884. R. L. Parrerson, F.L.S.; Croft House, Holywood, co. Down. 1886. EK. Campriper Puttiirs ; The Elms, Brecon. 1886. E, Lorr Puitirrs, F.Z.S8.; 22 Bolton Street, Piccadilly, London, W. 1888. Grorer THorne Puittirs; Wokingham, Berkshire. 1883. Tuomas Mayer Prxr, M.A.; care of R. H. Porter, 18 Princes Street, Cavendish Square, London, W. 1888. Mervyn Owen Wayne Powys, B.A., F.Z.8.; 33 Great Cum- berland Place, Hyde Park, W. 1888. Evsrace Ravctyrre; Hyde, Wareham, Dorset. 1872, R.G. Warpraw Ramsay, Major, F.Z.8.; Whitehill, Rosewell, Midlothian. 1879. Herpert Evetyn Rawson, F.Z.S.; St. Stephen’s Club, S.W. 1888. Ropert H. Reap; 8 Great George Street, Westminster, S.W. 1877. Savite G. Rei, late Capt. R.E., F.Z.8.; Otterhead, Taunton. 1873. Sir Ottver Bravcnampe Coventry Sr. Jonny, Colonel R.E., F.Z.8.; care of Messrs. H. 8. King & Co., 65 Cornhill, London, E.C. 1883. Wittram Herserr Sr. Quintin, F.Z.8.; Scampston Hall, Rillington, Yorkshire. *Ospert Satvin, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.8., &c.; 10 Chandos Street, London, W., and Hawksfold, Fernhurst, Haslemere. 1870. Howarp Saunpers, F.L.S., F.Z.8., &c.; 7 Radnor Place, Hyde Park, London, W. *Paitip Luriey Sciater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., &.; Secretary to the Zoological Society of London, 3 Hanover Square, London, W. 1881. J. Scutry, F.L.S., F.Z.8., Surgeon-Major; care of Messrs, H. S. King & Co., 65 Cornhill, London, E.C. 1873. Henry Srrzoum, F.Z.8.; 22 Courtfield Gardens, London, 8.W. 1889. Humpprey Parrictus Sennousz, B.A.; The Fitz. Cocker- mouth, Cumberland. 170 175 180 185 xii Date of Election. 1871. Ricwarp Bownier SuHarpe, F.L.S., F.Z.8. ; Senior Assistant. Zoological Department, British Museum (Natural History), South Kensington, London, 8.W. 1886. Wittram Carstairs SHaw; Bank of Madras, Madras. 1870. G. Ernest Suettey, F.Z.8., late Captain, Grenadier Guards ; 10 Thurloe Square, London, 8.W. 1865. Rev. Cuartes Witit1am SHepuerp, M.A., F.Z.S.; Trotters- clitfe Rectory, Maidstone, Kent. 1881. F. B. Smuson, F.Z.8.; Broom Hill, Spratton, Northampton. 1882. Rev. Henry H. Srater, M.A., F.Z.8.; Irchester Vicarage, Wellingboro’, Northamptonshire. 1878. Grorcr Montaw Staveurer, Brigade-Surgeon ; Farningham, Kent. 1864. Rev. Atrrep Cuartes Surtru, M.A.; Old Park, Devizes, Wilts. 1874. Cxcrz Surru, F.Z.S. ; Lydeard House, Taunton, Somersetshire. 1881. Tuomas Souruwett, F.Z.S.; 10 The Crescent, Chapel Field, Norwich. 1875. A. C. Srarx; The Cottage, Whiteparish, near Salisbury. 1889. Wittram Sroate; The Colony, Burnham, Somerset. 1881. Roserr Wrieut Sruppy, Lieut.-Col. 2nd Manchester Regi- ment, India; care of E. W. H. Holdsworth, 84 Clifton Hill, St. John’s Wood, London, N.W. 1887. Freperick Wittiam Sryan, F.Z.S.; 23 Upper Bedford Place, London, W.C., and Shanghai, China. 1887. Joun SwrnsurneE; Shona Ranch, St. John’s, Apache Country, Arizona, U.S.A. 1882. CHartes Swinnor, Col. Bombay Staff Corps, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Avenue House, Cowley Road, Oxford. 1884. W. C. Tarr, C.M.Z.8.; Oporto, Portugal. *Epwarp Cavenpisu Taytor, M.A., F.Z.8.; 74 Jermyn Street, London, 8.W. 1873. Wittram Bernnarp Trcetrmerer, F.Z.8.; 16 Alexandra Grove, North Finchley, N. 1889. Epwarp Priavtx Tennant; 40 Grosvenor Square, W., and The Glen, Innerleithen, N.B. 1886. Horace A. Terry, Captain 43rd Light Infantry; Burvale, Walton-on-Thames. *Rev. Henry Baxer Tristram, M.A., LL.D., F.B.S., C.M.ZS., &c., Canon of Durham; The College, Durham. 1890. Jonn Tristram Trisrrim-VALenTINE; 1 Sheffield Gardens, Kensington, W. Date of xili Election. go 1864. 1890. 1881. 1884. 1889. 195 1886. 1881. 1874. 1878. 1884. 200 1887. 1887. 1888. 1871. 1875. 205 1876. 1889. 1878. 1877. 1860, 1886. 1860. 1890. 1860. 5 1870. Henry Morris Urcuer, F.Z.8.; Sheringham Hall, Norfolk, and Feltwell Hall, Brandon. SrepHEN Venour; Fern Bank, Altrincham, Cheshire. WittovcuBy Verner, Capt. Rifle Brigade; Junior United Service Club, 8.W. A. 8. Verry; Heronsgate, near Rickmansworth. H. Howarp Vysr; Stoke Place, Slough. H. D. Wanr-Datton, Lieut.-Col. Middlesex Regiment; Mhow, Bombay. Tuomas, Lord Watstneuam, F.Z.S.; Eaton House, Eaton Square, London, 8.W., and Merton Hall, Thetford, Norfolk. Cuarztes Byerave Wuarron, F.Z.S.; Hounsdown, Totton, Hants. Henry Tuornron Wuarroy, M.A., F.Z.S.; Madresfield, Acol Road, Priory Road, West Hampstead. JosEpH Wuiraxker, F.Z.8.; Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield, Notts. JEFFERY WHITEHEAD ; Southwood, Bickley, Kent. Scorr Barcuarp Witson, F.Z.S.; Heatherbank, Weybridge Heath, Surrey. Cuaries JosepH Witson ; 16 Gordon Square, W.C. E, Percevat Wrieut, M.D., F.LS., F.Z.8., Professor of Botany in the University of Dublin. Cuartes A. Wrieut, F.Z.8.; Kayhough House, Kew Gardens, Kew. Craupe W. Wyarr; Adderbury, Banbury. James B. Youne, Commander R.N. Joun Youne, F.Z.S.; 64 Hereford Road, Bayswater, London, W. J. H. Youre, Major, Devon Regiment; Jullundur, Bengal. Extra-Ordinary Member. ALFRED Russet Wattace, F.Z.S8,; Corfe View, Parkstone, Dorset. Honorary Members. Tomas Ayres; Potchefstroom, J'ransvaal. Dr. Epvarp Batpamus; Moritzwinger, No. 7, Halle. Hans, Grar von Bertepscu, C.M.Z.S.; Miinden, Hanover. Dr. Jean Canantis, C.M.Z.S., Berlin. Dr. Orro Fiyscu, C.M.Z.S.; Delmenhorst, near Bremen. 1 Ke) Io 15 20 Date of X1V Election. 1880. 1860. 1860. 1869. 1890. 1890. 1872. 1880. 1873. 1872. 1875. 1890. 1872. 1872. 1872. 1872. 1866. 1872. 1883. 1881. 1872. 1872. 1890. 1872. 1880. Herwricn Garkn, C.M.Z.8., Heligoland. Dr. Gustav Hartiaus, C.M.Z.S., Bremen. Epnear Leorotp Layarp, C.M.G., F.Z.S. Aveusr von Prtzetn, C.M.Z.8., Oberdobling, Vienna. Count Tommaso Satvaport, M.D., C.M.Z.S.; Zoological Museum, Turin. Foreign Members. JokrL AsapH ALLEN, C.M.Z.S.; American Muscum of Natural History, Central Park, New York. Prof. J. V. Barsoza pu Bocaer, C.M.Z.S.; Royal Museum, Lisbon. Louis Burrav, M.D.; Ecole de médecine, Nantes. Prof. Roprrr Cotimrr, C.M.Z.S.; Zoological Museum, Chris- tania. Dr. Exuiorr Cougs, C.M.Z.8.; Smithsonian Institution, Wash- ington, D.C. Marchese Giacomo Dorta, C.M.Z.S., Genoa. Dr. Emrn, Pasna, C.M.Z.8.; Bagamoyo, Hust Africa. Dr. Victor Fatro, C.M.Z.8., Geneva. Dr. Henry Hittyrr Gietrorr, C.M.Z.8.; Real Instituto di Studii Superiori, Florence. Grorer N. Lawrence, C.M.Z.8.; 45 East 21st Street, New York. Baron Dz Srtys Lonecuampes, Liege. Dr. Juttus von Mapardsz; National Museum, Buda-Pesth, Dr. A. J. Matmeren, Helsingfors. Prof. Orunret Cuartus Marsu, C.M.Z.8.; Yale College, New- haven, U.S.A. Dr. Avotpn Beryarp Meyer, C.M.Z.8., Director of the Royal Museum, Dresden. Dr. A. von Mipprnporrr, Dorpat. Prof. ALpHonss Mrtnu-Epwarps, C.M.Z.8.; Jardin des Plantes, Paris. M. Emme Oostater, C.M.Z.S.; Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Jardin des Plantes, Paris. Prof. Gustav Rappz, C.M.Z.8., Tvflis. Rosert Ripeway, C.M.Z.S.; Smithsonian Institution, Wash- ington, D.C. CONTENTS or VOL. II.—SIXTH SERIES. (1890.) Numer V., January. I.-On the Ornithology of Northern Borneo. By R. Bowpter Suarps, F.LS., F.Z.8., &. With Notes by Jonn Waurte- HEAD.—Part V.. ‘ =a II. On the supposed Occurrence of Striv parvissima, Ellman, in New Zealand. By W. W. Smirz . III. On the Coloration of the Young in the Psittacine Genus Eclectus. By Dr. A. B. Meyer. (Plate I.) IV. An Attempt to Diagnose the Pico-Passerine Group of Birds and the Suborders of which it consists, By Henry Sresoum, F.Z.S. V. Notes on the Birds of Palawan. By Jonn Warreneap. (Plate IT.) VI. On the Alimentary Canal of the Martineta Tinamou (Calodromas elegans). By Franx E. Bepparp, M.A., Prosector to the Zoological Society of London, Lecturer on Biology at Guy’s Hospital . VII. Notes on the Island of Palma in the Canary Group. By H. B. Tristram, D.D., F.R.S. (Plate III.) VIII. Remarks on the Fifth Cubital Remex of the Wing in the Carinate. By P. L. Sctarer, Ph.D., F.R.S., &e. “I “I XV1 CONTENTS. Page IX. A List of the Birds of the Islands of the Coast of Yuca- tan and of the Bay of Honduras. By Ossrrr Satvin, M.A., ERC MEG Meliss ssw Oe fa wey ue ne X. On the Birds of the Bonin Islands. By Henry Szrsoun, OS Me lee ee 5 es ve ye wt nn XI. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications :— . Aitchison on the Zoology of the Afghan Border . . 108 . Allen on the Species of Cyclorhis . . . . . . . 109 . Allen on new South-American Birds . . . . . . 110 . Aplin on the Birds of Oxfordshire. . .. .. . 110 . Berlepsch on new Neotropical Birds . . . «anaes . Berlepsch on Birds from Brazil and North Bare . ee . Berlepsch’s Notes on Neotropical Birds . . . . . 112 . Biittikofer on anew Gallinule . . . . - a» ome . Biittikofer on Birds from South-western incea od Wate eet 10. Chapman on anew Humming-bird . .... . 112 11. Chapman on the Genus Xiphorhynchus . . . . . 118 12. Dalgleish on Nests and Eggs from Paraguay . . . 113 13. Etheridge on the Birds of Lord Howe Island . . 114 14. Giglioli’s First Report on the Results of the Onaiiee logical Investigation of Italy. . . . 114 15. Leverkiihn on the Legendary History of a Hicpaee 115 16, Leverkiihn on Variations in the Coloration of Birds . 116 17. Leverkiihn on the Literature of Syrrhaptes . . . 116 18. Menzbier and Severtzow on the Ornithology of Turke- Om wo Oe WD eH ci i ds rere aie LL 19, Meyer on scarce Warielies of Tethaa ; ic] © Sele 20. Muirhead on the Birds of Berwickshire. . . . .117 21. Ridgway on new Costa-Rican Birds . . . . . . 117 22. Robinson on Albino Birds . .. . «jee eg eS 23. Salvadori on Three new Birds from Bunnie «+ epee 24, Salvadori on the Birds collected by Feain Burmah . 118 25. Shufeldt on the Osteolegy of the Tubinares and Stega- nopodes.... . os es Se 26. Shufeldt on the Ostealany of tie Heuiia! ot 3) ae 27. Sousa on new Collections from Angola . . . . . 120 28. Stejneger on Japanese Nutcrackers . ... . . 121 29, Stejneger on Japanese Wrens’. . . : . . . « dat CONTENTS. 30. Tristram’s Catalogue of his Collection . . . . , 31. Van Kempen on rare Birds of the North of France . 32. Waterhouse’s ‘Index Generum Avium’. . . . , 33. Winge on Pallas’s Sand-Grouse in Denmark . . , XII. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c.:— Letters from Count T. Salvadori ; J. H. Gurney, Esq. ; Dr. R. W. Shufeldt ; Robert Ridgway, Esq.; R. Lloyd Patterson, Esq. Extract from a Letter from Count Salvadori; Note on Spo- diopsar fuscogularis; The Southern Range of the Ccrebide ; The Raffles Museum at Singapore; Ornithological Works in Progress . Noumper VI., April. XIII. On the Ornithology of Northern Borneo. By R. Bowpter Saarre, F.LS., F.Z.8., &e., Zoological Department, British Museum. With Notes by Jonn Wurrenrap.—Part VI. RUC Anya) Soot 5 7 Gate ane ig eer eaee Unainde ah BE) GRR XIV. Notes on the Paradise-birds of British New Guinea. By A. P. Goovwiy, of Lismore, N.8.W. . XV. On a Collection of Birds made by the late Mr. J. 8. Jameson on the Aruwhimi River, Upper Congo. By Captain G. E. Suetrey, F.Z.8. (Plate V.) : XVI. On some of the Birds of the Sandwich Islands. By Scorr Witson, F.Z.8. (Plate VI.) ca XVII. On the Development of the Feet of Cypselus melba. By L. Zeunryer, Cand. Phil., of Bern uh Se MES. XVIII. An attempt to Diagnose the Subclass Coraciiformes and the Orders, Suborders, and Families comprised therein. By Henry Srezoum, F.Z.S8. XIX. Descriptions of three new Species of Flycatchers. By R. Bowpter Suarprz, F.L.S., F.Z.8., &. A al eae XX. On the Young of Pallas’s Sand-Grouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus). By Aurrep Newton. (Plate VII.) : SER. VI.—VOL. ll. b XV Page 121 122 123 123 . 124 . 133 . 150 . 156 ee 40. . 196 . 200 . 205 . 207 XVill CONTENTS. XXIV. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. :— Letters from J. H. Gurney, Esq.; Dr. G, Hartlaub; and A. Page XXI. On the Columbine Genus Macropygia and its Allies. ; By Major R. G. Warpraw Ramsay, F.LS., F.Z.8., &e. . . 214 XXII. On a new Genus of the Order Columba. By Major _R. G. Warptaw Ramsay, F.L.S., F.Z.8., &c. 3 fh, ae XXIII. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications :— 34. Allen on the Genus Hlainea . 247 35. Bocage on Birds new to the Island of ‘St. fhoman West Africa . ; . 248 36. Bartlett on Weavers and inches ‘ . 248 37. Chapman on Amazilia cwneo-brunnea . . 249 38. Hickson’s ‘ Naturalist in North Celebes ’ . 249 39. Kempen on Pallas’s Sand-Grouse in Northern France . 250 40. Lumholtz’s Adventures in Queensland . 250 41. Meyer on rare Paradise-birds . 251 42. Meyer and Helm’s Report on the Orithdlested Ob. serving-Stations for Saxony for 1888 . . . . . 251 43. Nicholson’s Translation of Sundevall’s ‘ Tentamen’ . 251 44. Ninni on the Venetian Long-tailed Titmouse . 252 45. Noll on Extinct Birds .. . . 252 46. Oates’s ‘ Birds of British India ’ . 252 47. Oates’s ‘ Matabele-land.’ (Second Edition.) . 255 48. Pleske’s ‘ Ornithographia Rossica’ . 255 49. Pleske on the Birds of Prjevalski’s J come in a Ope tral Asia em is ‘. eaeou 50. Ridgway on the isthe Rinhanilantes . 256 51. Ridgway on the Genus Sclerurus . . 257 52. Ridgway on Birds from Galapagos Past 3)" 53. Salvadori on Additions to Papuan Orncuoert . 258 54, Salvadori on Pallas’s Sand-Grouse in Italy . . 259 55. Saunders’s ‘ Manual of British Birds ’ : . 259 56. Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Water-Birds : . 260 57. Shufeldt on the Macrochires a are . 260 58. Shufeldt on the Herons . 261 59. Smith on the Birds of Lake Beaaen District, oe Zealand . 261 CONTENTS. Xix Page H. Everett, Esq. Birds of the Bellenden-Ker Range, Queens- land; New extinct Swan in New Zealand ; the Generic term Calodromas. Obituary—George Cavendish Taylor; José Au- gusto de Sousa; Carl Hunstein; Ladislas Taczanowski ; José Arévalo y Baca; Edward Thomas Booth . .... . . 262 Noumper VII., July. XXV. On the Ornithology of Northern Borneo. By R. Bowpter Swarr, F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c., Zoological Department, British Museum. With Notes by Jonn Wuirenean.—Part VII. EEG IMM el aS,» ty we stone at, ee eal tne ge ees nS XXVI. On Photodilus badius, with Remarks on its Syste- matic Position. By Franx EK. Bepparp, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.Z.8., Prosector to the Zoological Society of London . . . 293 XXVII. On the Principal Modern Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. By W. B. Trerrmerer, F.Z.S.,M.B.0.U.. . . . . 304 XXVIII. On the Habits of the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus eristatus). By J.J. Quencn, B.Sc. es : C.M.Z.8., Curator of the British Guiana Museum. . . : ees oe ee XXIX. On the Range of the Gudcharo (Steatornis caripensis) in South America. By P. L. Sctarer, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. . 835 XXX. On a new Finch from Midway Island, North Pacific. by Seon B. Witson, BZ.8: "(Plated Xeyn). *) i moet .. 338 XXXI. Notes on some Birds collected by Dr. G. Radde in the Transcaspian Region. By H. E. Dresser, F.Z.8. . . . 342 XXXII. Note on Turnix beccarii, Salvadori. By W. R. Wcrrymeronane SS) 4000 Gell ane, Uh Nh Sea XXXIII. On some new and rare Francolins. By W. R. Ocitvie Grant (Nat. Hist. Museum). (Plates X., XI.) . . 345 XxX CONTENTS. Page XXXIV. Extracts from the Letters of Mr. J. Gramnam Kerr, Naturalist to the Pilcomayo Expedition. . . . . . . . 350 XXXYV. Ona small Collection of Birds from Mount Penrisen, Sarawak. By R. Bowprer Suarpr, F.LS.,&. . . . . . 366 XXXVI. On the Identity of Chrysotis celigena with Psittacus dufresnianus. By Count T. Sanvaporr, C.M.Z.8.. . . . . 367 XXXVII. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications :— 60. Backhouse on European Birds . . . . 2 61. Barrows on the English Sparrow in North ere . 372 62. Berlepsch on Birds from Upper Amazonia . . . . 372 63. Firbringer on Stringops and Jynv . . 373 64, Hume and Oates’s ‘ Nests and Eggs of eee ede . o74 65, Leverkiihn on Variations in the Coloration of Birds . 374 66. Merriam’s Report for 1888 . . . . i ao eee 67. Meyer’s Illustrations of Birds’ Skelotona, «oot be eee 68. Modigliani on the Birds of Nias . . ... . . 3876 69° More's Lastiof Irish Birds ~*.. a)je 0) kk oS Se 70. Nehrling’s North-American Birds. . . pore 71. Ridgway on Birds from St. Lucia, the mole: Telavcie! and the Straits of Magellan . . . ae 72. Salvadori on Additions to Papuan Omitholoee: . | ene 73. Sclater on the Tracheophone Passeres . .. . . 378 74. Seebohm on the Classification of Birds . . . . . 379 75. Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Water-Birds . . . 381 76. Shufeldt on Progress in Avian Anatomy. . . . . 381 77. Stejneger and Lucas on Pallas’s Cormorant. . . . 382 78. Tschusi zu Schmidhoffen’s ‘Ornithologisches Jahrbuch’ 382 79. Woodford on the Head-hunters of the Solomon Islands 382 XXXVIII. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. :— Letters from Dr. H. Burmeister ; H. E. Dresser, Esq.; John J. Dalgleish, Esq. Butortdes virescens in Cornwall; Phyllo- s copus superciliosus in the Scilly Islands; Turtur orientalis in Great Britain; Valuable Addition to the National Bird-Col- lection; The Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum ; New Bird-books in preparation ; Pelagodroma in the Canaries ; Anni- versary Meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Union, 1890; Obituary—J. H. Gurney. . ©. J 2 4. 8) orate CONTENTS. Xxl Number VIII., October. Page XXXIX. Notes on Irish Ornithology. By Henry Srrsoum. 397 XL. On the Foot of the Young of Jynx tor quilla. By Dr. A. Ginaieeeeenee Bae se ae ee a a Pw a ALD XLI. Notes on Birds from the Papuan Region, with Descrip- tions of some new Species. By A. B. Mryer, M.D., C.M.Z.S., Director of the Royal Zoological Museum of Dresden. (Plate RT ee Seed ie (SP acted SA) tak) why) Dea Ve lO RSD eee ok ePeaameel XLIU. On some Birds of the Argentine Republic. By A. H. Horan. With Notes by ‘P. L. Scrives °.. °° « “7 29s 424 XLIII. Further Notes on the Birds of the Canary Islands. Bye. G. Mrene-Wartpo. - (Plate MEI) 2-0 heog 2 re 429 XLIV. Notes on some Birds obtained at Madeira, Deserta Grande, and Porto Santo. By W. R. Ocitvin Grant (Nat. dicted) Chlat@ AN Vo), 9 . «2 6 a os pg a ee Ao XLV. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications :— 80. The British Museum Report for 1890 . .. . . 445 81. Burmeister on Patagonian Birds . ..... . 447 82. Burmeister on the Fauna of Patagonia . . . . . 448 83. Christy’s ‘ Birds of Essex’ . . TR ra Taek 84. Clarke on the Birds of Jan Meyen Talia oP Meh clo een 85. Everett on the Birds of Borneo. . . ... =. . 450 86. Hargitt on the Picide . . fd £255 250) 87. Hartert and Kutter on BastTndian Birds ie Eggs . 452 cou artlanbionabirds of:Chimaco. §: es se ee Gos 458 Go, Oustalet on a hew Tinamou. 1 .-. « « . «458 905 Pyeratt on the Bird's; Wing. . . = . « « « s 468 91. Records of the Australian Museum . . « . « 404 92. Reid on the Birds of the Lucknow ieee oo eee 93. Ridgway’s ‘ Birds of Hlinois’ . . . 455 94, Sharpe’s Catalogue of the Suara bares snd ‘Apnoea Passeres . . PE War Mer. 82515 95. Shufeldt on the Giatone of con tte anos ee ee 96. Shufeldt on the North-American Passeres . . . . 458 97. Shufeldt on the Position of Chamaa . . . . . . 459 Xxli CONTENTS. Page 98. Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Water-Birds . . 460 99. Stejneger on Birds from Kauai, Hawaiian Islands . 460 100. Tschusi zu Schmidhoffen’s‘ Ornithologisches Jahrbuch’ 461 101. Tschusi zu Schmidhoffen on Pallas’s Sand-Grouse . 461 102. Zeledén on the Birds of Costa Rica. . . . . « 462 XLVI. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. :— Letters from W. W. Smith, Esq.; Lt.-Col. E. A. Butler ; Heer F, E. Blaauw; A. H. Everett, Esq. Syrrhaptes para- dowus in Captivity. A Tame Cuckoo. New Breeding Birds in the Trondhjem District ; International Ornithological Congress of 1891; Breeding of Falco babylonicus ; The Giitke Collection. Obituary—W. K. Parker. J. H. Gurney (Correction of an Hiroto de) a= ise Gepost ee ee ne Index of Scientine Names 1c «0s «+s Ss mw) o3) 25 eee Index of Contents . . . < 3 eee Titlepage, Preface, List of Monthord and Content: THE UBES. SIXTH SERIES. No. V. JANUARY 1890. I.—On the Ornithology of Northern Borneo. By Rk. Bowpter Suarre, F.LS., F.Z.S., &c. With Notes by Joun Wuitenzcap.—Part V.* Order PSITTACI. 194. PaLmORNIS LONGICAUDA. Paleornis longicauda (Bodd.); Salvad. Uce. Born. p. 22; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 9; id. P.Z. S. 1879, p. 325; Bruggem. Abhandl. Bremen, v. p. 454; Blasius, Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. Wien, xxxiii. p. 23 (1888). a. g juv. Benkoka, Nov. 1, 1885. [Common in the lower reaches of rivers, especially near the higher swampy growth. I have seen these birds settle in large flocks in the high trees, and but for the continual shower of falling leaves, which they were nipping off, should not have known they were there. Not met with at any distance inland. Native name “ Bian.” ] 194.a. LoricuULUS GALGULUs. Loriculus galgulus (L.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 26; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 86; id. P. Z.S. 1879, p. 325, 1881, p.791; Bruggem. t.c. p. 454; Blasius, t. c. p. 24. * Continued from ‘ The Ibis,’ 1889, p. 445. SER. VI.—VOL. IU. B 2 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the a. Qad. Labuan, July 2, 1885. 6. 9 ad. Sandakan, April 22, 1885. [Common in Labuan, frequenting fruit-gardens. Native name “ Trepas.” | Order PICARLA. Fam. TRoGoNIDA, 195. Harpactes WHITEHEADI, Harpactes whiteheadi, Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p. 395, pl. xii. a,b. 6 2 ad. Kina Balu, March 19-24, 1888. c. dad. Kina Balu, April 2, 1888. [This beautiful Trogon was met with on my second expe- dition, at 4000 feet, where it frequented the dark and wet patches of old forest. These birds generally sit in the higher branches of the lower forest trees, and seldom move, except to take short flights from perch to perch. They generally keep their dull-coloured backs to the hunter, thus rendering themselves more like a bunch of dead leaves, for which they may often be mistaken. The plumage is so soft that if the birds fall from any height they are spoilt as specimens, bunches of feathers coming out of these soft ‘ puff-balls.” On the 4th of April, whilst I was taking shelter from the rain under some palm-leaves, one of these Trogons settled on a tree quite close to me; it uttered every now and then a peculiar growling note, swaying its tail backwards and forwards, spreading out the feathers with each movement, and every now and then making a short flight to capture some insect, and settling on another perch. The young birds in nestling-plumage are similar to the female, but there is little or no distinction in colour between the throat, breast, and the rest of the lower parts. The pen- cilling of the wing-coverts is not nearly so fine, the yellow and black stripes being broader. The colour of the back is not so bright, being mixed with greyish down. I have a young male, in which the crimson feathers of the back and breast are mixed with the brown nestling-plumage. ‘The soft parts are as figured in ‘The Ibis’ (/. ¢.), having been taken from my sketches made from the freshly killed bird. Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 3 Native name for all Trogons “ Burong angi,” or the “Omen bird.” | 196. HaRPacTES KASUMBA. Harpactes kasumba (Rafil.). Pyrotrogon kasumba, Salvad. t.c. p. 29; Blasius, t. c. p. 24; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1881, p. 791. a. 6 ad. Benkoka, Oct. 12, 1885. 197. HarPactes DIARDI. Harpactes diardi (T.); Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 239; id. PZ. S: 188i, p. 791. Pyrotregow dierdi, Salvad. t. c. p. 29. a. 2 ad. Benkoka, Sept. 11, 1885. 6,c. € ad. Benkoka, Oct. 1885. 198. HarpactEs DUVAUCELI. Harpactes duwaucelii (T.); Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 239; id. P.Z.S8. 1881, p. 792; Briiggem. t. c. p. 454. Pyrotrogon duvauceli, Salvad. t.c. p. 29; Blasius, t. c. p. 25. a. 6 ad. Benkoka, Get. 13, 1885. 6. 2 ad. Benkoka, Nov. 5, 1885. 199. HarpactrEs ORESCIUS. Harpactes orescius (T.) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p. 395. Orescius gouldi (Sw.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 31. a. dad. Kina Balu, Jan. 18, 1888. 6. gad. Kina Balu, Feb. 3, 1888. e.g ad. Kina Balu, April 19, 1888. da. 9 ad. Kina Balu, May 20, 1888. A specimen in the British Museum was the sole authority for the occurrence of this species in Borneo before Mr. White- head’s ascent of Kina Balu. The specimen in question was purchased at the sale of Baron Laugier’s collection im 1837, and it is doubtful whether the locality is authentic; but Mr. Whitehead has now placed the Bornean habitat of the species beyond a doubt. [Met with on Kina Balu, from 1000 to 38000 feet, but nowhere common, frequenting shady spots in old forest. I have noticed that all Trogons are more active in the early B2 a: Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the morning and evening ; during the rest of the day they are seldom seen. Iris black; gape cobalt-blue, darker at base of bill and on lower mandible ; skin round eye whitish blue, feet slaty blue. I procured a brown Trogon on Kina Balu on the 23rd of March, 1887, which is possibly the young of this species ; but the markings seem to me to be too coarse, and it may be the immature stage of some Trogon which inhabits the mountain and is yet undescribed. ] Fam. Capironips. 200. MEGALHMA CHRYSOPSIS. Megalema chrysopsis, Goffin; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 8. Chotorhea chrysopsis (Goffin) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 82. a. dad. Benkoka, Sept. 1, 1885. b. Sjuv. Benkoka, Sept. 22, 1885. 201. MrGaL@MA VERSICOLOR. Megalema versicolor (Raffl.) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 35 ; id. )P.Z.S. 1879, pp. 245, 326; id. Ibis, 1879; wpa le Briiggem. t. c. p. 454. Chotorhea versicolor, Salvad. t. c. p. 33. Chotorhea versicolor, var. borneensis, Blasius, t. c. p. 25. a. 2 ad. lLawas River, March 23, 1886. b. gad. lLawas River, April 5, 1886. [Iris and bill black ; feet dull greenish blue. | 202. MrcaL@MA MYSTACOPHANES. Megalema mystacophanus (T.) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 35, 1879, p. 239. Chotorhea mystacophanus, Salvad. t. c. p. 34. a. 2imm. Benkoka, Sept. 1, 1885. b. g ad. Benkoka, Sept. 5, 1885. c,d. dg ad. etjuv. Kina Balu, March 6, 1887. ¢. @juv. Kina Balu, Feb. 28, 1887. f. 2 juv. Kina Balu, March 19, 1888. [The commonest Bornean Barbet, frequenting the higher branches of forest trees. I have often seen these birds holding on to a tree and pecking like a Woodpecker. It has a peculiar note, which it utters when perched high up in the tree, “ Pooh pooh lentogok lentogok.” Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 5) Native name “ Lentogok.” Found on Kina Balu up to 3000 feet. | 203. CyANops PULCHERRIMA. Megalema pulcherrima, Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p. 393, pl. xi. fig. 2. | a. 9 ad. Kina Balu, Jan. 29, 1888. b,c. g ad. Kina Balu, Feb. 16, 20, 1888. [I discovered this fine Barbet at 5000 feet in high forest, but it is, perhaps, more at home on the mountain at about 8000 feet. It has a hooting-note rather like that of the last species. An immature bird is of a much less vivid green, and has the blue on the throat and head duller and greener than in the adults, and the golden collaris absent. The soft parts were given in ‘ The Ibis’ (/.c.).] 204. CYANOPS MONTICOLA, Cyanops monticola, Sharpe, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (6) i. p. 424 (1888). a. g ad. Kina Balu, March 24, 1888. 6. 9 ad. Kina Balu, March 28, 1887. [ Met with on my first expedition at about 3000 feet, and again during my second at the same altitude. This bird at first sight bears a strong resemblance tothe young of M. mysta- cophanes, so much so that it has remained nearly two years undescribed, though I had little doubt that it was a good species, the bill being quite distinct from that of M. mysta- cophanes, to say nothing of the colour. I was glad to find that Mr. Sharpe, at last, took my view as to its distinctness. | 205. XANTHOLEMA DUVAUCELI. Xantholema duvauceli (Less.) ; Salvad. t.c. p. 38; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 240; id. P. Z. S. 1881, p. 792; Blasius, t. c. p- 26. Megalema duvauceli, Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p.35, 1877, p. 9; Briiggem. t.c. p. 454. a,b. 6 9 ad. Lawas River, Feb. 28, 1886. c,d. 6 2 ad. Lawas River, Feb. 26, 1886. { Met with in numbers on some fruit-bearing forest trees. Tris and bill black ; feet slaty green. | 6 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 206. CALORHAMPHUS FULIGINOSUS. Calorhamphus fuliginosus (T.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 89; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 34, 1877, p. 9, 1879, p. 240; id. P. Z. S. 1881, Dp. 792. a. g ad. Kina Balu, Feb. 15, 1887. 6. gad. Kina Balu, March 1887. c,d. g 9 ad. Kina Balu, April 1888. [Common, frequenting the lower slopes of Kina Balu up to 1000 feet. It is found in old forest in small flocks, feed- ing high in the trees. | Fam. Piciz. 207. [YNGIPICUS AURANTIIVENTRIS. Tyngipicus aurantiventris, Salvad. t.c. p. 41, tav. iv. fig. 2 ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 240; id. P.Z.S. 1881, p.792; Hargitt, Ibis, 1882, p. 29; Blasius, t. c. p. 27. a. 2 ad. Kina Balu, Feb. 13, 1887. 6. g ad. Kina Balu, March 25, 1887. c,d. 62 ad. Kina Balu, April 15, 1888. [ Met with on Kina Balu from 2000 to 3000 feet, but by no means common. Seems to prefer the Casuarina trees. Inis white ; bill slaty blue; feet dull green, soles yellow. | 208. IyneIPicus AURITUS. Iyngipicus auritws (Eyton) ; Hargitt, Ibis, 1882, p. 42. Iyngipicus fusco-albidus, Salvad.t.c. p.42; Sharpe, P. Z.8. 1879, p. 826; id. Ibis, 1879, p. 240. a,b. 9 ad. Labuan, July 1885. ce. dad. Labuan, Dec. 15, 1885. [Iris hazel; bill and feet greyish black. Fairly common in Labuan, frequenting gardens and other open places. Nests in dead trees in the beginning of June.] 209. XYLOLEPES VALIDUS. Xylolepes validus (Reinw.); Salvad. t.c. p. 43; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 36, 1877, p. 9, 1879, p. 240; id. P. Z. S. 1879, p-. 326, 1881, p. 792; Blasius, t.c. p. 27. a. g ad. Benkoka, Sept. 15, 1885. b. 9 ad. Benkoka, Oct. 11, 1885. [Iris dark lake. | Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 7 210. Hemicercus sorpivus. Hemicercus sordidus (Eyton) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 46; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 240; Hargitt, Ibis, 1884, p. 247, a. g ad. Benkoka, Sept. 22, 1885. 6. dad. Benkoka, Nov. 2, 1885. [Iris claret-colour ; bill and feet slaty black. | 211. Lerocestes poRPHYROMELAS. Lepocestes porphyromelas (Boie) ; Salvad. +. c. p- 48 ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 9, 1879, p. 242. a. S ad. Kina Balu, Feb. 21, 1887. 6. 9 ad. Kina Balu, March 23, 1887. [Reaches an altitude of 5000 feet on Kina Balu. Iris claret-colour ; bill straw-yellow; feet greenish brown. ] 212. GECINUS PUNICEUS. Callolophus puniceus (Horsf.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 49; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 36, 1879, p. 242; id. P.Z.S. 1881, p. 792; Blasius, t. c. p. 28. Gecinus puniceus, Briiggem. t.c. p. 454; Hargitt, Ibis, 1888, p. 176. a. ¢ ad. Kina Balu, March 27, 1888. 6. 2 ad. Benkoka, Oct. 15, 1885. [Found up to 2000 feet on Kina Balu. Iris claret-colour ; bare skin round eye pale blue ; upper mandible black, lower mandible straw-yellow; feet brownish yellow. ] 213. CHRYSOPHLEGMA HUMIL. Chrysophlegma humii, Hargitt, Ibis, 1889, p. 281. Callolophus mentalis (T.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 49; Sharpe, Ibis, 1S7 05 De 9, 1879, ps 242: a,b. 8 9 ad. Benkoka, Oct. 14, 1885. c. g ad. Lawas River, March 29, 1886. d. 9 ad. Kina Balu, March 14, 1887. [Found up to 2000 feet on Kina Balu. Iris dark lake ; bill greyish blue; feet dull green. ] 214, CHRYSOPHLEGMA MALACCENSE. Callolophus malaccensis (Lath.); Salvad. t.c. p- 50; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 35, 1879, p. 242. Gecinus malaccensis, Briiggem. t. c. p. 454. 8 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the Chrysophlegma malaccense, Hargitt, Ibis, 1886, p. 276. a. g ad. Lawas River, April 9, 1886. b. 2? ad. Benkoka, Sept. 15, 1885. [Iris dark lake. | 215. ALOPHONERPES PULVERULENTUS. Alophonerpes pulverulentus (T.); Salvad. t.c. p.51; Sharpe, PS: 1879, p. 8263 id. This, 1879, p::2425 ide iP. Ase 1881, p. 792. a. g ad. Padas River, May 1, 1886. 6b. g ad. lLawas River, April 5, 1886. c. ? ad. Benkoka, Sept. 27, 1885. [Fond of frequenting forest on the borders of swamps. Iris black ; feet and bill dull bluish white. | 216. THRIPONAX JAVENSIS. Thriponax javensis (Horsf.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 52; Sharpe, Po: S. 1879, p. 326; ad. Ibis, 1879, p. 243; ad. PHZ.rs! 1881, p. 792; Hargitt, Ibis, 1885, p. 145 ; Blasius, t. c. p. 28. a. gad. Benkoka, Oct. 25, 1885. b. 2 ad. Labuan, Dec. 13, 1885. ce. 2? ad. Labuan, Aug. 10, 1885. 217. Tica JAVANENSIS. Tiga javanensis (Ljung.); Salvad. t. c. p. 54; Sharpe, This,-1877, p.9, 1879, p. 245; id. P.Z: 8. 1879, pear. 1881, p. 792. a,b. & 9 ad. Labuan, July 12, 1885. [Most common near the coast. Iris black; bill bluish white ; feet dull green. | 218. GAUROPICOIDES RAFFLESII. Gauropicoides rafflesii (Vig.) ; Salvad. t.c. p.54; Sharpe, 1879, p. 243. Tiga raffiesii, Bruggem. t.c. p. 455. a,o. 6 3 ad. Kina Balu, May 6, 1888. Reaches an elevation of 2000 feet on Kina Balu. 219. MiGLypres GRAMMITHORAX. Miglyptes tristis (Horsf.); Salvad. t.c. p. 56; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 36, 1879, p. 243°; ad" PYZs. 188) pees Briiggem. t.c. p. 455; Blasius, t.c. p. 29. Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 9 Miglyptes grammithorar, Malh.; Hargitt, Ibis, 1884, peLol. a. 9 ad. Padas River, June 6, 1885. [Iris lake; feet dull greenish brown. | 220. MicGLyPTEs TUKKI. Miglyptes tukki (Less.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 57; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 36, 1879, p. 243; id. P. Z.S. 1881, p. 792; Hargitt, Ibis, 1884, p. 193; Briiggem. t.c. p.455; Blasius, t. c. p. 29. a. g ad. Kina Balu, Sept. 5, 1885. [Iris dark lake ; bill greyish black ; feet brown. | 221. MicroprerNvus BADIOSUS. Micropternus badiosus (T.); Salvad. t.c. p. 58; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 243; id. P.Z.S. 1881, p. 792; Hargitt, Ibis, 1885, p. 6; Blasius, t.c. p. 30. a,b. @ 9 ad. Benkoka, Sept. 9, 1885. 222. SASIA ABNORMIS. Sasia abnormis (V.); Salvad. t.c. p. 60; Sharpe, Ibis, 1889, p. 243; Briiggem. t.c. p. 455. a. 6 ad. Kina Balu, March 25, 1887. 6. gad. Kina Balu, Jan. 13, 1888. [This peculiar little bird is found sparingly in old forest, where it frequents the smaller trees and low growth. Reaches up to 1000 feet on Kina Balu. Iris lake-red; bare skin on face dull pink ; bill black ; feet orange-brown. Native name “ Tickbaden.” | Fam. InpIcatTorip2. 223. INDICATOR ARCHIPELAGICUS. Indicator archipelagicus, 'T.; Salvad. t. c. p. 61; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 8, 1879, p. 244. a. gad. Benkoka, Sept. 22, 1885. Fam. CucuLip#. 224. Curysococcyx XANTHORHYNCHUS. Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus (Horsf.) ; Salvad. t. ec. p. 62 5 Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 327, 1881, p. 792. Cuculus xanthorhynchus, Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 244. @. 9 ad: Aba, Dec. 29, 1887. 10 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the [Not common in Northern Borneo, where it frequents the tops of the highest trees, making it difficult to obtain speci- mens. Its note is “ Kievik, kievik,’ by which name the natives call it. Iris lake ; bare skin round eye and bill ver- milion; feet dull green ; bill in the female dark brown, more reddish at base. | 225. SuRNICULUS LUGUBRIS. Surniculus lugubris (Horsf.) ; Salvad. t.c. p. 63; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 8, 1879, p. 244; -id. P. Z.'S. 1879, p? 328, 1881, p. 792; Blasius, t.c. p. 30. a,b. 6 9 ad. Lawas River, April 5, 1886. c. g ad. Kina Balu, March 1887. [I met with this species in numbers on the Lawas River : they frequent the tops of low trees, and utter a loud whistling note. Iris hazel; feet and bill black. ] 226. PENTHOCERYX PRAVATUS. Penthoceryx pravatus (Horsf.) ; Salvad. t.c. p. 63; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 244. a. g ad. Benkoka, Sept. 21, 1885. 227. CACOMANTIS MERULINUS. Cacomantis merulinus (Scop.) ; Salvad. t. c. p.64; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 34, 1877, p. 7, 1879, p. 244; id. P. Z. 8. 1879, p- 328, 1881, p. 792. a. Ad. Labuan, May 1886. 228. Hrerococcyx Frueax. Hierococcyx fugax (Horsf.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 65; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 7, 1879, p. 245. a,b. g ad. Kina Balu, April 1888. c. g ad. Kina Balu, April 26, 1888. d. @ juv. Kina Balu, April 23, 1888. [Met with on Kina Balu, about 3000 feet. I found this species laying in the nest of Culicicapa ceylonensis, on the 29th April. The egg was creamy white, slightly spotted with pale yellowish brown and grey, forming a complete zone at the larger end: axis 0:9 inch, diam. 0°65. Inis and bill light brown ; feet and skin round eye bright yellow ; base of bill yellowish green. | Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 11 229. HieRococcyx NANA. Mierococcyx nanus, Hume, Str. F. v. p. 490 (1877). a. 2? ad. Benkoka, Nov. 2, 1885. The first recorded occurrence of this species in Borneo. The specimen has been identified by Captain Shelley. [Only one specimen seen. Iris black ; skin round the eye bright straw-yellow ; feet king’s yellow. | 230. Himrococcyx Bockt. Mierococcyx bocki, Wardlaw-Ramsay, Ibis, 1886, p. 157 ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p. 394. a. g ad. Kina Balu, Feb. 28, 1888. b,c. g 9 ad. Kina Balu, March 1888. d. g ad. Kina Balu, April 20, 1888. The occurrence of this species on Kina Balu is interesting, as showing a very distinct relation between the avifauna of the mountain and that of High Sumatra. [This rare Cuckoo frequented Kina Balu at about 4000 feet. It was evidently the pairing-season in March, as they were then very noisy, whistling a good deal in the tops of the trees, especially towards evening. | 231. Himnrococcyx SPARVERIOIDES. Hierococcyx strenuus, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1879, p. 327. a. Juv. Labuan, Nov. 7, 1887. [One specimen shot, evidently on migration. Ivis light brown ; feet and skin round eye pale yellow. | 232. CucuLUS MICROPTERUS. Cuculus micropterus, Gould; Oates, Handb. B. Burm. i. p- 104 (1883). a. d ad. lLawas River, March 29, 1886. b. 3 ad. Lawas River, April 7, 1886. [Apparently new to Borneo. Only two specimens seen, frequenting the banks of the river. This species has a loud whistling note. Iris black; skin round eye bright yellow. } 233. CUCULUS POLIOCEPHALUS. Cuculus poliocephalus, Lath. Ind. Orn. i. p. 214; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 394: ? Cuculus himalayanus, Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 327. 12 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the a,b. § 9 ad. Kina Balu, Feb. 1888. ce. 9 ad. Kina Balu, March 13, 1888. [This Cuckoo frequented the higher ranges of Kina Balu up to 9000 feet, and I saw one specimen much higher. The note is exactly like that of Cyanops pulcherrima, and 1 have often stalked the supposed Barbet and shot a Cuckoo. Iris brown ; legs, gape, and skin round eye king’s yellow. I have a young bird which has the throat and upper part of the breast rich brown instead of grey like the adults. There is a ring of brown round the back of the neck. The wing-feathers and back are also much barred with the same colour. | 234. CoccysTES COROMANDUS. Coccystes coromandus (L.) ; Salvad. t. ec. p. 67. a. 9 ad. Labuan, Dec. 29, 1885. [Apparently rare. I have only met with two specimens during my visit to Borneo. | 235. EupYNAMIS MALAYANA. Eudynamis malayana, Cab. & Heine, Salvad. t. c. p. 68; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 34, 1879, p. 245; id. P. Z. 8. 1879, p- 828. a. g ad. Labuan, Nov. 30, 1885. 236. RHopopyTES ERYTHROGNATHUS. Rhopodytes erythrognathus, Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 8; id. PaZa5.21879, p. 246; id. This, 1879, p. 245; 1d: Paaase 1881, p. 793. Rhamphococcyx erythrognathus (Hartl.) ; Salvad. t. ce. p. 74. Phenicophaes erythrognathus, Briggem. t. c. p. 455. a. g ad. Kina Balu, April 1888. 6. g ad. Kina Balu, March 15, 1888. [Common throughout Northern Borneo, ranging on Kina Balu up to 1000 feet. They frequent the lower branches of high and the tops of low trees, especially where the jungle is thick and tangled. They hop slowly through the jungle, the tail being kept horizontal with the body. Inris king’s yellow ; upper mandible and half the lower one pea-green, Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 13 the rest dull reddish; feet dull leaden blue; bare skin on face scarlet. Native name ‘ Nampak.”’] 237. RaINoRTHA CHLOROPH AA. Rhinortha chlorophea (Raffi.); Salvad. t.c. p.69; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 34, 1879, p. 245, 1881, p. 792; Briiggem. t. c. p- 455; Blasius, t. c. p. 32. a. d ad. Benkoka, Sept. 5, 1885. 6b. 2 ad. Kina Balu, April 1, 1887. [In habits similar to Rhopodytes erythrognathus, with the same peculiar quiet and skulking manner. Iris dark brown; bill pea-green ; bare skin on face emerald-green ; feet dull cobalt-blue. | 238. PoLiococcyx SUMATRANUS. Rhopodytes sumatranus (Raffl.) ; Salvad. t.c. p. 73; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 245; Blasius, t. c. p. 32. Zanclostomus sumatranus, Briggem. t. c. p. 455. [I also saw this species at Abai, frequenting a patch of jungle on the coast, but did not obtain a specimen. | 239. ZANCLOSTOMUS JAVANICUS. Zanclostomus javanicus (Horsf.) ; Salvad. t. ec. p. 75; pharpe, this, 1879) p.'245; id: P. Z..S. 1881, p. 793; Blasius, t. c. p. 33. a. g ad. Kina Balu, March 1887. [ Not so common as the last two species, though similar in habits. This bird has a higher range than the last two species, for I met with one on Mt. Ophir, in Malacca, at 3000 feet. his species has a peculiar note like “kick kick.” Iris black ; bill coral-red; feet brownish black.] 240. CrENTROCOCCYX EURYCERCUS. Centrococcyx eurycercus (Hay); Salvad. t. c p. 78; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 8; 1d.-P.Z.S. 1879, .p. 328, 1880; p- 793 ; Blasius, t. c. p. 39. a,b. 6 9 ad. Labuan, Jan. 1886. c,d. 8 ? ad. Labuan, June 1886. [This large and powerful Cuckoo frequents the small 14. Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the tangled patches of forest, being rarely met with in the larger stretches of old forest. The natives say that it often feeds upon flesh, killing and eating birds that have been snared, if left long in the traps. I have no doubt that it would take the young from nests, and have watched two little Fly- catchers (Rhipidura javanica) very busy attacking and trying to drive this Cuckoo from a tree where they probably had a nest. The note is loud, “ bah bih,’’ uttered many times, as the bird sits, generally towards the evening, in some prominent position. Native name “ Bubut,” probably from the note. Iris, feet, and bill black.] 241. CENTROCOCCYX JAVANENSIS. Centrococcyx javanensis (Dumont.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 76; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 34. Centropus javanensis, Sharpe, P.Z.S. 1879, p. 828; id. Ibis, 1879, p. 246. a. 9 imm. Labuan, May 1885. 4. Juv. Labuan, Aug. 18, 1885. [This species, unlike the last, is seldom seen except in the “llang ”-grass plains near the edges of clearings. This Cuckoo may often be turned up in the coarse grass plains within a few yards, when it rises with a slow flapping flight, often soaring long distances, seldom more than a few feet above the grass, and then dropping suddenly out of sight. It is plentiful in Labuan, and, like C. eurycercus, is most often heard towards evening as it perches on some low post or bunch of beaten-down grass. I had an egg given me, supposed to be of this species, which was white; it was found on the ground under some tangled growth. Native name “ Bubut.” Iris brown; bill and feet black. ] Fam. BucEerotip”. 242. BucrROs RHINOCEROS. Buceros rhinoceros, L.; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 246; Elhot, Monogr. Bucerot. pl. iv. Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 15 Buceros rhinocerosoides (T.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. $7. a. gad. Benkoka, Oct. 6, 1885. [Iris dark lake ; bill red and yellow ; feet dull yellow. This large Hornbill is fairly common, frequenting the high fruit-bearing forest trees. I have seen eleven flying in one flock, when they could be heard a great distance off, the noise they make with their wings being very loud. Native name “Sungung.’’ | 243. RHINOPLAX VIGIL. Rhinoplax vigil (Forst.) ; Elliot, Monogr. Bucerot. pl. x. ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 248. ; Rhinoplax scutatus (Bodd.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 88. a. Ad. Benkoka, Oct. 9, 1885. [Fairly common in most old forests, frequenting the tops of high trees. It utters a loud deep cry, “ Lentodoon ” (from which it gets its native name), and then goes off into a fit of laughter, which may be heard at a great distance. I saw them on Kina Balu up to 3000 feet. The native idea is that the heavy knob on the bill is used for hammering the gutta and gum round the hole when it closes up the female in the nest. | 244. ANTHRACOCEROS CONVEXUS. Anthracoceros convexus (T.); Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1879, p. 329; id. Ibis, 1879, p. 246; Elhot, Monogr. Bucerot. ple xi: Hydrocissa convera (T.); Salvad. t. c. p. 80; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 7, 1879, p. 246. a,b. 3 2. Labuan, May 28, 1885. c. 9 juv. Pulo Gaya Island. | Young birds have the bill dull pea-green ; feet dull cobalt ; eye not so dark as the old birds. Adults have the bill light yellow, with a black mark on end of casque; eye lake; skin at base of bill light blue. Common on most small islands near the sea-coast; I have never met with this Hornbill far inland. It has a curious screaming cry, which is frequently uttered. Native name ‘‘ Lékup.’’] 16 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the 245. ANTHRACOCEROS MALAYANUS. Anthracoceros malayanus (Raffl.) ; Elhot, Monogr. Bucerot. pl. xv. Hydrocissa malayana (Raffl.) ; Salvad. t. ¢. p. 83. Hydrocissa albirostris (Shaw) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 246. a,b. 6 ?. Benkoka, Oct. 2, 1885. c. 6. Kina Balu, April 20, 1887. [¢o. Bill white; feet black; iris dark lake. 2. Bill, iris, and feet black. Fairly common in old forest. Met with on Kina Balu at 1000 feet. The small black-billed bird is doubtless the hen of the white-billed bird, as they are generally seen together, and the sexing also proves it. | 246. ANORRHINUS COMATUS. Anorrhinus comatus (Raffl.) ; Elhot, Monogr. Bucerot. pl. xxxix. a. dad. Benkoka River, Sept. 12, 1885. b. 9. Benkoka River, Nov. 18, 1885. Recorded from Borneo for the first time. [Iris dull greenish yellow ; skin on face pale cobalt; bill white, blackish at tip; feet black. Met with in a forest on the Benkoka River. Unlike the other species mentioned, this Hornbill frequently settles on the ground. Some birds have white and others black tails. This is apparently only a difference of age, as the British Museum contains Malayan specimens with black and with white tails from the same locality. | 247. ANORRHINUS GALERITUS. Anorrhinus galeritus (‘T.); Salvad. t. c. p. 79; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 246; id. P.Z.S. 1881, p. 793; Hlliot, Monogr. Bucerot. pl. 42. a. Ad. Kina Balu, April 23, 1887. 6. Ad. Sandakan, April 14, 1885. c,d. 992 ad. Benkoka, Oct. 11, 1885. Adult. Tris lake ; bill black, sometimes white-striped ; feet black ; skin on face pale blue. Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 17 Jr. Iris blue; bill dull red at tip, pea-green at base ; skin on face bright king’s yellow. [Fairly common. Also occurs on Kina Balu up to 1000 feet. I found a nest of this species in an old tree, the female and a young one being securely fastened in by gums and resins. The curious part, however, was that there were no less than five other Hornbills feeding her, including males and females. I shot three birds at the tree on the first day, before I discovered the nest, which had evidently been used many times, judging by the excrement at the foot of the tree; and on the following day there were two other birds feeding the imprisoned hen. The Hornbills build up the hen in a tree, leaving only a small hole through which to feed her: this is done for defensive purposes against large tree-lizards and monkeys. The young bird taken was well feathered and lived a long time, feeding voracicusly on boiled rice and fruit; but the little fellow made such an incessant noise (like a wet cork rubbed on a bottle) that I had frequently to send him to some distance from my hut. This one day caused his death, through my boy putting the basket in a place where the bird got too much sun, which killed it. The hen bird was so weak after her imprisonment that for a long time she was unable to fly. The curious change of colour in the soft parts which the young bird undergoes before becoming adult is interesting. | Fam. Mrrorip”. 248. MeRops sUMATRANUS. Merops sumatranus, Raffl.; Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1879, p. 329; id. Ibis, 1879, p. 248; id. P. Z.S. 1881, p. 793. Merops bicolor, Salvad. t. ce. p. 90; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p- 33, 1877, p. 5. a,b. dQ ad. Abai, March 2, 1888. c. 6 ad. Benkoka, Oct. 21, 1885. [Fairly common in open places. In habits similar to all the rest of the family. Nests in holes in the ground, laying SER. VI.—VOL. II. c 18 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the four or five round white eggs about the beginning of June. Axis 0:95 inch, diam. 0:9. Native name “ Tampa-Kuro.” | 249. NycrioRNIs AMICTA. Nyctiornis amicta (T.) ; Salvad. t. ce. p. 91; Sharpe, Ibis, 13877, p.6, 1879, p. 248; 1d PZ. las, p. 798: a. gad. Kina Balu, April 1888. b. g ad. Benkoka, Sept. 14, 1885. [Fairly common, frequenting high forest, where it sits solitary on the lower boughs of trees, making short flights after insects. It has a peculiar loud cry which I have often mistaken for the cackling of geese, wondering where the latter could be, and quite expecting to see some in one of the native campongs. Native name ‘“ Darah leihier,” i. e. “blood-neck.”’ Iris straw-yellow. | Fam. ALCEDINID#. 250. ALCEDO BENGALENSIS. Alcedo bengalensis, Gm.; Salvad. t. c. p. 92; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 6; id. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 3829. a. 9 ad. Benkoka, Sept. 12, 1885. [Only a winter visitor to Borneo, arriving in Palawan on its way south about the middle of September. Native name « Mantis.” | 251. ALCEDO MENINTING. Alcedo meninting, Horsf.; Salvad. t. c. p. 93; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 3829; id. Ibis, 1879, p. 248. a,b. 6 § ad. Labuan, Dec. 1885. c. ¢ juv. Labuan, May 1886. d. 9 ad. Benkoka, Oct. 19, 1885. [Fairly common about large rivers near the sea-coast. | 252. ALCEDO EURYZONA. Alcedo euryzona, T.; Salvad. t.c. p. 95; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 248. a,b. 6 2 ad. Kina Balu, March 1887. c,d. 3 @ ad. Kina Balu, April 12, 1888. [Iris dark hazel. In the female the upper mandible is Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 19 black, the lower one dull vermilion ; feet also vermilion. The young male has the bill black, with a pinkish tinge ; feet dull black. Met with sparingly on the rocky streams which come from Kina Balu. At one of my camps a pair used to pass up-stream in the dusk of early morn, piping as they flew. In an hour or so the birds would return down-stream, flying a few feet above the water and cutting off bends by going into the forest. They were very shy, and it was a long time before I obtained a specimen. | 253, PELARGOPSIS LEUCOCEPHALA. Pelargopsis leucocephala (Gm.); Salvad. t. ec. Pp: 9a : Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 33, 1879, p. 249; id. P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 329, 1881, p. 793. a. 9 ad. Lawas River, April 16, 1886. 6. g ad. Benkoka, Nov. 20, 1885. [Iris black ; bill and feet coral-red. Common on the tideways of rivers, and I do not think it goes for any great distance inland from the coast. It has a disagreeable harsh note, which it utters when perched, stretching out its neck and cocking its tail to give full force to its music. I watched one of these birds in Palawan which had perched on the top of a tree, making flights at some fishes swimming on the surface some distance out at sea. | 204, CEYxX DILLWYNNI. Ceyx dillwynni, Sharpe; Salvad. t. e. p. 99; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 249; id. P. Z. S. 1879, p. 330, 1881, Ds (9d: a. 3 ad. Lawas River, April 5, 1886. b,c. 8 Q ad. Sandakan, April 24, 1885. d. g ad. Kina Balu, Aug. 20, 1887. [Iris black; feet and bill coral-red. Common. Often will the traveller sce a small bright yellow bird pass him in the forest like a little express train, whistling as though it were important to let every one know it was coming. Then suddenly the whistling ceases and the bird has perched, often at some distance away, where it sits motionless until again disturbed. It often frequents small a) ~ 20 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the forest-streams, but I should doubt if it ever feeds on fish. This is one of the Bornean “ Burong angi,” or “‘ omen birds.” Met with on Kina Balu up to nearly 3000 feet. _ On the 5th April I found a nest of this Kingfisher which was in a hole in a bank in the forest ; it contained two eggs, which were nearly hatched. The whole nest was swarming with ants. Egg white; axis 0°9, diam. 0°75. I have often noticed that when large forest-trees become uprooted, and have a large quantity of earth held by the roots, the earth has been bored for nesting-holes, probably by this bird. ] 255. Hatcyon COROMANDA. Halcyon coromanda (Lath.) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 249; id. P.Z. 8. 1879, p. 331, 1881, p. 793. Callialeyon coromanda, Salvad. t. c. p. 101. a,b. 62 ad. Labnan, May 1886. ce. Juv. Labuan, May 1886. [A swamp-loving species, frequenting the beds of “ Nippa” palms near the coast. | 256. Hatcyon PILEATA. Halcyon pileata (Bodd.) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 33, 1879, p. 249; id. P. Z.S. 1879, p. 33l. Entomobia pileata, Salvad. t.c. p. 102. a. ¢ ad. lLawas, April 5, 1886. [Iris black ; feet and bill coral-red. A winter migrant to Borneo, arriving in Palawan on its way south about the 24th September. It frequents the open patches of swamp-rice, perching on the forest-trees which surround them, making short flights at anything that it can see in the swamp around. | 257. Hatcyon cCHLORIS. Halcyon chloris (Bodd.) ; Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1879, pp. 246, 332, 1881, p. 793. Sauropatis chloris, Salvad. t. c. p. 108. a. 6 ad. Labuan, July 5, 1885. [Iris dark brown ; upper mandible black, lower one dull white ; feet dull pink. Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 21 Common along the sea-coast, perching on some elevated spot, from which it makes short darting flights on its prey, which is exposed at low tide. This bird has a peculiar harsh ery, which is “ Kang kang.” The head is thrust forward and the tail cocked at right angles to the back. They nest in holes in trees, and are generally met with in pairs. Native name ‘‘ Kang kang.” 258. Hatcyon concreEta. Halcyon concreta (T.) ; Sharpe, P.Z.S. 1881, p. 793. Caridagrus concreta, Salvad. t. c. p. 102. a. 9 ad. Benkoka, Sept. 13, 1885. 6. gad. Benkoka, Oct. 10, 1885. c. 9 ad. Benkoka, Oct 22, 1885. [ Met with in true forest, where it sits motionless on some branch, generally only a few feet from the ground. Iris black ; bill king’s yellow; feet paler yellow. ] 259. CARCINEUTES MELANOPS. Carcineutes melanops (T.); Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 249; id) P. 7.5, 188), pe793. Lacedo melanops, Salvad. t. c. p. 104. a,b. g ad. Benkoka, Oct. 1885. c. 9 ad. Benkoka, Oct. 12, 1885. d. 9 ad. Kina Balu, March 1887. [Fairly common, frequenting true forest. Met with on Kina Balu up to 2000 feet. Inris stone-grey ; bill coral-red ; feet dull yellow. | Fam. Coraciip&. 260. EurysToMUs ORIENTALIS. Eurystomus orientalis (L.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 105 ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 7, 1879, p. 249; id. P. Z.S. 1879, p. 382, 1881, p. 793. a. g ad. Lawas River, April 9, 1886. 6. 9 ad. Kina Balu, April 1888. c. 9 ad. Kina Balu, March 14, 1888. {Iris dark hazel; feet and bill orange-red. Common, frequenting open places, especially dead trees that have been 22 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the left standing after forest fires. It perches on some high branch, from which it makes short flights at sects, return- ing often to the same perch. The note is “Kick kick,’ sounding somewhat lke the noise made by coachmen to horses. Native name “ Lahi.”] Fam. CAPRIMULGIDA. 261. CaPRIMULGUS MACRURUS. Caprimulgus macrurus, Horsf. ; Salvad. t.c. p. 117; Sharpe, P.Z.S. 1879, p. 832; id. Ibis, 1879, p. 250. Caprimulgus salvadorii, Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 4. a. 9 ad. Kina Balu, April 1888. 6. g ad. Abai, Dec. 11, 1886. c. g ad. Labuan, Aug. 14, 1888. [Common in open places and on the edges of forest. In the evevings it may be seen on Labuan plain in numbers sitting on the ground, making short flights from place to place. The name of “ Ice-bird” mentioned in Jerdon, and derived from its peculiar note, which sounds exactly like a stone thrown on thick ice, is the best description of the sound it utters. It is met with on Kina Balu up to 2000 feet. It generally nests in open places, and I have seen a nest on the sea-shore under the shelter of a tree just above high-water mark. The eggs are two in number, laid in April and other months, of a pale creamy yellow, with a shght pinkish tinge, blotched all over with pale grey, and Jess so with pale brown. None of these spots and blotches are distinct. Axis 1°25, diam. 0°9. Native name “ 'Tampa-Kampa.” There is another species of Caprimulgus in Borneo which I failed to obtain, but which is, I believe, Lyncornis temmincki, a species common in Malacca, but only observed by myself about the foot of Kina Balu. This species has a very peculiar habit of flying high in the heavens just as the last rays of the setting sun are fading away, with wings held well above the body, uttering a pretty whistling note “ Teta bow, teta bow.” This Nightjar may be seen by the dozen exactly at 6.10 p.m. So well timed was their flight that I could set my watch by Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 23 them. After ten minutes’ flight the bird comes to the earth, and may be seen flitting over the rice-fields, now and then soaring up after some insect, often settling on some dead branch or post, where its pretty note becomes changed to a frog-like croak. A few minutes before sunrise the bird takes another flight high in the sky, and “Teta bow ” may be heard for a few minutes, when it drops to the earth, on which it rests, remaining silent and sleepy during the heat of the day until a few minutes past 6 P.M. ] Fam. CypsELip2. 262. CYPsELUS INFUMATUS. Cypselus infumatus, Scl.; Salvad. t. c. p. 119; Sharpe, Pea. 9. 1809) pw. Sao. a,b. 8 9 ad. Kina Balu, Jan. 18, 1888. [Fairly common. | 263. COLLOCALIA FUCIPHAGA. Collocala fuciphaga (Thunb.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 120. a. gad. Lawas River, July 13, 1885. 264. CoLLOCALIA LINCHI. Collocalia linchi, Horsf. & Moore; Salvad. t. ec. p. 127: Sharpe, Ibis, 1879, p. 250; id. P. ZS. 1881, ps 798. a,b. g ad. Kina Balu, March 2, 1887. [Very plentiful wherever the rocks form small caves suitable for nesting in. The nests of this species are com- posed almost entirely of moss, a little saliva being used to fasten the structure to the rock. Eggs two, small, white, very often misshapen; laid in February. Axis 0:7, diam. 0°45.] 265. DENDROCHELIDON CoMATA. Dendrochelidon comata (T.) ; Salvad. t. e. p. 123; Sharpe, P. Z.S. 1879, p. 834; id. Ibis, 1879, p. 250. Macropterus comatus, Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 33. a,b. 8; c. 9 ad. Lawas River, April 4, 1886. [Only met with on the Lawas, where they frequented some dead trees at the water’s edge. ] 24 Mr. W. W. Smith on Strix parvissima. 266. DeNDROCHELIDON LONGIPENNIS. Dendrochelidon longipennis (Rafin.) ; Salvad. t. c. p. 122; Sharpe, P. Z.S. 1879, pp. 246, 334; id. Ibis, 1879, p. 250. Macropteryx longipennis, Sharpe, Ibis, 1876, p. 33. a. gd ad. Benkoka, Sept. 15, 1885. 6. 9? ad. Labuan, Aug. 19, 1885. [This beautiful Swift is a common species, especially where the country is fairly open and old dead trees remain: these are its favourite perches. | 267. CHZTURA CORACINA. Chetura coracina(S. Mill.) ; Salvad. t. c. p.124; Sharpe, P.Z.S. 1879, p. 335. a. Ad. Pulo Gaya. [ Rather a local species, frequenting the vicinity of forests. I have noticed this Swift entering holes in trees, where no doubt they nest. | 268. HiruNDINAPUS GIGANTEUS. Several times seen flying high in Labuan. [To be continued. | i1.—On the supposed Occurrence of Strix parvissima, Ellman, in New Zealand. By W.W. Smiru. Sir Water Burier, in concluding the histories of Spilo- glaux nove-zealandie and Sceloglaux albifacies (B. of N. Z. 2nd ed. vol. i. p. 205, 1888), writes: “‘The two forms of Strigidee described above are the only ones inhabiting New Zealand of which we have, as yet, any positive knowledge.” In a footnote on the same page, Sir Walter quotes from ‘Out in the Open,’ a series of papers by the late Mr. T. H. Potts, which have been published in several journals. Mr. Potts, referrmg to the occurrence of a ‘very small Owl” in New Zealand, says, “From the information that has been gleaned about this rare bird, it would appear that one of its habitats used to be the woods about the Rangitata River; one was captured with the hand on the bank of a creck at no great distance from Mount-Peel forest.”” Having Mr. W. W. Smith on Strix parvissima. 25 lived five years near the gorge of the Rangitata River, and having during the whole time collected and made lists of the birds of the district, and knowing all particulars regarding the two captures which Mr. Potts refers to as having oc- curred in the district, I think I am able to explain the matter clearly. In May 1880, Mr. Mitton, then manager of Mount-Peel Station, brought me a small living Owl, which he desired me to stuff and mount for him. He stated that it had been captured with the hand the previous afternoon by one of the shepherds, on his way home from Peel forest. In handing it to me he remarked that it was “surely a different kind of Owl,” as it was so much smaller than any he had seen. I, however, explained to him at the time that it was none other than an exceptionally small ‘‘ Morepork ” (Spiloglauxr nove- zealandie), and was no doubt a female, a fact which I sub- sequently verified while dissecting the specimen. It was an immature bird, the general plumage being slightly darker than many I have seen, and it lacked much of the distinct and neat markings of grey and white on the wings and breast peculiar to adult birds of that species. After being mounted, it was sent to some of Mr. Mitton’s friends in Christchurch, but to whom I cannot at present say. A few weeks after the above-mentioned capture, the same gentleman brought me a slightly larger bird, which he had captured near the gorge. Since then I have taken two diminutive females in different localities and in similar plumage; but, excepting their smaller size, there was nothing to lead anyone witha slight knowledge of this little Owl and its variations to sup- pose them to belong to a smaller or distinct species. Sir Walter Buller was careful to note that Mr. Potts “records the species on hearsay evidence”; but very little importance can be attached to such in the absence of a bond fide specimen captured in the colony, or at least some more positive proof of its existence here, as these birds belong to the most perfectly explored division of our fauna. I think, if such a species as the supposed Strix parvissima had existed in our country, it would have long ago come under the notice 26 Dr. A. B. Meyer on the Coloration of some of the many able collectors who have been long resident in New Zealand. Sir Walter has explained (op. cit. p. 198) that there is “considerable variation in size” in Spiloglaux nove-zealan- die, and mentions one he received from Mr. W. T. L. Travers as “unusually small in all its proportions’’; he also describes the specimen in the Leiden Museum as “ equalling in size small examples of Spiloglaux nove-zealandie”’ ; indeed, the subject is so exhaustively treated in his great work, that no more need be added here. No New-Zealand colonist has ever had such facilities for collecting and studying the habits of our remarkable birds, and for examining collections in all parts of the world, as this distinguished ornithologist. The fact of the specimen of the so-called Scops nove- zealandie in the Leiden Museum being labelled ‘“ Nouvelle Zélande ” without more definite authority, is, 1 think, sufficient to justify Sir Walter Buller in excluding the species from his work on the birds of New Zealand. III.—On the Coloration of the Young in the Psittacine Genus Eclectus. By Dr. A. B. Meyer. (Plate I.) Tue colour of the young of those species of the genus Eclectus in which the males are green and the females red has often been discussed, and every possible opinion has been maintained by various writers. I myself have had at different times very different and erroneous notions on this question, which, however, I believe I have settled definitely in my paper “ Ueber die Farbung der Nestjungen von Kclectus, Wagl.” (‘ Zeitschrift fiir wissenschaftliche Zo- ologie,’ vol. xxxvii. pp. 146-162). In this I proved that the young males are green and the young females red from the nest, as had been asserted by some authors before. In spite of this, Dr. Gadow (Bronn’s ‘ Klassen und Ordnungen des Thierreichs,’ vol. vi. pt. iv. Aves, p. 585) has even recently (1889) stated that the young ones are “‘ reddish, but not yet green.” ‘This is, no doubt, a mistake. Two young females of E. roratus were figured by me in of the Young of Eclectus. 27 the year 1884 from a pair hatched in captivity (‘ Zeitschrift fiir die gesammte Ornithologie,’ vol. i. p. 274, pl. xvi.), and I am now able to offer a figure (Plate I.) of a young male of the same species, hatched in captivity by the same gentle- man whom I had to thank five years ago for the two females —Mr. P. Hieronymus, then of Karlsruhe, now of Blanken- burg in the Harz. I need not describe in detail the plumage of the young male (No. 12,000, Mus. Dresd.) now figured, as all its cha- racteristics are clearly shown in the Plate, and as the plumage from the very beginning equals that of the adult in the brilliancy of its green, blue, and red. It is, however, re- markable that all these colours of the adult male appear in this early stage of development of the plumage of the nestlings. The young bird figured was not quite seven weeks old when it died; it lived from the 24th of June till the 9th of August, and died from suffocation by accident. The dissec- tion proved it to be amale. Its mate, still living, is, judging from its green colour, likewise a male. I may draw attention to the fact that the pair hatched by Mr. Hieronymus in the year 1884 consisted of two females, and that the pair recently hatched consisted of two males. I suppose that this also may occur in a state of nature, but that just as often the pair may be composed of male and female. As to this point I am not aware that trustworthy observtions have been made; the few as yet published will be found in my paper already quoted (Z. f. wiss. Zool. xxxvii. pp. 150, 151). Practical bird-breeders are of opinion that the first brood of the year are usually males and the second females. This may be the result of some observations, but I do not believe that it is a rule which can be relied upon. In a covey of Partridges there are said to be always more cocks than hens. ‘The facts known as to the relative number of the two sexes in birds are very scanty and not at all to be relied upon. (See Darwin’s ‘ Descent of Man,’ 1871, vol. i. p. 306 ; v. Hensen, ‘ Physiologie der Zeugung,’ 1881, p. 205; C. Diising, ‘ Die Regulirung der Geschlechtsverhiiltnisse,’ 1884, p. 184, &c.) 28 On the Coloration of the Young of Eclectus. Mr. Hieronymus has hatched since the year 1884 from the same female Eclectus, with two different males, a series of young ones, but, unfortunately, pairs were only reared on two occasions ; besides these only single males were reared. In cases when the embryos died in the egg, the sex was not determined, though the embryos have been generally pre- served. Nevertheless it may not be without interest to enumerate the whole series of eggs deposited :— 1884. First deposit, 2 embryos. Second deposit, 2 females, which lived five and six weeks, and were figured by me (Z. f. ges. Orn. 1. pl. xviz). Third deposit, 1 embryo and 1 green male, which was reared. 1885. First deposit, 1 embryo and 1 green male, which was reared, and which was given to me by Mr. Hiero- nymus in the 8th month of its life. It lived with me for three years, and was killed by accident. Second deposit, 2 unimpregnated eggs. 1886. First deposit, 1 embryo and 1 green male. Second deposit, 2 embryos. Third deposit, 1 embryo and 1 green male, reared. 1887. First deposit, 2 embryos. Second deposit, 2 embryos. . 1888. First deposit, 2 embryos. Second deposit, 2 embryos. Third deposit, 1 embryo and 1 unimpregnated egg. Fourth deposit, 2 unimpregnated eggs. Fifth deposit, 2 unimpregnated eggs. 1889. First deposit, 2 unimpregnated eggs.—N.B. In these last cases the female paired with another male. Second deposit, 2 green males, one of which is now figured (Plate I.) from the stuffed skin; the other is still living. At the same time Mr. Hieronymus paired a female of Eclectus cardinalis (Bodd.) from Ceram with the male bird On the Pico-Passerine Group of Birds. 29 which had been productive with the female of E. roratus, and got the following results :— 1888. First deposit, 2 embryos. Second deposit, 2 embryos. Third deposit, 2 unimpregnated eggs. Fourth deposit, 2 young birds, which died after one or two days. Fifth deposit, 1 green male (which was reared) and 1 embryo. 1889. First deposit, 2 embryos. Second deposit, 2 unimpregnated eggs. Third deposit, 2 unimpregnated eggs. Therefore from all these deposits of eggs only two females and seven males have been reared and of these only four males are still living. The sex of these four males is only determined by the colour of the plumage, a character, how- ever, which appears to be entirely trustworthy. As Mr. Hie- ronymus has placed nineteen of the embryos in my hands, ten of which are in pairs, I may, perhaps, still succeed by microscopical investigation in determining the sexes, and thus ascertain whether the male sex prevails or not, and whether a pair among them does not sometimes consist of male and female. IV.—An Attempt to Diagnose the Pico-Passerine Group of Birds and the Suborders of which it consists. By Henry Srrsoum, F.Z.8. In my investigations into the osteology of the Grallo-Galline and Ardeo-Anserine group of birds (Ibis, 1888, p. 415, and 1889, p. 92) I have found that however constant a cha- racter might be in one or more groups, there were almost sure to be other groups in which it broke down. In inves- tigating the large group of birds consisting of the Passeres and the Picariz, it seems as if osteological characters ceased to be entirely reliable, and required the assistance of other characters to make the diagnoses of the subdivisions complete. 30 Mr. H. Seebohm on the It appears to be impossible to construct a diagnosis of the Passeres founded solely on osteological characters. All the Passeres are egithognathous, but other birds, obviously not Passerine, are also egithognathous. Most of the Passeres have only one notch on each side of the posterior margin of the sternum; but some Passeres have two, and many birds not at all Passerine have only one. In most Passeres the outer episternal process or manubrium is well developed and forked, but in some Passeres it is not forked, and in some birds not Passerine it is forked. It seems therefore to be necessary to call in some other characters, not osteological, to complete the diagnosis. The deep plantar tendons are the muscles which, when contracted, close the foot, and enable the bird to grasp its perch or seize its prey. The different ways in which these plantars are arranged afford characters which appear to be of some value in the classification of birds. They run down the back of the tarsus, sometimes side by side, but generally crossing each other about the middle of that bone. The inner and, when they cross, always the front plantar, is named the flewor perforans digitorum ; the outer and, when they cross, always the hind plantar, is named the flexor longus hallucis; but for the sake of brevity we may call the former the front plantar, because it generally moves the front toes, and the latter the hind plantar, because it generally closes the hind toe. The most common arrangement of the plan- tars is that found in the Common Fowl, and may therefore be called the Galline arrangement. In this bird, when the front plantar reaches the base of the tarsus it splits into three tendons, one of which leads to each of the three front toes. The hind plantar leads to the hind toe, but where it crosses the front plantar it sends down a branch (called the vinculum) to the front plantar, apparently to utilize its superfluous strength, which would otherwise be wasted on so feeble an organ as the hind toe of the Common Fowl and other similarly formed birds. The size of the vinculum varies according to the feebleness of the hallux. Where the hallux is absent or very small the vinculum absorbs the whole of Pico-Passerine Group of Birds. 31 the hind plantar (or nearly so); but where the hallux is much used (as in the Herons) the vinculum becomes very small, and disappears altogether in the Bittern and in most of the Passeres. The Passerine arrangement of the plantars thus intergrades with the Galline arrangement, of which it may be regarded as a modification. Two other slight modifications of this arrangement appear in some of the Falconide. In comparison with the Galline arrangement of the plan- tars and its modifications, the Picine arrangement appears to be quite distinct. It only occurs in zygodactyle birds, but not in all of them. In the typical Picine arrangement the front plantar leads to the outer front (or 3rd) toe only, the hind plantar dividing into three, to lead to the two hind (the Ist and 4th) and the inner front (or 2nd) toes. A slightly modified form of this arrangement occurs in the Trogonide, where the front plantar leads to the two front toes (the 3rd and 4th), and the hind plantar to the two hind toes (the Ist and 2nd). In the Picine arrangement, whether typical or Trogonine, the front plantar does not lead to the second toe. There remains yet a third arrangement of the deep plantar tendons, which differs from either of the other two, or from any of their modifications, to such an extent that it seems to denote, in the birds which possess it, that it has been derived by inheritance from a common ancestor, and has not been independently acquired by any of them. It also appears in two slightly differing forms, which have been unitedly called synpelmous. In synpelmous birds the plan- tars do not cross each other at the back of the tarsus (as in all other birds), but coalesce at the point where they usually cross. The peculiarity of this arrangement consists in the remarkable fact that the hallux is contracted by a tendon from the front plantar (imstead of the hind plantar, as in all other birds), sent down, in the Caprimulgide and their allies after, and in the Alcedinz and their allies defore, its coalescence with the hind plantar, the coalesced plantars splitting into three to contract the three front toes. In the 32 Mr. H. Seebohm on the Caprimulgine arrangement, whether typical or Alcedine, the hallux is contracted by the front plantar. I therefore propose to associate the synpelmous Picariz in an Order by themselves, and consequently to exclude them from the Pico-Passeres. Pico-PassEREs. The Pico-Passeres contain nearly half the species of existing birds, and are, on the whole, the most highly deve- loped. In the arrangement of their palatine bones they are generally egithognathous, but some of the more aberrant families contain species which are schizognathous, desmo- gnathous, or saurognathous. Of the innumerable characters which they all possess the following appear to be specially valuable for their diagnosis :— 1. They have no ambiens muscle. This character excludes all birds except the Podicipes, the ‘Striges, the Alcide, the Syndactyli, and some of the Casuarii, the Psittaci, the Tubinares, the Columb, and the Hero- diones. 2. The myological formula of the muscles of the thigh is AX or AXY (the accessory femoro-caudal is never present, whilst the femoro-caudal and the semitendinosus are never absent). This character excludes the Casuarii, the Striges, the Podicipes, the Columbze, and many other birds. 3. In their pterylosis the spinal feather-tract is never interrupted by a naked tract on the hind neck. This character excludes the Herodiones. 4. In the arrangement of the deep plantars, the hallux is always in direct connection with the hind plantar. This character excludes the synpelmous Picariz, or Syn- dactyli. 5. The dorsal vertebre are all heteroccelous. This character excludes the Psittaci, the Gavio-Limicole (of which the Alcide are a family), and some other birds. 6. They have no supraorbital fossee for the reception of the nasal glands. Pico-Passerine Group of Birds. 33 This character excludes the Tubinares. Each of these six characters appears in every Pico-Passerine bird ; each of them is also found in some bird which is not one of the Pico-Passeres ; but the combination of the six characters is never found in any bird which is outside the limits of the Pico-Passeres. The order to which we have restricted the name Pico- Passeres may be easily divided into five suborders, which appear to be natural groups. Passeres. There has been some difference of opinion as to the exact boundaries of this group. If the Passeres be diagnosed as egithognathous birds, with a cecum and a nude oil-giand, the Eurylemide will be admitted and the Upupide will be ex- cluded. If they be diagnosed as birds with free plantar tendons, and a spinal feather-tract uninterrupted between the crown and the upper back, the Upupidee will be admitted and the Eurylemide excluded. If they be diagnosed as egithognathous birds with free plantars, both the Eurylemide and the Upupide will be excluded. The last-named diag- nosis is so incomparably the best, the two characters accepted being so very much more cxclusively Passerine than the two rejected, that it seems wisest to adopt it, with all its con- sequences. The Passeres may therefore be diagnosed as follows :— 1. They are egithognathous. 2. The hind plantar is free from the front plantar. The division of the Passeres into families is a complicated question, which must be deferred to a future paper. Eurylem. If the Broadbills be regarded as too aberrant a family to be admitted into the suborder Passeres, they must be allowed to constitute a suborder by themselves. They are unques- tionably very nearly allied to the Passeres; they possess ceca, the oil-gland is nude, and in their pterylosis they agree with Hirundo and other aberrant Passerine birds, SER. VI.—VOL., II. D 34 Mr. H. Seebohm on the They have only one notch on each side of the posterior margin of the sternum, but their manubrinm is not forked, Neither of these characters is, however, exclusively Pas- serine, or universally so, They are syndactyle, by no means a Passerine character. They are very easily diagnosed. 1. They are egithognathous. 2. They have Galline plantars. 8. The oil-gland is nude, It is necessary to add the last character in order to exclude the 'Turnicidee and the Thinocoridz, which possess the first two characters. Upupe. The Upupe (including the Irrisoridz) differ from all exist- ing birds in combining two characters. 1. The hind plantar is free from the front plantar. This character excludes, so far as is known, all birds except a few of the Herodiones and most of the Passeres. 2. The feet of the coracoids are bridged over by the union of an outer with an inner episternal process. This character excludes, so far as is known, all birds except the Meropide, the Bucerotide, the Gallinz, and a genus of Cuculidee. The question is, which of these two characters is the oldest in the Upupe? It seems to me to be most probable that the Passeres and the Herodiones have independently lost the vinculum which connected the front plantar with the hind plantar in the feet of their common ancestors, and that the Upupe, like the Galline, have acquired an episternal bridge, independently of the Meropidz and the Bucerotide ; whilst the extremely exceptional arrangement of the plantars in the synpelmous Picariz has been inherited from a common ancestor. These conclusions, if sound, make it necessary to remove the Upupe from the Picariz to the Pico-Passeres, and to transfer the Cathartz from the Raptores to the synpelmous Picarie. The Upup# are Passerine in having the hallux very large and in having only one notch (or fenestra, as the case may Pico-Passerine Group of Birds. 35 be) on each side of the posterior margin of the sternum. The arrangement of their plantar tendons is precisely the same as that of the Passeres. The fact that, like the Buc- conide, the Galbulide, the Rhamphastide, and many of the Capitonide, they are desmognathous, cannot be regarded as of much importance ; but it must be admitted that they are not at all Passerine in their pterylosis. The spinal feather- tract has an interscapular fork, as in Cypselus, Caprimulgus, Coracias, &c.; and the inferior tract is completely forked on each side of the breast, as in most of the Scansores. ‘To find a combination similar to that of Upupa, it would probably be necessary to descend as low as the Gavie or Limicole. Scansores. The Scansores are a clearly defined group of birds, per- haps nearest allied to the Trogons, but having so many characters in common with the Upupe, the Eurylemi, and the Passeres, that they may be associated with them in an Order. So far as is known, the Scansores are the only birds in which the front plantar (flexor perforans digitorum) leads only to the third digit (the middle toe of anisodactyle birds, or the outer front toe of zygodactyle birds). This character alone is therefore sufficient to diagnose the Scansores ; but the further character may be added that they are zygodactyle (2. e. the outer front toe, or fourth digit, is reversed, and becomes the outer hind toe). The latter character, however, is not confined to the Scansores, but is also found in the Pseudo-Scansores (Coccyges, Musophagi, Striges, and Psit- taci), and to some extent in Pandion and Leptosomus. In the arrangement of their palatal bones the Scansores vary in aremarkable manner. The Indicatoridz resemble the Passeres in being zegithognathous ; the Capitonide are, some of them, egithognathous and some desmognathous; the Picidee are schizognathous, but the split vomer and small maxillo- palatines are so peculiar that they have been called sauro- gnathous; whilst the Rhamphastide, Galbulide, and Buc- conide are desmognathous. D2 36 Mr. H. Seebohm on the The femoro-caudal and semitendinosus muscles are always present, but the ambiens and accessory femoro-caudal are always absent. The accessory semitendinosus is nearly always present, but is absent in some of the Picide. E The Galbulide and the Bucconide have ceca and a nude oil-gland. The Rhamphastide, the Capitonid, and the Indicatoride have no ceca and a tufted oil-gland. The Picidz have also a tufted oil-gland, and the ceca are either absent or only rudimentary. In the arrangement of their feather-tracts these families do not differ very much from each other. In none of them is there an interscapular fork to the spinal tract, as there is in Upupa; but in all of them there is a post-scapular bare spinal space, asin Hurylemus and Hirundo. In the Indicato- ride, the Galbulide, and the Bucconide the spinal tract passes between the scapulars and then divides into two branches, one of which passes on each side of this bare space; but in the Picidz, the Rhamphastide, and the Capitonide this fork is omitted, and the spinal tract suddenly ends in a bare dorsal space. The arrangement of the feather-tracts on the rump varies, but that on the underparts is remarkably constant. There are two distinct feather-tracts on each side of the breast, coalescing on the shoulder (as in Upupa), except in the Galbulidze, where they coalesce along the whole line. The Galbulide are also abnormal in having a transverse clavicular feather-tract on each side of the breast. From these characters the suborder Scansores and the six families it contains may be diagnosed as follows :— 1. The fourth digit is reversed. 2. The front plantar leads to the third digit only. The Scansores may be subdivided into two groups :— A. Passerine Scansores, with ceeca and with a nude oil-gland. Bucconide: vomer absent; a clavicular feather-tract on each side of breast. ~ Galbulide : vomer present ; no clavicular feather-tract on each side of breast. Pico-Passerine Group of Birds. 37 B. Picine Scansores, without ceca and with a tufted oil- gland. Picide: vomer slender, pointed, split ; maxillo-palatines free. Indicatoride : vomer bifid ; maxillo-palatines free; spinal feather-tract surrounding a post-scapular naked space, but otherwise continuous. Capitonide: vomer bifid ; maxillo-palatines sometimes free, sometimes coalesced ; spinal feather-tract interrupted by the absence of the anterior postscapular fork. Rhamphastide: vomer truncated; maxillo-palatines co- alesced. + Heterodactyli. The Trogons are very curious birds. They agree with the | Scausores and the Pseudo-Scansores in having two toes in front and two behind; but they differ from both those groups (and from all other birds) in having the second digit (the inner front toe of anisodactyle birds) reversed. In a hete- rodactyle bird the hallux is the outer of the two hind toes, whereas in a zygodactyle bird the hallux is the inner one. This perfectly unique arrangement of the toes is correlated with a perfectly unique arrangement of the deep plantar tendons. The front plantar leads to the two front toes, and the hind plantar to the two hind toes. This arrangement (apparently so simple and natural) is in strong contrast with those of the two zygodactyle groups. In the Scansores the front plantar leads to the third digit only, whilst in the Pseudo-Scansores the hind plantar leads to the first digit (the hallux) only. In other respects the Trogons are also remarkable. They combine the cranial characters of Caprimulgus with the pterylosis of Motacilla, and the thigh-muscles and sternum of Alcedo. They are schizognathous and holorhinal; and they are the only birds in the Order of Pico-Passeres which permanently retain their basipterygoid processes. The Heterodactyli consist of one family only, the Tro- gonide. 38 Mr. J. Whitehead on the V.—Notes on the Birds of Palawan. By Jonn WuiTEHEAD. (Plate IT.) / I terr Labuan on 18th June, 1887, in a small trading- steamer belonging to a Chinaman who had several stores on the southern end of Palawan. The steamer landed us at Taguso, on the S.E. coast (many miles south of Puerto Princesa), promising to return in two and a half months ; but as she did not turn up until nearly four, I was unable to change my collecting-ground to the N.W. coast, as I had intended. When we landed in Taguso there were no Spaniards there, and the natives were doing much as they liked. Pala- wan is notorious for the bad characters which have taken refuge there from the Sulu and other islands; and twice since I have been in the “Far East”? have the Sulus murdered the Chinese and sacked their stores. In the interior of Palawan is another race, nearly related to the Bornean Dusans and Muruts ; these people are under the thumb of the coast Sulus. The Sulus will not allow a Dusan to sell any jungle-produce to the Chinese, but oblige the Chinese to buy from them, as middle men. As one Sulu said to me, when I asked questions on this subject, “ How was he to get a living if things were otherwise ?” All my attempts to make friends with the Dusans failed ; the Sulus, though promising to help me, were all the time, I believe, influencing the Dusans against me, they thinking, no doubt, that my real object was to trade direct with the natives inland. After two weeks’ palavering, I went some miles inland to visit a chief, but he would give me no assis- tance. A few days later I went to the mountains, my own men carrying sufficient provisions for three days; but the natives we met were very uncivil, refusing even to show us the right paths. A few days after my return to the coast some fifty Dusans came to the store and threatened to attack us if we went inland again. As my party only numbered nine, and there was nothing to be gained by such short expeditions, I did not attempt the interior again in that direction. Birds of Palawan. 39 Some weeks afterwards I made friends with a Dusan chief some distance off, and spent a week on a mountain about 2060 feet high. On this hill I collected Cryptolopha montis, but no other mountain-species. I should rather doubt if an island like Palawan, which has no land above 6000 fect in altitude, has a very numerous highland fauna. The continued rain during the first months of my sojourn in Palawan made preserving large specimens very difficult, most of my birds being obliged to be dried before the fire. The accommodation we had to put up with was very bad, the store being placed on the edge of a mud-swamp. I built my bed up with empty oil-cases and planks. At high water the sand inside the shed became quite soft. Numbers of disgusting land-crabs would heave up heaps of wet, stink- ing, black mud during the night all over the store, and often enough you would find a small eruption within a few feet of your bed in the morning. Then there was a peculiar red boiled-looking lobster, which made great heaps all over the place. The Chinese smoked opium during a greater part of the day and were all ill with fever; this was only to be ex- pected from the position of their house. All my men and I myself suffered from this several months after we had left the island. I will now try to give some account of our collecting- grounds. The coast is fringed with high forest, reaching inland about half a mile; this fringe is probably left by the natives to break the wind and to shelter their rice-crops. In this forest Megapodes abound, Pittas and J ungle-fowl are plentiful, and, more rarely, that prince of birds, Polyplectron. In the trees above the most numerous are the various species of Pigeons and screaming Parrots, but nearly all the small species in the following list may be met with. Behind this band of forest are plains of coarse grass, inha- bited by two species of Quails, Cisticole, and Centrococcyges ; a few white Egrets attend the Sulu cattle. This sort of scenery continues until you reach the foot of the mountains, no great distance from the coast. When the great rush of 40 Mr. J. Whitehead on the birds from the far north takes place these plains have a much more lively aspect; hundreds of Wagtails, Pipits, Snipes, and other small Waders are continually flying up on your approach. The swamps at the river-mouths have also their occupants —Sunbirds, Rhipiduras, and several species of Herons and Kingfishers, which are not met with elsewhere. Towards the middle of September, after we had collected all the resident species within our reach, the sea-coast, with its rocky points and estuaries, was by far the most attractive hunt- ing-ground ; for about that time the great winter migration from the north reaches the coasts and forests of Palawan. Most Waders passed between 5 and 6 p.M., all in one direction, S.W.; if a small flock settled and was disturbed, never did the birds return, but still hurried on their southward course. By continuing this line of flight they would touch Balabac, and then turn due south down to the coast of Borneo, where some remain for the winter, but most seem to travel further still. When the wind was blowing gales from the 8.W., bringing up heavy clouds loaded with rain, then was the liveliest time for moving ; on calm, and even moderate days, it was seldom worth while to visit the coast. All these great. travellers were as fat as butter, and in no state for a bird- collector. The number of species as yet recorded from the island of Palawan is 157, of which 36 are peculiar to that island, 19 are found only in the Philippines, 36 in the Malayan, but not in the Philippine region, and 13 are common to both regions. Then there are no less than 49 migrants, which distribute themselves over the Eastern Archipelago during the northern winter. One species (Cryptolopha montis) is Bornean and not Malayan, one (Dendrophila frontalis) is Malayan but not Bornean, and one (Agithina viridis) has’ been hitherto only found in Borneo and Sumatra. Lastly comes Gallus bankiva, which is found throughout the Malayan and Philippine regions, but of which I believe no specimens are as yet known from Borneo. Of 36 species peculiar to the island, 5 only have their Birds of Palawan. 41 allies in the Philippines; 4 others are forms distinct from those of either the Malayan or Philippine regions. The Malayan forms predominate by 36, as against 19 from the Philippines; but there is a curious absence of several weak-winged Malayan genera, such as Trogons and Barbets, in the list. The Timeliine birds are all peculiar to Palawan, and the two Pittas arrive from the Philippines; so that if there ever was any connexion between Palawan and Borneo, or with any other Malayan territory now more remote, it must have existed for only a short period of time. As yet, I believe, no species of Merops has been met with in Palawan, which is curious, as in the large adjacent islands this genus is very plentiful. The species in the following list peculiar to Palawan are marked thus y+. Migrants x. P. = Philippine region only. M. = Malay region only. The nomenclature is mostly taken from Mr. Sharpe’s article on my collection from Palawan published in this Journal in 1888 (p. 193). 1. Cacatua HaMaTURopYGIA. P. Common ; generally met with in pairs; has a slow flapping flight, and often screams when on the wing. During the heat of the day Cockatoos rest in the shade high up in the trees, where they carry on their flirtations, screaming and erecting their crests and performing many antics. Towards evening they fly in flocks to the rice-fields, doing much harm before the harvest. Eye black, orbit white; bill pale blue, white at the tip; feet dull blue. Sulu, “ Agi.” 2. TANYGNATHUS LUZONENSIS. P. Very common. ‘This Parrot is one of the first birds that attracts the traveller’s attention in Palawan, as it flies swiftly from forest to forest in small flocks, screaming loudly. In flight the wings are often kept much below the level of the body. This species frequents the tops of high trees, feeding 42 Mr. J. Whitehead on the on various jungle fruits, but often during the heat of the day they hide amongst thick-foliaged trees only a few feet from the ground, from which they dash out with loud screams when disturbed. Bill rosy red; feet horny green; the pupil black, with a small black ring round it. 3. PRIONITURUS CYANEICEPS. +. This beautiful little Parrakeet is nearly as common as the last species, but it was some time before I could make them out to be different birds, owing to the swift flight of both species ; then, again, the curious racket tail-feathers were not visible, nearly all the birds being in full moult. In August, however, I collected some beautiful specimens of both sexes whilst they were feeding on some fruit-bearing trees only a few feet from the ground. The racket tail-feathers apparently grow without the web on the shaft, as in some immature feathers the stem was still buried in the shell and bare, whilst in the young of both sexes the short shafts are slightly webbed; so that it would seem that the bird does not itself destroy the web of the two centre tail-feathers, as the Motmots are known to do. Eye black; bill dull white; feet greenish. 4, AstuR TRIivirncaTUs. M., P. Only one young bird shot. 5. SpizAETUS LIMNAETUs. M. Scarce. 6. SpPrIzAETUS PHILIPPINENSIS. P. Obtained by Dr. Platen. 7. BUTASTER INDICUS. x. 8. Hauiartus teucocaster. M., P. 9. SprnorNis BacHa. P., A specimen of this species shot by me, in a rice-field, fell from a high tree, and the crown of its head struck on a log, completely cutting every feather off. As it seemed to me a bird I had met with in Borneo, I did not preserve it. Birds of Palawan. 43 10. Pernis pTILONORHYyNcHUs. M. Only one specimen procured. 11. Fatco PEREGRINUS. +. A winter migrant, arriving about the middle of September. 12. HyporrioRcHIS SEVERUS. *. I met with this little Hawk several times on the sea-coast, and often started before daylight to a point on the coast where it used to pass, but unfortunately never got within shot. 13. Circus sPILONOTUS. +. I saw a white Harrier, which was probably of this species (as it is very common in Borneo), on the 12th September. 14. PANDION HALIAETUS. +*. One or two seen on the coast. 15. Baza teucopats. +. (Plate II.) Baza leucopias, Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p. 195. If this species is confined to Palawan, it will be interesting to find a strong-winged bird keeping to such a limited area. I rather expect it will be met with in the Philippines, which are so near to the eastern parts of Palawan. Mr. Sharpe begs me to state that his name of leucopais (Nevxds, white; mais, a child) was misprinted Jewcopias, and. he wishes it changed back to his original spelling. 16. SYRNIUM WHITEHEADI. f. The loud “hoo, hoo,” of this fine Owl first attracted my attention, I remember, one evening when returning to the shed under which we lived, being quite startled by the loudness of its note. I several times saw these birds during the day in the swamps, but they had probably been disturbed from the forests close at hand. On the mountains inland I heard several. Orbit pink ; eye and bill black. This is the Syrniwm wiepkeni of Blasius, who described Platen’s Palawan collection (cf. Ibis, 1888, p. 372). As to the question of priority of names, I have written to AA Mr. J. Whitehead on the Mr. Bowdler Sharpe and add his reply:—“It is certainly unfortunate that both you and Dr, Platen collected at the same time in Palawan, and that the names given by Dr, Blasius and myself should clash. I do not think, however, that the priority of titles claimed by Dr. Blasius can be maintained fora moment. I might have described your collection many weeks before I did publish the paper, but I was glad to accept the offer of the Mditors of ‘The Ibis’ to illustrate it with two plates. I therefore kept it back till the April number of that Journal, and I con- tented myself with putting a notice in ‘Nature’ to the effect that J had deseribed your collection, and that the account would appear in April. Dr, Blasius appears to have published his descriptions of the new species in the laudable desire to procure credit for his countryman, Dr, Platen; and if these descriptions had appeared in ‘ Ornis’ in anything like reasonable time, we might have had some difficulty in deter- mining the question of priority, I find, however, that the April number of ‘ Ornis,’ with Dr, Blasius’s paper in it, was delivered in London in the middle of June, and allowing liberally for delay in receiving the number, there can be little doubt that ‘The Lbhis’ appeared long before it. As to the preliminary deseriptions in a Brunswick newspaper, on which Dr. Blasius bases his priority of names, I should never think of allowing such a title to take precedence of one published in a regular inanner, and [ think you are quite right in adopting all the names which I gave to your species,” 17, Scops Evunetvr. tf. I find that Mr, Sharpe has not much faith in his Seops Juliginosa, which in all probability is only the young of 8S, everclli, 18, Ninox scUTULATA, Met with by Dr, Platen only, 19, THriponax HAnGITTI., ‘. This fine Woodpecker was met with in some of the forests Birds of Palawan. 45 in fair numbers, but was very rare in other localities, keeping high up in the trees. Eye pale yellow. 20. CHRYSOCOLAPTES ERYTHROCEPHALUS. f+. Fairly common in certain localities. Hye lake-red ; feet greenish olive ; bill pale yellow at the tip, then deeper ; at the base dull greenish. 21. Tiga EVERETTI. f. 22.-MULLERIPICUS PULVERULENTUsS. M. 23. EurysToMuUS oRIENTALIS. M., P. Only a few met with. 24. ALCEDO BENGALENSIS. *. A winter visitant to Palawan, arriving about the 20th September. 25. ALcEeDo asiaTica. M. Scarce. 26. PrLarcopsis Goutpr. P. Scarce, frequenting the mangrove-swamps near the coast. 27. Cryx RuFIpDoRsSA. M. Scarce. 28. HaLcyon PILEATA. >, A winter migrant, arriving about 23rd September. 29. Hatcyon coromanpba. M., P. Scarce. 30. Hatcyon cuotoris. M., P. This species was more common in July than in other months, but by September had entirely disappeared, pro- bably having left for Borneo. 31. ANTHRACOCEROS LEMPRIERI. fF. This interesting Hornbill is by no means rare, but is diffi- cult to shoot, frequenting high trees. 32. CoaTura cicantea. M. Fairly common, but requires a good shot to bring it down, flying swiftly and very high, AG Mr. J. Whitehead on the 30. CALLOCALIA TROGLODYTES. P. Met with on the north-west coast. 34. CaLutocatia FuciPHAGA. M., P. Common. 35. BatTrRacHostomus cornutus. M. Only one specimen collected. 36. CAPRIMULGUS MACRURUS. M. Fairly common. 37. CAPRIMULGUS MANILLENSIS. P. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 38. CUCULUS SONNERATI. +. I believe only a winter visitor. 39. CUCULUS CANOROIDES. x. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 40. CacoMANTIS MERULINUS. M., P. Fairly common, frequenting the grass plains. 41. Hierococcyx STRENUUS. x. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 42. CHRYSOCOCCYX XANTHORHYNCHUsS. M. A few seen. 43. SURNICULUS LUGUBRIS. M. Scarce. 44, EUDYNAMIS MINDANENSIS. P. See my note on this species (‘ Ibis,’ 1888, p. 409). The Palawan species is the true #. mindanensis and not HE. ma- layana. The young female has a greenish gloss on the plumage, while that of the male is blue. 45. Dryococcyx HARRINGTONI. f. Fairly common ; habits similar to those of Rhamphococcyx erythrognathus of Borneo. 46. CentTrococcyx EURYCERCUsS, M. Scarce. Birds of Palawan. 47 47. CENTROCOCCYX AFFINIS. M. Fairly common. 48. Lantus LUzoNENSIS. x. A winter visitor, arriving about 25th September. 49. GrRAavUcALUS SUMATRENSIS. M. Fairly common. 50. LaLace pominica. M. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 51. Artamus LEUcoGASTER. M. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 52. Prertcrocotus i¢Neus. M. Fairly common. 53. PERICROCOTUS CINEREUS. x. A winter visitor, arriving about the 19th September, in small flocks. They frequent the jungle trees that fringe the coast and migrate south-west. Eye, feet, and bill black. 54. HyLoTerPE WHITEHEADI. f. Scarce ; met with in old forest. 55. CHIBIA PALAWANENSIS. fF. Fairly common, frequenting the edges of forest. 56. BUCHANGA PALAWANENSIS, sp. nov. f. This species is not B. leucophea, being a smaller and much darker bird, and having a jet-black patch of feathers over the nostrils. The eye in B. leucophea is brick-red, and in this new species dark grey, so I venture to describe it under the name of Buchanga palawanensis. Adult male. General colour above dark steel-grey. Wings darker and with a greenish gloss; quills black ; inner web of primaries sooty black. Tail near the base slightly lighter than the back, but deepening to sooty black at the end, with a slight greenish gloss. Nasal bristles and a small part of the forehead next the bill black; feathers round eye and ear-coverts sooty black. Under surface dark steel-grey, without much gloss on the throat ; under wing-coverts sooty 48 Mr. J. Whitehead on the grey, with steel-grey edgings. Bill and legs black ; iris dark grey. Total length 9°5 inches; tail to tip of outer feather 4°8 ; wing 5:2. Female. Like the male, but slightly smaller. 57. HeMICHELIDON SIBIRICA. . Met with by Dr. Platen only. 58. RuipIpURA NicRITORQUIS. P. Fairly common, frequenting the mangrove-swamps on the coast. 59. SIPHIA LEMPRIERI. fT. Fairly common, frequenting the low growth in the old forest. . 60. SrpHia ERITHACUS. fF. Fairly common, frequenting the low and tangled growth near the ground in old forest. I found a nest of this species on the lower slopes of one of the mountains ; it was placed amongst some dead palm-leaves, about three feet from the ground, and composed of the same leaves, but lined with fine plant-stalks. The eggs were two in number, of a pale blue colour, slightly spotted at the larger end with red. Eye black ; mandible black, lower lght cobalt ; feet white. 61. XANTHOLESTES PANAYENSIS. P. Frequents the old forest. 62. CRYPTOLOPHA MONTIS. This, perhaps the most interesting discovery of my expe- dition to Palawan, throws a light on what may be expected from the highlands of that island, that they will probably be found to have an ornis similar to that of the highlands of Borneo. I discovered this little Flycatcher first as a new species on Kina Balu (Borneo), and then met with it again for the first time in Palawan. It was shot on the top of a small mouutain about 2000 feet high, and is the only highland form as yet procured in Palawan. Birds of Palawan. 49 63. MuscicapPa GrisEisticta (Swinhoe). +x. A winter migrant to Palawan, arriving about the 10th September. 64. Hyrornymis azurga. M., P. Fairly common. 65. ZEOCEPHALUS CYANESCENS. fF. Fairly common in the forests, frequenting the lower branches of high trees. Eye black; bill and legs cobalt-blue; inside of mouth bright green. The adult female differs from the male in having a greyish- brown back, light brown wings, each feather being centred with dull black, tail reddish brown, dusky brown at the tip. Some are light brown on back and wings, with rusty brown flanks and white abdomen. Young males are like the females. 66. ACROCEPHALUS ORIENTALIS. *. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 67. HiruNnpo RUSTICA. +. A winter visitor, arriving in September. 68. Hirunpo savanica. M., P. Fairly common. 69. ORIOLUS PALAWANENSIS. 7. Fairly common, frequenting high trees in old forest. 7O. OrtoLus xANTHONOTUS. M. Scarce. 71. Prrra sorpipa. PP. Found in fair numbers in the forest near the coast. Young different from the adults. Above dull brownish green; rump bright blue; head rusty brown; cheeks, nape, and sides of head rusty black, forming a distinct ring round the back of the head ; throat dusky black, with broad white band stretching across to the sides of the neck ; chest rusty brown ; abdomen and under tail-coverts pale pink. Wings as in the adult, but without the bright shoulder-patch, which is greenish SER. VI.—VOL. It. E 50 Mr. J. Whitehead on the blue, with the outermost feathers centred with white, forming a distinct band. 72. Prirvta ERYTHROGASTRA. P. Fairly common, like the last species, and met with on the mountains inland up to 2000 feet. The Sulu name for this bird is “ Wou wa,” which, when whistled, is similar to this Pitta’s note. Eye hazel ; legs slate-blue ; bill black. The young are quite different from the adults, being of a- dark brown above, with slate-blue tails and pinkish-brown breasts, running into pale pink on the abdomen; neck and upper breast-feathers edged with brown ; bill orange-red at tip and base, rest black. 73. TURDINUS RUFIFRONS. fT. Common, but difficult to shoot, owing to its habits, fre- quenting, as it does, the tangled masses of herbage near the ground. Eye almost white; legs and lower mandible pale blue, upper mandible black. 74, MixorNis woopr. ft. Fairly common, frequenting the thick forest-growth near the ground. Eye dull yellow. I found a nest of this species, which was placed in a creeping bamboo, about three feet from the ground, and contained two eggs, which were white spotted with red. The nest is a loose ball of leaves slightly lined with fine stalks. 75. ANUROPSIS CINEREICEPS. fF. Scarce, frequenting the thick tangled masses of jungle. I took a nest of this species on 2nd September. The nest, which was placed close to the ground and made of bamboo-leaves, contained two blue eggs thickly speckled with dark brown. 76. PriILOcICHLA FALCATA. fT. Fairly common in certain localities, frequenting the tangled growth on the ground. Birds of Palawan. 51 Eye hazel; legs horny brown; beak black, lower man- dible dull white at the base. 77. IRENA TWEEDDALII. f. Fairly common, though local, feeding on fruits and berries. Eye brick-red in male, brown in female; feet and bill black. 78. PycNONOTUS CINEREIFRONS. fF. 79. PHYLLORNIS PALAWANENSIS. f. Fairly common, frequenting the more open spots in the forest. 80. AiciTHINA virIDIS. Borneo and Sumatra only. 81. Micropus MELANCCEPHALUs. M. 82. IoLE sTRIATICEPS. f+. 83. CRINIGER FRATER. fT. 84. CRINIGER PALAWANENSIS. f. It is very difficult to distinguish these last three species when in the forest. 85. MonricoLa sOLiITaRIUS. *. A winter migrant, arriving about the 26th September. 86. CITTOCINCLA NIGRA. f. Rather local, not easily shot, frequenting the thick low growth close to the coast and generally keeping well out of harm’s way. The note is a “ chick, chick,’”’ sharply uttered. The young were fully fledged by the end of June. They are spotted with brown above and on the throat and wings, like the young of the Robin; the primaries are edged with brown; abdomen white. Adults: eye, feet, and bill black. Young: feet and bill bluish white. 87. PHYLLOSCOPUS BOREALIS. *. A winter visitor, arriving about 16th September. 88. Cisticona cisticota. M. Eye hazel; legs and lower mandible flesh-colour, upper light brown. E2 52 Mr. J. Whitehead on the Fairly common on the grass-plains, but difficult to collect, as you never know exactly where the bird is in the long grass. It suddenly starts up within a few yards, and flies with a jerky flight for about fifty yards, when it is again lost sight of in the long grass. But it will settle at times on the lower branches of the small trees which stud these plains, and may then be easily approached. 89. OrtHoToMUS RUFICEPS. M. Scarce. 90. MoracinLa FLAVA. +x. A winter visitor, first seen on 13th September, when the vanguard passed in a south-westerly direction. In October they were still migrating in hundreds, but were mostly young birds. 91. ANTHUS GUSTAVI. +. Mixed up with the flocks of Motacilla flava; first seen about 20th September. 92. ANTHUS MACULATUS. x. Obtained by Mr. A. H. Everett. 93. Parus AMABILIS. f. This beautiful little Titmouse is fairly common in the forest, frequenting the high trees in small parties, probably families. The young were fully fledged in the beginning of September. I do not believe that Parus elegans was found in Palawan by Professor Steere, though a skin of P. elegans in the British Museum is labelled as from that island. But the date it bears is too near to the dates on other specimens of the same species from Luzon, to make it at all doubtful where the bird really came from. All specimens of Parus collected by Dr. Platen and myself in Palawan are P. amabilis. Eye and bill black ; bill at base bluish ; feet dull cobalt- blue. The description of the adult female (in B. M. Catalogue, vol. vill. p. 22) from typical specimens collected by Professor Birds of Palawan. 53 Steere really applies to the adult male only, so I take it that they were wrongly sexed. Adult female. Head greenish black, slightly greener on throat ; a pale yellow collar at the back of the neck ; back olive-green, slightly grey on the rump. Upper tail-coverts greenish black ; tail brownish black, tipped and marked as in the male, but to a very much less degree. Wings dark brown, marked as in the male, but not nearly so pronounced ; primaries externally washed with greenish yellow, but quills not tipped with white; rest of the under surface slightly duller than in the male. The young are brown above, more greenish on the lower back, with a distinct yellow collar, as in the female ; beneath pale yellow, with a slightly greyish tinge on the throat. Some young males have the adult plumage on the throat and breast, but the back is much mingled with immature feathers, which have faded into rusty brown. The white spots on the wings and tail often become worn off. 94. DenpROPHILA FRONTALIS. M. (but not Bornean). This Nuthatch is fairly common in the more open country, especially amongst the dead trees, which are left standing, often in numbers, in the rice-fields. This, curiously enough, is not the Bornean species, D. corallipes (which has bright- red legs, and is of a richer colour in plumage), but is the true D.frontalis of Java, Sumatra, and other islands. Thus it is doubtful whether Dendrophila frontalis reached Palawan vid Borneo. D. enochlamys of the Philippines is more like the Bornean species, both being more brightly coloured than D. frontalis, but the Philippine bird is brown-legged like D. frontalis. The orbital skin of the typical D. frontalis is lemon-yellow, that of the Palawan D. frontalis grey. Sulu, “ Baltélhk.” Eye straw-yellow; bill vermilion; orbital skin grey ; legs light brown. 95. Myzantue pyoma#a. P. Scarce, feeding on small fruits and berries. 54, Mr. J. Whitehead on the 96. PRIONOCHILUS JOHANNA. f. Fairly common, frequenting open places in the forests, feeding on small fruits. In Mr. Sharpe’s paper on my Palawan collection, he did not describe the female, so I add a description :—General colour above olive-green, with a bright yellow patch on the rump ; head slightly grey, with a dull yellow patch on the crown ; wing-coverts and tail brownish black, edged with greenish yellow; primaries edged with grey ; sides of face and ear-coverts greyish brown, with a distinct white cheek- stripe, followed by a brown line along the side of the throat ; under surface bright yellow, slightly deeper on the fore neck ; throat almost white, slightly mingled with yellow; flanks dull greyish yellow. This species has a longer bill than P. wxanthopygius of Borneo, its nearest ally. 97. CINNYRIS SPERATA. P. This little Flower-pecker was rather scarce ; most of my specimens were collected in a large swamp, where the trees at the time were in flower, and were frequented by nearly all the other Sun-birds found in Palawan. The females, how- ever, are very difficult to obtain; during four months I only procured one specimen. 98. CINNYRIS AURORA. fT. Fairly common in certain localities, where the country is open enough ; in habits and note exactly resembling C. pec- toralis. On a large plain, studded here and there with clumps of bamboo and low trees, I collected a few pairs, all of which had nests, on the 29th June. The nests hang from the ends of the boughs, often in a very exposed position. The eggs are two in number, and are similar to those of C. pectoralis. 99. CHALCOSTETHA (NsIGnis. M. Very common in the mangrove-swamps. 100. AiTHOPYGA SHELLEYI. f. Fairly common, frequenting the edges of old forest. The female is, I believe, undescribed, and is above bright Birds of Palawan. 55 olive-green, greyer on head and rump; wings brown out- wardly, edged with reddish brown. ‘Two centre tail-feathers olive-green, with a black blotch near the tip; which in certain lights is metallic green ; rest of tail black, tipped with olive- yellow, edged outwardly near the base with reddish yellow. Under surface greyish olive on the sides of the face, throat, and breast ; abdomen pale yellow, deepening on the under tail-coverts. Faded females are dull brown above ; pale greyish brown on the throat, breast, and flanks. 101. ANTHREPTES MALACCENSIs. M. Scarce. 102. ARACHNOTHERA DILUTIOR. fT, Plentiful in the mangrove-swamps, feeding amongst the flowers. Eye hazel; orbit sulphur-yellow ; feet dull blue. 103. CoRONE PUSILLA. fT. Plentiful in all old jungle, feeding entirely on fruit. This species never seems to settle on the ground or to visit the vicinity of native villages, and I never saw it near the Sulu cattle. Here we find in Palawan an interesting member of the Crow family which has attained none of the pernicious habits that make his more civilized brethren in other parts of the globe so renowned. It will be interesting to see if, when Palawan becomes opened up for planting and its forests destroyed, its Crow will become more civilized too, and change its present mode of life into that of a garbage- eating pilferer. I am afraid civilization will benefit the Crow as little as it does the native, so that our philanthropic European race will improve them both, as it generally does, off the face of the earth. But to return to the Crow: it is, no doubt, one of the most interesting birds in Palawan, and may often be noticed making flights from forest to forest, with neck outstretched, and uttering a peculiar “Ka-ka-gug-gug” note. During flight the wings are often held below the body, the primary feathers only being used with a quick flittering motion. Eye, bill, and feet black. ; 56 Mr. J. Whitehead on the 104. SturRNIA VIOLACEA. x. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 105. CALORNIS PANAYENSIs. P. Scarce. 106. EULABES PALAWANENSIS. fF. Fairly common. 107. OxycERCA EVERETTI. fF. A few collected ; feeding on rice or grass-seeds. 108. Munia gacori. P. Common on the native rice-fields. 109. OsMoTRERON veRNANS. M. Common on the more open spaces, frequenting the small clumps of trees found on the plains. 110. TrERon nastca. M. Habits as of the last species. 111. CarporpHaca anEA. M. Very plentiful, frequenting the swamps during the heat, and the jungle fruit-trees early and late in the day. 112. CarropHaca BicoLtor. M. Common on all the small islands round Palawan. 113. LeucoTRERON LECLANCHERI. P. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 114. Turrur pussumieri. P. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 115. Catq@nas nicoparica. M. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 116. Prinopus MELANOcEPHALUS. M. Fairly common, mingling in flocks with Osmotreron vernans, and in hike localities. 117. CHaLcopHaPs INDICA. *. A migrant to Palawan, I believe, as it was very common when we first arrived in the island, but by September none were to be met with. Birds of Palawan. ane 118. Turrur TierR1na. M. Scarce and very local. 119. Macropyera TENUIROsTRIS. P. Fairly common, frequenting thick undergrowth and low jungle. 120. PoLYPLECTRON NAPOLEONIS. fF. This splendid little Pheasant is scarce and local, all my specimens having been collected in one forest, and although my men set hundreds of snares in other forests we never met with another during three months. One female was eaten by a wild cat in one of the traps, and I rather expect this little tiger destroys numbers of this beautiful bird. This species, like the Argus Pheasant, has its ‘ showing- off” arena, a neatly-swept patch some three or four feet in diameter ; the chosen spot is generally in some unfrequented part of the forest. I often noticed that this ring had a small hump of earth in the middle, where no doubt the male birds show off their splendid plumage and perhaps do battle. Their battles, if they have any, must be very short and deci- sive, as the double spurs of the cock would be sufficient to cut his adversary into bits. I am inclined to think that the birds pair and are not polygamous, as we collected three pairs; but that was not during the nesting-season, which is probably in the months of December and January. Kye dark hazel; skin round eye and patch on cheek of the male reddish pink ; legs blackish brown. Mr. A. H. Everett gives the name as “Tandikan”; but the natives of Palawan call it “Sulu Malak” and “ Dusan Bértik.” 121. Gatius BAnkiva. M., P.; but, as yet, not found in Borneo. Common in the forests. I captured a cock and two hens, which soon became tame. 122. EXxcaLFACTORIA CHINENSIS. M. Fairly common on the open plains. 58 Mr. J. Whitehead on the 123. Turnix NiGRESCENS. P. Mr. Ogilvie Grant (vide Ibis, 1889, p. 459) has shown me T. nigrescens of Tweeddale, from which it is impossible to separate the Palawan bird; but Professor Blasius has named a species from this island, 7. haynaldi, which may be dif- ferent from those collected by myself. This species is fairly common on the coarse grass plains, especially in dry localities, where the grass is poor. If flushed more than once it would often fly straight into the forests which bordered these plains, thus rendering further pursuit impossible. On the 8rd of September I found a nest containing three eggs hard set. The birds had made a decided nest of grass- stems amongst some tufts of grass and low-growing shrubs in a stony place. The eggs are of a dull greenish grey, finely speckled all over with black. The maie was sitting. Legs pale yellow. Bull at base king’s yellow, tip black. Feet yellow, with a slight greenish shade. 123 a. Mrecaropius cumine1. See my notes, bis, 1888, p. 411. 124, ALGIALITIS GEOFFROYI. *. Arrives in flocks about the middle of August, and seemed to have taken up its quarters, not moving on so rapidly as other species. 125. ANGIALITIS DUBIA. +. First seen on 30th July, singly or in pairs. 126. ANGIALITIS CANTIANA. +. Arrives about 17th September. 127. ANGIALITIS MONGOLICA. *. Only one shot, on 25th September. 128. ANGIALITIS VEREDA. *. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 129. Aieratitis PERONI. M. The only resident species. Birds of Palawan. 59 130. CHARADRIUS FULVUS. +. Begins to arrive in small flocks about 20th September ; generally rests but a short time, and flies far out to sea only a few feet above the water. 131. CHARADRIUS HELVETICUS. +. Only one specimen obtained on 3rd of October ;apparently much later than C. fulvus in its southward movement. 132. STREPSILAS INTERPRES. +. First seen on 19th September, rapidly passing S.W., gene- rally in pairs. 1383. EsaAcUs MAGNIROSTRIS. x. Only one obtained. 134. GLAREOLA ORIENTALIS. *. 135. LIMICOLA PLATYRHYNCHA. +. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 136. NUMENIUS LINEATUS. +. Only a few seen, singly, on and after September 3rd. Whimbrels were more plentiful, migrating in small flocks ; but I failed to obtain one. 137. TRINGOIDES HYPOLEUCUS. x. Plentiful after 380th of July. 138. Toranus CALIDRIS. +. First seen on 17th September, plentiful a few days later, migrating quickly in small flocks. 139. ToraNUS BREVIPES. +. A few seen on and after September 10th, 140. ToraNus GLAREOLA. x. First seen on July 30th. 141. TeREKIA CINEREA. +. Only one shot, on 20th September, feeding in company with other small Waders. 142. TRINGA RUFICOLLIS. x. First seen on 17th September. This little Stint did not seem to be in such a hurry to get south as most of the other 60 On the Birds of Palawan. species, spending a few days about the same place, migrating in pairs or in small flocks. 143. GALLINAGO MEGALA. x. First seen on 30th September. 144. AMAURORNIS PH@NICURA. M. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 145. Rauiina Fasciata. M., P. Fairly common and resident, frequenting the jungles and hills far inland. The young are covered with black down, and were fully fledged in the middle of July. Eye brick-red. Legs pink. Upper mandible black, lower greyish blue. 146. HerropiAs INTERMEDIA. +. A winter migrant, arriving about the 10th September. 147. BuBULCUS COROMANDUs. *. A few noticed with the Sulu cattle in July, but their numbers were greatly increased during September. 148. DEMIEGRETTA NIGRA. +. In numbers on the north-west coast in the beginning of October. 149. ArpEA sumaTRANA. M. A scarce but, I believe, a resident species. 150. Buroripes savanica. M., P. Scarce. 151. Gorsacuius MELANOLOPHUS. M., P. Ratherrare. For description of its eggs see the continua- tion of my Bornean notes, which will appear shortly. 152. Sterna Berci. All over the east. A few seen. 153. STERNA SINENSIS. +. A winter migrant, arriving about the 20th September, mixed with flocks of the next species. 154. Anovus stotipus. M. On the Martineta Tinamou. 61 155. STERNA MELANAUCHEN. M. Met with by Dr. Platen only. 156. HypRocHELIDON HYBRIDA. *. A winter migrant, arriving in small flocks about the 20th September. 157. FREGATA MINOR. ox: | #4: | Holbox. * + | Mugeres. ¥+xK +: HK SHS OKT & 4 Ht te te +e oH +4 + | Cozumel, x SK HK SK + Ruatan. | Bonacca. Islands, Mainland, and West Indies. os Islands and Main- : = £0 OE SEK SE ey *k * kK KK OK OK KOK S oa KR KS land. Islands and West Indies. bo Islands of the Coast of Yucatan, &c. 87 2) Gc | Tslands only. 38. 39. 40. 41. Brought forward ......... HE SPIZellay . Galle) ol 0): Penne SEE ene ene raat bi Camptostomart..-cecse see: Ai mimperbes ..ceeweseesen ee E Miva O PARIS sac9+anasacastnase AD: Mplacensirey.ecseem sess hee Pitan GUS! -cscsesastseonsh eee es AY, Clik Gino ouoooonoodue PMiyiobiusaessacccscteseeeeeeeee 44, sulphureipygius ...... Pebynoceplalus.c.s..nese-seecs2: “BY. Tabara) Gacosooacooeden f COULODUSINssendseocnesses sero 46. brachytarsus ......... = Miviarchusi.cc. 5 Sane : Ks . a 2 a |e 8 | Bice = S) 1S SO ey OS, S a eer e| s | a ite 11 | Brought forward ......... 23) 1931126 \-bOn) PAG Gar Oireca bakcdcne meester etter ee | SOP Ving abit... .ecscseee = | * | GA. Glancidiuimy ep ccccesaneee cs Cee Meo eee cir yr | S65 phalsenoidestassscssecss} seer I) seen eerie PPODSPASiMEIMAm iS Scu.scs oct ese LAL iP lideced| ide a at Sia Plame tam nsec ese eee' Sopn || Goc Pca Ie ‘Sisk, THUURER INGLY, condecoopoeahes * * * x * 66: (Buteolamietn ser eeu eeeeet t Su) prachyuiraiseseseeeee et bc x (dic WARbloIh TS csoqsdesencooncones | 6c t 90. anthracina ........... re * 68. Geranospizias ..............- eet: ‘ OP era er aveseescn cece * | 69..Hypotriorchis ............... | | i - | 92. rufigularis ............ * RONediebintary seaceavereec hams caste ie + 3 Se ep UUme aise se tee enees | see Berths Wadihe Oatlvartesh se sscescec eee cee 1) OAS Guinae ese tee eee 3 fo” MMUpTIGOMIA 52. ids dete deause eve: ited Oascabaniisiees ence al ae * 73. Dendrocygna.............0.+0 it 96. autumnalis ............ * Ame Carina casess. .coatiee se sence + OiPemoschatay nce csccecot * on, Colwmba, odeccesgeoccaseccecses fet 98. leucocephala ......... So2 |} Sess ee [eee (hoe VASTENT EMO SR aen ea tae aE rd Sr OOmamabilisheece sede * * Wie, Chameepelig >. sc. sdecteesene fenl Seb ES 100. passerina ............ fae Eaeuleean |) €22 | 101. rufipennis ............ Jae hae ie es ss Eanipry tied act Socis oc bows cherie aa line tie liae taal peese 102. jamaicensis ......... Pores hate coe een | OM Craig eee ree eC SEE | iro! OSs globiceray -c-ce.--4--- Sega] eae * SOR Ontalighes yee send ccs eee iF staan OAs sviebullas ck .cceeaccer * % SI AtrraImIdes) Hee eeccodtocss ait 1 105: albiventris...........- scise, tactile sel We ae B22 Porzanacemacnecnosdessconen sigs ll cams bemeeal aan LOGS eubrais..vececc seco * Soup Araminsweceietie: sees cones: t EO(sieiganteuse ss.c.ceete aia auth || eet ASE BAS Eairaiece nite. ccuiccenee ss Pa ase aesss tM 108. gymnostoma ......... * Mopalsiesces.ocek See eee 32.) 28) 9294) 67 22a 90 Mr. O. Salvin on the Birds of the I think therefore that Meco, so far as its birds are con- cerned, should be considered an integral part of the mainland of Northern Yucatan*. This removes 9 genera and as many species from the list, and leaves 75 genera and 99 species to be examined. Of the 75 genera, Melanoptila is the only genus found in the islands and the adjoining mainland to the exclusion of the rest of Central America, and Spindalis is the only genus belonging to the West Indies to the exclusion of the conti- nent. Forty-three genera are common to the islands, the continent, and to some one or more of the West Indies. The remaining 30 (or 31, including Melanoptila) are shared by the islands and mainland to the exclusion of the West Indies. It will thus be seen that the relationship of the islands to the mainland is very much closer than it is to the West Indies, so far as regards genera, though Spindalis is a re- markable exception. Next, as regards species, of which there are 99 to be con- sidered (i.e. 108, less 9 belonging only to Meco). Of these 17 are common to the islands, the mainland, and one or more of the West Indies ; 67 (7. e. 76, less 9 Meco birds) are common to the islands and the mainland to the exclusion of the West Indies; 4 are common to the islands and West Indies to the exclusion of the mainland ; and 11 are peculiar to the islands alone. Of the 67 species found on the islands and mainland to the exclusion of the West Indies, 10 are found nearly ex- clusively on the mainland immediately adjoining the islands ; the remaining 57 are of wider range. The 10 species are the following :— 1. Melanoptila glabrirostris. 6. 2. Vireo magister. 7. Myiarchus yucatanensis. 3. Pyranga roseiyularis. 8. Centurus dubius. 4. Spizella pinetorum. 9. Cyanolyca yucatanica. Centurus rubriventris. 5. Icterus auratus. 10. Chrysotis xantholora. * T have not been able to find any trace of Meco Island on the chart; but there is a place marked as El Meco on the mainland near the coast opposite Mugeres Island. Mr. Gaumer's labels, however, give Meco Islunds of the Coast of Yucatan, &c. 91 The four species found in the islands and the West Indies to the exclusion of the mainland are :— 1. Polioptila cesiogaster?, Cozumel, Ruatan, and Bahamas. 2. Dendreca petechia, Cozumel and Jamaica. 3. Elainea martinica, several islands and Lesser Antilles. 4. Tyrannus magnirostris, Mugeres and Cuba. Besides these the following species, though also found on the mainland, belong rather to the West-Indian fauna :— Vireo calidris, Cozumel and most of the West-Indian islands. Tyrannus griseus, Cozumel and all the more northern Antilles. Crotophaga ani*, Cozumel, Ruatan, and the Antilles generally. + Zenaida amabilis, Holbox, Mugeres, and most of the An- tilles. + Engyptila jamaicensis, Holbox, Mugeres, Cozumel, and Jamaica. To complete the list of birds with special West-Indian affinities, the following peculiar species must be added :— Certhiola caboti, Holbox and Cozumel, nearest to C. buha- mensis of the Bahamas. Spindalis benedicti, Cozumel, nearest toS. pretrit of Cuba and S. zena of the Bahamas, Lastly, the species peculiar to the islands are 11 in num- ber, viz. :— 1. Harporhynchus guttatus, Cozumel. 2. Troglodytes beani, Cozumel. 3. Vireo bairdi, Cozumel. 4. Cyclorhis insularis, Cozumel. Island so distinctly, that I infer that the place he visited was some small island or cay that has escaped the cartographers. It must, however, be well wooded to harbour such birds as species of Hucometis, Embernagra, Cyanolyca, Pipra, Attila, Dendrornis, Thamnophilus, Trogon, Rhamphastos, &ec., &e. * It seems proper to consider this species as West Indian, so far as the islands now under consideration are concerned. It is, however, the pre- valent species at Panama. 92 Mr. O. Salvin on the Birds of the . Certhiola caboti, Holbox and Cozumel. . Spindalis benedicti, Cozumel. . Phenicothraupis insularis, Meco, Mugeres. . Phonipara intermedia, Holbox, Cozumel. . Attila cozumele, Cozumel. 10. Chlorostilbon forficatus, Holbox, Mugeres, Cozumel. 11. Centurus canescens, Ruatan. Oo ON SD All of these are of mainland affinities, except Certhiola caboti and Spindalis benedicti. It will be seen from the foregoing lists that the affinities of the birds of these islands, as a whole, as might have been expected from their position, are largely on the side of those of the mainland. Still there is a West-Indian element, only just to be traced in Northern Yucatan by the presence of such birds as Petrochelidon fulva (not yet noticed on the Yucatan islands), Zenaida amabilis, and Engyptila jamaicensis, which is more strongly developed in the islands. At the same time it is clear that the West-Indian birds found on them are either specifically identical or so closely related as to be separable only by some slight modification of colour. These differences being so slight, it is hardly possible that the West-Indian element in these islands can be due to any ancient land-connexion with the West Indies. For, from Prof. Agassiz’s contour map of the Caribbean Sea (“ Three Cruises of the ‘ Blake,’ ” i. p. 98, fig. 57), it will be seen that the whole of Northern Yucatan and the islands adjoining are separated from Cuba by a depth of over 1000 fathoms, and the Bay Islands from Jamaica by over 500 fathoms, and that all the islands themselves lie within the 100-fathom line of the mainland coast. If there had been any recent land- connexion, a supposition which the similarity of the birds alone would justify, the mainland, as well as the West Indies, would hardly fail to show such a connexion in a much more pronounced manner, and we should find, not the strong contrast that exists between the faunas of Cuba and Jamaica and the mainland, but a large number of features im common. The alternative supposition to account for the West-Indian Islands of the Coast of Yucatan, &¢. 93 element in these islands is that the birds have reached them at no distant date by flight. When we consider that the trade-wind blows almost continuously over Cuba and Jamaica in the direction of Yucatan and this coast for several months in the year, it is hardly a matter of wonder that some West- Indian birds do stray so far west. We should, however, expect to find more of them on the mainland. That this is not the case may be due to the imperfect way in which nearly the whole of this coast has been explored. No collections whatever have been made from any point between Belize and Cape Catoche, and the coast of British Honduras has only been touched in a very imperfect way. I anticipate therefore that as our knowledge of the imme- diate mainland becomes more advanced, the peculiarities of these islands as regards their West-Indian element will diminish, if not altogether disappear. I have hitherto treated of these coast-islands as a whole, but on examining them in detail they split up naturally into three groups. Leaving Meco out of the question, Holbox and Mugeres may be classed together, Cozumel by itself, and the Bay Islands of Ruatan and Bonacca by themselves. Hoxrsox and Mucrrrs.—The bird-fauna of these islands closely resembles that of the mainland. Of the 70 recorded specimens, 26 are migrants, 1 has a very wide range, and 43 form the more localized resident fauna. Of these 43 species, the following 6 are more or less associated exclusively with the West Indies :—(1) Certhiola caboti (also found on Co- zumel), a peculiar species, but very closely allied to C. baha- mensis ; (2) Phonipara intermedia (also found on Cozumel), very close to P. olivacea of the West Indies and to P. pusilla of the mainland; (3) Elainea martinica (also found on several other islands), a common species of the Lesser An- tilles, but very closely allied to £. pagana of the mainland ; (4) Tyrannus magnirostris, identical with the Cuban bird. The remaining two are (5)' Zenaida amabilis and (6) Engy- ptila gamaicensis, both also found on the mainland. Of the 37 mainland forms, Phenicothraupis insularis and Chloro- 94 Birds of the Islands of the Coast of Yucatan. stilbon forficatus alone can at present claim to be peculiar, but both of them are also found on other islands. Holbox and Mugeres therefore have a very decided mainland affinity as regards their birds, a very slight peculiarity, and a West- Indian element, due most probably to quite recent or not distant casual immigration. Cozumret.—The larger size of Cozumel and the greater time spent over the examination of its fauna gives us a total of 159 species as found within its limits. Of these 65 are migrants and 27 birds of very wide range. This leaves 66 as the number of resident species, with more or less restricted limits; 52 of these are also characteristic of the mainland, 4. are shared with other islands, 4 are strictly West-Indian, and 6 are peculiar. Of the latter, Spindalis benedicti is the only one with West-Indian affinity, the others are modified main- landforms. Harporhynchus ocellatus, one of these, is remark- able as representing a genus not found nearer than the State of Vera Cruz or the northern shore of the Gulf of Mexico. Its presence in Cozumel must be attributed to casual introduc- tion at a somewhat remote date, due perhaps to the severe northern storms which prevail in this region during the winter months. Thus Cozumel would seem to have been separated from the mainland for a considerable period, during which time it has received casual immigrants from the West Indies, from North America, and from the mainland, some of them at dates sufficiently long ago to allow of their modification. Ruartan and Bonacca.—These islands are very different in their physical features from those just mentioned. They are high, attaining an elevation of about 1200 feet, and have the upper portion covered with pines, instead of being low islands of recently elevated coral limestone. Mr. Gaumer’s collections from these islands include specimens of 72 species, of which 42 are migrants, and 5 are of very wide range. The remaining 25 also belong almost exclusively to the main- land; but there is a decided element amongst these, with an affinity to the coast of Yucatan and its islands rather than to the coast immediately opposite. This is shown by the On the Birds of the Bonin Islands. 95 presence of Vireo magister, V. ochraceus, Centurus rubri- ventris, and C. canescens. Crotophaga ani is the only West- Indian representative, and also belongs to Cozumel. It is difficult to account for this northern element, unless it be due to the northerly gales already mentioned. The trade- winds that strike the Bay Islands blow over the widest part of the Caribbean Sea and bring no stragglers from the West Indies. X.—On the Birds of the Bonin Islands. By Hewry Sezsouy, F.Z.S8. Tue arrival of a small box of bird-skins from the Bonin Islands makes it possible to clear up some of the difficulties which have surrounded the avifauna of this interesting but neglected group. Mr. P. A. Holst left Yokohama on the 6th of April, 1889, and spent the greater part of May, June, July, and August on the Bonin Islands, calling at some of the Seven Islands both in going and returning. Collections were made at the following localities :— Hatchinow-Shima, or Fatsizio Island, about 200 miles south of Yokohama; Muco-Shima and Nakondo-Shima, two of the Parry Islands, nearly 600 miles south of Yokohama ; Chichi-Shima, or Peel Island, about 40 miles further south ; Haha-Shima, or Hillsborough Island, one of the Coffin Islands or Baily Islands, about 40 miles south of Peel Island. The Bonin Islands were visited in 1827 by Captain Beechey, during the voyage of the ‘ Blossom ;” but the zoo- logical discoveries were not published until 1839 (‘The Zoology of Captain Beechey’s Voyage to the Pacific and Behring’s Straits, performed in H.M.S. Blossom under the command of Captain F. W. Beechey in the years 1825-28 :’ Ornithology, by N. A. Vigors). In 1828 they were visited by Baron F. H. von Kittlitz ; 96 Mr. H. Seebohm on the and an unfinished paper, “ Ueber die Végel der Inselgruppe von Boninsima,” appeared in the ‘Mémoires présentés a PAcadémie Impériale des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg par divers Savans,’ 1830, pp. 231-248, which was followed in 1833 by some figures and short text in the third part of Kittlitz’s “ Kupfertafeln zur Naturgeschichte der Végel.” For the last sixty years our information respecting the Bonin Islands and its ornithology has been of the most meagre character. In 1854 they were visited by Mr. Stimp- son, who found examples of four species on the islands, which are included in a “ Catalogue of Birds collected by the United States North Pacific Surveying and Exploring Expedition, in command of Capt. John Rodgers, United States Navy; with notes and descriptions of new species ” (Cassin, Proc. Acad. Nat. Sc. Philad. 1862, pp. 312-327). In 1882 Blakiston and Pryer published a paper on the Birds of Japan in the ‘ Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan’ (vol. x. p. 84), in which a few waifs and strays of orni- thological information respecting the Bonin Islands occur. Mr. Holst writes :—‘ It seemed to me quite solemn when the ‘Suruga Maru’ cast anchor in 25 fathoms of water at Port Lloyd, on Peel Island, one of the central group of the Bonins, between high rocks and lofty gloomy hills, which shelter the harbour almost on every side. The bay has a circumference of more than three miles, and the mountains are covered with small palm trees and other tropical vegeta- tion. ‘The islanders soon made their appearance in sanpans and canoes, and were most of them half-naked Japanese. “No bird can be said to be very abundant on Peel Island, but Hypsipetes squamiceps is the most so. It is very good eating, and is said to be very fat in the winter. There are a good many Blue Rock-Thrushes (Monticola solitarius), but I have only found one kind of Warbler, Cettia diphone. I have seen a pair of Buzzards and a Raven, besides some small Sandpipers and a flock of about twenty Gulls. Pigeons are said to be common in winter. There are plenty of a good-sized deer, some weighing as much as 250 lb., and green turtles as large as 400 lb. ; also wild goats, wild boars, wild cats, flying foxes, &c. Birds of the Bonin Islands. 97 “ During the whole time I have been on Peel Island we have had almost continuous rains, with very few fine days; but the islanders inform me that this is very exceptional, and that their rainy season is October and November. The islanders are the laziest, sleepiest, and most disobliging people I have ever met with, and I am tormented with mosquitoes and horse-flies. “T have visited the Parry Islands, about forty miles north of Peel Island; but we had heavy rain all the time. I have also been to the Baily Islands for a couple of days, where we had the thermometer at 95° in the shade. I have heard of a Sea-Eagle which had come to the north end of Stapleton Island during the last three winters, but it is never seen during summer.” CoRvVUS MACRORHYNCHUS JAPONENSIS. Mr. Holst has sent an example of the Japanese race of the Oriental Raven from Peel Island, and one from Nakondo- Shima, an island belonging to the Parry group, about 40 miles further north. The bill is thick (upper mandible at nostrils °75 inch high), and the general size is large (wing from carpal joint 134 inches) ; but Japanese examples are frequently larger. The feathers of the throat are lanceolate, but those of the upper breast are not. The feathers of the mantle are glossed with green and have dark bases. The example from Peel Island has some white on both wings, being apparently a partial albino. GEOCICHLA TERRESTRIS. Kittlitz’s Ground Thrush was discovered in 1828 on one of the Bonin Islands, and was described under the name of Turdus terrestris (Kittlitz, Mém. prés. a Acad. St. Pétersb. par divers Savans, 1830, p. 244). The type is in the Museum of the Imperial Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg ; there is a second example in the Vienna Museum, and a third in the Leyden Museum. Mr. Holst failed to secure specimens of this interesting bird. SER. VI.—VOL. Ll. H 98 Mr. H. Seebohm on the MERULA CELENOPS. This well-marked specics of Thrush was originally dis- covered by Mr. Namiye on Miaco-Shima, one of the Seven Islands south of Yokohama, in latitude 34° (Stejneger, Proc. United States Nat. Mus. 1887, p. 484). The types (male and female) are in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, and no example was known in European collections until I secured one (a male) in the Pryer Collection. Mr. Holst has now sent me a pair (male and female) from Hatchinow- Shima (or Fatsizio Island) im latitude 33°, where he remarks that they are common. ‘This species is very similar to Merula protomomelena (Turdus dissimilis, Seebohm, P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 805, pl. Ixiv.), but differs in having grey instead of orange-chestnut axillaries. The female very closely resembles the female of Merula chrysolaus, but the brown of the upper parts is more russet (less olive) and the orange-chestnut of the underparts darker in the island species. MonvIcoLa CYANUS SOLITARIUS. The Eastern Blue Rock Thrush is a common bird on the Bonin Islands. Mr. Holst has sent me seven adult males, four adult females, and one male in first spring plumage, collected in April and May on Peel Island, together with four eggs from a clutch of five. He has also sent two males and one female, collected in July on the same island, which are in the plumage of birds of the year. A female collected on the Ist of August on Haha-Shima (one of the southern or Baily Group) is in the same plumage. chef ene By BPTI it 3a r 2 ae : Mace oo | g ee =e Sg 2 “2 Ss -- Geb -8o--Senas a ase OHSS a, ts mw OTs OD - gporHeogtsa2-aaesé sa a4 Hm OOS A SC Oe | O'S Sia al o° orto es ed Tes 3) S95 2355S B09 g'5 OR 2a Beata goGessy Wee 3 EF OS oO ePeBSgEoEaS Pan eyo HRA HASS DM | Heidt dS SON AS SHAH SsnaenAanse the Genus Macropygia. 245 Australia, New Hebrides. D’ Entrecasteaux Islands. Solomon Islands. New Britain Group. Mafor. Misor. | | | | | | | ae Miosnom. | Be Sate poke eas | . = | | | | | | | New Guinea. Batchian, Ternate, Gilolo. Aru Islands. Ké Islands. Bouru, Ceram, Amboyna. Sanghir Islands. Sula Islands. Eeretoune ae er: * ee Celebes. SE ae es ae cea: * ___ ee SS Timor-laut. | 2 SEU Crise ae es 3 Timor. | Se so. ee Tees av * Flores. | een oe ee ee Lombock. | Peioe vias ba tare a5 Sulu, Palawan, Philippines. | ee ene ae UG se =e Borneo. | oe in alae eae he ee lee ae Java. | St SoBsk sea et eae ees scutes nats Nias. | Bee rake Senelmktie yeh oe A See Sumatra. | Py ieee Bee we Ven ake Malay Peninsula. | one Scena Hesse pie Andamans, Nicobars. | : : es i are AS Burma, Tenasserim. | : ae Pore : stile Hainan. | Z : 5 : rsa India, Assam. | a : cee 3 ee ee | SM erate 2 ees Se ae ee te Oe oy ee 6 6 ee) ae ee ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . Ne oe) aa ee ee ee V4 Bh hare ee Aun. it eae 4 aL ai gis aes fea} a0 =< Oy o eel ao : | Shee & 5 ee ce ican peed een ape E > ow: PEE ese be B&B ma Sdse ss os >: ft S38 S ek oa ae oa EG Seems =| Saisie) esiga el Sl ey fe = S Ace eeomas ‘tH OPH oe ae was HES acd eeeeseasek “858 ae - ow 8oSo MOR AS 5) =| ae Mle art earne AAS te NAGSHAAG HIS SS ee a BA HAANANANAA riaios ee —————————— SER. VI.— VOL. II. 8 246 . On a new Genus of the Order Columbe. 2. TURACHNA MODESTA. Turacena modesta, Temm. Pl. Col. 552; Knip, Pig. ii. p. 31; Wall. Ibis, 1863, p. 486. Slate-colour, with reflections of green and lilac on the head, nape, and mantle; primaries and tail brown, quite plain. Sexes alike. Wing 8 inches, tail 8, tarsus 1, bill 1. Iris brick-red, with an inner tinge of yellow; orbits yellow; bill and feet black (Wallace). Hab. Timor. XXII.—On a new Genus of the Order Columbe. By Major R G. Warptaw Ramsay, F.L.S., F.Z.8. In the ‘ Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales,’ vol. vii. p. 116 (1883), Mr. W. A. Haswell has a paper on the “ Anatomy of Turacena,” relating to the so- called Turacena crassirostris, Gould, which in reality does not belong to that genus, as the tail alone is sufficient to show. Mr. Haswell proves that this species is not a Macropygia, and moreover belongs to the subfamily Phapine rather than to the Columbine, having no ceca, while an ambiens muscle is present. The shape of the gizzard also removes it from Macropygia. The general appearance of Turacena crassirostris is that of Macropygia, and it has a tail resembling that genus; but it has a very massive bill, resembling Didunculus, and the occipital feathers are lengthened into a crest, somewhat as in Ocyphaps lophotes. For this bird I propose the new generic name CorYPH@NAS, gen. nov. 1. CoRYPH@NAS CRASSIROSTRIS. Turacena crassirostris, Gould, P. Z.S. 1856, p. 1386 (Gua- Recently published Ornithological Works. 247 dalcanar) ; Wall. Ibis, 1865, p. 391; Sclat. P.Z.S. 1878, p- 673; Ogilvie-Grant, P. Z.S. 1888, p. 199. Reinwardtenas crassirostris, Salv. Orn. Pap. iii. p. 181. Adult. Above, head dusky brown; occipital feathers lengthened into a greyish-brown crest; whole plumage slate- colour, darkest on the upper surface; three outer pairs of tail-feathers with a lavender central bar. Sexes alike. Young. A young male (Guadalcanar, ‘ Voy. of Herald’) in the British Museum, which is the type of the species, has the head dark brown, tipped with dark chestnut; the general plumage above of a much darker slate-colour ; beneath dark brown, passing into the slate of the adult. Iris reddish brown ; bill and legs carmine (Woodford). Iris and orbital skin carmine; bill and legs bright red. Hab. Guadalcanar, Solomon Islands. XXITI.—WNotices of recent Ornithological Publications. [Continued from p. 124. ] 34, Allen on the Genus Elainea. [Remarks on Individual and Seasonal Variation in a large Series of Elainea from Chapada, Matto Grosso, Brazil, with a Revision of the restricted Genus Elainea. By J. A. Allen. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. ii, p. 183.] The receipt of a fine series of Tyrants of the genus EHlainea in Mr. H. H. Smith’s extensive collection from Matto Grosso has induced Mr. Allen to take up this difficult subject. Drawing upon other sources besides, Mr. Allen accumulated about 400 specimens for comparison, and amongst them several important types. Amongst the conclusions arrived at by Mr. Allen is that the concealed white crest of Hlainea is merely a feature of the breeding-plumage in both sexes. This enables him to unite Elainea mesoleuca with E. pagana, as has been already suggested might have to be done, or rather with H. albiceps, which is treated as a subspecies of EH. pagana. The other species of Elainea are noted and commented upon. As Mr. Salvin has now positively decided that his Elainea s2 248 Recently published Ornithological Works. arenarum = Sublegatus glaber, we do not see why Mr. Allen should demur to accepting this identification, in spite of the apparent dissimilarity of the two figures. 35. Bocage on Birds new to the Island of St. Thomas, West Africa. [Sur deux espéces & ajouter a la Faune Ornithologique de St. Thomé. Par J. V. Barboza du Bocage. Jorn. Sci. Math. Phys. e Nat. Lisboa, 1889, p. 142. ] Prof. Barboza du Bocage adds two species to the avifauna of the West-African island of St. Thomas. One of these is Euplectes aureus (Gm.), also known from Benguela, and the other Nectarinia thomensis, a new species, peculiar to the island. 36. Bartlett on Weavers and Finches. [A Monograph of the Weaver-birds (Ploceidz) and Arboreal and Ter- restrial Finches (Fringillide), By Edward Bartlett. Parts UI-V. 4to. Maidstone: 1889. | We are glad to see that Mr. Edward Bartlett is making good progress with his illustrated work on the Weaver-birds and Finches. Three parts were issued in 1889. The draw- ings by Mr. F. W. Frohawk are in many instances very good, and the colouring is generally well executed. The species figured im the three parts are the following -— Parr IIL, Jan. 1889. Munia fuscata. Coccothraustes personatus. malacca. melanurus. Phrygilus fruticeti. Kuplectes flammiceps. Pyrrhula erithacus. Parr IV., Aug. 1889. Malimbus malimbicus. Pyrrhula erythrocephala. cristatus. Cardinalis phoeniceus. Munia atricapilla. Phrygilus alaudinus. sumatrensis. Recently published Ornithological Works. 249 Part V., Nov. 1889. Ploceus nigerrimus. Munia ferruginosa. castaneofuscus. maja. Paroaria dominicana. —— pallida. Munia minuta. —— melena. —— brunneiceps. —— forbesi. formosana. — spectabilis. 37. Chapman on Amazilia eneo-brunnea. [Further Note on Amazilia eneo-brunnea. By Frank M. Chapman. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. ii. p. 182.] Mr. Chapman has discovered that his Amazilia eneo- brunnea (op. cit. p. 163) is an “ artefact,” composed of the body of Chrysolampis moschita and the head and neck of Chlorostilbon heberlini. 38. Hickson’s ‘ Naturalist in North Celebes.’ [A Naturalist in North Celebes, a Narrative of Travels in Minahassa, the Sangir and Talaut Islands, with Notices of the Fauna, Flora, and Ethnology of the districts visited. By Sydney J. Hickson. London: Murray, 1889. | Mr. Hickson’s principal object in visiting the Malay Archi- pelago was to study coral-reefs and their structure, for which purpose he selected Talisse Island, situated in the Straits of Banka, north of Celebes, as his principal residence. He also visited the Sangir and Talaut Islands, between Celebes and the Philippines, and made an excursion into Minahassa. Mr. Hickson naturally devoted his chief attention to marine animals, but gives an excellent chapter on the land-fauna of Talisse Island, and introduces other remarks about birds. Mr. Hickson is decidedly of opinion that the white-billed Tanygnathus of Celebes, which has been called T. albirostris, and is regarded by Mr. Wallace as “ certainly distinct,” is only the hen of 7. muelleri (cf. op. cit. p. 86). At Salibabu, one of the Talaut Islands, the brilliant little red and blue Lory, Hos indica, was found to be abundant, and numerous living specimens were obtained from the natives. Mr. Hick- son observes that it is curious that this bird should be so 250 Recently published Ornithological Works. common in the Talaut Islands, comparatively rare in the neighbouring group of Sangir, and unknown in the Celebes. 39. Kempen on Pallas’s Sand-Grouse in Northern France. [Séjour des Syrrhaptes dans le Nord de la France en 1888. Par Ch. Van Kempen. Bull. Soc. Zool. France, xiii. p. 145, et xiv. p. 18.] M. Kempen gives particulars of the occurrence of Syr- rhaptes paradoxus at Dunkirk, St. Omer, and in other localities in the north of France, from May to December 1888. 40. Lumholtz’s Adventures in Queensland. [Among Cannibals: an account of Four Years’ Travels in Australia and of Camp-Life with the Aborigines of Queensland. By Carl Lum- holtz. London: Murray, 1889.] It has been left to a Norwegian naturalist to give us the most graphic and entertaining account that has yet been written of the wilds of the English colony of Queensland and its native tribes. Mr. Lumholtz’s narrative of his life and adventures in company with the blacks of the Herbert- River district will interest and instruct every one, and his pages are full of information on the animal and vegetable life of the country which he visited. Many passages relate to the bird-life of Northern Queens- land, where the avifauna has many peculiarities and possesses a strong Papuan element, as evidenced by the presence of the Cassowary and the Megapode. The playing-place of a rare Bower-bird (Scenopeus dentirostris) was discovered (p. 189); the “ monotonous and persistent chattermg” of the “Towdala” (Orthonyx spaldingt) was listened to; the King-Pigeon (Megaloprepia magnifica) was found breeding (p. 214) ; andthe beautiful Parrot, Platycercus pulcherrimus, was observed to excavate its nest in the hillocks raised by the Termites or white aunts. Numerous other allusions to birds will be found in Mr. Lumbholtz’s pages, and the whole volume is well worthy of perusal for those who have any taste for natural history. Recently published Ornithological Works. 251 41. Meyer on rare Paradise-birds. [Beschreibung der bisher unbekannten Weibchen von Astrarchia ste- phame und Epimachus macleayane. Von A. B. Meyer. J. f. 0, 1889, p. 321. ] Dr. Meyer describes the hitherto unknown females of Astrarchia stephanie and Epimachus macleayane from speci- mens obtained by Mr. Goodwin when in company with Sir William Macgregor on his recent expedition up the Owen- Stanley Mountains in South-eastern New Guinea*. 42. Meyer and Helm’s Report on the Ornithological Ob- serving-Stations for Saxony for 1888. [IV. Jahresbericht (1888) der ornithologischen Beobachtungstationen im Ké6nigreich Sachsen, bearbeitet von Dr. A. B. Meyer und von Dr. F. Helm. Abb. u. Bericht d. k. zool. u. anthropol.-ethnograph. Mus. Dresden, 1889. | Of this report we wish only to repeat the terms of commen- dation which we had the pleasure of bestowing on the last of the same series (see Ibis, 1889, p. 120). The observers on the present occasion were 122 instead of 134 in number. The observations were made at 111 stations, and relate to 213 species. Nineteen of these are new to the Saxon list. 43. Nicholson’s Translation of Sundevall’s ‘ Tentamen,’ [Sundevall’s Tentamen. [Methodi Naturalis Avium disponendarum Tentamen.] Translated into English, with Notes, by Francis Nicholson, F.Z.8. London: R. H. Porter, 1889. ] We cannot say that we think that there was any absolute necessity for a translation into English of Sundevall’s well- known work. The most important parts of the ‘Tentamen ’ are given in Latin, and even Swedish itself is not a very difficult language for an educated Englishman. But we must nevertheless thank Mr. Nicholson for the pains he has taken in the production of the present volume, and agree * Similar specimens were exhibited by Mr. Goodwin at the Meeting of the Zoological Society of London on November 19th last (see P.Z. 8. 1889, p. 451). These were subsequently purchased by Mr. Seebohm and presented to the British Museum of Natural History. 252 Recently published Ornithological Works. with him in the desire that its issue may tend to familiarize ornithological students in this country with Sundevall’s very important work. Mr. Nicholson has added some appropriate footnotes to the translation, and has prefaced it with a portrait of the author and a notice of his life. Two appendices contain a summary of Sundevall’s system and the outlines of two amended arrangements of the Accipitres and Thrushes, which were published subsequently to the ‘ Tentamen.’ 44, Ninni on the Venetian Long-tailed Titmouse. [Sulle recentissime opinioni intorno alle Specie Venete del Genere Acredula, breve note di A. P. Ninni. 8yvo. Venezia: 1889.] Sign. Ninni maintains, in contradiction to what is stated in the ‘ Inchiesta Ornitologica’ (v. s. p. 114), that the pre- valent form of Aéredula in Venetia is A. irbii, not A. rosea nor A. caudata. < 45. Noll on Extinct Birds. [Die Veranderungen in der Vogelwelt im Laufe der Zeit. Von F. C. Noll. Bericht d. Senckenb. naturf. Gesell. Frankfurt am M. 1889, p. 77. | A good popular essay on “the alterations of the Bird- world during the progress of time” was read by Dr. F. C- Noll at the Anniversary Meeting in 1888 of the Sencken- bergian Society of Naturalists of Frankfort-on-the-Main, and is now published, with additions, in their ‘ Bericht.” It contains nothing novel. A useful list of the literature on the subject is appended. 46. Oates’s ‘ Birds of British India’ [The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Pub- lished under the authority of the Secretary of State for India. Edited by W. T. Blanford. Birds.—Vol. I. By Eugene W. Oates. London: Taylor and Francis. 1889. ] More than twenty-five years have now elapsed since Jerdon’s well-known ‘ Handbook of Indian Birds’ was com- pleted. This is a long period for the progress of modern Recently published Ornithological Works. 253 science, and it was quite time that another book on the avi- fauna of British India should be written to take its place. No one will dispute the sagacity of Mr. Blanford in select- ing the well-known author of the ‘ Birds of British Burmah ’” to undertake this arduous task, of which the first instalment is now before us. Three volumes only have been allowed for the portion of the ‘ Fauna of British India’ relating to the Birds. As the number of species added to the list since Jerdon’s time has been increased “ by more than one half,” this will make it rather a “tight fit,’ we should say. But after our friend Mr. Howard Saunders has performed the feat of compressing the birds of Great Britain into a single volume, Mr. Oates may well hope to be able to get through his task in three. In the present volume Mr. Oates treats of the first half of the Passeres, and gives an account of the Corvide, Cratero- podid, Sittide, Dicruride, Certhiide, Regulide, Sylviidee, Laniide, Oriolide, Eulabetidee, and Sturnide belonging to the Indian avifauna. The Passeres and their subdivisions are discussed in some preliminary remarks, but the scheme of general classification of Birds to be adopted is postponed pending the complete elaboration of Mr. Seebohm’s new ‘Systema Avium.’ Mr. Oates shortly defines the Passeres as having the “ deep plantar tendons passerine ; the palate egithognathous.” The first part of this definition is not, we think, very successful, as the plantar tendons of the “ Passeres” must necessarily be “ Passerine,” but the peculiar structure of these tendons is subsequently clearly explained. As regards the difficult question of the arrangement of the Acromyodian Passeres, Mr. Oates proceeds by dividing off the Diceidse as possessing a serrated mandible, and the Alaudide as having a scutellated tarsus. The remaining families then fall into two groups, according as they have nine or ten primaries. While these characters and others subsequently mentioned seem to answer well for the purpose of forming an analytical key, we must say that the result arrived at by their aid is not a very natural classification. 254 Recently published Ornithological Works. For example, we do not think the Dicruride are well placed be- tween the Sittide and Certhiide or the Hirundinide between the Ploceide and Fringillide. We are also a little surprised to find the Paridz placed in the same family as the Corvide, though we fully admit that there is something to be said in favour of the affinities of these two groups. But the fact is that the Acromyodian Passeres are all so closely allied that the exact arrangement to be adopted is a matter of com- paratively little moment. As regards the general execution of the work, we think that Mr. Oates deserves the greatest credit for the labour and pains he has bestowed upon it. The descriptions are nicely written and concise, and the accounts of the distribution and habits well drawn up. The woodcuts and keys to the species add greatly to the value of the book, which will be of the utmost value to the progress of Indian ornithology. The following generic terms appear to be used for the first time :— 1. Sceorhynchus, fam. Corvide : type Paradozornis rufi- ceps, Blyth. 2. Thringorhina, fam. Crateropodide : type Turdinus guttatus, Tickell. 3. Rhopocichla, fam. Crateropodide : type Brachypteryx atriceps, Jerdon. 4. Sittiparus, fam. Crateropodide: type Minla cinerea, Blyth. 5. Lioparus, fam. Crateropodide : type Proparus chryseus, Hodgson. 9 6. Hilarocichla, fam. Crateropodide: type Pteruthius rufiventer, Blyth. 7. Alophoiscus, fam. Crateropodide: type Ixos pheoce- phalus, Hartlaub. 8. Xanthiscus, fam. Crateropodide : type Pycnonotus fla- vescens, Blyth. 9. Dissemurulus, fam. Dicruride : type Dicrurus lophorinus, Vieill. 10. Elachura, fam. Certhiide: type Troglodytes punc- tatus, Blyth. Recently published Ornithological Works. 255 11. Agropsar, fam, Sturnide : type Gracula sturnina, Pallas, © We may remark that Sittiparus has been already used by Selys-Longchamps for a genus of Paride. See Bull. Soc. Zool. France, ix. p. 58 (1884). 47. Oates’s ‘ Matabele-land” (Second edition.) [Matabele-land and the Victoria Falls, a Naturalist’s Wanderings in the Interior of South Africa, from the Letters and Journals of the late Frank Oates, F.R.G.S. Edited by C.G. Oates. Second edition. London: French & Co., 1889. | We noticed in 1882 the first edition of this interesting account of the journeyings of the late Frank Oates, who died of fever in Matabele-land in 1875 (see Ibis, 1882, p. 109). The unsold copies of the first edition having been destroyed by fire at the publishers, Mr. C. G. Oates has prepared a second, to which certain ameliorations and additions have been made. In his essay on the birds collected by Frank Oates, Mr. Sharpe, as we are infcrmed in the preface, has “reconstructed the classification of the species on what he conceives to be a sounder basis, has brought the nomencla- ture up to date, and has made some necessary revisions.” 48. Pleske’s ‘ Ornithographia Rossica, [Ornithographia Rossica. Die Vogelfauna des Russischen Reichs von Th. Pleske. Band II. Lief. 2. Laubsiinger (Phylloscopus). 4to. St. Pétershourg: 1889. } The second part of this important work, of which we have already spoken (see Ibis, 1889, p. 566), is now before us. It contains an account of the Phylloscopi of the Russian Empire, which are numerous, and form a highly charac- teristic group of the Palearctic avifauna. Mr. Pleske recog- nizes 17 species, and divides them into three subgenera— Acanthopneuste, Phylloscopus, and Reguloides. The single plate contains figures of the following species :-— Phylloscopus (Acanthopneuste) borealis, var. xanthodryas ; P. (dAcanthopneuste) nitidus ; P. (Acanthopneuste) viridanus ; 256 Recently published Ornithological Works. P. (Acanthopneuste) plumbeitarsus ; P. (Acanthopneuste) te- nellipes ; P. (Acanthopneuste) occipitalis (2 figs.). 49. Pleske on the Birds of Prjevalski’s Journeys in Central Asia. [ Wissenschaftliche Resultate der von N. M. Przewalski nach Central- Asien unternommenen Reisen. Auf Kosten einer von seiner kaiserlichen Hoheit dem Grossfiirsten thronfolger Nikolai Alexandrowitsch gespen- deten summe herausgegeben von der kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissen- schaften—Zoologischer Theil. Band Il., Vogel. Bearbeitet von Th. Pleske. Lief. 1. Folio. St. Petersburg: 1889.] We are much pleased to find that a complete account of the valuable zoological results of Prjevalski’s expeditions into Central Asia has been planned and commenced. It will be issued by the I. Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburg, at the cost of the Crown Prince Nicholas, who could hardly have devoted his means to a more worthy object. The second volume, devoted to the birds, is being prepared by Herr Th. Pleske, who is in charge of the Bird-Collection of the Academy’s Museum, and the first livraison is now before us. The present number commences with the Turdoid Passeres, and treats of the genera Turdus, Cinclus, Saxicola, Ruticilla, and their allies. The text is in Russian and German, in parallel columns, and is thus accessible to the whole civilized world. Detailed lists are given of the specimens of each species obtained by Prjevalski. The following species are figured in this part :— Plate I.: Pratincola insignis, Calliope tschebaiewi, and Dumeticola major. Plate III.: Arundinax aédon, Herbivocula armandi, H. in- dica, H. fuscata, and H., affinis. 50. Ridgway on the Genus Xiphocolaptes. [A Review of the Genus Xtphocolaptes of Lesson. By Robert Ridg- way. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 1.] Twelve species and subspecies of this giant genus of the Dendrocolaptide are admitted as valid in Mr. Ridgway’s Recently published Ornithological Works. 257 essay, and amongst them Xiphocolaptes sclateri, of Mexico, X. virgatus (locality unknown), X. ignotus, from Ecuador (ae X. cinnamomeus, from Eastern Brazil, and X. major casta- neus, from Bolivia, are described as new. We may perhaps venture to question the advisability of founding new species of this excessively difficult group upon single specimens from uncertain localities. 51. Ridgway on the Genus Sclerurus. [A Review of the Genus Sclerwrus of Swainson. By Robert Ridgeway. Proc, U.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 21.] Mr. Ridgway reviews the members of this somewhat difti- cult genus of Dendrocolaptide, and recognizes 9 species. He describes as new S. canigularis, from Costa Rica, and S. lawrencit, from “ Bahia,” but “ locality probably erroneous.” He also resuscitates S. fuscus, from the “ Upper Amazons ” (= Tinactor fuscus, Max., part.), but it is difficult to under- stand how Pr, Max.’s type can have come from such a locality. 92. Ridgway on Birds from Galapagos. [Scientific Results of Explorations of the US. Fish-Commission Steamer ‘ Albatross.’—I. Birds collected on the Galapagos Islands in 1888. By Robert Ridgway. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p- 101. } In April 1888 the U.S. Fish-Commission s.s. ‘ Albatross? visited the Galapagos Islands, and the naturalist of the Expe- dition, Prof. Leslie A. Lee, assisted by Mr. Charles H. Towns- hend and Mr. Thomas Lee, made a very interesting collection of birds there, which, we are told, “ would have been more extensive had not other duties more closely connected with the objects of the cruise prevented.” Be this as it may, examples of 47 species were actually obtained, out of 69 now known to inhabit the group, and of these several are new to science. Besides this two islands were visited upon which no previous collections had been formed, and considerable additions have been made to our knowledge of the exact localities of the Galapagan species, so that Prof. Lee and his ° 258 Recently published Ornithological Works. assistants have accomplished a most meritorious piece of work, of which Mr. Ridgway now gives us the results. The new species described are :—Nesomimus macdonaldi, from Hood I.; N. personatus, from Abingdon I.; Geospiza conirostris and G. media, from Hood I.; Cactornis brevi- rostris, from Chatham I.; C. hypoleuca (if not C. pallida, Scl. et Salv.), from James I.; Camarhynchus townsend, from Charles I.; C. pauper, from Charles I.; Pyrocephalus mini- mus, from Chatham I. Besides these the form of Pecilo- netta bahamensis of the Galapagos is separated as P. galapa- goensis. The Galapagan Mimi are constituted a new genus, Nesomimus, distinguished by their longer and more com- pressed bill and longer tarsus. Two specimens of the rare Gull Creagrus furcatus, an adult male and an adult female in perfect summer plumage, were obtained on Dalrymple Rock, Chatham I., and are fully described by Mr. Ridgway. A table, showing the different islands of the group in which the 69 species now known to occur in the Galapagos have been found, is added, and is followed by lists of the species met with on each island. “It is very evident,” says Mr. Ridgway in his concluding remarks, with which we quite agree, “that the avifauna of the Galapagos is by no means yet exhausted as a field for promising research in the problem of derivative origin of species.”” Albemarle Island, the largest of the group, is still almost untouched, two others (Wen- man and Culpepper) have not been explored at all, whilst “it can safely be said that on none of the islands has any- thing like a thorough investigation yet been made.” 53. Salvadori on Additions to Papuan Ornithology. [Aggiunte alla Ornitologia della Papuasia e delle Molucche. Per Tommaso Salvadori. Parte prima: Accipitres, Psittaci, Picaria. Ato. Torino: 1889. | ; Seven years arepast since the third and last volume of Count Salvadori’s ‘Ornitologia della Papuasia e delle Molucche’ was published. The author now proposes to issue a supple- ment to his former excellent piece of work, in order to bring our knowledge of the subject up to the present period. Of Recently published Ornithological Works. 259 this supplement, the present part, now before us, contains an account of the recent contributions made to our knowledge of the Rapaces, Parrots, and Picarians of the Papuan Sub- region. ‘The additional species are 35 in number, amongst which four receive new names, namely, Urospizias polionotus, from Timor-laut, Cacomantis arfakianus, from New Guinea, Lamprococcyx poliurus, from Taraway I., and Tanysiptera meyeri, from New Guinea. 54. Salvadori on Pallas’s Sand-Grouse in Italy. [Le ultime notizie intorno al Sirratte in Italia negli anni 1888 e 1889, raccolte da Tommaso Salvadori. Boll. Mus. Anat. Comp. Torino, vol. iv. no. 70. | This is a second supplement to Count Salvadori’s account of the occurrences of Pallas’s Sand-Grouse in Italy in 1888 and 1889. - We have already noticed the original paper (see Ibis, 1889, p. 130) and the first supplement (op. cit. p. 391). Some of the few survivors of the invasion were met with in the first three months of 1889, since when nothing more has been heard of them. Count Salvadori appends to this paper a very convenient tabular statement of all the Italian occur- rences. 55. Saunders’s ‘Manual of British Birds.’ [An Illustrated Manual of British Birds. By Howard Saunders. Parts XVI.-XX. 8vo. London: 1889.] Our former colleague’s ‘ Manual of British Birds’ is now complete, and the author has retired to the continent for a short period to enjoy a better climate and well-earned repose. The compact volume thus quickly elaborated has met with universal and well-merited approval. The first number was issued on April Ist, 1888, and the twentieth and last on Nov. 1st, 1889. The birds considered by the author, in this last au- thority on the subject, to be entitled to be called “British” are 367 in number, exclusive of several doubtful forms on which opinions differ. ‘The species ascertained to have bred within the United Kingdom during the present century are, as we 260 Recently published Ornithological Works. are informed in the preface, about 200 in number. Seventy more are ‘“‘non-breeding wanderers”? which have occurred fewer than six times, and 59 others “ more or less infrequent visitors,” while 38 annually make their appearance on migra- tion or during the colder months. We are much pleased to hear that Mr. Howard Saunders has it in contemplation to prepare another volume, containing a similar condensed account of such European species of birds as are not yet known to occur in the British Islands. 56. Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Water-Birds. | Contributions to the Comparative Osteology of Arctic and Sub-Arctic Water-Birds. Part IV. By R. W. Shufeldt, M.D., C.M.Z.S. Journ. Anat. & Physiol. xxiii. p. 537. | Dr. Shufeldt continues his studies on the osteology of the Arctic and Subarctic Water-birds (cf. Ibis, 1889, p. 568). He now discusses the Auklets (Ceratorhyncha, Ptychorham- phus, Simorhynchus, &c.), of which, however, he has failed to secure a good series for examination, except in the case of Simorhynchus. He describes the skeletons of Simorhynchus pusillus, S. cristatellus, and Cyclorhynchus psittaculus, and makes various remarks as to their resemblances. — 57. Shufeldt on the Macrochires. [Studies of the Macrochires, Morphological and otherwise, with the view of indicating their Relationships and defining their several Positions in the System. By R. W. Shufeldt, M.D., C.M.Z.S. Journ. Linn, Soe. (Zoology) xx. p. 299. | This long and elaborate memoir contains a mine of wealth in the way of observations, and, as is always the case in Dr. Shufeldt’s papers, is excellently illustrated, but is, per- haps, deficient in definite conclusions. The author harps ‘upon his old theme of the distinctness of the Swifts and Humming-birds. He now, however, we are pleased to see, withdraws from his former position that the Swifts should be arranged among the Passeres, near the Swallows, and proposes to form them into an Order of themselves under the title ‘“ Cypseli,” to be placed “ just outside the enormous Recently published Ornithological Works. 261 Passerine circle.” The “ Trochili,’ as already suggested, should form a separate order, as he is now more than ever convinced. In the skeleton of the Trogons Dr. Shufeldt finds sothing “that in any way points to their being related, even remotely, to the Caprimulgi.” 58. Shufeldt on the Herons. [Osteological Studies of the Subfamily Ardeinew. PartsI. & II. By R. W. Shufeldt, M.D., C.M.Z.S. Journ. Comp. Med. & Surg. x. pp. 218, 287. ] In these two articles Dr. Shnfeldt discusses the osteo- logical characters of Ardea and its nearallies. The woodcut illustrations are of the usual excellence. At the conclusion the chief points are summarized in a series of twenty-six definite statements. 59. Smith on the Birds of Lake Brunner District, New Zealand. {On the Birds of Lake Brunner District. By W. W. Smith. Trans. New-Zealand Inst. xxi. p. 205. ] Mr. W. W. Smith gives us some very nice field-notes on the birds of the district of Lake Brunner, Grey County, on the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand, where “ the bush still remains in its primeval state, and many of the anomalous and more specialized forms, now extinct east of the Alps, enjoy in it a fairly genial home.” Among the species still to be met with here are Stringops habroptilus, Nestor meridionalis, Orthonyx ochrocephala, Xenicus longipes, and Creadion carunculatus, while Apteryx australis “ exists in considerable numbers in the bush round the Lake.” But the new “ Midland Railway is now being pushed on through the valley, so that many of these rare forms will very shortly disappear.” SER, VI.—VOL. II. T 262 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. XXIV.—Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. We have received the following letters :— Northrepps, 16 December, 1889. Sir,—A short time since, Mr. H. E. Dresser very kindly permitted the Norwich Museum to acquire by exchange a specimen from Jeddah of the Owl described by Mr. Sharpe and figured in ‘ The Ibis,’ 1886, pl. vi., under the name of Bubo milesi. Mr. Dresser informs me that this specimen has been com- pared with the type in the British Museum and agrees with it; but I find, on examination, that it also agrees (I think, closely) with the original description of “‘ Otus abys- sinicus,” given by Guérin-Méneville in the ‘ Revue de Zoo- logie’ for 1843, p. 321. Mr. Dresser has been good enough to refer, at my request, to the plate of Otus abyssinicus in the ‘ Voyage Abyss.,’ Zool. iii. Ois. pl. 3, and writes as follows :—“It is figured without ear-tufts, which is noted in the letterpress as an error, otherwise it would do pretty well for Bubo milesi.” In the accompanying letterpress the wing-measurement of Otus abyssinicus is given as “35 cent.” (nearly equivalent to 132 inches), but in the ‘ Revue de Zool.’ no measurements are given. The following figures relate to the measurements of the wing and tarsus only :— Wing. Tarsus. in. in. Otus abyssinicus, as given in the ‘ Voyage Abyss.’ .... 13D a * wae Otus abyssinicus, as given by vy. Heuglin, and quoted by Sharpe, Striges, p. 227 .. 15 to 15 1:70 to 2 Type of Bubo milesi as de- scribed by Mr. Sharpe .. 12-70 2°40 B. milesi from Jeddah, in Norwich Museum ...... 13°20 2:40 If the type of Otus abyssinicus still exists in Paris, it would be very desirable that an Arabian specimen of Budo Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 263 milest should be compared with it; but meanwhile I am disposed to consider Otus abyssinicus and Bubo milesi as one and the same species, which, in that case, ought to stand as Bubo abyssinicus. Iam &c., J. H. Gurney. S1r,—I beg leave to point out that Capt. Shelley’s identi- fication of my Esftrelda nonnula with Habropyga tenerrima (P.Z.S. 1888, p.31) is an error. In H. nonnula the ground- colour of the back is brownish olive; in H. tenerrima of Reichenow it is grey, and on this grey there are dark fasciz not found in 1. nonnula. I believe these two species to be quite distinct, and Dr. Reichenow is of the same opinion. Yours &c., Bremen, Feb. 15th, 1890. G. Harriavs. Labuan, Borneo, Jan, 20, 1890. S1r,—I wish to place on record the occurrence in Borneo of Fuligula cristata (Leach) and of a Phalarope, probably Lobipes hyperboreus (Linn.), which has already been indi- cated as a probable visitant to Borneo by Count Salvadori. The latter specimen was shot at Baram Point in October, but was too much mutilated for preservation. The Duck was shot at Labuan in October, and identified by comparison with the description in the last edition of Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds.’ Yours &c., A. H. Everett. Birds of the Bellenden-Ker Range, Queensland.—Appended to the Report of Mr. A. Meston on the Government scien- tific expedition to the Bellenden-Ker Range in Northern Queensland, which has recently been presented to the Parliament of Queensland, is a report on the zoology of the expedition by Mr. C. A. De Vis, Curator of the Queensland Museum, Brisbane. The expedition started from Cairns on 264 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. the sea-coast on June 20th, 1889, and kept the field ten weeks. The well-known Australian collector Mr. Broadbent was attached to it. It is stated that at the height of 5000 feet (nearly the limit of the height of the range) moe change of fauna takes place, some of the most familiar birds of Queensland (such as Pachycephala gutturalis) being met with in numbers on the top of the mountain, and other more local kinds (e.g. Scenopeus dentirostris, Prionodure newtoniana, and Sericornis gutturalis*) having been found at all heights and on the summit. The list of birds of which specimens were obtained embraces 79 species, amongst which is an Owl, described as new under the name Ninox lurida. Other rare species besides those above men- tioned are Cracticus quoyi, Colluricincla boweri, and Gery- gone flavida. Nineteen other species are enumerated as observed on Bellenden-Ker by Mr. Broadbent, but not obtained. Mr. Meston also procured a nest and eggs, believed to be those of the remarkable Bower-bird Prioni- dura newtoniana. New extinct Swan in New Zealand.—At a meeting of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, New Zealand, on October 3rd, 1889, Mr. H. O. Forbes, Director of the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, described an extinct species of Swan from osteological remains which he had discovered while excavating a cave recently exposed at Sumner, on the estuary of the Heathcote and Avon Rivers, a few miles distant from Christchurch. The bones discovered consisted of three complete coracoids and the proximal and distal portions of the humerus. They differ very little from those of Chenopis atrata of Australia, except in their greater size. The new species has been named Chenopis sumnerensis. The Sumner cave was stated to have been closed before the introduction of Chenopis atrata into New Zealand. The extension of the Swans * A new species lately described by Mr. De Vis in the ‘ Proceedings’ of the Royal Society of Queensland from specimens obtained at Herberton by Mr. Broadbent. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 265 to New Zealand in a former epoch was therefore a very interesting fact in ornithology. The Generic term Calodromas.—In February 1884, Mr. Ridgway proposed to change the generic term Calodromas, employed by Messrs. Sclater and Salvin in 1873 for a genus of Tinamous, into Calopezus, stating that Calodromas was preoccupied, “having been used for a genus of Coleoptera by Goudot, 1832 (Rev. et Mag. de Zool.).” This suggestion unfortunately escaped my notice, and was not alluded to in ‘Argentine Ornithology,’ where the species in question is called Calodromas elegans (Argentine Ornithology, ii. p. 214)*. My attention now having been called to this point, I am not quite sure that I can agree with Mr. Ridgway. The term in question was used in the ‘ Magasin de Zoologie’ for 1832 by Guérin (not by “‘ Goudot in the Revue et Mag. Zool. 1832”), and is there written Calodromus not Calodromas. As the terms are not quite identical, and as, judging from what Guérin says in his footnote, the derivations are not the same, I see no difficulty in retaining Calodromas. Had both terms been proposed in the same branch of zoology the case might have been different. P. L. Scuater. Obituary.—Grorce CavenpisH Taytor, Jost Augusto DE Sousa, Cart Hunstern, Laptstas Taczanowskl, José ARE- vALo Y Baca, Epwdrp Tuomas Bootn.—We regret, through inadventence, to have hitherto omitted to record the death of Mr. Greorce Cavenpiso Taytor, formerly a member of the B. O. U., and well known to many of us. Mr. Taylor died at his residence, 42 Elvaston Place, Queen’s Gate, on the 30th of July last, at the age of 63 years. The second son of the late Mr. Frederic Farmer Taylor, of Chyknell, Salop, Mr. Taylor passed the first portion of his life * The term was also omitted in Mr. Waterhouse’s ‘ Index Generum Avium,’ and although duly mentioned in the ‘ Zoological Record’ for 1884 (Aves, p. 67), was not registered in the Index of New Generic Names to that volume. : \ 266 Letters, Kxtracts, Notices, &c. as an officer in the 95th Regiment, and served his country in the Crimea and elsewhere. After retiring from the army, he became a director of the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, and of other commercial undertakings. Mr. Taylor was an ardent sportsman and an excellent shot, and from early life was a collector of birds, more especially those killed by his own gun, and a skilful preparer of their skins. In 1857-58 he visited Honduras in connection with the scheme then afloat for carrying an inter-oceanic railway across that country. In company with the preliminary surveying expedition for the proposed line, he crossed that Republic from Fonseca Bay to Omoa, and made a consider- able collection of birds, of which he subsequently published an account in this Journal. In 1861 Mr. Taylor made an expedition to Florida, of which also an account was given to the readers of ‘ The Ibis.’ One of the specialities of Mr. Taylor’s private collection of birds was a series of Ruffs (Machetes pugnaz), illustrative of the highly variable plumage of the male of this bird. This series, we are pleased to be able to announce, has been secured by Prof. Flower for the National Collection. We subjoin a list of Mr. Taylor’s ornithological publi- cations. (1) “Account of a Visit to a Nesting-place of the Frigate- bird (Fregata aquila, L.),”’ Ibis, 1859, p. 150. (2) “On Birds collected or observed in the Republic of Honduras, with a short account of a Journey across that country from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean,” Ibis, 1860, pp. 10, 110, 222, 311. (3) “Five weeks in the Peninsula of Florida during the spring of 1861, with Notes on the Birds observed there,”’ Ibis, 1862, pp. 127, 197. (4) “ Birds observed during two Voyages across the North Atlantic,” Ibis, 1869, p. 388. (5) “Ornithological Observations in the Crimea, Turkey, Sea of Azov, and Crete, during the years 1854-55; with Remarks en the Sivash, or Putrid Sea,” Ibis, 1872, p. 224. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 267 Jost Aucusto pE Sousa, one of the Conservators of the National Museum at Lisbon, and specially in charge of the collection of birds, died at Lisbon on the 18th of June last, at the age of 52 years. When, on the death of Pedro V. of Portugal in 1863, the zoological collections formed by that monarch were transferred to the National Museum, Senhor de Sousa, then one of the two conservators of the Royal Gallery, entered the service of the museum and took charge of the bird-collection. Since that period Senhor de Sousa has been a frequent contributor of short papers on ornitho- logical subjects to the ‘ Jornal de Sciencias Mathematicas, Physicas e Naturaes.’ Most of these refer to specimens in collections received by the National Museum from Angola, Mozambique, and other Portuguese colonies in Africa. Senhor de Sousa also contributed a paper on the ornithology of Timor to the ‘ Bulletim da Sociedade de Geographia?’ in 1883, and prepared catalogues of specimens of birds in the National Museum of Lisbon—the Parrots and Birds of Prey in 1869, and the Pigeons and Gallinaceous birds in 1873. Cart Hunstein, the well-known German bird-collector, perished, as has been lately ascertained, in a cataclysm, on the west coast of New Britain, on the 14th of March, 1888. Hunstein was born about 45 years ago at Homburg, in Hesse-Cassel, and although a man of good education and some means, commenced life as a house-painter. Being unable to indulge his love of sport and out-door life in Europe, he emigrated to America and subsequently proceeded by San Francisco to New Zealand, in order to join the Thames Gold-fields diggings. Thence he passed to Queensland on a similar occupation, and when the New Guinea gold-fever broke out, joined the second or third lot of diggers who started from Cookstown to Port Moresby. As is well known, the gold in New Guinea proved a failure, and Hunstein took to his old occupation of collecting specimens of natural history, sometimes in company with Goldie or Captain Redlich and at other times alone. Most of the discoveries commonly attributed to Goldie are said to have been made by Hunstein, 268 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. who was an ardent collector and a faithful and accurate ob- server of nature. In 1882 Hunstein accompanied Dr. Finsch on his trip up the Laloki River in British New Guinea. In 1884, when Dr. Finsch was proceeding in the ‘Samoa’ to annex the German portion of New Guinea (now Kaiser- Wilhelm’s-land), he met Hunstein at Cookstown, just returned from a most successful collecting-trip in the Horse- shoe Mountains of the Owen-Stanley Range, and obtained from him a splendid series of specimens, which were after- wards described by Dr. Finsch and Dr. Meyer *. Knowing the practical value of a man of Hunstein’s calibre, Dr. Finsch engaged him for the service of the New Guinea Company of Berlin, but did not succeed in getting him such an appointment as a man of his great experience with natives deserved. Hunstein knew the Pa- puans and their ways really well, and during nearly seven years’ sojourn amongst them never once had occasion to use violent means of defence. When the great tidal wave occurred on the west coast of New Britain, on the 13th of March, 1888, Hunstein was in company with Herr von Below, a coffee-planter from Celebes, along with four Malays and twelve natives prospecting for coffee-lands on that coast. The whole party was overwhelmed, and only two of the natives were saved. No traces have ever been discovered of the victims, and it was long before it was known what had become of them. Lapistas Taczanowsk1.—With much regret we announce the death, on the 17th of January last, after a short illness, of the well-known ornithologist Ladislas Taczanowski, Con- servator of the Warsaw Museum. We are indebted to Dr. A. Wrzesniowski, Professor in the University of Warsaw, for the following particulars of his life. Ladislas Taczanowski was born the 17th March, 1819, at Jablona, in the Palatinate of Lublin. He began his educa- tion at home, and was then admitted into the Gymnasium at Lublin, which he left in 1838. After the death of his * See Ibis, 1886, p. 237, and Zeitschr. f. d. ges. Orn. 1885, p. 369. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 269 father, between 1839 and 1859, he cultivated the land to which he had succeeded. He then entered the public service and was employed in special missions for the governor of Radom, where he was entrusted with the forma- tion of a collection of the animals of the Palatinates of Lublin and Radom, as the Government had intended to place similar collections in the chief places of each Palatinate. But this intention was not carried out. In 1855 Taczanowski was appointed Conservator of the Zoological Museum of Warsaw and remained in that post until his death. From his childhood Taczanowski was distinguished by his love for the study of nature; the habits of birds above all interested him. At first, for want of other materials, he devoted himself to the study of the ornithological fauna of the kingdom of Poland, especially of the Palatinates of Lublin, Radom, and Augustovo. His transference to Warsaw enabled him to pursue his studies with a scientific method. In 1857, the directors of public education in Warsaw delegated Taczanowski to proceed to Paris, where he learnt the best methods of skinning and preserving animals. The sphere of Taczanowski’s scientific studies was con- siderably extended when, in 1865, Dr. Benoit Dybowski (Professor of the University of Léopol) and Victor Godlewski began to study Eastern Siberia, and when, in 1866, Constantin Jelski established himself at Cayenne and formed, with an admirable zeal and with great success, collections of the representatives of the fauna of that country. All the acquisi- tions made in Siberia and in Cayenne were sent to Tac- zanowski, who devoted himself to the study of the ornitho- logical faunas of these countries as well as to that of the Araneids of Cayenne. In 1863, Counts Alexander and Constantine Branicky made a voyage to the Upper Nile and gathered a rich collection, which they presented to the Zoological Museum of Warsaw. From that time the beneficent influence of the Counts Branicky, especially that of Constantine, began to aid the activity of Taczanowski, an influence which they exercised by furnishing him with the best scientific materials SER. VI.—VOL. LI, U 270 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. for his studies. The two Counts provided him with the means of taking a voyage to Algeria, where he spent the winter of 1866-67. When, in 1871, Jelski moved his quarters to Peru, Count Constantine Branicky made him an allowance on condition that he sent his zoological collections to Taczanowski. In 1875 Jelski was succeeded by Jean Stolzmann, who remained in Peru till 1882, when, in consequence of the war with Chili, he travelled from 1883 to 1885 in Ecuador. In this way Taczanowski became possessed of rich materials for his great works on the Birds of Siberia and of Peru. The study of birds was the principal object of Taczanowski’s labours, but he also devoted himself to the study of the Araneids. He made a large collection of these animals in the neighbourhood of Warsaw, and published a list of known species ; afterwards he described the species of certain families from Cayenne and from Peru. To Taczanowski the Warsaw Museum is principally in- debted for its rich collections ; for his relations with the Counts Branicky were turned to the profit of the Museum. But amongst private individuals should be also mentioned the names of Professor Dybowski and M. C. Jelski, who, although not in good circumstances, sent all their collections to the Museum. Count Muiszech and Prince Ladislas Lubomirski also enriched it with their contributions. Taczanowski was a member of the Society of Naturalists of St. Petersburg, the German Ornithological Society, the Zoological Society of France, the Zoological and Botanical Society of Vienna, the Zoclogical Society of London, and the American Ornithclogists’ Union. In 1887 he was made honorary Dr. of Philosophy of the University of Cracow. His published works and memoirs were numerous, alto- gether about fifty. Of these the most important are his ‘Birds of Poland’ (published in 2 vols. at Cracow, in 1882), his ‘ Ornithology of Peru’ (4 vols., 1884-86), and his memoirs on the “ Birds of Siberia,” in the ‘ Bulletin of the Société Zoologique de France’ and in the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.’ Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 271 José Ar&évato y Baca.—With most sincere sorrow, Lord Lilford writes to us, I announce the death of my esteemed friend Don José Arévalo y Baca, Professor of Zoology in the University of Valencia, who died on January 9th ult. of the prevalent epidemic complicated by affection of the lungs, in his 44th year. His memoir on the Birds of Spain, published in 1887 *, is,so far as I know, the only one that has hitherto appeared on the ornithology of the whole Iberian Peninsula, and although not devoid of error, is a work of very con- siderable merit and much laborious research. In judging of this book, English ornithologists must take into considera- tion not only the very meagre salaries of Spanish University Professors, but also the very scanty supply of modern works of zoological reference that are accessible to them. In the case of Sefior Arévalo these difficulties were aggravated by delicate health, and his untimely death has left a void in the ranks of European ornithologists that will not easily be filled up. Mr. Epwarp Tuomas Boorn, the founder and owner of the well-known “ Dyke Road Museum” of British Birds at Brighton, died on the 8th of February last. Mr. Booth was born at Chalfont St. Giles, in Buckinghamshire, on June 2nd, 1839, the only child of his father, Mr. Edward Booth, of Marina, St. Leonards, by Miss Beaumont, of a well-known Northumberland family. He was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. Mr. Booth learnt bird-stuffing when a boy, from Kent, the well-known bird-stuffer of Has- tings, and, commencing at an early period in life, spent the greater part of his time in the field, studying our native birds in their haunts in every part of the United Kingdom, and collecting and preserving the specimens that fell to his gun. These specimens were mounted in an artistic way, each species in a separate case, with objects and painted backgrounds so arranged as to represent the birds in situations similar to * Aves de Espaiia.—Memoria premiada con accésit por la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales en el concurso publico de 1882 escrita por D. José Arévalo y Baca. 4to. Madrid, 1887. 272 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. those in which they were actually obtained, the arrangements being in many instances copied from sketches taken on the actual spots where the birds themselves were shot. In making this collection Mr. Booth spared neither personal trouble nor expense of any kind, and the results of his energy and devotion to this one object were the finest and most nearly complete collection of British Birds of this special character ever yet formed. About 15 years ago, his house in Vernon Terrace, Brighton, being too small for his increasing collection, Mr. Booth purchased some freehold land on the Dyke Road, and erected a residence for himself and a special building for his birds. Of the latter he issued a catalogue in 1876, which describes the contents of 306 cases and gives exact particulars of the mode in which the specimens were ob- tained *. The Museum was open to the public at a fee of one shilling a head, and the proceeds from admission were given to Brighton charities. The Booth Collection is stated to have been bequeathed to the Trustees of the British Museum, but with restrictions on its use which make it doubtful whether they will accept the offer. Mr. Booth also issued, in numbers, between the years 1881 and 1887, a well-illustrated work entitled ‘Rough Notes on the Birds observed during twenty-five years’ shooting and collecting in the British Islands,’ the nature of which is correctly indicated by the title. Com- pleted, it forms three handsome folio volumes, the plates of which, lithographed and coloured from sketches by Neale, represent the specimens in the Dyke Road Museum. Mr. H. E. Dresser, who was well acquainted with the late Mr. Booth, describes him, in his prime, as a strongly built, very active and intelligent man, an excellent sportsman, and one of the best field-naturalists he ever knew. * * kK ES | Sumatra. cl ie i ee kK KK * Ok bk +: + KK Philippine OK OK ok | Islands. + Sok Ok + Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the ae i ee oe ae il (@ircus® G..csoceescasteee 1. spilonotus ...... A ASEUT ten caeoecaesaeesner: 2. trivirgatus ...... 3. soloensis ......... Oe ACCIPICOL -c.2kcasteet es 4. virgatus ........ 5. rufotibialis, sp. 2. 4. SpiZAeuus), csiecnser sees 6. limneetus......... 5. Lophotriorchis......... Tho ISUIOTN, Secossoo: G.Neopus' a. Aiise.eeestess 8. malayensis...... Ce SyOMloraaUSS Ghescedasaaonoe ONBACH AG Eneeasecere LO Mpalllidusterceese Sy Butastitie eessesensecces. ulsinclicusheeseceesre 9. Halliaetusi fescs- kk +O Philippine Tslands. 2 of +6 —- eS | Celebes. > +09 | Timor. 000-8000 ft. Kina Balu, ° | j + * + _ | _ Kina Balu, 8000-13,000 ft. Seas = 3 3lqS eee ois Suen Brought forward ...| 24 | 9 23s Woroneseseicssat eee ie lar 28. tenuirostris * * 24. Dendrocitta ......... eb lense 29. cinerascens...... eamtleaee Qo @issae Pt ceed. nes Secale 310 Seiaabhatoy e -congaonaoce aoe, .|| ode 31. jefferyi, sp. n.| ... | ..- 26. Platysmurus ......... Sept o2. aterrimus ...... * * Oe Oriolusies- sce tee Teel att 33. xanthonotus ...| * | * 34. vulneratus, | ... | ... sp. n. 2S8uOhiliai<.cse-neoes conker “F 35. borneensis ...... ais eee 20; Buchaneal \.sccsse2-+- Secale 36. stigmatops ...... soon |e 30. Dissemurus............ if 37. brachyphorus...| * 31. Tephrodornis......... A alee 305 GUlAPIS! 5.51. 3 5) (28) | Timor, + —_ oe Brought forward ... GOdirythacus; os... 83. cyaneus ......... 61. Monticola ............ 4a solitaniaeeesee ss 62. Myiophoneus ......... 85. borneensis ...... Osa Drichixusssaecs eee 86. pyrrhopygus ... 64. Goparanta oe pies 87. ameenus ......... Gon Oitiocincelay.ees..-esee: 88. stricklandi ...... 66. -Alsithina es. -ne. ese 89. viridissima...... SOM vanidieeeeeeeee eee Of Chloropsis) wc. .00-.024 91. zosterops......... 92. cyanopogon 93. kKinabaluen- Sis, sp. n. GS Hemixushesres.cenesee 94, connectens, sp. n. 95. malaccensis...... 69) Mileropus, )2c05. 000s: 96. melanoleucus ... 97. melanocephalus MON@rinigereeeeceeeeeeeees 98. pheocephalus... 99. ruficrissus ...... 71. Tricholestes ......... 100. criniger......... 72. Trachycomus ......... 101. ochrocephalus 73. Pycnonotus............ LO2Fanahisereesche: 103. simplex ......... W42 Rubieulaes...s.c.ca- a 104. montis ......... 75, OREOCTISTES ......... 105. leucops, sp. n. Giron are. csca:ssseee esses 106. criniger......... (ide ELBNIGURUS) aesceneecees 107. borneensis, sp. n. 78. Hydrocichla ......... 108. frontalis ...... Carried forward ... . x +o | Lowlands of a oo Borneo. omer Kina Balu, #8 | 0-1000 ft. * Ok + KK SKS _ | Kina Balu, — | 1000-8000 ft. Kina Balu, a | 3000-4000 ft. * | sBle ASS eo\gs gees blll |e oO} 16] 9 ale * * tT * T %* 19 | 10 Himalaya Mountains. + +5; | Te Philippine Islands. aS | Celebes. OS) > + Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the > 09 | Timor. 0-1000 ft. Kina Balu, 6 | Kina Balu, iss to BS | 1000-3000 ft. oe ae ee Pie tae ei Gd: + +i Kina Balu, < | 3000-4000 ft. Kina Balu, —_ © | 4000-8000 ft. * bk Eb =p * aes *x + coerce, = | Kina Balu, © | 8000-13,000 ft. 278 eee in | al Ege E| 5 AB laa] ss | a 39 | 59 | 40 | 60 Higedlenelioaliees all. $k feeds a Gta) ali SN eel coon | ec oes | Neem ee: iteedl sate (li ale al giee ree ieee ibe ite ai neal t +t toa ah wl ae or 9G |) 9% sfalieast: Milf seul fear * eae wee ames nh tl) oh TPeif TP ae Bees |! wes ieee snl: sh i t ih te ai the qe ah t * | x | #® * | * * eet aankal aly F * ef ee hoe ih 1h oi Peal Wel E SRE Wee ylhete itpod|posts vibes dlioseih 42 | 69 | 43 | 68 6 a: =e 3 —Q | Brought forward ...| 72 (OS Bunnesiaesececeeteceene ii 109. superciliaris...|_ * 80. Orthotomus ......... ik 110. ruficeps ......... * 111. cineraceus ...... * 81. PHYLLERGATES ...... sep 112. cinereicollis| ... sp. n. 82. Cyanoderma ......... t 13> bicolors.....-2-- * 83. STAPHIDIA ...........- be 114. everetti, sp. n. 84. Herpornis ............ iT 115. brunnescens...| ¥* 85. CHLOROCHARIS ......| ... 116. emiliz, sp.n.| ... 66) Miacronus ) cee s.ccne .| 2] -S] -B | So pales. ease 2 S also lSol8olae BEE lad Balseal bs $ SAS Sis as Aas os) sp. a ; = ac| o & a e/8sO|s i ay a? sy mesic ehcrs cas rea teste eaies ||) O Sols 7 |aecleclsetso eels |Sio|-S | 5 leS) a | 3 BAIS SCMSES ESS Bele sal sia AZo |/a 4 = ol S| & 15 | 42 | 69 | 48 | 68 | 25 | 10 | 3 Brought forward ...| 86 | 41 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 12 dem liete Hicses) ait wee [teas (O85 uirichostomay se.cseece + ene ee * aa 133. rostratum ...... oy taal hes |e oh 99. Malacopterum ...... t * * 134. cinereum ...... * % * UB By Elstwa@nesqenooons. x it re 100, Kenopia: .5: it DeSales Ne E> Illex ae 236. malayana ...... x ete a eee st 164. Rhopodytes ......... Pal at cae fees |eceea | les 237. erythrognathus| x | * tedleaten) ated ah 165, Rhinortha............ ell ip x | x | x | x 238. chlorophea ...| * | * Pty ot at 166. Polioceceyx ......... i * | * | * | % 239. sumatranus ...| * +f se il ae ae 167. Zanclostomus ...... 1 | lt Ap peed ese: Ge a aaee el eel Sete 240. javanicus ...... x | x | * | ® Footy ok dt ty FF ab gee | M682 Oentrococcyx . ..:..: i Halleck) Oe || Se ||’ Se Se I seal eae 241. eurycercus...... * * | *« | «x |x | * Be Le tics 242. javanensis...... * a aecte]|| eat GO MBuceross sccceccesses it * |... | * 248. rhinoceros ... | * Tee ced) of UO Reino plaxseeree.eeees te ait aa * | * * DAA, Vigil Saccecwnoss st x | *¥ | * 27 | 102} 143| 88 | 142] 45 | 20] 7 Carried forward ...|177| 72 | 50 | 39 | 45 | 16 i AD Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 283 re Pe Pe & 3 4 sl ~ e fe ae a ih) e2\8| 4 |g 2 slz-lesisslasige 28/8 | 3 baie ie ZEASASASASAs See eeaeetl iia! ees] ll o Sa Se ce ale a sia Belaieele | ssi! 2 Fels tigskeeteses Bee sais |e aes | a Sale SSeS airs 27 | 102/143] 88 | 142) 45 | 20| 7 Brought forward ...|177| 72 | 50 | 39 | 45 | 16 ian inl tm talimece lee. \uliieeAmbhracocerost.e eaten * * ath peice ae see 245. convexus ...... ¥ Mera secialeise tlt di, = a 246. malayanus ...| * * TP {le ek ean (le as [ea ... | 172. Anorrhinus ......... Teal sh * Renee) oer EE ae 247. comaTuUsS ...... * Sm lene tl reece aes TICS Sc 248. galeritus ...... * | * ete! Fo ledt oP bt | dis. Mierope ..25.c02ere: t * x Co Bree || eae ih ee 249. sumatranus ...| * Fetal te! ccc 4) FY sisoyd| seine’ he ke DVOMIORDIS® «<.)c.5 002 ok aloe HW ewer fl “3 ae ee DOO AMIGA ees asec * * memes ety ab ck at toy ly Teall eroueAllcadat is. s+.n 0 eee t Yeats Seedy Aish eae oe eel se ll el see | oe 251. bengalensis ...| * Fi SE Be ge dee se | oes 252, meninting...... * see ile alee: WN E= Hl see. || 5. 253. euryzona ...... x | * | * | x Mate bol) Ft 176. Pelargopsis ......... it * * SF vtec 254. leucocephala...| * ta i toy ts. ifr. O, 1p eee Ae er T Ste pe 250. dillwynni ...... * | * | x ete Woteiet | tT 4 t| Fo) A. Haleyon~ ).5...c005. iF *% |x | x * * oul see || eee 256. coromanda ...| x MMMeeonl ses | aes al) He eee. [lads Bio, PUleabam wen etese: * x | *« | x * | « | x 258. chloris ......... * x Dem eee> 96% Ill. eek, ot as 259. concreta ...... * alisha th cte te Scale 179. Carcineutes ......... petal 260. melanops ...... x | * | * meee. 1 tT | t | t | t.| + {180.Euryetomus ......... t x | x * * Monsees leon: 261. orientalis .....| x mere a bt | fi tt t | f | 181. Caprimulgus ...... Pe, haan oe PPE | Ne He a ee dices | Se 262. macrurus ...... Re lee slate eT Th Td ap. |) vconfeses | 1O2::Cypselog ......005.2. t oo. Se lieoeeae Bean Me So 263. infumatus...... * eet a 1 tt tT ht | th) 283. Collocalia .....2....0. ee uae espe Geet a * | * | «| * | x | x 264. fuciphaga ...... * * | * * eae eal (meee MEH: linchivessce-cee ce x | x | x * 56 |e tested tee) ae den i c.. |Wis4ei@endrochelidon || St ee ae le Soul cesses 266. comata ......... x ios || Tie ok (Seon Vee |e Bees 267. longipennis ...|_ * 1 taatioesewd at We udiveee.|| ose laligo: (Obeeturaetss..sc..o60- t * ME eee ee Nilewer Aces. (wees 268. coracina ...... * eect tea Tt Tie th ..s)| 186. earendinapus ..:..2. i Seoul een ace 3 se! HOR eee 269. giganteus ...... * Teles seta tet et. ok ll eveitrerom) ..2.02ssscce0s: 5 ee a Pace oes OO eee eel bese 270. capellii ......... % * * * * | * a | ee 271. vernans......... x | * Mera Ee ese), wiles, lees 272. fulvicollis...... * Tey Shea OP Bat leds (BS Balopus*® oideacc: Hel SP a Ae Ha scsed| ) || aes Wiener Wycias 273. jambu ......... x | * | x feet tT te eet Foot 1 188) Carpophaga.....0:.. att | eu leeee ih Pome! ose, esses tate) Weaee Ihsan ZA RNCA «. ok KK EO Dolo +x KE Brought forward ... Carpophaga 190. 191. QTD: WACIA;eeeisacie seer 276. bicolor ......... Chalcophaps......... Diiemnica meee cees Macropygia ......... 278. emiliana ...... 279. RUFICEPS ...... M@aloenasseecseeeceenee » -ATPUSIANUS! <....000. Peis CHER M socansne6as: . Bambusicola......... 282. erythro- Lowlands of Borneo we) S) a phrys, sp. n. ie . ARBOROPHILA ...... 196. 283. CHARLTONI...... TEXOIDNTUNE, “Sonneaoooose . Exealfactoria ...... 285. chinensis ...... . Megapodius ......... 286. cumingi ...... MIN BACUS), ckkecMeaseetee. 287. magnirostris... i Squatarola <2... 288. helvetica ...... . Charadrius ......... 289. fulvus ......... p AM PVALIGIS! Sees cenit: PA), FOrOVA can soooor 291. cantianus ...... 292% dubiusi*..csesee: 293. geoffroyi ...... mGlareolavcectcsosseacee 5 SlHae]OSWEYE) Gopcodoaane 295. interpres ...... sp ALi hatit: weeepe nceeosacee 296. ruficollis ...... 297. SUBMINUTA pelring oid esacere-ceeere 298. hypolencus ... 06-1000 ft. Kina Balu, Kina Balu, 1000-3000 ft. 33 Pe} = 2 | -S|sO selasies esas ic ay(aa|s7 Eo|Eg|Eo SSikeSlse oD sH wo]. 41 | 46 | 17 * + | * * * t * 43 | 48 | 18 Himalaya Mountains. Pe Sree ae | ‘Tenasserim. + * HH KOK AK HK SK KH KKK HS Malayan Peninsula. «+ | Doe Ok Ke 4K OS See ei biiiiiii: Dix: * hoe KO ok ok ek eK KK a aK | Java. * K+ oe ee eee | Sumatra. SK OK HK KH SK KK KK OK KKK KS * kK + Ornithology of Northern Borneo. Philippine Islands. + KOK + Dolo HK HK SK KKK KKK KKK KK: * KK + AKI eI Ok | Celebes. Dok ke SK SK SK SK OK KK: > ok KX +: * +R I: * + > +x Dok KH KOK: + aiid: 207. 208. 209. Motansiseccesccsescnee 299. glareola......... 300. brevipes.......-. INTIMeNTUS) +. aeseetase 301. uropygialis ... Scolopax | ivccson-ce. 302. gallinago ...... 303. MIRGIAWAUs oe eeee. . Hypotenidia......... 304. striata ......... py Evelina ees eee neers . Ortygometra ......... 306. cinerea ......... splinystilanay. (os ee ere scence Bp AUG Ga eecti oe ea eee eee 309. purpurea ...... » Wemierretta, .-...0..- Bil SEED bacoddonons MH Erodias) steers: ull CORT A ease ceee cee PB ubmleusmennssscceee: 312. coromandus ... WPATCEO] Bis ccceseeneence 313. speciosa......... Rasiriformtols=) “Sacsoooencee 314, javanica ...... . Gorsachius............ 315. melanolophus . RVAMO CLAS eaten cencecee 316. cinnamomea ... 317. sinensis ......... ENV ebicOraxc.ecsccsctese 318. griseus ......... . Leptoptilus ......... 319. javanicus ...... eMiareca cansceecessesk 320. penelope ...... Hrepatarecrersscscons: ByAllS an Pap eccoosices e-OUUBM senses eee eee 322. melanogaster . SAS aa A PanRnden Sacre 323. bergii..........-. SEAMOUBI A vaceseseenns 324. leucocapillus... owlands of Borneo. | L ee =] S| ee aH oO s sO asias isp) sO;a j a LS a1 S MOoOKS = tT * 4 * g £5 || a0 Zs\ee 2SleS ak a Si;si ES|as SSINMS | Kina Balu, | 8000-13,000 ft. 286 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the In instituting comparisons between the avifauna of Northern Borneo and that of the neighbouring countries, I have not taken account of any Waders or Swimming-birds, which are species of wide distribution and do not affect the question in any way. I deal simply with Nos. 1-286 in the foregoing list. It will be seen that Mr. Whitehead’s expedition added to the avifauna of Borneo no less than 25 genera, as follows :—1. Heteroscops, 2. Chlamydochera, 3. Hemichelidon, 4, Muscicapula, 5. Tarsiger (vel Nitidula), 6. Cryptolopha, 7. Horornis, 8. Geocichla, 9. Oreoctistes, 10. Henicurus, 11. Phyllergates, 12. Staphidia, 13. Chlorocharis, 14. Brachy- pteryx, 15. Orthnocichla, 16. Garrulax, 17. Allocotops, 18. Androphilus, 19. Corythocichla, 20. Turdinulus, 21. Pteru- thius, 22. Chlorura, 23. Psarisomus, 24. Cyanops, 25. Ar- borophila. Moreover, Mr. Whitehead procured examples of 67 species not before known from Borneo :—1. Accipiter rufotibialis, 2. Spilornis bacha, 3. Heteroscops lucie, 4. Cissa jefferyi, 5. Oriolus vulneratus, 6. Hemipus picatus, 7. Artamides normani, 8. Chlamydochera jefferyi, 9. Pericrocotus cinereigula, 10. P. montanus, 11. Hemichelidon cinereiceps, 12. Muscicapula hype- rythra, 13. M. westermanni, 14. Xanthopygia narcissina, 15. Tarsiger hodgsoni, 16. Rhipidura albicollis, 17. Rhinomyias ru- ficrissa, 18. R. gularis, 19. Cryptolopha trivirgata, 20. C.moniis, 21. Stoparola cerviniventris, 22. Horornis oreophila, 23. Geo- cichla aurata, 24, Merula seebohmi, 25. Erithacus cyaneus, 26. Chloropsis kinabaluensis, 27. Hemixus connectens, 28. Oreoctistes leucops, 29. Henicurus borneensis, 30. Phyllergates cinereicollis, 31. Staphidia everetti, 32. Chlorocharis emilie, 33. Brachypteryx erythrogyna, 34. Orthnocichla whiteheadi, 35. Garrulax schistochlamys, 36. Allocotops calvus, 37. Sta- chyris borneensis, 38. Turdinus canicapillus, 39. T. magni- rostris, 40. Mixornis montana, 41. Androphilus accentor, 42. Corythocichla crassa, 43. Turdinulus exsul, 44. Hyloterpe hypoxantha, 45. Pteruthius eralatus, 46. Dendrophila coral- lipes, 47. Arachnothera julie, 48. Zosterops auriventer, 49. Z. clara, 50. Diceum monticola, 51. Anthus richardi, 52. Chlo- rura borneensis, 53, Calyptomena whiteheadi, 54. Psarisomus Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 287 psittacinus, 55. Harpactes whiteheadi, 56. H. orescius, 57. Cyanops pulcherrima, 58. C. monticola, 59. Hierococcyx nana, 60. H. bocki, 61. Cuculus poliocephalus, 62. Anorrhinus coma- tus, 63. Macropygia ruficeps, 64. Bambusicola erythrophrys, 65. Arborophila charitoni, 66. Tringa subminuta, 67. Scolopax megala. Some of Mr. Whitehead’s most interesting discoveries have been already figured in illustration of previous articles. I am now able to add the portraits of two more of his new species by Mr. Keulemans. These are— 1. ZosteRors ciara. (Plate VIII. fig. 2.) Zosterops clara, Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p- 479, 1889, p. 427. Hab. Kina Balu. 2. Dicawum monricora. (Plate VIII. fig. The} Diceum monticola, Sharpe, Ibis, 1887, p. 452, 1889, p. 428. Hab. Kina Balu. Of the 198 genera and 286 species of which I propose to treat in the present compilation, it will be found that 74. genera and 127 species are, so far as we know, inhabitants of the lowlands of Borneo only, and do not ascend the slopes of Kina Balu at all. This leaves us a total of 124 genera and 159 species which are known to occur on the mountain. By adding Rallina fasciata and Butorides javanica from the Wading-birds, we have the exact number of species found on Kina Balu by Mr. Whitehead, viz. 161, representing 126 genera. A large number of these are birds inhabiting the lowlands of Borneo, which do not extend their range higher than 1000 feet up the mountain. Thirty-four genera and 49 species do not ascend above the 1000-feet limit; but here also begins the true avifauna of Kina Balu; Chibia borneensis, Buchanga stig- matops, Phyllergates cinereicollis, Rhinocichla treacheri, Chlo- rura borneensis, and Collocalia linchi all descend within the 1000-feet limit. In the next zone of Kina Balu, which Mr. Whitehead fixes at from about 1000 feet to 3000 feet, there are 55 genera aud 59 species, but many more of the lowland birds reach 288 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the their maximum range up the mountain before 3000 feet— Bubo orientalis, Tephrodornis gularis, Platylophus coronatus, Lalage culminata, Alseonax latirostris, Poliomyias luteola, Culicicapa ceylonensis, Siphia elegans, Alcippe cinerea, Poma- torhinus borneensis, Dendrophila corallipes, Aithopyga sipa- raja, Arachnothera longirostris, Motacilla melanope, Ery- thrura prasina, Corydon sumatranus, Megalema mystaco- phanes, Iyngipicus aurantiiventris, Gecinus puniceus, Chryso- phlegma humiu, Gauropicoides rafflesti, Miglyptes tukki, Hiero- coccyx fugax, Rhinoplax vigil, Ceyx dillwynni, Carcineutes melanops, Caprimulgus macrurus, Ptilopus jambu, Macropygia emiliana. A few lowland species extend their range beyond the 3000-feet zone, but they disappear in the next zone (3000-4000 feet); these are Oriolus xanthonotus, Arach- nothera modesta, Calyptomena viridis, Pitta arcuata, Zanclo- stomus javanicus, Alcedo euryzona. Only two other species found in the lowlands seem to range beyond the 4000-feet limit, viz. Lepocestes porphyromelas and Merula obscura. Within the 3000-feet zone therefore 26 lowland genera and 29 lowland species disappear from the list, leaving 66 genera and 83 species. In this zone also there occur for the first time several peculiar Kina Balu birds :-— Accipiter rufotibialis. Dendrocitta cinerascens. +Cissa minor. +Pericrocotus cinereigula. +Hemichelidon cinereiceps. Myiophoneus borneensis. Chloropsis kinabaluensis. + Criniger ruficrissus. tRubigula montis. Henicurus borneensis. Stachyris borneensis. +Mixornis montana. Aithopyga temminckhi. + Harpactes oreskius. Macropygia ruficeps. Bambusicola erythrophrys. Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 289 Those marked with a dagger (+) are apparently confined to this zone, and therefore 2 genera and 7 species must be deducted from the number remaining above the 3000-feet zone. There remain therefore 27 genera and 23 species, from which must further be deducted Buchanga stigmatops, leaving 26 genera and 22 species. In the next zone, from 3000 to 4000 feet, several more genera and species reach their limit, and there are quite a number of Kina-Balu species which do not ascend higher. The list is as follows :— Accipiter rufotibialis. *Spilornis bacha. * Oriolus vulneratus. Oriolus xanthonotus. *Hemipus picatus. Pericrocotus xanthogaster. *Rhinomyias ruficrissa. *Geocichla aurata. Chloropsis kinabaluensis. Henicurus borneensis. Phyllergates cinereicollis. *Staphidia everetti. *Turdinus canicapillus. Arachnothera modesta. Calyptomena viridis. *Psarisomus psittacinus. Pitta arcuata. *Cyanops monticola. Zanclostomus javanicus. Alcedo euryzona. Bambusicola erythrophrys. Besides these, which disappear at a height of 4000 feet, many other species appear for the first time and range into the next zone. Such are :— Cissa jeffery. Artamides normani. SER. VI.—VOL. II. y 290 Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the Chlamydodera jefferyi. Rhinomyias gularis. Abrornis schwaneri. Stoparola cerviniventris. Hemizxus connectens. Hyloterpe hypoxantha. Arachnothera julie. Diceum monticola. Calyptomena whiteheads. We thus deduct 14 genera and 21 species which do not reach beyond the 4000-feet zone, leaving 47 genera and 54 species. In the next zone (4000-8000 feet) the following genera reach their maximum altitude and disappear :— % ND OR OP Cissa. Chibia. Artamides. Chlamydochera. + Tarsiger. Rhinomyias. Abrornis. Stoparola. Hemizus. . TOreoctistes. Herpornis. . +Brachypteryz. . tOrthnocichla. . +Garrulaz. . +Allocotops. 16. 17 18 Stachyris. . tCorythocichla. . tTurdinulus. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. Hyloterpe. AAthopyga. Arachnothera. Zosterops. Diceum. Calyptomena, Pitta. Harpactes. Cyanops. Lepocestes. Hierococcyz. Carpophaga. Those genera marked with a dagger (+) are peculiar to this altitude on the mountain. The following species disappear below 8000 feet :— 1]. Cissa jefferyi. 2. Chibia borneensis. 3. Artamides normant. 4. Chlamydochera jefferyi. Ornithology of Northern Borneo. 291 5. Muscicapula hyperythra. +6. Tarsiger hodgsont. 7. Rhinomyias gularis. 8. Abrornis schwaneri. 9. Stoparola cerviniveniris. 10. Merula obscura. 1l. Hemixus connectens. +12. Oreoctistes leucops. 13. Herpornis brunnescens. 14. Brachypteryx erythrogyna. +15. Orthnocichla whiteheadi. +16. Garrulax schistochlamys. $17. Allocotops calvus. 18. Stachyris borneensis. 19. Stachyris poliocephala. +20. Corythocichla crassa. 21. Turdinulus exsul. 22. Hyloterpe hypoxantha. 23. Aithopyga temminckt. 24. Arachnothera julie. $25. Zosterops clara. 26. Diceum monticola. 27. Calyptomena whiteheadi. 28. Pitta schwaneri. +29. Harpactes whiteheadi. +30. Cyanops pulcherrima. 31. Lepocestes porphyromelas. +32. Hierococcyx bocki. +33. Carpophaga badia. Those species marked with a dagger (+) appear to be pecu- liar to the zone of 4000-8000 feet. The species which make their first appearance in this zone are :—Muscicapula hyperythra, M.westermanni, Tarsiger hodg- soni, Rhipidura albicollis, Cryptolopha trivirgata, C. montis, Horornis oreophila, Oreoctistes leucops, Chlorocharis emilie, Brachypteryx erythrogyna, Orthnocichla whiteheadi, Garrulax schistochlamys, Allocotops calvus, Androphilus accentor, Cory- ¥2 292 On the Ornithology of Northern Borneo. thocichla crassa, Turdinulus exsul, Pteruthius eralatus, Zos- terops clara, Pitta schwaneri, Harpactes whiteheadi, Cyanops pulcherrima, Hierococcyx bocki, Cuculus poliocephalus, and Carpophaga badia. The highest zone, above the 8000-feet level, contains very few characteristic genera and species, viz. only Heteroscops Lucie, Pericrocotus montanus, and Merula seebohmt. The table which I have drawn out shows so clearly the relationships of the various genera and species found on Kina Balu that I need take up no more space to compare the avifauna of this interesting mountain with the mountains of surrounding countries. It is evident that the peculiar species of Kina Balu are many, that several inhabitants of that mountain are allied to forms inhabiting the high lands of Sumatra and Java, and therefore those of the Malayan chain, Mooleyit, and the Eastern Himalayas. In drawing up this summary I have derived the greatest assistance from Count Salvadori’s works and memoirs on Borneo and Sumatra, and from Mr. Hume’s able résumé of the avifauna of Tenasserim (Stray Feathers, vol. vi.). I also desire to record my acknowledgments to a most useful paper by Dr. Vorderman entitled “ Les Oiseaux de Sumatra et leur présence dans les iles avoisinantes”. (Nat. Tijdschr. Nederl. Ind. xlix. Afl. 4, pp. 381-442). In conclusion I once more offer my congratulations to Mr. John Whitehead on the success of an expedition planned and executed with so much determination in the face of so many obstacles and dangers, while his father, Mr. Jeffery Whitehead, who provided the “ sinews of war,” must feel proud that his son has carried out one of the most important, as well as one of the most successful scientific expeditions of modern times—one, too, from which the gain resulting to our ornithological knowledge has not yet been thoroughly gauged. Mr. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. 293 XXVI.— On Photodilus badius, with Remarks on its Systematic Position. By Franz E. Bepparp, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.Z.S., Prosector to the Zoological Society of London. Tue close association of Photodilus and Striz, which until recently was very generally held by ornithologists, is prob- ably largely due to Nitzsch’s researches into their pterylo- graphy *. So very similarly were these Owls found to be organized in this particular that Nitzsch declined even to separate them generically; they were accordingly referred by him to his genus Hybris. Before Nitzsch, however, Pho- todilus had been judged, on the evidence afforded by its external characters, to be closely allied to Strix. Externar Cuaracrers (Pterylosis, Oil-gland, &c.). The pterylosis of Photodilus has been described by Nitzsch, who, as already mentioned, was influenced by the arrange- ment of the feather-tracts to associate Photodilus and Strix together. I am not quite clear whether Nitzsch really describes the pterylosis of Photodilus, or whether his remarks under Hybris are only meant to refer to the Barn Owl; that the latter supposition is true appears to be the Opinion of Professor Newton. On the other hand, I do not find any distinct statement that the account of the pterylosis of Hybris is meant to refer only to the genus S/riz as we now understand it ; if that were so, then Nitzsch’s grounds for uniting Striz and Photodilus would be rather slender. The pterylosis of Hybris is stated by Nitzsch to be remark- able for the fact that the two branches of each pectoral tract join again behind the sternum; this was not at all clearly the case in my specimen of Photodilus, but until I have had an opportunity of examining Striz I reserve my further remarks upon the value of pterylosis in the classi- fication of the Owls. The oil-gland of Hybris is said by Nitzsch to have two minute feathers upon the apex, which cannot be accidental, as they were constantly found. Nitzsch does not say par- * Pterylography, Engl. ed. p. 70. 294 My. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. ticularly whether he found these feathers im Photodilus ; I did not myself succeed in finding them, though I made a careful search. This is a point of difference worth noting between the two genera, and it will be observed that in this respect Photodilus differs from Strix and agrees with other Owls. The rectrices are 12, the remiges 21 in number. Mr. Sharpe has observed another character which dis- tinguishes Photodilus from Strix *, and allies it with the Bubonine Owls (Syrnium, &c.); and I can quite confirm his statement, from an examination of my specimen, that the serration of the middle toe, which is to be found in Striz,.is absent in Photodilus. The claw is, however, pro- duced laterally into a knife-edge, as in other Owls. External characters are therefore rather against the close association of Photodilus and Strix. Nevertheless, Dr. Coues, in his work on North-American Birds J, still retains the older view; he associates together Photodilus and Strix (called Aluco), mainly on account of external characters (not ptery- losis), but also on account of the anchylosis of the furcula with the sternum}. He particularly mentions that in both genera “the inner edge of middle claw is serrate or jagged, simulating the pectination seen in Caprimulgide, to which birds these Owls are curiously related through Steatornis.” In the paper just mentioned above, Mr. Sharpe pointed out that Heliodilus and not Photodilus is the genus which in this particular is akin to Striv. I have examined an example of Strix in which the jagged edge of the toe in question was very inconspicuous, and the question arises whether it does not occasionally disappear altogether. OsTEOLOGY. Skull.—The skull (fig. 1, p. 295) is less completely Bubo- nine than I had at first thought it. * A note on Heliodilus soumagnit, Grandidier, P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 175. + ‘Key to North-American Birds,’ 2nd ed. 1884, p. 500. { There is not really this anchylosis; but an appearance of such is caused by the strong ligaments, which tie down the ends of the two (separate) clavicles to the anterior end of the carina sterni, Mr. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. 295 The interorbital septum is not flattened down to a thin plate, which may even be here and there deficient ; it is, on the contrary, of some thickness, though this is not so marked as in Striz. Asio and Syrnium are not, however, very far removed from Photodilus in this particular, though they are rather on the Bubonine than the Strigine side. The inter- orbital septum of Photodilus is, in fact, intermediate in its characters between that of Stri# and that of Syrnium. Photodilus badius: base of skull. Nat. size. The lateral ethmoid processes, although not so swollen as in Striz, are not nearly so flattened as they are in Bubo, where they are thin plates hardly thicker than a piece of paper. On the other hand, the general proportions of the skull are decidedly more like those of Bubo than of Sériz. The measurements are, length 63 millim., breadth 44 millim. The palatines, though not so straight as in Sériz, are less bowed than in Budo, and there is not that sharply marked 296 Mr. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. difference between their anterior and posterior regions that there is in the latter genus. In this particular also they approach Striz. Furthermore, in Syrniwm and Bubo the postero-internal edge of the palatine is sharply bent down ; this is hardly marked in Striz or Photodilus. In comparing the skulls of Striv and Bubo the presence of two minute supraorbital bones in the latter is very notice- able; these are attached rather nearer to the anterior than to the posterior margin of the orbit. In Sériz, where the configuration of the orbit from above is entirely different, the same bones, if present, are not conspicuous, but must be attached to supraorbital processes placed much further back. Syrnium and Photodilus are midway between these two extremes. As the skull of Photodilus studied by Milne-Edwards * was incomplete anteriorly, I have thought it worth while to introduce some figures (figs. 2, 2a, p. 297) into this paper illustrative of certain facts which cannot be shown properly, for the reasons stated, in Milne-Edwards’s figures. Milne-Edwards mentions particularly the absence in Photodilus of those occipital convexities which are so striking a feature in the skull of Striz; they are not, however, com- pletely absent from the Bubonide, though, if present (as in Nyctea), they are very much less developed. In Syrnium, as in Photodilus, they are completely absent. The temporal fossee, as Milne-Edwards has remarked, are deep, but they are not continuous with depressions appearing on the occipital region of the skull; it is rather important to direct attention to this character, because it seems to be diagnostic. Strix flammea agrees with Photodilus, but in Bubo, Asio, Speotyto, Nyctea, Ketupa, and Syrnium there is a deepish fossa on each side of the head, which may be seen from behind to be a prolongation backwards of the temporal fossa. In this particular, therefore, the skull of Photodilus * “ Observations sur les affinités zoologiques du genre Photodilus,” ete., Nouv. Arch. Mus. 2° sér. t. i. (1878), p. 186. Mr. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. 297 is like that of Striv, and unlike some genera, at any rate, of Bubonide. In Bubo and Syrnium the maxillo-palatines are very large and conspicuous, and are but little concealed by the over- lying palatines; in Striz, on the other hand, as I have pointed out, these bones are comparatively small and largely hidden by the palatines. The upper figure represents the posterior face of the skull of Nyctea nivea. The lower figure gives a corresponding view of the skull of Photo- dilus badius. Both are of the size of nature. Photodilus is decidedly nearer to Strix in these points. After describing the skull of Photodilus, Milne-Edwards says that “it is with the representatives of the group of Syrnium, not only in the conformation of the skull, but in 298 Mr. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. many other points, that Photodilus presents the closest analogy.” Prof. Newton*, however, is of opinion that it should not be definitely referred to the Bubonine group, but that it forms a connecting link between the Strigidz and the Bubonide. This statement refers apparently to the osteological peculiarities of the skull and to the external characters of the genera; the latter are more Strigine, the former Bubonine. I quite agree with Professor Newton, and also with M. Milne-Edwards, that Syrnium is the Bubonine type which comes nearest to Photodilus. In my above-given account of the skull which supplements that of Milne-Edwards, attention is directed to many points in which Photodilus agrees now with Syrnium now with Strix. . It agrees with Strta :-— (1) In the absence of the extension over the occipital region of the temporal fosse. (2) In the comparatively narrow maxillo-palatines. (3) In the approximately equal breadth throughout of the palatine. (4) In the slightly swollen prefrontal processes of the ethmoid. (5) In the comparative thicknesss of the interorbital septum. It agrees with Syrnium :— (1) In the general configuration and proportions be- tween length and breadth. (2) In the prominent forehead. (3) In the absence of occipital convexities. The foot of Photodilus (fig. 3, p. 299) offers certain pecu- liarities which distinguish it from that ofall other Strigidz which I have been able to study. At the same time, as re- gards the proportions of the first two phalanges of the third digit, it comes nearer to Strix than it does to Bubo ; these two * Article “ Owl,” Encycl. Brit. xviii. p. 89. Mr. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. 299 joints are not subequal, but the second is decidedly the longest. I take this opportunity of mentioning these points as it appears to me* that, although no doubt trifling, they are of some classificatory value from their constancy. Further- more, as in Milne-Edwards’s + illustration the toes are left unshaded and are not figured separately, it seems probable that his skeleton was so far defective. Right foot of Photodilus badius. Nat. size. The peculiarity in the bones of the feet of Photodilus concerns the three proximal phalanges of the fourth digit ; the first two of these are fused, and the next following is of about half the size of the compound bone, thus showing that the size of the separate bones is equal, as in other Striges. Ribs.—M. Milne-Edwards states (op. cié. p. 190) that “ the * Cf. Ibis, 1888, p. 339. t Nouy. Arch. &e., loc. cit, pl. 4. 300 Mr. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. ribs are, as usual, seven pairs, but that five of them articulate directly with the sternum ; the first pair alone are floating ribs, while in the little group of the Strigide two pairs thus remain in the condition of stylets; the second rib has no uncinate process, and the seventh, remarkable by its slender- ness, is attached to the middle of the last sternal rib but one.”’ These statements are entirely borne out by his figure (on plate 4) of the entire skeleton. The skeleton which I have studied was evidently more carefully prepared than that which furnished the material for M. Milne-Edwards’s admirable paper. In this specimen (see fig. 4) the seven ribs mentioned by Milne-Edwards are, of course, present ; but, in addition, there is a small free rib (1) attached to the thirteenth vertebra on each side, about one Ribs, pelvis, and sternum of Photodilus badius : 1, first rudimentary (cervical) rib; 2, second do. Nat. size. eighth of the length of the next rib (2), and only furnished with one attachment to the transverse process. Moreover, the third (the first complete rib) on both sides of the body has perfectly well-developed uncinate processes, which are Mr. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. 301 about half the length of those which follow and of a rather different shape. The second rib also appears to me to show a very faint trace of an uncinate process. In Strix flammea, on the contrary, the first rudimentary rib, that on the thirteenth vertebra, although extremely short, has both a capitular and tubercular head; the uncinate pro- cesses appear to commence with the fourth rib; but I should not like to be positive about the latter point. In both these types the upper extremity of the last rib is complete, and that of the penultimate rib is partially covered by the extension forwards of the ilium. In Bubo maximus the third rib has uncinate processes, and there is (on one side) a minute trace of a ninth rib; the eighth rib is attached very nearly at the end of the seventh ; the last two ribs are very completely covered at their vertebral attachment by the ilium. In Ketupa javanensis both the twelfth and thirteenth vertebree are furnished with rudimentary ribs, only attached to the transverse processes. It is possible that in this case as in others the main tubercular fragment is hardly ossified :. the penultimate rib is hardly covered by the ilium. In other respects there are no differences from other Owls. Of the dorsal vertebre of Photodilus the last three have no hypapophysis. In this respect it agrees with Strix; but this fact appears to be of no moment in classification, for Syrnium aluco, Bubo, and Athene noctua have the same characters, while in Ketupa javanensis there are only two dorsal vertebre thus unprovided with hypapophyses. The Pelvis.—The conformation of this bone has been de- scribed by Milne-Edwards, who has figured it in two views; the following is his account of the bone (op. cit. p. 192):—* Le bassin est beaucoup plus raccourci que celui des Effraies, et par ce caractére il se rapproche un peu de celui des Chevéches, des Ciccaba et des Nyctales ; les proportions relatives de la portion precotyloidienne et de la portion postcotyloidienne sont a peu prés les mémes que chez ces oiseaux, tandis que chez les Otus les fosses iliaques sont notablement plus longues mais moins élargies. L’écusson pelvien est aplati comme 302 Mr. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. celui des Nyctales et les angles ischiatiques sont peu pro- éminents.” There is another feature in the pelvis which seems, besides those mentioned by Milne-Edwards, to be of some importance. This is the pointed extremities of the ilia, which overlap the last ribs; these are perfectly well figured by Milne-Edwards. These conditions are exactly repeated in Strix; but in Ketupa and Syrnium the anterv-lateral processes of the innominates are much more blunt and altogether shorter in proportion. VisceERAL ANATOMY. The viscera, and in fact the soft parts generally, of Photo- dilus do not seem to have been ever studied. The following notes may therefore not be without interest :— The liver-lobes are unequal in size, the right being rather larger than the left. The liver-lobes are shut off by a delicate membrane from the subomental space, which appears to be formed by a fusion between the umbilical ligament and the oblique septa. I just mention this arrangement without for the present going any further into the matter, because the character appears to be one of classificatory importance. I find, in fact, that in the Barn Owl there is no septum cutting off the liver in the way that has been described ; but in Asio otus I find such an arrangement repeated. The ceca of Photodilus (fig. 5, p. 303) are, as in other Owls, swollen at their extremities; it seemed to me as if this swelling was more marked in Photodilus than in some other types of Owls. The gall-bladder is large, and its duct enters the small intestines just at the top of the loop in front of the opening of the hepatic duct, which is itself considerably above the two pancreatic ducts; these latter are side by side, and placed about halfway up the distal side of the duodenal loop. The syrinz is not very distinctive of the affinities of the bird. The last three tracheal and the first two bronchial rings are ossified ; the intrinsic muscles, which are not: Mr. F. E. Beddard on Photodilus badius. 303 strong, are attached to the second bronchial semiring (the last of the ossified rings) ‘ The tensores patagii muscles are so far unlike those of Strix that there is no fibrous band uniting the extremity of the tendon of the ¢. p. brevis with the tendon of the ¢. p. longus. As I have already pointed out *, at least two species of Strix agree in possessing this fibrous band, which is probably characteristic of the genus. Czeca of Photodilus badius. Twice the nat. size. The foregoing description of the anatomy of Photodilus badius tends to support the conclusion that this Owl cannot be referred to the Strigine section, but that it must be in- cluded among the Bubonine genera. Among the latter Syrnium appears to be the form to which it is most closely * ‘This,’ 1888, p. 341. 304. Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier on Modern allied. At the same time it is important to notice that it does present certain points of resemblance to Striz. These are not, however, in my opinion, sufficiently numerous or important to lead to the conclusion that Photodilus occupies a really intermediate position between the two families. The structure of Photodilus does not necessitate either the crea- tion of a separate family for its reception, or the amalga- mation of the two generally recognized families into one. XXVII.—On the Principal Modern Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. By W. B. Tecermuter, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. On the occasion of an exhibition of the various breeds of poultry in the grounds of the Zoological Society of London in September last, the Editor of ‘The Ibis’ did me the honour to suggest that an illustrated article on the subject of the modern varieties might be interesting to ornithologists, and requested me to undertake its production. JI had much pleasure in acceding to his request. For many years I have been interested in the subject, not only from an anatomical, but also from a practical standpoint. My first introduction to Darwin was by Yarrell, thirty-five years ago, on which occasion the author of the ‘ Origin of Species, which was not then published, came to my house to inspect a large col- lection of crania and other preparations illustrating the extent of variation in the domesticated Gallus ferrugineus. Engravings of several of these, and some figures of the heads of fowls of distinct breeds, were given in Darwin’s ‘ Variation, of Animals and Plants, and it will be interesting to trace the extension of variation in the several breeds since the publication of that work in 1868 to the present time. The breed which most closely resembles the wild Gallus ferrugineus, from which Darwin thought all the domestic varieties had descended, is (or, perhaps it would be more cor- rect to say, was) the ordinary Game breed, one sub-variety of which, known as the Black-breasted Red Game, from the arrangement of colours in the male, differs from the wild original chiefly in being of larger size and in the more Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. 305 erect bearing of the tail. During the period that Game cocks were bred for the cock-pit, the conformation of the wild bird was but slightly departed from; but since the establishment of competitive poultry shows, the breeders have aimed at increasing the length of the neck and limbs, the result being the production of such specimens as are shown in figures 1 and 2, representing a Black-breasted Fig. 1. to} Black-breasted Red Game Cockerel. Red Game cockerel and pullet that have just assumed their adult plumage, having been drawn, as were all the illustra- tions to this article, in September from birds of the current year. So successful have been the efforts of the fanciers to produce long-limbed birds, that the hens not unfrequently stand with the keel of the breast-bone raised 12 or 13 inches from the ground. The feathers in this breed are now required SER. VI.—VOL. IT. Z 306 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier on Modern to be firm, narrow, and closely pressed to the body, the long flowing sickle tail-feathers of the male, that were formerly admired, being reduced to seauty proportions. That so com- plete a change should be effected in a few years is a striking example of the power of the breeder to alter the type of a breed by careful selection of brood-stock,—the object being to produce breeds that should excel others in the conven- tional fancy points, so as to be able to win prizes at compe- titive shows, the sale-value of such birds for the purpose of Fig. 2. Black-breasted Red Game Pullet, exhibition rising higher in some instances than £50 each. It is hardly necessary to remark that such birds as these re- presented would be of no value in the cock-pit, as they would at once be overpowered by birds of greater strength of limb. The Malay breed, a young male of which in full plumage is shown in figure 8, is one of much greater size than the Breeds of the Domestic Foul. 5307 Game; the legs, though greatly elongated, are thick and massive, and the body more weighty than it appears, as the plumage is excessively close and firm, and so scanty that in the older birds the naked skin often appears on the breast, neck, and legs, turning bright red by exposure to the light Fig. 3. Taos Ls A tale — Ten ee VF Cy= —s “ UH LITE q v Pet, Se ey PO ORD ON J Se as Mas c Vv ae 3 DS a Y{ P Malay Cockerel. and air. From the length of the legs and the necessity of resting them, the males not unfrequently assume the attitude shown in the smaller figure, which has a ludicrous resem- blance to that of a kangaroo. The comb in the Malay is closely adpressed to the skull, and quite destitute of the ser- Z2 308 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier on Modern rations which characterize that of the wild G. ferrugineus and the Game breed. The Malay is one of the very few fowls of which the geogra- phical title is correct. Typical specimens are frequently brought from the Malay peninsula. Temminck figured the variety, which he erroneously regarded as a distinct species, Fig. 4. Buft Cochin Cockerel. under the name Gallus giganteus, and in the early period of the Zoological Society specimens imported by Colonel Sykes were shown as “ Kulm Fowls.” The Malay has not greatly altered since Darwin’s time, as the object of the breeders of this variety was always to secure Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. 309 great length of limb and neck and hardness of plumage, con- joined with size and weight. It has been supposed that the elongation of the modern show Game has been obtained by crossing with the Malay ; but there is no evidence to prove this, and, from a fancier’s point of view, more would be lost by introducing the coarse- ness of limb and head than would be gained, as much time would be required to “ breed out ” these characters. Fig. 5. Buff Cochin Hen. A variety of the Malayan type, with shorter legs and ex- cessively glossy plumage, has been for many years bred largely in the south-western counties, particularly Devon and Cornwall, being known as the Indian Game. It is an ex- ceedingly weighty bird, having very large pectoral muscles, and is admirably adapted for improving our domestic poultry by crossing. It has, unfortunately for its utility, been recently largely exhibited, and will probably be bred for 310 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier on Modern feathers of a particular marking rather than for its useful table properties. This breed, being very local at the time that. Darwin wrote, was not described by him. Following the arrangement adopted by Darwin in his work on ‘ Variation,’ I now arrive at the Cochins, a geographical misnomer, as these birds at the time of their introduction were as unknown in Cochin China as in England, and came from Shanghai, a port many hundreds of miles to the north. Cochins (figs. 4 & 5, pp. 808, 309) are distinguished by their great size and the abundance of fluffy plumage on the body, the wing and tail-feathers being extremely short, so that typical. birds are quite incapable of flight. In the original importations the legs (tarsi) were generally feathered. This has been regarded as an important point by fanciers, and much care has been bestowed on the production of feathers on the legs and feet, so that in first-rate show-specimens the foot-feathers are strong quills, often 6 or 8 inches in length. On their first introduction they were abundant layers of buff-coloured eggs, small in size when compared with that of the bird. Exhibition specimens have been bred so exclusively for show purposes, no attention having been paid to breed- ing for egg-production, that they have lost this characteristic, and are now generally very indifferent layers. Cochins offer several points of difference from the older known breeds. The long axis of the occipital foramen is vertical, in place of being horizontal. The forehead has a deep frontal groove. Their habits and nesting, when allowed to range, vary from those of other fowls, and their voice is remarkably distinct. These characteristics, into the consideration of which I can- not enter fully in this paper, lead me to believe that the Cochin had its origin in a species of Gallus which has, like the camel, wholly passed into a state of domestication. The introduction of the Cochin into England some forty years ago gave the first impulse to the exhibition of faney poultry and to the manufacture of new breeds by crossing different varieties. Thus, the Brahmas did not, as alleged, come from the river from whence they take their name, where fowls of the character are quite unknown, but were Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. dll produced in America by crossing Cochins with a large grey variety of Malays called Chittagong. At first many of the chickens were black, but by careful selection the colour and markings were fixed in a few generations; and as they now produce their own like they are regarded as a pure breed. More recently a new variety, which now breeds fairly true = she Ue aa Dorking Cockerel. to colour, though still producing some black chickens, has been formed in America by crossing the Cochin with the Dominique, a Cuckoo-marked farm-yard fowl common in the United States. This new breed, known as the Plymouth Rock, is now very common in England, and is valuable as a prolific layer, but, like all breeds derived from the Cochin, is deficient in the size of the pectoral muscles and possesses a vellow skin. 312 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier on Modern The Langshan is a recently introduced Asiatic breed, which at first closely resembled the black Cochin, but by careful selection has been rendered much closer in plumage, more resplendent in colour, and its quality as a table-bird improved. The Dorking of the present day (fig. 6, p. 311) is a large, heavy, massive bird, which was greatly increased in size some Fig. 7. Spanish Cockerel. quarter of a century since by being crossed with a large ‘Malay or Kulm cock, introduced by Col. Sykes. It still retains the fifth toe, an unnatural excrescence, which renders these heavy birds very liable to diseased feet. As a remark- able illustration of the effect of competition, I may state that one of the successful rearers of these birds some forty years since was in the habit of cutting away the supernu- Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. 313 merary toe to prevent lameness in his fowls; whereas, later on, the most successful exhibitor of the breed used to look over his chickens as they were hatched and at once destroy any that had not five toes on each foot. This remorseless process of selection eventuated in his strain being invariably tive-toed. Dorkings are of various colours, the white not being as large as the darker varieties. The Surrey and Sussex fowls, which constitute the buik of the best birds sent to the London markets, are largely crossed with the Dorking breed. Fig. 8. Fe YE // Hip. ‘ i 4 i a ¥ se Spanish Hen. The Mediterranean breeds, as they are reared in this and other countries where poultry shows are prevalent, have cer- tain well-marked characteristics in common, namely, large, thin, single, compressed combs, deeply serrated; these, in show birds, must be erect in the cocks (fig. 7, p. 312) and 314 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier on Modern folded on the top of the head in the hens (fig. 8, p. 313). The ear-lobe or Jappet in all is white, as in the Indian speci- mens of G. ferrugineus, and in the breed known as Spanish (figs. 7 & 8) this whiteness extends over the whole face. At the earlier poultry shows Spanish were rarely, if ever, seen without a small proportion of red over the eyes, but at the present time such birds would have no chance of winning prizes at a competitive show. The size of the ear-lobe, about half an inch square in the wild original, has been increased to seven inches in depth by four or more in width, and in many old birds its growth would quite obscure the eyeball and interfere with vision unless cut away. The colour of the plumage in Spanish is black in both sexes, although purely white chicks are occasionally pro- duced, and sometimes a black bird will more or less com- pletely assume white feathers at the autumnal moult. The chickens, when just hatched, are clothed in black and white down, whereas buff Cochin chickens are entirely buff, and the various breeds approaching the colours of the G. ferru- gineus have three characteristic broad stripes of dark brown down the back, which are in strong contrast to the lighter ground on which they are placed. In all the Mediterranean breeds, which may be taken to include the varieties known as Spanish, Minorcas, Leghorns, Andalusians, &e., the hens are non-sitters. The birds have been selected for prolificacy, and the instinct for incubation so rarely encouraged that it has at last ceased to prevail, and not one hen out of fifty becomes ‘‘ broody ” or manifests any desire to hatch her eggs. Before the advent of poultry shows Spanish fowls were valued as prolific layers of large white cggs, and those from the most prolific layers were selected for the production of chickens. For the purpose of exhi- bition, however, the birds have been selected for fancy points, and prolificacy altogether ignored, the result being that the variety is nearly useless for practical purposes, and has gone out of general favour, except as a purely fancy fowl. Minoreas, a breed that has for many years been largely bred in the south-western counties of England, differ from Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. 315 Spanish in having red faces, the white ear-lobe and wattles being much less developed. They possess the prolificacy that the Spanish have lost, and are most abundant layers of large white-shelled eggs. They have, unfortunately for their utility, lately come into fashion as exhibition fowls, the object of the breeders being to develop the comb in the cocks to the largest possible size that it is capable of assum- ing whilst maintaining a plane surface and erect position. Fie. 9. Silver-spangled Hamburg Cockerel. Andalusians are another sub-variety of the Spanish or Mediterranean type. In this breed the colour is slaty blue, but the hens recently exhibited are characterized by a dark margin or edging to breast- and body-feathers. Leghorns are of the same general type, but with white plumage and yellow legs (tarsi). Since their introduction into 316 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier on Modern this country from the United States, where the breed was first carefully bred, they have been crossed with ordinary Game, and brown, as distinguished from white, Leghorns are an established breed. Under the name of Hamburgs, a misnomer which was first employed at one of the early Birmingham shows, several Fig foi 10. Cg OPP, oo (Os Bs fi H) Sy 1 Mb , = ay EY YF 4 f Li ITZ J al DPS Sg eo ie a 4 gta MUNG es Sens hae . > os a “ i Me) 4 Re’ aah CSS a e SS Pencilled Hamburg. distinct breeds of fowls are confounded together. The so- called Spangled Hamburgs (fig. 9, p. 315) originated appa- rently in England ; small competitive shows, which were con- fined to the hens, having existed in the north for a long period. In this breed, of which there are two sub-varieties, named, according to the ground-colours, Gold- or Silver-spangled, the Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. 317 feathers are tipped with a black mark, crescentic in some strains and circular in others. The birds were formerly called Mooneys or Pheasant-fowls. The combs are what are known as double, being flat on the head, peaked behind, and covered with small short sprigs. These breeds are of fair size and are non-sitters. A sub-variety with the plumage entirely black is known as the Black Hamburg. White-crested Black Polish Cock. Pencilled Hamburgs (fig. 10, p. 316) are unquestionably of continental origin; they are well known in France as Campines, and on their first introduction to this country were termed Dutch every-day layers. They are smaller than the spangled breeds, and are characterized by the feathers of the hens (and those of both sexes before the moult into adult plumage) being marked with several transverse bars of black on a white or bay ground. 318 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeicr on Modern The fowls known in this country as Polish and in France as Race de Padoue (fig. 11, p.317) are characterized by large feathered crests, which appear to necessitate a peculiar deve- lopment of the frontal bones for their support. This protu- berance, which assumes a hemispherical form, is seldom completely ossified; it contains the anterior part of the Fig. 12. Spangled Polish Hen. brain, which consequently is in a most abnormal form, approaching that of an hour-glass*. The Polish breeds are of considerable antiquity, having been described by Aldrovandus and figured by the old Dutch painters. Beyond increasing the size of the crests and the * Of. Tegetmeier on “ Skulls of Polish Fowls,” P. ZS. 1856, p. 366, Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. 319 regularity of the markings but little alteration has been since effected in these breeds. Figure 11 (p. 317) represents a cock of the white-crested black variety, in which the ordinary wattles are present in full size. In despite of the most per- sistent efforts of the breeders, the white crests of the birds Fie. 13. oC La Fléche Cockerel. of this breed always show some black feathers over the beak ; they are sometimes few in number, but are always present unless they have been removed by violence. In the Spangled Polish (fig. 12, p. 318) each feather in the hens is banded by a black line on a white or bay ground, 320 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier on Modern and the wattles, like the comb, are reduced toa minimum and replaced by feathers. All the Polish breeds are non-sitters. I have given figures of a male and female of two different varieties in order to call attention to the fact that the fea- thers of the crest differ in the two sexes, in both, however, taking the form of the tail-coverts; so that they are lanceo- late in the males and rounded in the females. The rudimentary comb in the Polish breeds is crescentic or two-horned, and is generally developed in an inverse ratio to the feathered crest; it is even possible to establish breeds allied to the Polish retaining the deformed nasal bones, but with enlarged combs and abortive crests. Several such breeds exist in France, where crossing has been largely employed to secure good birds for the table. In the La Fléche cock (fig. 13, p. 319) the crescentic comb is fully developed in con- junction with the peculiar deficiency of the nasal bones, while the crest is extremely rudimentary and often absent. In the breeds known in France as Gueldres and Bredas, the combs and crests are both absent, and the only resemblance between these birds and the Polish breeds, from which they were apparently derived, is in the peculiar formation of the nostrils and the nasal bones ; whereas in the Créve-cceurs and Houdans, breeds that have been introduced into this country since the time of Darwin’s work on Variation, both the crest and comb are present. The plastic character of these varieties may be inferred from the fact (which I have repeatedly proved) that in inter- breeding half-bred Polish, in three generations the crest can either be entirely got rid of or restored to its full size by careful selection of the birds bred from. Polish or crested fowls have been so long favourites with amateurs that numerous sub-varieties, varying as to colours &e., exist. In addition to the gold- and silver-spangled, there are purely white Polish, others entirely black, and some are Cuckoo-feathered. One of the most interesting, as illus- trating a fact in variation well known to all raisers of new breeds, is the buff or Chamois Polish. In this the feathers are reddish buff, each one being tipped or spangled with Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. 21 white. The breed may be regarded as Gold-spangled Polish, in which the black spangle has been changed into white— a process of easy accomplishment compared with the diffi- culty of obtaining a breed in which the feathers that are naturally red are changed into white. Thus, to revert to the Game breed, Black-breasted Red Game are coloured precisely like the wild G. ferrugineus. Nothing is more easy than to produce, by crossing with a white bird, the variety Fig. 14. Scotch Grey Cock. known as Pile Game, in which all the feathers that are black in the original: become white, the red remaining un- changed. In the hands of a skilled breeder black and white are more easily interchangeable than any other colours, a fact which is in obvious relation to the more frequent oc- currence of albinos amongst black species than those of lighter colours. SER. VI.—VOL. II. 2A 322 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier on Modern Several breeds of fowls are characterized by what is termed by fanciers “Cuckoo markings.” The Plymouth Rock has already been alluded to as a cross-breed. ‘There are also Cuckoo-coloured Dorkings, Polish, Cochins, &c. In the north of England and Scotland a Cuckoo-marked breed known as Scotch Grey (figs. 14 & 15) is frequent. In these birds the feathers are marked with transverse bands, which are not so defined as those in the hens of the pencilled Hamburgs, the bands bemg dark slaty grey on a hghter ground. Sebright Bantams (figs. 16 & 17) may be regarded as the Scotch Grey Hen. most artificial of all breeds, inasmuch as the males not only possess the plumage, but also the markings of the hens ; every feather in this beautiful diminutive breed should be “laced” or margined with black, like a sheet of mourning- paper. The neck and saddle-feathers of the male should resemble those of the female, and there should be a total absence of long curved sickle-feathers in the tail. Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. 323 fos oe: CE SS: de / nae Wr VESEY z, WR es CA Silver Sebright Bantam Cock. Fig. 17. @ l 4) l Pe eae 4! = “44 Ne, HY S See t vA nosis eas s SA = (o ee ke < ality ” ~~ Bless SLI a Yas SSS a So-€E NY Ee “=e na AZ 1 SE al A gee wy 7 < oN 1A ae yet ee Silver Sebright Bantam Hen. 32 1 Mr. W. B. Tegetmeier on Modern This composite breed was produced by the late Sir John Sebright by first crossing a Polish fowl with laced feathers with a Bantam. When the required size and markings had been obtained by careful selection, he crossed again with “hen-feathered cock,” so as to introduce the female plumage into the males of the breed, and then by careful selection he established the breed, of which there are two varieties, one a as SEES | Wyandotte Hen. with white, or, as it is called, silver, the other with rich bay or golden ground. In a recently manufactured American breed the laced or dark-bordered feathers of the Sebright Bantam have been obtained by careful crossing and selection, on a large bird, evidently derived from one of the Asiatic breeds, such as the Brahma: this breed is known as the Wyandotte (fig. 18). Well-laced Wyandotte hens are now common, but it will Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. 325 take some few years’ careful selection to obtain the required markings of the cocks in a perfect state. Several distinct varieties exist in the smaller forms known as Bantams; the Japanese (fig. 19) is one of the most strongly characterized, the tail being of large size, the legs short, and the breast very prominent. The Japanese Bantam Fiz. 19. ce Japanese Bantam. shows that, in spite of the difficulty, colour can be localized in the fowl—the tails of many of these birds being black, the remainder of the plumage white. In breeding Pigeons nothing is easier than to localize colour, and to breed birds with black tails and white bodies, or yellow wings on a white ground &c., as may be desired; but in fowls such feats in breeding are very difficult and of rare accomplishment—facts, 326 On Modern Breeds of the Domestic Fowl. the solution of which depends on what Darwin termed analo- gous variation. In many species of Columbine birds the colour is localized ; white heads, for example, exist in nature in many species, but in the wild Gali and allied species no such arrangements of colours are known, hence the difficulty of producing such patterns in the varieties of the G. ferru- gineus. The singular effect produced by the shafts of all the body- feathers being curved from, instead of towards, the body is shown in the Frizzled fowls (fig. 20), which may be produced Fig. 20. SS fine, White Frizzled Bantam Ceckerel. of any size or colour. The breed is not in high favour, being especially delicate, owing to the rain at once pene- trating to the skin in place of running off the plumage. The illustrations show the most important breeds exhibited at the show held in the Gardens of the Zoological Society. Some few characteristic varieties were not entered, such as the long-tailed breeds of Japan, in which the sickle-feathers On the Habits of the Hoatzin. 327 of the tail attain a length of six, seven, or even more feet. In these instances the growth must be continuous for many months to attain the unusual length. In the so-called Silk fowl the feathers have the barbs entirely disconnected, so that the birds have a fluffy or woolly appearance; this in the ordinary white Silk fowl is conjoined with a singular development of black pigment, which is de- posited in the skin, the periosteum, and the inter-muscular cellular tissue; but the silky feature may occur in other breeds, and is occasionally found in very different species, as, for example, in the Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus). The plastic character of the species is evidenced by the fact that within a few years it has been the desire of poultry- fanciers to produce many of the varieties reduced to the size of Bantams. This has been most successfully accom- plished with the Game, the Malay, the Cochin, and several others, specimens of which were exhibited at the show. XXVIII.—On the Habits of the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus cristatus). By J. J. Quetcn, B.Sc. (Lond.), C.M.Z.S., Curator of the British Guiana Museum. Tux observations on which the following notes are based were made in March, May, and October 1888, July 1889, and January 1890; and as they extended over but short periods at each time, no doubt several characteristics have remained unnoted which more continuous attention would have revealed. The Hoatzin is known in British Guiana by the various names of “ Anna,” “ Hanna,” “‘ Canjé, or Stinking Pheasant,” and “ Governor Battenberg’s Turkeys ;”” but in the districts where it is found the name of “ Hanna” is the one most commonly used. These birds are plentifully distributed along the Berbice river above the town of New Amsterdam, along the Canjé creek, which opens into the Berbice immediately below the same town, and along the Abary creek, one of the higher branches of which leads into the Berbice river, and along which the birds have most likely spread, by this 828 Mr. J. J. Quelch on the channel, from the main stream. They are said to extend upward along the Berbice and the Canjé for a considerable distance; but on this point I have no personal knowledge, and reports which I have heard on the subject are conflicting. Where the birds are most abundantly found, the banks of the watercourses are lined by a thick, often impenetrable, and variable growth, which is washed and partially swamped by the water at high tide, and is fronted with a wide and deep deposit of soft mud at low water. Among the plants, a prickly and thorny, low-spreading, much-branched, legu- minous shrub or tree, commonly known as the “ Bundoorie pimpler” (Drepanocarpus lunatus), which stretches out even over the water, rising and falling with it, generally occurs in more or less dense masses, together with the “ Courida” (Avicennia nitida), and a tall tree-like aroid, commonly known as ‘ Mucco-mucco” (Montrichardia arborescens), which grows most luxuriantly in the muddy and swampy districts ; and the young leaves and the fruits of these plants furnish almost the entire food of these birds. J have never seen them on the ground, nor feeding on the low weedy growths on its surface. Almost invariably, where one or other of the three men- tioned plants formed the nearly continuous growth by the water, the birds there shot contained in their crops only the leaves (or fruit) of that one plant; but where the plants were mingled, sometimes one and sometimes another had been eaten. This dense lining-growth furnishes the home of the birds. In the early morning or the late afternoon they will be seen sitting in numbers on the plants, while towards the middle of the day, as the fierce heat of the sun increases, they betake themselves to shelter, either in the denser recesses of the growths, or among the individual trees of denser foliage, or among the tangled masses of creeping and climbing vines, which frequently spread over considerable areas of their food-plants along the very edge of the water. At this time one may pass, by boat, along the river without the faintest idea of the proximity of the birds, unless a very sharp watch Habits of the Hoatzin. 329 be kept up among the more leafy growths, or unless the report of a gun causes them to utter their curious cry. Late in the evening, after feeding, they will be seen settling themselves down in suitable places for the night. The cry of the Hoatzin is easily heard when they are dis- turbed, and it is one of which it is not easy to give an exact idea. It recalls slightly the shrill screech of the Guinea- bird (Numida), but is made up of disjointed utterances, like the notes “heigh” or ‘sheigh” (ei as in “ sleigh”), pronounced with a peculiarly sharp and shrill nasal into- nation, so as to be quite hiss-like. While they are treading, the noise made is considerable, the cry being more continu- ous and shriek-like. Whether from the fact of their occupying situations where they are but seldom disturbed or but little likely of being pursued, or from a natural weakness of wing, the birds are but seldom seen in flight; and when they take to the wing during disturbance, they do so but for very short distances—a very exceptional flight being once observed of a length of about forty yards with the wind, across a creek, from a high growth on one bank to a lower level on the other. Usually they rise almost with a jump from the branch, seldom in a straight line, but with a marked convex curve to the point where they alight. The flight of the birds, in spite of their great expanse of wings in relation to the weight of the body, is thus extremely awkward, and the body presents a peculiarly humped appearance. During their longer courses the wings are rapidly and violently flapped. When suddenly disturbed, as by the discharge of a gun amongst a group of them, they fly or spring away for dis- tances of but a few feet, while those in the immediate vicinity show no other signs of alarm but the loud utterance of their shrill cry. While springing from place to place, when they are feeding or alarmed, they keep their wings fully expanded, and inclined almost vertically when they have first alighted, thus balancing themselves, the crest being then erect and the tail raised and expanded, It is at such times especially 330 Mr. J. J. Quelch on the that their plumage presents a really beautiful aspect, in spite of their sober colouring. The apparent awkwardness in placing themselves when they alight is chiefly due, I believe, to the smallness of the branches on which they usually settle, and which they are unable firmly to grasp with their long toes, balancing them- selves meanwhile by the expanded wings and tail; but it is also attributable, I think, though to a much less degree, to a certain weakness in their legs—even though these are thick and apparently strong-looking—since when they alight on a thick limb a certain amount of instability is still manifest. This weakness of limbs seems to be still more evidenced by the method of perching characteristic of the birds. At auy time during the heat of the day they will be found rest- ing on the branches, two or more together, the body directly applied to the wood, and supported on the bare, thickened, and hardened patch of skin which covers the flattened and broadened surface of the posterior termination of the carina sterni. This surface of the keel affords a firm base of sup- port, and as the axis of the sternal keel is not parallel with, but markedly inclined to, the spine, a slight tilt of the spine from the horizontal brings the axis of the sternum close to the vertical, and allows nearly the full weight of the bird to be thrown on the sternal base, while the body of the bird seems to be quite horizontal, owing to the fact that the enormous looped crop, which is directly and closely applied to the face of the furculum and sternum, causes a bulging of the body in the front to balance the extension of the rump behind. The feet of the bird while grasping the branch here evidently support but a very small part of the weight of the body, and are more concerned with its equipoise and stability. To judge from the conditions under which the birds at present here exist, it would seem that the sluggish habit has been brought about by a weakening of special muscles through disuse. From the nature of their food no prolonged flight is needed in order to procure it; from the nature of their Habits of the Hoatzin. 331 habitat they are little liable to be interfered with or pursued, and, if troubled, they can easily take refuge without prolonged flights. Even by man they are seldom meddled with, except for scientific purposes, since a peculiar and unpleasant odour attaches to the flesh, especially after death, and which seems to be due to the penetration of the fluid and gaseous con- tents of the digestive tract. On this account they are not generally eaten ; but a few cases have been reported to me in which they have been utilized for food. The nesting-time of the birds certainly extends from December to July, and I think it very likely that it is continuous throughout the year. From information given to me in 1887, I was led to conclude that March and April were their nesting-months; but as the result of my own observation, chicks are to be found quite early in January, and freshly-laid eggs in the early part of July, as well as the intervening months. The nests, which are made solely of a slightly concave mass of dried twigs and sticks taken from the plants on which they are built, and loosely laid on top and across each other, are placed in conspicuous positions high up over the water or soft mud, on the top of or amongst the bushy growth, where they are fully exposed to the direct sunshine. Almost invariably the plants thus built on were the close- growing ‘ Bundoorie pimpler,”’ though in a few cases I have seen them on the courida, and on a “ pimpler (or prickly) palm” (Bactris major). In October 1888, along the Abary creek, when nearly for a fortnight the birds were under observation at frequent intervals, no nests nor young birds were noticed, but as the Bundoorie pimpler was almost entirely absent, and the lining growth along the water-side consisted of mucco-mucco and other plants, on the top of which it was impossible for the birds to perch, and much more so to make nests, it may well be that they were even then nesting, but in such positions as to be screened from observation. Believing at that time that the birds only nested from March to May, I’made no special attempts to search for nests; nor have I yet had an oo Mr. J. J. Quelch on the opportunity of seeing whether, along the Berbice river and the Canjé creek, nests are to be found on the Bundoorie pimpler at that time of the year. From the binding nature of the spiny twigs, the nests last for a considerable time, and these are certainly made use of again, possibly after more or less repair. The same nest has been found in use after an interval of seven months. Two or three eggs are laid at a time, both numbers being about equally common in my experience ; and in one special case six eggs were taken from a nest on which one bird had been sitting, but whether they had been laid by one bird or two birds there was nothing to show. The eggs, which vary considerably in size, being usually as large as a small-sized hen’s egg, though often a good deal larger or smaller, are easily seen from beneath the nest, owing to its loose structure, and the whitish eggs, with scattered dark reddish-brown blotches, more closely placed at the obtuse pole, form a marked contrast with the greyish-brown twigs of the nest. Even while the birds are sitting on them the eggs must be kept fairly cool from below; and this evidently gives the explanation why a number of freshly laid eggs that were placed to be hatched out by a common fowl exploded one after another, much to the alarm of the foster parent, who, however, stuck to the nest with the remainder after each occurrence. Soon after the hatching of the eggs, the nestlings begin to crawl about by means of their wings and legs, the well- developed claws on the pollex and index being constantly in use for holding and hooking on to the surrounding objects. If they are drawn from the nest by means of their legs, they hold on firmly to the twigs both with their bill and wings ; and if the nest be upset by means of a rod pushed up from below, they hold on to all objects with which they come in contact by means of bill, feet, and wings, making considerable use of the bill, not only to reach objects above them, but also, with the help of the clawed wings, to raise themselves to a higher level. When the parent bird is driven from the nest, owing to the close approach of a boat, generally through Habits of the Hoatzin. 333 an opening cut in the floating Bundoorie pimpler, at high water, or to the cutting and pulling of the branches by some one who has waded through the soft mud, often up to the thighs, at low water, then the young birds, unless they be only quite recently hatched, crawl out of the nests on all fours, and rapidly try to hide in the thicker bush behind. One curious feature noticed with a nestling which had been upset into the river was its power of rapid swimming and diving when pursued. As soon as the hand was placed close to it, it rapidly dived into the dark water, in which it was impossible to see it, and would rise at distances of more than a yard away. Owing to this power the little creature managed to evade all my attempts to seize it, taking refuge eventually far under the bushy growth, where it was impos- sible to pursue it. The prolonged immersion which a nestling will thus instinctively and voluntarily undergo, or which an adult bird will bear in an attempt to drown it, seems to me to be quite remarkable. The nestlings, when resting on the bare sticks of the nest, are observed to rest the weight of the body, as in the adult birds, on the bare and thickened integument of the carina sterni, the toes being spread out and the wings generally drawn up to the sides. I am unable to state from observation the method of feed- ing of the nestlings. In very young specimens when the crops were examined the food was found to consist of a cen- tral portion of closely packed pieces of young and thin leaves, apparently both of the courida and the Bundoorie pimpler, surrounded by a finer more pulpy mass, which was thus in contact with the walls of the organ, and which had evidently, from its position, been more acted upon than the central portion. The enclosed pieces of leaves were sometimes nearly three quarters of an inch in length, quite ragged in outline and much folded, so much so as to give the impres- sion of a finely comminuted mass until they were carefully unrolled. In nestlings of much larger size the food-mass of the crop was considerably more comminuted, but it still con- tained distinctly recognizable portions of leaves, and often Bod On the Habits of the Hoatzin. these were from half to three quarters of an inch in length. From the nature of the food contents, I was led to believe that the time of day at which the young birds were procured made a considerable difference as to the state of the food in the crop. The feeding-time of the adult birds is evidently the early and late parts of the day, at which time their crops are found to contain, and especially at their an- terior part, quantities of large pieces of young leaves, and sometimes these pieces consist of a half or nearly an entire leaf, almost unaltered—the pieces packed against and be- tween the wrinkled surface of the immensely developed ruge being, however, seldom of this nature. Larly in the morning and late in the afternoon, before feeding-time, the contents of the crop are but little recognizable, the fragments being considerably altered, as well doubtless by the peculiar warmth and moisture as by the special action of its strong ruge. If the nestlings are fed by the parent birds with small portions of the young foliage, which, owing to its soft- ness and delicacy, the weakest condition of their jaws would allow them to tear from the bills of their parents, either in large or small portions, the long resting-time during the night and the middle of the day would be sufficient to cause a change in the leaf-pieces corresponding to that produced in the adult birds. The nestlings, even when quite small, are frequently found, far away from any nest, climbing, by the help of their clawed wings, after the parent birds during their feeding-time ; and it seems a most likely thing, though I have never directly observed it, that they are then fed with the tender leaves which the parents pluck for them. Failing the proof from direct observation, there seems to be no necessity for con- cluding that the nestlings are fed by a regurgitation of the food-mass from the crop of the adult birds, as Dr. Young has been inclined to think likely (‘ Notes from the Leyden Mu- seum,’ vol. x. p. 171). It was a very noticeable thing, during the various months when the birds were under my observation, that a very Range of the Gudcharo in S. America. 335 large proportion of those that were shot were by no means in good plumage, a variable number of the quills of the wings and tail, and sometimes the feathers of the crest, and frequently those of the neck and breast, being only in pro- cess of growth. So marked was this feature in October 1888, along the Abary creek, that I was inclined to regard that season as a moulting-period (‘Timehri,’ vol. u., new series, 1888, p. 364); since then, however, I have found them in very much the same condition in July 1889 aud January 1890. This is all that I am at present able to furnish about the habits and breeding of these birds; but I trust soon to be able to offer some additional notes on a few points that have remained untouched owing to the want of definite information. XXIX.—On the Range of the Gudcharo (Steatornis caripensis) in South America. By P. i. Scuater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. Tue range of the very peculiar and isolated bird-type, Stea- tornis, in South America is much wider than is usually represented. Some time ago I made some investigations on this pot which I only partly published (see P. Z. S. 1866, p. 130). It may save future writers some trouble if I give a few further remarks on the subject, principally taken from my former notes. The Guacharo was originally discovered by Humboldt and Bonpland in 1799 in the cavern of Caripé, in the province of Cumana, Venezuela*, L’Herminier, in 1834, obtained spe- cimens from the same locality, and published an excellent article+ on the bird. Because L’Herminier lived in Gua- deloupe, Gray, in his ‘ Genera of Birds’ (i. p. 44), gave that island also as one of the localities of the Guacharo. But this was a great error. * See Humboldt, ‘Journ. de Physique,’ lili, p. 57 (1801), + N. Ann. d. Mus. iii. p. 321 (1854); id. Compt. Rend. iii. p. 67 (1836) ; id. Ann. Se. Nat. sér. 2, vi. p. 60. 336 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the Range Humboldt also met with a nocturnal bird in the caverns of Icononzo or Pandi, near Bogota, where it is called Caca ; and Roulin, who visited its breeding-places in the same caverns in 1827, showed that this bird was the Steatornis (Compt. Rend. ii. p. 94). Roulin also met with Steatornis in the “ Quebradanegra” or “ Quebradahonda” of Guaduas, in an adjoining canton of Bogota. The occurrence of Steatornis in Trinidad was first made known by Latham, who described it anew as the “Trinidad Goatsucker” (Gen. Hist. B. vii. p. 365), from observations and a specimen furnished to him by Mr. J. V. Thompson. In 1838 M. Hautessier visited the caverns which it inhabits on the sea near the Boca del Drago, at the north-west, corner of that island*, and obtained specimens of the bird and its nest and eggs (see Compt. Rend. vil. p. 474 1838; and Rev. Zool. 1838, p. 164). Another Guacharo cave in Trinidad was visited by Mr. EH. C. Taylor in 1863 (Ibis, 1864, p. 88), and Sir Arthur Gordon (Governor of the island) actually brought a specimen of the bird alive to the Zoological Society’s Gardens in 1869 (see P. Z. 8S. 1869, p- 467). Besides the cavern of Caripé in Venezuela, the Guacharo is also found at Copas, north-west of Merida, in the ravine crossed by the Puente Natural of Copas, as testified by Goer- me PIA19.1870, p.779). In British Guiana the Guacharo occurs in a cave near the Indian village of Ackar, on the Upper Mazaruni River (Brown, ‘Canoe and Camp Life in Brit. Guiana,’ p. 386), and in the vertical rocks of Roraima (Salvin, ‘ Ibis,’ 1885, p- 439). In the U.S. of Colombia, besides the two localities indi- cated by Roulin, the Guacharo is also found in the chasm called “ Hoyo del Aire,” fourteen miles N.N.E. of Velez (Holton’s ‘ New Grenada,’ New York, 1857, p. 263), and near Sta. Elena, in the State of Antioquia (Scl. et Salv. P, Z. 8. 1879, p. 532). * See also ‘Report U.S. Fish Commission, 1884,’ p, 90, for an account of a visit to these caves (cf. Ibis, 1887, p. 477). of the Gudcharo in S. America. 337 In Ecuador Buckley obtained an example of Steatornis at Sarayacu, on the Bobonassa, a confluent of the Pastaza. In Peru Steatornis was first noticed by Prof. Steere (P. Z. S. 1878, p. 189). It was subsequently found by Rai- mondi in the Grotto of Nifabamba, in the department of Caxamarca, and at Tingo Maria, in the department of Huanaco. The well-known collectors Jelski and Stolamann found it also in other localities in the departments of Junin and the Amazonas (Taczanowski, Orn. Pér. i. p. 200). M. Stolzmann has published an interesting paper on this subject (Bull. Soc. Zool. France, v. p. 198). It appears therefore that Steatornis occurs in various loca- lities in Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia, Eastern Ecuador, and Peru, where there are caverns suitable to its extraor- dinary mode of life and habits. I cannot ascertain that Humboldt ever gave the name Caprimulgus steatornis to the Guacharo, as is commonly alleged*. In the volume of the ‘Journal de Physique,’ usually quoted to this effect, he merely refers to it as a species of Caprimulgus ft. The following list embraces, I believe, the principal re- ferences to this bird :— Caprimulgus, sp., Humboldt, Journ. de Physique, lin. p. 57 (1801); Humb. et Bonpland, Voy. aux Rég. Equinoct. Obs. Astron. i. p. 295 (1810). Steatornis caripensis, Humboldt, Bull. Soc. Philom. Paris, sér. 3, xvi. p. 51 (1817). Trinidad Goatsucker, Lath. Gen. Hist. B. vil. p. 365 (1823). Nyctibius steatornis, Stephens, Gen. Zool. xin. pt. 2, p- 91 (1825). * See Gray and Mitchell,‘ Genera of Birds,’ i. p. 44, and elsewhere. + “Cette méme roche calcaire sert de base 4 une autre plus neuve, trés-blanche, trés-dense, trés-fossile, pleine de cavernes (Cueva del Gua- charo), remplie de millions d’oiseaux (une nouvelle espéce de Caprimulgus qui donnent une graisse trés-usitée ici ;—Cueva de S. Juan, Cueva del Cuchivano), quelquefois poreuse, comme celle de la Franconie, formant des rochers de figure grotesque (Morros de S. Juan, de S. Sébastien).”— HumpBotpt, Journ. de Physique, de Chimie, d’ Hist. Nat. Paris, ii. p. 57 (1801). SER. VI. —VOL. I. 2B 338 Range of the Gudcharo in 8S. America. Steatornis caripensis, Humb. et Bonpl. Recueil d’Obsery. Zool. ii. p. 141, pl. xliv. (1833). Steatornis caripensis, L’Herminier, Nouv. Ann. Muséum d’Hist. Nat. Paris, iii. p. 321, pl. xv. (18384). Steatornis caripensis, L’Herminier, Comptes Rendus, 11. p-. 67 (18386). Steatornis caripensis, L’ Herminier, Ann. d. Sci. Nat. sér. 2, vi. p. 60 (1836). Steatornis caripensis, L’ Herminier, Comptes Rendus, vii. p. 474 (1838). Steatornis caripensis, Hautessier, Rev. Zool. i. p. 164 (1838). Steatornis caripensis, Miller, Monatsb. Berl. Acad. 1841, pylZe: Steatornis caripensis, Miller, Archiv fir Anat. 1842, p. 1. Steatornis caripensis, Des Murs, Rev. Zool. vi. p. 33 (1843). Steatornis caripensis, Funck, Bull. Acad. R. Bruxelles, x1. pt. 2, p. 371 (1844). Steatornis caripensis, Gray, Gen. of Birds, vol. i. p. 44 (1846). Steatornis caripensis, L’Herminier, Rev. et Mag. Zool. sér. 2,1. p. 321 (1849). Steatornis caripensis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 185 (Bogota). Steatornis caripensis, Blanchard, Ann. d. Sci. Nat. sér. 4, x1. p. 105, pl. iv. fig. 80 (1859). Steatornis caripensis, Des Murs, Ool. Orn. p. 260 (1860). Steatornis caripensis, Taylor, Ibis, 1864, p. 88. Steatornis caripensis, Sclater, P. Z.S. 1866, pp. 125, 130, 145. Steatornis caripensis, Léotaud, Ois. Trinidad, p. 65 (1866). Steatornis caripensis, Koenig-Warthausen, J. f. O. 1868, p- 384. Steatornis caripensis, Scl. P. Z. 8, 1868, p. 73 (egg). Steatornis caripensis, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. 8. 1868, p. 165 (Caripé). Steatornis caripensis, Goering, Vargasia, 1. p. 124 (1869). Steatornis caripensis, Scl. P. Z. S. 1869, p. 467. On a new Finch from Midway Island, N. Pacific. 339 Steatornis caripensis, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 779 (Merida). Steatornis caripensis, Garrod, P. Z. 8S. 1873, pp. 463, 526, 630. Steatornis caripensis, Murie, Ibis, 1873, p. 81. Steatornis caripensis, Garrod, P. Z. 8. 1875, p. 344. Steatornis caripensis, Brown, Canoe & Camp Life in British Guiana, p. 886 (1876). Steatornis caripensis, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. S. 1878, p. 139 (Caxamarea). Steatornis caripensis, Scl. et Salv. P. Z. 8. 1879, p. 532 (Antioquia). Steatornis caripensis, Taczanowski, P. Z. 8. 1880, p. 208. Steatornis caripensis, Newton, Enc. Brit. xi. p. 227 (1880). Steatornis caripensis, Stolazmann, Bull. Soc. Zool. France, v. p. 198 (1880). Steatornis caripensis, Taczanowski, P. Z. S. 1882, p. 40. Steatornis caripensis peruvianus, Tacz. P. Z. S. 1885, pe. 106. Steatornis caripensis, Salv. Ibis, 1885, p. 439. XXX.—On a new Finch from Midway Island, North Pacific. By Scorr B. Witson, F.Z.S. (Plate IX.) Tue specimen from which the present figure is taken was brought by me alive from Honolulu in January 1889. About March of the preceding year, a small schooner named the ‘Mary Bohm’ arrived in the Hawaiian Islands from Japan, off the coasts of which country it had been engaged in a fishing venture. Having met with many mis- haps, the vessel put into port at Midway Island*, where there * The following extract from the ‘ North Pacific Directory,’ page 867, may be of interest :— “ Brooks or Midway Islands.—This atoll is of much more interest than _ its uninhabited and barren condition would warrant. It was discovered by Captain N. C. Brooks, in the ‘Gambia,’ July 5th, 1859. He called the two islands Middlebrook Islands, and took possession of them for the 2B2 340 Mr. Scott B. Wilson on a new is a good harbour. At Midway Island, which is uninhabited, Capt. Bohm and his companions found a species of Finch common among the scrubby bushes which cover its surface. It was so tame that it could be easily taken by the hand, and about sixty specimens were captured. After remaining here some considerable time, and refitting as far as was possible under the circumstances, Capt. Bohm set sail for the Hawaiian Islands, which it seems he was fortunate ever to have reached, as the schooner was in a very disabled condition when it touched at Niihau, a small island adjacent to Kauai. Here Mr. George Gay, who manages the prosperous sheep-ranch established on the island by my friend Mr. Sinclair, supplied Captain Bohm with the neces- sary stores, and he, in return for this courtesy, made Mr. Gay a present of several specimens of the Finch from Midway Island. The schooner, after this short stay at Nuhau, pro- ceeded to Honolulu, where Captain Bohm disposed of the remainder of these interesting birds, of which he had some forty specimens in all. They arrived all housed together in a large cage, having been fed on biscuit and nothing else during the voyage. Unfortunately I happened to be away on Hawaii at the time of the schooner’s arrival ; but on my return to Honolulu some months later I was fortunate in procuring a single specimen, which happened to be for sale, and which, with considerable trouble and some good luck (the bird escaped twice into the car during the railway- journey across Canada), I succeeded in bringing alive to England. I saw several more specimens of the same Finch in cages in Honolulu. All were similar in plumage to my bird, whence I conclude that the sexes are alike. My bird, by means of its powerful bill, is able to force the wires of its United States, leaving a Kamtschatkan as a settler. On his return he kept its position a secret, and his discovery was utilized by the Pacific Mail Company, who intended forming a depot here for their Trans-Pacific steamers in preference to Honolulu, which was thought to be under foreign influence, establishing here a coaling and refreshment station.” (The ‘ Mary Bohm’ found a quantity of coal at the time of her visit in 1887.—S. B. W.) Finch from Midway Island, N. Pacific. 341 cage apart, and has reduced one of the wooden uprights which go to form the framework of the cage to half its original thickness by continually chipping at it. I should have pro- cured two more specimens which the Hon. C. R. Bishop of Honolulu had promised me, but for their having severed the wooden bars of their cage and thus effected their escape—let us hope to become naturalized on the island of Oahu. This bird has a very clear metallic note, which may be expressed thus—chwit, chwee. It also twitters and chirps as it hops from side to side of the cage, and is altogether very lively im its movements. Since its sojourn in England it has learnt several notes of the Common Sparrow, but the note first mentioned is that which it most frequently utters, and a very distinct and characteristic one it is. The Finch appears to belong to a new genus, allied to Psittirostra of the Hawaiian group, from which it differs in its thicker bill, the upper mandible being less produced, and showing a slight tendency to cross the lower mandible, as in Loxia. The feet are remarkably large and strong. The wings are moderate, reaching to about the end of the basal third of the tail-feathers. The tail is slightly forked. I propose to describe it as follows :— TELESPYZA CANTANS, gen. et sp.n. (Plate IX.) Head and sides of face olive-green, shading behind into dark chestnut-brown on the back, where each feather has the centre black ; body beneath bright greenish yellow, which colour covers the throat and breast, shading into dull white on the abdomen and under tail-coverts; flanks, upper tail- coverts, and rump chestnut-brown, of a somewhat lighter shade than the back, the feathers on the flanks distinctly streaked with black; primaries black, edged outwardly with greenish yellow ; secondaries likewise black, but with much broader edges of a clearer shade of yellow; tail black, each feather edged outwardly with greenish yellow ; bill and feet horn-colour: whole length (about) 6°5 inches, wing 3°4, tail 2°5, tarsus 1°]. Hab. Midway Island, North Pacific. 342 Mr. H. E. Dresser on Birds from XXXJI.—WNotes on some Birds collected by Dr. G. Radde in the Transcaspian Region. By H. E. Dressmr, F.Z.8. Last year I published (Ibis, 1889, pp. 85-92) a few notes on a collection of Transcaspian birds sent to me for examination and identification by Dr. G. Radde, of Tiflis. I have recently received another small collection from the same source, which, although there are no novelties, contains examples of several species not included in the former lot, and it may therefore interest the readers of ‘The Ibis’ to have the following short notes. Dr. Radde writes that, ere long, he proposes to start on another journey, and as he promises to pay special atten- tion to the ornithology of the country he will traverse, we may look forward to the announcement of some interesting and, probably, new discoveries on his return to Tiflis, which, however, will not be until late in the autumn of the current year. The collection recently received contains specimens of the following birds, viz. :— Saxrcota FinscHI, Heugl. One old male in full breeding-plumage (Kuba-dagh, Kras- novodsk, 9th February). PRATINCOLA CAPRATA (Linn.). One adult male (Merv, 14th June). CyanecuLa surcica (Linn.). One adult male (Germab, 4th March), not differmg from specimens from Scandinavia. Davuias Harizi (Severtzoff). One adult male (Derbent, 9th May). Sytvra mystacea, Ménétr. One,male (Tedschen, 20th March), which has the throat somewhat less richly tinged with vinous pink, but does not othe: vise differ from the specimens in the last collection, referred to in my last notes (Ibis, 1889, p. 86). SYLVIA ORPHEA, Temm. One adult female (‘I'schikischlya, 2nd April), belonging to the eastern or large-billed form (S, crassirostris, Riipp.). the Transcaspian Region. 343 PuYLLoscorus TrRistrs, Blyth. One adult male (Hodscha-kala, 14th March). PHYLLOScoPUS TROCHILUS (Linn.). Two males (Krasnovodsk, 19th and 20th April), which do not differ from ordinary European examples. Hyrvorats rama (Sykes). Two males (Molla-kary, 15th April, and Hodscha-kala, 9th August). AEDON FAMILIARIS (Ménétr.). One adult female (Hodscha-kala, 10th May). LuscinioLa MELANOPOGON (Temm.). Two females (Artyk, 27th & 29th March), the former of which has the crown very dark in tone of coloration. Scorocerca 1nquieta (Cretzsch.). One male (Merv, 2nd June). Larus BOKHARENSIs, Licht. One male (Imam-baba, 18th June). Sirta syrraca, Ehrenb. One rather pale-coloured female (Keleti-Tschinar, 21st February). ANTHUS cAMPEsTRIs (Linn.). One male (Balchan, 13th April). Muscicapa parva, Bechst. One very richly coloured male (Tsarins, 31st March). Passer pomzsticus (Linn.). One male (Taschta, 22nd June) of the brightly coloured Indian form. PassER HISPANOLENSIS (Temm.). One adult male (Merv, llth June). PassER MONTANUs (Linn.). One adult male (Merv, 12th June). EMBERIZA MILIARIA, Linn. One adult female (Askabad, 18th February). 344 On Turnix beccarii, Salvadori. MeELanocoryPHa BIMAcULATA (Ménétr.). One male (heights of Tuffigar, 30th June), which is inter- esting as being in the first immature plumage. Cypsetus apus (Linn.). One male (Krasnovodsk, 20th April). CaprimMuLcus eyPtivs, Licht. One adult male (Tschat, May). XXXII.—WNote on Turnix beccarii, Salvadori. By W. R. Oeitviz Grant. In my paper on the genus Turnix, published in the October number of ‘The Ibis’ for 1889, I stated (p. 449) that in my opinion 7. beccarii, Salvad., from S.E. Celebes, was identical with 7. rufescens, Wallace, from the island of Semao, and that the latter (see pp. 465 & 468) was doubtfully distinct from 7. maculosa from Australia, being intermediate between this species and 7’. saturata from New Britain ; but that, as Wallace had based his species on a single specimen, apparently a nearly adult male, it was impossible at present to estimate its value. Through the kindness of Count Salva- dori, I have just received, for examination, from Sign. Gestro the types of 7. beccarit, Salvadori, which are preserved in the Genoa Museum, and, having now these specimens before me, am in a better position to settle the question. ‘The two types, the smaller of which only is sexed (¢) by the col- lector, though the larger is no doubt a female, are neither of them fully adult specimens, and come under the headings m* and m* in my key to the species of Turnix (see p. 452) : ‘No defined rufous collar, but most of the feathers of the upper surface (especially those of the nuchal region) with a patch at the extremity rufous or rufous intermixed with black ; scapulars edged with golden buff.” They are exactly identical in plumage with specimens of the Australian T. maculosa of a similar age, and differ only from them in being a smaller insular race. On new and rare Francolins. 345 Wing. Tail TF. MGculosa}. 9) 4 S46 3°0 8 PF RBCCCATI (ON) tse Ue 27 8 i..mactlosa, Os. ah 75 Ws beCCarit, «Bo one +5 2°5 sie I have little doubt that T. rufescens will also prove iden- tical with 7. maculosa, but this question cannot be settled till more specimens are obtained from the Island of Semao. In the meanwhile T. rufescens must stand, and T. beccarii must be referred to T. maculosa. XX XIII.—On some new and rare Francolins. By W. R. Oaitvie Grant (Nat. Hist. Museum). (Plates X., XI.) Havine lately been at work on the Francolins with the view of a complete revision of this rather difficult genus of the Galline, I beg leave to offer to the readers of ‘The Ibis’ some remarks on some new or little-known species of this group. 1. FRaNcoLrnus GRANTI (and the allied forms). This group of Francolins contains the species F. pileatus, Smith, from South Africa; F. kirki, Hartlaub, from Zanzibar and Hast Africa; F. granti, Hartlaub, from East and Central Africa as far north as Shoa; and F. spilogaster, Salvadori, from Harar. Itis characterized by having the upper surface reddish brown, and most of the feathers of the neck, back, scapulars, and wing-coverts ornamented with a white shaft- siripe. The species are all very nearly allied to one another, and go through exactly the same phases of plumage. As an example, it will be sufficient to state the changes which take place in F. granti. Young birds of both sexes have the back, scapulars, outer secondaries, and some of the wing- coverts transversely barred with black and rufous, or buff on either side of the white shaft-streaks ; and the lower back, rump, upper tail-coverts, and middle tail-feathers barred 4) f [LOW ‘c Vv 346 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on and vermiculated with black and buff. The adult females apparently never lose these markings, though the white shaft- stripes become narrower; but in the males these bars gradu- ally disappear with age, and in the oldest examples, with long spurs, the upper surface is entirely devoid of cross-bars, and the white shaft-streaks are greatly reduced in width. FRANCOLINUS GRANTI, Hartlaub. (1865) Francolinus granti, Hartlaub, P. Z.S. 1865, p. 665, plage 1. (1867) Francolinus rovuma, G. R. Gray, List Birds Brit. Mus. pt. v. p. 52 [part.]. (1873) Francolinus schoanus, Heuglin, Nordost-Afr. 11. p. 891. The name F. rovuma was founded by G. R. Gray in 1867 on two specimens, one of which was labelled “ East Africa,” while the other was from the Rovuma River. These birds, unfortunately, do not even belong to the same species, the former being an adult male of F. granti, while the specimen from Rovuma River is a female of F. kirki. F. schoanus, Heuglin, is founded on a specimen of F. granti, and has, of course, no connexion with F. pileatus, to which the author compares it. The synonymy should stand as above. In this species the chestnut shaft-markings are confined, in both sexes and at all ages, to the upper chest, and are never developed on the breast and belly. The measurement of the wing varies considerably in individuals of the same sex, and this is apparently due almost entirely to age. In the male the wing varies from 5°2-6:0 inches ; in the female from 5:2-5°7. T have to thank Dr. Schauinsland for kindly forwarding the type of this species, an adult female, for my inspection. FRANCOLINUS KIRKI, Hartlaub. (1867) Francolinus kirki, Hartlaub, P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 827. (1867) Francolinus rovuma, G. R. Gray, List Birds Brit. Mus. pt. v. p. 52 [part.]. As above mentioned, Gray’s F. rovuma was founded on birds belonging to twospecies. The female from Rovuma belongs new and rare Francolins. 347 to the present species. I have compared it with Dr. Hart- laub’s type, an adult male, kindly sent me by Dr. Schauins- land, of the Bremen Museum, and except for the differences in the plumage between the sexes, it is almost an exact coun- terpart of the type. At all ages both sexes have a dark chestnut oblong spot at the end of the shaft on the feathers of the breast and belly. In the male the wing varies from 5°7-5°9 inches; in the female from 5°4-5°6. FRANCOLINUS SPILOGASTER, Salvadori. (1888) Francolinus spilogaster, Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, vi. p. 541. Count Salvadori has been kind enough to lend me the type specimen of this species, a very fine adult male. Its only claim to rank as distinct from F. kirki appears to me to rest in its greater size, which is considerable. In plumage there is no difference, and I certainly incline to the belief that this specimen is a fine old male of /. kirki; but it is necessary to see more specimens from Harar before this question can be settled. In the type the wing measures 6°5 inches. 2. FRANCOLINUS GARIEPENSIS (and its allies). The group of Francolins of which F. gariepensis is typical is easily distinguished from F, evaillanti and other allied forms by the disposition of the two black and white stripes which ornament the sides of the head. Both start from the base of the upper mandible and reunite on the sides of the neck; the lower circumscribes the white throat, and separates it from the chestnut or buff-coloured cheek and ear-coverts ; the upper passes above the eye and ear-coverts, and, as already mentioned, joins the lower on the side of the neck. In F. levaillanti the upper lines are confluent on the nape and run down the middle of the neck. Francolinus gariepensis was first discovered by Smith, and the types, which he described and figured in his ‘ Illustrations to the Zoology of S. Africa’ (plates 83 & 84), are preserved 348 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on in our National Collection. They were obtained near the sources of the Caledon and Vaal Rivers. In 1889 Mr. Biittikofer (‘Notes Leyden Mus.’ xi. p. 76, pl. iv.) described and figured a second western species of this group from Gambos, which he named F. jugularis. We have, in our collection, four specimens of this bird, two of which were obtained by Mr. Monteiro in Benguela, which is just north of Gambos, while the two others were obtained further south in Great Namaqualand by Mr. Andersson. These birds all bear out the characters given in Mr. Biitti- kofer’s description and figure of his F. jugularis, and, though nearly allied to F. gariepensis, even a young male speci- men (in which the white and black feathers are not deve- loped on the chest), can be distinguished by the middle of the lower breast and abdomen being paler buff and imma- culate. The upper breast, too, in our specimens of I. jugu- laris is not nearly so heavily marked as in F. gariepensis, and many of the marks are black instead of rufous. The young ' male of the western form has the back as strongly trans- versely barred as I’. gariepensis, but, as described by Mr. Bittikofer, in the adult of the former the bars are irregularly broken up and become little more than mere vermiculations. FRANCOLINUS SHELLEYI, Sp.n. I have now the pleasure of describing a third species of this group, of which there are three male specimens in Capt. Shelley’s collection. These birds were obtained respectively at Natal by Mr. Gordge; on the Umvuli River, North Mata- beleland, by Mr. J. S. Jameson; and in Swaziland by Mr. T. E. Buckley. This species may be distinguished at a glance from F. garie- pensis and F. jugularis by having the middle of the lower breast and abdomen white, irregularly and transversely marked with rather wide black bars. This forms a marked contrast with the upper breast, the feathers of which are rufous- chestnut, with part of the whole of their inner web buff, transversely marked and barred with black. As regards the new and rare Francolins. 349 rest of the plumage, F. shelleyi resembles F. gariepensis in having the pale-buff cross-bars on the feathers of the upper surface clear and distinct in the adult, and in having the feathers of the sides and flanks with wide longitudinal bands of chestnut on the inner or both sides of the shaft. It dif- fers from that species, and resembles /. yugularis in having a patch of white black-edged feathers on the upper chest. In skins the legs are yellow; the bill dark brown, yellowish towards the base of the lower mandible. Wing 6:8 inches, tail 2°4, tarsus 1°5. Habitat. Natal; Swaziland; Matabeleland. 3. FRANCOLINUS GRISEO-STRIATUS, Sp. n. (Plate X.) Top of head greyish brown ; lores, cheeks, ear-coverts, and superciliary stripes reddish white ; a nearly white spot behind the eye. Chin and throat white. Feathers on back of neck, back, scapulars, and outer secondaries are dark chestnut down the middle, and margined on either side by a black and pearl-grey band ; the chestnut middles of the scapulars and secondaries are irregularly marked with black. Wing- coverts, lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts greyish brown, finely vermiculated with black. Primaries and secon- daries rufous chestnut, paler on the outer webs, and vermi- culated and irregularly banded on both webs with black. Tail rufous chestnut, the middle feathers paler on the outer webs, and all are transversely vermiculated with black, though this gradually becomes less marked on the outer tail-feathers. Front neck and upper chest rufous-chestnut, edged with white. Breast, belly, thighs, and under tail- coverts buff; the feathers on the sides of the breast, flanks, and under tail-coverts with wide dull rufous shaft-stripes, slightly vermiculated with black. Under surface of wings silver-grey, vermiculated with pale buff. In the skin the colours of the soft parts are as follows :— Upper mandible dark brown, yellowish at tip; lower yellow, with dark tip. Legs and feet bright yellow; spurs dark brown. Wing 6°3 inches, tail 3°2, tarsus 1°7. Habitat. Congo River, 350 Extracts from the This species is founded on a single specimen, apparently a fully adult male. 4, FRANCOLINUS CASTANEICOLLIS. (Plate XI.) (1888) Francolinus castaneicollis, Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Genova, vi. p. 54:2. Through the kindness of Count Salvadori I have received the loan of the type of this beautiful species, which, so far as I know, is still unique, and it is with his kind permission that the accompanying figure is given. This specimen was obtained in Shoa, where it was reported as not uncommon, but Count Salvadori informs me that, in spite of his instructions to his collector to procure addi- tional specimens, none have as yet arrived. The type, which is preserved in the Zoological Museum at Turin, is apparently a fully adult female, and seems to re- present a distinct group of Francolins, its style of plumage being quite unlike that of any other known species. I shall anxiously await the arrival of more specimens, and can only hope. that Count Salvadori will ere long receive examples of the adult male. XXXIV.—Extracts from the Letters of My. J. Granam Kerr, Naturalist to the Pilcomayo Expedition*. Estancia Mate Grande, Argentine Republic, November 1889. I wap a very pleasant, though somewhat tedious passage, arriving in Buenos Aires in the beginning of July. I re- mained in the city of Buenos Aires till the middle of August, at which time I got an invitation to go out and stay at an estancia about eighty leagues to the westward of the city ; * {Kindly communicated by Mr. A. Harvie-Brown from letters ad- dressed to Prof. T. Bayley Balfour, F.R.S. As regards the “‘ Pileomayo Expedition,” see Ibis, 1889, p. 402. A subsequent letter to Prof. Balfour, dated Buenos Ayres, Dec. 25, 1889, states that, after many delays, the Expedition was just leaving for Corrientes, where it was proposed to halt for a few days before proceeding up the Pileomayo.—EpD. | Letters of Mr. J. Graham Kerr. 351 and here I have been since. I shall now give you an account of my impressions and doings since I arrived, making it as condensed as possible. Firstly, as regards doings. The ‘ Maskelyne ’ anchored off Buenos Aires on the morning of Saturday, June 29th, having previously gone aground once or twice on the soft mud. The anchorage for large ocean steamers lies almost in the centre of the river—fifteen miles from Buenos Aires shore ; and even here there is only about 25 feet of water in the channel, while on all sides are shoals and mudbanks innumerable. However, we dropped anchor all right between nine and ten o’clock. It was a beautiful morning, the atmosphere unusually clear. To the S.W. might be seen the domes of Buenos Aires and the forests of masts of its shipping; a low line along the northern horizon indicated the coast of Uruguay. About eleven o’clock, qua- rantine formalities having been got through, we stepped into the tender, and after a tedious journey of one and three- quarter hours, we arrived within a quarter of a mile of the passenger-mole. We now got into a large open boat, and from that again into a small one, and by dint of much shov- ing and gesticulating, this latter was brought within jumpable distance of the mole, and so at last we arrived on ¢erra firma. The water of the river is very muddy, quite fresh, of course ; and floating about its surface were millions of Camelates (Pontederia azurea) , not yet in flower, however. My luggage came on shore about 6 p.m., and I had to leave it in the custom-house until next morning. I had great difficulty in finding room at any of the hotels, the town being very full just then. At last, however, I managed, by chumming along with a fellow-passenger, to find accommodation at the Hotel de Londres. On Sunday morning I repaired to the mole to get my luggage through, and experienced less trouble than I expected. The arsenical soap was what excited most misgiving in the mind of the customs’ officer. He felt it and smelt it, and finally asked what it was worth. I puta very modest value indeed upon it, and so he let it pass. He absolutely refused, however, to allow my camera and box of cartridges through. They must go to the custom-house, 352 Extracts from the and so thither they went, and there the cartridges are still. I remained for a week at the Hotel de Londres, and then went to live at Palerma, a suburb of the city, where there is a fine park and zoological gardens. Buenos Aires is a very European-looking city. The streets all run at right angles to one another and are equidistant. The city is thus divided into blocks of 150 yards square, each containing a hundred numbers. The numbers upon the houses in one set of streets indicates their distance from the river, those upon the other series their distance from a central street, the Riva- davia. In this way it is impossible for a person to get lost, for all he has to do is to go to the nearest corner, when the number of the house on each side gives him the ordinates of his position, one giving the number of squares distant from the river, the other the number of squares distant from Riva- davia, the central street of the city. The houses and public buildings are built of brick covered with stucco, which gives them a very unsubstantial appearance compared with the great buildings at home. The architecture, on the whole, is extremely disappointing. The houses in the city are several- storeyed, in the form of hollow squares, the patio or court- yard in the centre being open to the sky. The houses in the suburbs are one-storeyed, and either in the form of a quad- rangle or simply a straight row of rooms, opening en suite and also by French windows on to the patio. Passing along most of the important streets of the city are tramways, which are very well patronized, the inhabitants never walking if they can help it. This is due partly to the execrable pave- ment. Rough cuboidal masses of stone are used for paving the streets, but the contractors have invariably scamped the work, laying down the paving blocks without any foundation, so that ina short time the condition of the streets is worse than if _ there were no pavement at all. Add to this the utter failure of the drainage system, which causes the streets after a heavy thunder-shower to be converted into rushing torrents. In the centre of the city is a large square, the Plaza Victoria, and in this are situated the chief public buildings—the Government House, Cathedral, Congress Hall, &c. Letters of Mr. J. Graham Kerr. 353 The time passed very slowly while I was living in Buenos Ayres itself, so I was very glad to receive early in August an invitation to go out to stay at the Estancia Mate Grande, near the town of Nueve de Julio, right out in the pampas to the west of the city. Accordingly, about 6 a.m. on August 13th, I left the hotel for the Once railway station, whence I was to take train for Nueve de Julio. My luggage had been sent on before, but when I arrived at Once I found that it had not turned up. I determined, however, to go on without it, having left instructions for it to be sent on after me. After a cup of “café con leche” at the station, I took my seat in the train, and punctually at 7.15 we started on our westward journey. The train was on the “American” system, con- sisting of long cars, with a passage running along from one end of the train to the other. It was a cold day, and I found the carriages very cold and draughty. In summer, on the other hand, I believe passengers get nearly choked with dust. The track was, of course, very much rougher than those at home, but still there was wonderfully little oscillation. For the first half of our journey we passed over the typical Buenos Aires pampas-country, almost as flat as a cricket-field, covered with close green turf (the indigenous grasses having here succumbed to the introduced grasses ), and dotted here and there by a solitary omba-tree, the one tree indigenous to the pampas (Phytolacca divica). Towards the end of our journey the character of the country changed; it became wilder; the surface became undulatory, the omba-trees disappeared, and we were amongst the great native grasses of the Pampas. However, of these later on. This form of country continued till we reached Nueve de Julio, between one and two in the afternoon. The town, as is the case with most of the camp- towns, was at some distance from the railway station ; there was, as usual,a number of carriages waiting for passengers, and stepping into one of these I was taken to the hotel, or rather inn, of the village, arriving just in time for breakfast. It will seem rather curious the idea of breakfast at 2 p.m., but the meals here are quite different from what they are at home. When one gets up in the morning one has a cup of SER. VI.—-VOL, II. 2C 304 Extracts from the café (con leche, if possible) and a little bread (and butter also, if possible) ; this has to suffice until breakfast, which is taken about midday, or at least some time between eleven and two; finally we have dinner about seven o’clock. There are thus just two regular meals in the day, breakfast and dinner. To resume: [ arrived at the inn or fonda, and at once sat down to breakfast. The establishment belonged to an Italian, and the cookery was therefore in the peculiar style affected by that nation; it was characterized by a strik- ing superfluity of garlic and of oil, and was, to a British taste, excessively nasty. The staple soup at this place was sopa de pan—consisting of warm water, in which floated the scraps of bread left over from yesterday’s meals. Then came a sort of salt fish, as tough as a piece of wood and floating in an ocean of red oil. Finally I tried a dish called “ biftek”” in the carte, but which turned out to be pieces of stewed leather, apparently. By this time all my symptoms of hunger had disappeared, and I sallied out to view the town. Nueve de Julio is a small place of a couple of thousand or so inhabitants. Like all Spanish American towns, it consists of a central plaza, laid out with grass and shrubs, and a series of streets running at right angles to one another. It is avery clean little place. The people appear to be pretty decent, and what strikes one is the great polite- ness and obligingness of the lower classes. Everybody goes about armed with a revolver, and, if a native, with a big knife, too. I suspect that this habit may have had some- thing to do with the general politeness, a want of it being punished with a dose of lead or steel. I did not come across any English-speaking people in the place, but I managed to get on all right by means of very ungrammatical Spanish, resorting to French in case of difficulty. I always found people who could speak French wherever I went. I re- mained in Nueve two nights, in the vain hope that my lug- gage might turn up; there were no signs of it, however, so I determined to start on the morning of the 15th for the Estancia Mate Grande. On that morning, then, the volante arrived at the door, to take me out to Mate Grande, a dis- Letters of Mr. J. Graham Kerr. 355 tance of eight leagues. This volante was a peculiar sort of carriage, between a buggy and a stanhope, it was drawn by five horses and driven by a young native. Waving an adieu to the landlord, we started off at a trot until we got clear of the town, when the pace got into a smart gallop, and at this we sped rapidly on our way. The road was a mere track across the open pampa; the ground was firm, without being dry enough to be dusty, and there was a pleasing soft- ness about our motion, due to the absence of stones upon the road; at the same time there was plenty of shaking about ; one wheel would occasionally sink down a biscacha- burrow, sending one flying up into the air and making one convulsively clutch the handrail. Our way varied in cha- racter, now galloping wildly over a stretch of close green turf, then moving more slowly through some swampy ground, and anon threading our way cautiously through a lonely laguna, with water over the axle-trees. This drive was my first real view of the country out here; here I had my first glimpses of the Argentine fauna; now I saw with my own eyes many sights [ had often read about. Altogether it was an intensely enjoyable and interesting drive. It being now towards the close of winter, the tall grasses of the pampas were brown and withered; here and there might be seen a stretch of beautiful close-cropped turf, generally on the slope overlooking a lagoon, and in it a cluster of large burrows resembling those of the rabbit, but twice as big; these I recognized as biscacha villages, their four-footed owners not being visible; but perched at the mouth of some of the burrows was a pair of delightful little Prairie Owls, sitting bolt upright close together, motionless as statues, save for the slow rotation of their heads, keeping an eye on us as we sped past. By the edge of a lagoon might be seen a flock of dark-coloured Ibises, probing the mud with their slender curved bills, and carrying one back in imagination to the long past days of those Egyptian monuments on which the sacred bird figures so prominently. Upon the other side of the lagoon a group of tall Flamingoes of a beautiful rosy pink colour appeared to dream away their existence, motion- 202 356 Extracts from the less on one leg, and with their long necks coiled up on their shoulders. Finally, picking his way daintily amongst the tufts of long grass, might be seen a great Stork on the out- look for snakes or any such animals as might be tempted out of their winter sleep by the bright sunshine. When we left Neuve the air was crisp and cold, the turf was whitened by a crust of hoar-frost, and it was one of the nearest approaches to one of Dr. Macfarlane’s favourite “bracing” mornings that I have experienced since my arrival. Now, however, as the sun rose in the sky, the air became more genial, and I was enabled to extract myself from the thick rug in which I was enveloped. As we went along we would have a cloud of Lapwings flying around us, uttering harsh screams of “teru-teru.” They were not unlike our British Lapwing, but were larger, and were armed with a strong and sharp-looking spur, of a pink colour, on each wing. Flying about and feeding on the turf were many Starling-like Icterid, the one with a yellow breast, the other with a breast and gorget of the most vivid scarlet. Altogether I was immensely struck with the wonderful rich- ness of bird-life as compared with what I had been accus- tomed to at home. However, to resume. About 12.30 p.m. this delightful journey was brought to an end by our arrival at Mate Grande. After devoting my attention to that prosaic but necessary and enjoyable institution, a hearty breakfast, I set out on a tour of inspection. Of this and of succeeding days’ walks, I shall now give you briefly the results, premis- ing that my luggage arrived all right about a week later than I did. The estancia-house is a one-storeyed cottage-like erection, standing on the summit of a rounded elevation and surrounded by a thick plantation to break the force of the cold winds of winter. The houses about here are mostly “ranchos,” 7. e. they are built of a framework of poplar- trunks, with walls made of mud and straw, mud floor, and roof thatched with large rushes. This estancia-house, how- ever, boasts of a wood floor and a galvanized iron roof. It has three rooms—a large dining-room, and a small bed-room Letters of Mr. J. Graham Kerr. 357 at each end. The kitchen, office, and accommodation for servants are in detached ranches. Surrounding the house, as I said, is a thick plantation or monte, composed of poplars, peaches, willows, elders, and two leguminous trees, one a kind of acacia with yellow flower-heads, the other a labur- num-like tree, with drooping racemes of large white flowers. When I arrived here the aromas, as the acacias are called, were in beautiful flower ; soon after they were joined by the peaches, and now the white flowers of the “acacia,” as it is called here, take their places. Passing outside the monte one is upon the open camp, rolling undulating land, covered with coarse grass, varied by an occasional monte, marking the position of an estancia-house. Owing to the long succes- sion of wet seasons, the low-lying parts of the camp are occupied by shallow lagoons of, on an average, a couple of feet or so in depth. Covering the waters of these lagoons is often a continuous mantle of cushiony Azolla of a rich car- mine-brown colour, mixed with small pieces of Lemna with elliptical thick “leaves.” In the deeper parts of the lagoons grow thick beds of a tall rush, frequently reaching a height of 9 or 10 feet. These rush-beds form the haunts and resting-places of many kinds of water-loving birds. The commonest of all amongst them is the little Rush Spinetail (Phleocryptes melanops), which may be seen hopping nimbly from rush to rush a few inches above the surface of the water, reaching down every now and then to pick up an insect from amongst the carpet of lemna and azolla. Its peculiar note at once draws one’s attention. Several sharp taps, such as are made by tapping a slate with a slate pencil, are followed by a long-drawn sound resembling that sometimes made when one twists a tight-fitting cork in the neck of a bottle. The nest of this Spinetail is also a very interesting structure, built of grass-leaves inter- woven with extraordinary firmness, and covered in with a domed roof; near the top of one side is the little round entrance, covered by a projecting eave, and leading into a beautifully warm little circular chamber, well lined with wool and feathers. The nest is tied firmly between a group of rush- 358 Extracts from the stems at a distance of about three feet above the surface of the water. There is another beautiful little nest to be found amongst the rushes; this is in the form of a little cup made of small bits of grass &e. cemented together, fixed to a single rush- stem about four feet above the water. This nest is tenanted by a most beautiful little bird (Cyanotis azare) of about the size of a wren, its plumage gleaming with the deepest shades of yellow and black and green. Amongst the rushes, too, are innumerable nests of Coots, Ducks, Grebes, and an occasional Stork. There is an extraordinary number of Ducks here, both of individuals and of species, and many of them are extremely beautiful birds. When I first arrived every laguna and cafiada literally swarmed with them. [A “laguna” is permanent, and a “cafiada” is temporary.] Perhaps the most numerous was a beautiful little Teal, with sober vestments of clear grey (Querquedula versicolor), and with a bill of blue-grey, with a yellow patch on each side. Shovellers, Pintails, and Chiloe Widgeons were also abun- dant on every laguna. Not uncommon was the Rosy-bill Duck (Melopiana peposaca), a large Duck nearly black in colour above, but having a large tumid bill of deep pinky red, Sailing majestically about some of the deeper lagunas may be seen a pair of Black-necked Swans (Cygnus nigri- collis), while on others their place was taken by the smaller Coscoroba Swan, or Gansa, as the people call it (Coscoroba candida). It is rather smaller than the Black-necked Swan, and resembles our European Swan in being nearly pure white. Grebes are very abundant here. I have obtained on this estancia alone four out of the five species known to occur in the Republic. The finest of these is the Bright- cheeked Grebe (Podiceps calipareus), obtained by Darwin at Bahia Blanca. Above it is of a dark-grey colour, but beneath it is of the snowiest white, smooth as the finest satin, while each ear-covert is composed of hair-like feathers of a shining metallic golden bronzy tint. The commonest of the Grebes is, however, Rolland’s Grebe (P. rollandi), which swarms on every laguna. It is a much smaller bird than the last- mentioned, bas conspicuous white cheeks and a satiny breast- Letters of Mr. J. Graham Kerr. 359 plumage of dark chestnut-colour. Talking about the Grebes reminds me of a most interesting Duck that I have been observing here a good deal, the Blue-billed Duck (Hrismatura ferruginea). This is a Duck in name, but it has undergone variations in external structure and in habits to an extraor- dinary extent along the line of the Grebes. What drew my attention to it was the first individual I saw; it was swim- ming, or rather floating on the surface of a lagoon. I ap- proached to get within shot; got within forty yards of the bird and fired. However, the Duck was too sharp for me. The pellets struck the water harmlessly all over the place where the Duck had been. He had dived on seeing the flash, and did it so well that I had considerable difficulty at first in getting a specimen. The Blue-bill is thus quite equal to a Grebe in his powers of diving. In structure, too, his wings are extremely small and almost useless for flight ; his legs are placed right at the posterior end of the body ; the plu- mage of his breast even is as satiny as that of a Grebe. The tail of the Blue-bill is another of its peculiarities. Tail-coverts are entirely absent ; the rectrices are about a dozen in num- ber, very flat and stiff. When the tail is spread these form a somewhat shovel-shaped and perfectly flat expansion, pro- jecting quite suddenly from the blunt Grebe-like posterior end of the body. Frequently when swimming, especially when swimming rapidly, this flat tail is carried spread hori- zoutally beneath the surface of the water. At other times, however, and especially when several Ducks are calmly sailing to and fro in the sunshine, the tail is carried folded together and cocked vertically right up in the air. This increases the bizarre appearance of these Ducks, especially when they indulge their Grebe-like habit of compressing their air-chambers, so as to gradually sink downwards in the water. In this way they will often submerge themselves until nothing is visible above the surface but a head and neck at one end, and, some distance from it, the tail. This habit is so characteristic that I thought of speaking of this Duck as the “ cock-tail”? Duck, but I concluded that this would be rather too alcoholic a name. The Blue-bill Duck suits it pretty 360 Extracts from the well, as the male has a bill of beautiful bright blue colour. It is most amusing to watch the just-mentioned drake court- ing the female. He commences operations after the ordinary anatine fashion, i.e. he slowly and with the utmost gravity bobs his head up and down, trying to get a responsive bow from the female. If this fails, he then resorts to a method of courtship quite peculiar to himself. He stretches out his neck on the surface of the water right in front of him, and then ruffles up the feathers of his neck and inflates his crop until his neck seems to disappear altogether; then folding his remarkable tail, fully spread, right forwards over his back, like a fan, he advances towards the female, giving his neck convulsive jerks the while, and presenting one of the most extraordinary spectacles it is possible to conceive, re- minding one, if of anything, of an Ornithorhynchus. Amongst the grasses of the dry ground we have another facies of bird-life. Carrion-feeding birds abound, due to the immense number of carcases littering the country in all directions. Milvayo chimango (a small carrion Hawk) and the large almost Vulture-like Carancho (Polyborus tharus) are the two common species. The latter does a good deal of damage to stock, frequently picking the eyes and tongue out of living sheep. Of Owls, the little Prairie Owl abounds, a pair being seen on almost every biscachera. A Pipit (Anthus correndera) and a Wren (Cistothorus platensis) are common in the open camp. Especially near lagunas may be seen several Icteride: the Yellow-breast (Pseudoleistes virescens), resembling a Blackbird with a yellow breast ; the Red-breast (Leistes superciliaris), like a Starling, with gorget and breast of bright scarlet; and Ageleus thilius, a smaller bird of a deep black, with a bright yellow patch on each shoulder ; then, lastly, among the common Icteride, is the Cow-bird (Molothrus bonariensis), a little black bird, somewhat larger than a Sparrow. The Cow-birds are well known from their habit of frequenting the company of cattle. One constantly sees them here perched and busily feeding on the sheep’s back, picking off, no doubt with relish, the various parasites amongst the wool. Of Finches there are few here: a Spar- Letters of Mr. J. Graham Kerr. 361 row, not unlike, but much prettier than our European Sparrow (Zonotrichia pileata), the small yellow-breasted Misto Finch (Sycalis luteola), and the Red-billed Finch (Eméernagra platensis) are allcommon. ‘The prettiest of the Finches are, however, the Cardinal, said to be the finest Finch in' the world (Paroaria cucullata), of clear slaty-blue colour, white be- neath, and with a magnificent head-piece, gorget, and tall pyramidal crest of the brightest scarlet imaginable, and the Black-headed Siskin (Chrysomitris icterica), of bright yellow tints with coaly-black head. ‘The place of the Finches is, however, in great part taken up by the Tyrannide, which are very numerous, both in individuals and species. Perched on a withered hemlock by the water’s edge may be seen the Silver-bill Tyrant (Lichenops perspicillatus), with plumage pure black, except the wings, which are equally pure white. By-the-by, the frequency of black as a colour amongst the birds here strikes one after the British avifauna, with its three or four black birds. The Scissor-tail Tyrant is pretty common here (Milvulus tyrannus), resembling in general appearance a large Swallow, and characterized by the im- mensely long outer rectrices of the tail, which is expanded and closed during flight, so that the long feathers open and shut like a pair of scissors. More worthy of being classed as a Tyrant is the “ Bien te veo” (Pitangus bolivianus). It is a bird somewhat larger than a Thrush, of a brown colour above, black head, with white eyebrows and yellow crest and belly. It has an immense dagger-like beak, and looks really worthy of its name. It constantly screams “ Bien te veo” (I see you well) in a loud and harsh voice, which is perhaps the most prominent sound one hears in the monte. ‘The list of commoner birds here is closed by a few Dendrocolaptide, the most prominent among which is the Oven-bird (Furna- rius rufus). This bird is not unlike a Thrush in appearance, and its curious oven-like nests are to be seen everywhere in the monte. ‘lhe nests are spheroidal structures, built of mud, about a foot in diameter, and attached to a tree or post. At one side is the opening leading into the interior by a cunningly curved passage. What strikes a European about 362 Lixtracts from the the bird-fauna here is the predominance of Icteride, Tyran- nid, and Dendrocolaptidee, three of the most distinctive of South-American bird types. Owing to the predominance of these forms, one does not hear the fine singing one has at home ; its place is taken by a variety of harsh screams and chirps. Iam afraid I must have wearied out all your patience with this long-winded screed anent birds, so I will try to tell you of the other departments more concisely. Of mammals, the three prominent orders are Edentata, Rodentia, and Car- nivora. Insectivores are, of course, entirely absent. Of Edentates, two types of armadillo are common, the peludo (Dasypus villosus) and the mulito (Praopus hybridus). Of these two species the peludo is the larger, and is covered with long coarse hair, while the mulito has a smooth coat, without hair, except on the belly. Both are eaten by the natives, and the mulito is esteemed a great delicacy. In habits both are the same, burrowing in the ground in search of food. Of Rodents, I have come across three species: the biscacha (Lagostomus trichodactylus), the “nutria”’ (Myopotamus coypus), and the conejo (Cavia leucopyga). Of these the biscacha is by far the most conspicuous and most numerous ; its burrows are similar to those of the rabbit, but several times as large. They are collected in colonies called “ bisca- cheras,” and around these is generally an expanse of beauti- fully closely cropped turf. Growing on the biscachera itself is frequently an extremely harsh and sharp grass, growing in spiky tufts, called by the natives “ paja brava.” This grass grows occasionally separate from biscacheras, but much more frequently it denotes the position of a biscachera. The biscacha is a big rodent, about three times the size of a rabbit. It has a stiff rigid tail of about six inches in length. When the animal is running this is carried projecting right backwards, and the hind quarters being on a much larger scale and higher in the air than the fore quarters, the whole animal has a curious resemblance to a wheelbarrow trund- ling along of its own accord. The biscachas are very bold aud inquisitive. If one quietly approaches them when they Letters of Mr. J. Graham Kerr. 363 are cropping the turf in front of their burrows towards dusk, they retire close to the mouth of their burrows, and there sit up on their haunches, after the manner of kangaroos, watching the intruder and giving vent to various uncouth sounds of indignation. These sounds are of a most uncanny nature. A night or two after my arrival I happened to be walking over the turf when it was nearly quite dark, when suddenly I put my foot into a hole, and at once a chorus of the most weird and unearthly groans and hisses arose from the ground all around me. I had never heard of the vocal powers of the biscachas, and I felt quite startled. I believe it is the males chiefly who give vent to these sounds. The coypu or nutria (“ otter” !!), as it is ridiculously termed in Spanish, is fairly abundant by the edges of the larger lagunas. In habits and appearance it is simply an enormous water-rat. The conejo is a little cavy, about eight inches in length, of a greenish-brown colour, and is very abundant amongst the pajas by the side of the water. Carnivora are well represented here, being in number of species the predominant order of mammals. At the head of those I have met with stands the puma (Felis concolor), which is, however, not at allcommon. A young male, mea- suring 6 feet 6 inches in total length, was killed on the neighbouring estancia of San Carlos during my stay, but I have not been fortunate enough to come across any myself. The commonest of the cats is the “‘ gato montes,” something like a miniature leopard, but only about the size of the wild cat at home (Felis geoffroyi). This tiger-cat is quite com- mon, and I have shot several. There is also another smaller cat occurring in the neighbourhood, but it is less common (F. passerum). The most abundant of the carnivora, how- ever, is a species of skunk (Mephitis patagonica), about 23 inches in length, with beautiful silky dark-brown coat, with a white longitudinal line along each side of the body -and a bushy white tail. He is a beautiful little animal, and about sundown he may be seen taking his leisurely evening stroll, with his white tail hoisted up in the air as a signal to 364 Extracts from the all to keep their distance. Armed with a similar, though less highly developed organ of defence as the skunk, is the “huron,” a kind of large polecat, which is also fairly common here (Galictis vittata). Next to the skunk, the handsomest of the carnivores here is a fox (Canis azare), resembling in size and appearance the European one, but with beautiful silvery-grey fur. So much for the carnivores. The only other mammals are a species of deer, which I have not met with alive (Cervus campestris), and two species of opos- sum, which I have not seen alive either. So the mammal fauna, like the avifauna, is, on the whole, rich—14 species, of which 8 are abundant. I may mention that of birds I have obtained examples of 79 species, all on this estancia alone, so that you can have some idea of the wonderful richness of the fauna, considering we are in a strictly temperate climate and latitude 85° S. It quite takes my breath away when I think of the Pilcomayo and lat. 20° S. I am afraid that I have thoroughly tired you out with my long-windedness, but I must plead as my excuse that I wish to give you as complete an idea as possible of the general appearance of nature here. Had I written a month ago I might have declared the flora of this place almost ni/; writing now, I must say that it is very luxuriant, richer, however, in individuals than in species. In species it appears to be, in fact, poor; and this is not to be wondered at, for there is an utter want of that variety in physical conditions which is the first factor in making a flora rich in variety of species. Here we have nothing but rolling undulating camp, no wooded lands (the plantations being quite modern), no mountain, not even any absolutely permanent water. The consequence is that we have the flora of the plain and nothing more. As I have not any botanical work of reference out in the camp here, I am afraid that my account of the flora will have to be very meagre indeed. Letters of Mr. J. Graham Kerr. 365 Buenos Aires City, Sunday, Novy. 16, 1889. I took my departure from Mate Grande rather suddenly two days ago, so have had to postpone continuing your letter till now. When I arrived at Mate Grande (Aug. 15th) it was practically mid-winter, everything was parched and withered, and the only plants in flower in the camp were a beautiful little yellow oxalis, which carpeted the turf almost like the buttercups at home, and that ubiquitous intruder, Stel- laria media. The latter grows rather more luxuriantly than at home, but otherwise appears to be quite unchanged. This state of vegetation continued until nearly the middle of Oc- tober, about which time we had two or three heavy thunder- storms. This, coupled with a little warm weather, gave an extraordinary impulse to growths, and vegetation sprung up and grew as if by magic. The first of the noticeable flowers to bloom in the spring were two verbenas, one pelargonium scarlet and another Jilac-coloured. The turf, dotted with these and the little yellow oxalis, quite vied in appearance with the meadows at home in spring. Besides this yellow oxalis, there soon appeared two other species of the same genus, one with a beautiful pink flower, the other pure white. The biscacheras appeared to be characterized by their growth of poisonous and otherwise disagreeable plants. Some would be covered by a dense growth of tall hemlock, others by a forest of mottle-leaved thistles; on others, again, Urtica urens flourished, while on very many was to be seen a beauti- ful apparently Loasaceous plant, with drooping white-petalled flowers, and armed with an abundance of stinging hairs, even on the petals. Although flowering plants were very numer- ous as to individuals, in species they were very few. There appeared to be a very great absence of rare plants. Of everything that was to be seen at all, there was to be seen an abundance. Of ordinary ferns I did not find any, but a species of Marsilia, and one Azolla, were frequent. 366 On a Collection of Birds from Sarawak. XXXV.—On a small Collection of Birds from Mount Penrisen, Sarawak. By R. Bowpier Suarpz, F.L.S. &c. Since his return to Borneo, I regret to say that our friend Alfred H. Everett’s health has been so bad that he has not been able to explore much personally. He has, however, sent a hunter to Mount Penrisen (4400 feet), at the source of the Sarawak River, in order, as he states, “to obtain a sample of the highland fauna of Western Borneo for comparison with that of Kina Balu.” The collector being alone, and the wet season being at its height, he obtained a very meagre series of skins. That Mr. Everett, in his suffering condition, should still interest himself in the scientific exploration of Borneo is only what we might expect from the indomitable pluck which has carried him through personal hardships and diffi- culties for so many years, and his efforts will be much appreciated by his numerous friends in this country. The collection is, as Mr. Everett says, a “ meagre” one, but it contains two birds of great interest, one being of a genus, Hupetes, new to Borneo, and the other of a new species of Siphia. The remaining species are the same as from Kina Balu. Fam. Muscicapip2. Genus SipHtia. 1. SIPHIA EVERETTI, sp. 0. S. Similis S. cyanee, sed minor et cauda nigré minimé albo notatd distinguenda. Long. tot. 6:0, culm. 0°65, ale 3°25, caudee 2°2, tarsi 0°75 poll. Ang!. @. Similis S. cyanee 9, sed capite rufescente, loris et facie laterali, gulaé et preepectore rufescentibus distinguenda. Long. tot. 6°0, culm. 0°7, ale 3°15, caude 2°25, tarsi 0°75. This species is a small representative of Siphia cyanea, of Hume, from Tenasserim, which appears to be a true Siphia, belonging to the same group as S. pallidipes. The Bornean form, however, is a much smaller bird, and is easily distin- guished by the absence of white on the tail. The female On Chrysotis cceligena and Psittacus dufresneanus. 3867 resembles the hen of 8. cyanea very closely, and has a white patch on the fore neck, but the head, sides of face, throat, and breast are more rufous than in S. cyanea. Like the latter, it has some white on the inner webs of the tail- feathers. Fam. TIMELIIDa#. 2. CRINIGER GUTTURALIS (Bp.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vi. p. 80. It is rather curious that Mr. Everett’s hunter should have procured this species instead of the Kina Balu C. ruficrissus. It is a bird of the low country, and was doubtless dis- covered at no great height on Penrisen. 3. Hemrxes connecrens, Sharpe, Ibis, 1887, p. 446. Compared with a specimen in Mr. Whitehead’s collection and found to be identical. 4. Euprrres Macrocercus (T.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vil. p. 838. This bird was met with on the top of the mountain. It is quite new to Borneo. 5. STACHYRIS BORNEENSIS, Sharpe, Ibis, 1887, p. 449. 6. TurpINUs CANICAPILLUS, Sharpe, Ibis, 1887, p. 450. 7. TuRDINULUs EXSUL, Sharpe, Ibis, 1888, p. 479. 8. STaPHIDIA EVERETTI, Sharpe, Ibis, 1887, p. 447. Mr. Whitehead has kindly lent me specimens of the four species mentioned above, and I find that in every in- stance the Penrisen specimens are identical with others from Kina Balu. XXX VI.—On the Identity of Chrysotis ceeligena with Psit- tacus dufresnianus. By T. Satvapori, C.M.Z:S. Tue Amazon generally called Chrysotis dufresniana is the bird figured by Mr. Sclater (P. Z. 8. 1880, pl. ix. fig. 2) with the pileum, or the front part of it, red. This bird was de- scribed by Kuhl (Consp. Psitt. p. 78) as the adult of Psit- 368 Count T. Salvadori on Chrysotis ceeligena tacus dufresnianus, while as the young of the same species Kuhl described the bird figured by Levaillant, Hist. Nat. des Perr, ii. p. 53, pl. 91 (fronte aurantia ad oculos flava, gens, gula collique lateribus cerulescentibus). Dr. Finsch, in his celebrated Monograph, has agreed with Dr. Kuhl’s identifications. In 1880, while Mr. Sclater was about to publish the de- scription of a supposed new Amazon, he received a specimen of the same bird from Mr. Lawrence, who had bestowed on it the name Chrysotis celigena. Mr. Sclater adopted the name proposed by Mr. Lawrence and published a figure of a specimen then living in the Gardens of the Zoological Society (P. Z. 8. 1880, pl. ix. fig. 1). Mr. Sclater, speaking of this bird, says :—‘‘ It was purchased of one of the London dealers in February 1879, and was originally considered an imma- ture example of Chrysotis dufresniana, to which species it is most nearly allied. But it has remained without material change since its arrival, and a closer examination leads me to believe that it is not an immature bird.” There can be no doubt that Mr. Sclater was quite right in considering the bird as distinct, and also as regards the probability of the bird described by Dr. Finsch (Papag. ii. p. 552) as the young of C. dufresniana being the supposed new species. Mr. Sclater had not the opportunity of going through the subject, otherwise he would easily have perceived that the bird described by Kuhl and by Wagler (Mon. Psitt. p. 594) as the young of Psittacus dufresnianus, as well as the one figured on Levaillant’s plate, were also of the same species. It is of the greatest importance to notice that the bird figured by Levaillant was stated to be from Cayenne, and that the typical bird described by Lawrence was from Guiana (Ibis, 1880, p. 237), so that both birds were from the same zoological region. Unfortunately the name Chrysotis celigena cannot stand, as I shall presently show. It seems that all the preceding authors but Wagler have overlooked the fact that previously to Kuhl the name and Psittacus dufresneanus. 3869 Psittacus dufresnianus had already been used by Shaw (Gen. Zool. viii. 2, p. 513, 1811), whose description was made after Levaillant’s plate 91; and as this represents the Cayenne bird, with no red on the head and on the tail, it is quite clear that C. celigena is equal to C. dufresniana (Shaw) and that a new name must be given to the Brazilian C. dufresniana (Kuhl), for which I would propose that of Chrysotis rhodocorytha. The synonymy, diagnostic description, and the habitat of the two species will be as follows :— +1. Curysoris puUrRESNEANA (Shaw). Le Perroquet Dufresne, Levaill. Hist. Nat. des Perr. ii. p- 53, pl. 91 (1805) (ex Cayenna). Psittucus dufresnianus, Shaw, Gen. Zool. viii. 2, p. 513 (1811) (ex Levaillant); Steph. Gen. Zool. xiv. p. 106 (1826) ; Desm. Dict. Sc. Nat. xxxix. p. 103 (part.) (1826) ; Cuv. Régn. An. i. p. 465 (part.) (1829). Psittacus dufresnianus, junior, Kuhl, Consp. Psitt. p. 78 (1820). ? Psittacus coronatus, Licht. (nec Linn.) in Mus. Berol. fide Kuhl, 7. ec. Psittacus dufresnii, Kuhl, op. cit. p. 104 (1820). Psittacus dufresneanus, junior, Wagl. Mon. Psitt. p. 594 (1832) ; Hahn, Orn. Atl. Papag. p. 91 (young), t. 71 (1837) ; Cab. in Schomb. Guiana, iii. p. 724 (1848). Chrysotis dufresnii, Sw. Class. B. ii. p. 301 (1837) ; Licht. Nomencl. Av. p. 70 (part.) (1854). Chrysotis dufresneanus (part.), G. R. Gr. Gen. B. ii. p. 422, no. 13 (1846). Chrysotis dufresniana (part.), Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 151, no. 100; ?G. R. Gr. List Psitt. Brit. Mus. p- 80 (part.?) (1859) ; Pelz. Orn. Bras. p. 266 (note, part.) (1871). . Chrysotis dufresnianus, Bp. Naumannia, 1856, Consp. | Psitt. no. 94 (part.); ?G. R. Gr. Hand-list, ii. p. 164, no. 8323 (part. ?) (1870). Amazona dufresniana, Schleg. Mus. P.-B. Psittaci, p. 52 (part.) (1864) ; id. op. cit. Revue, p. 27 (part.) (1874). SER, VI.—VOL. II. 2D 370 On Chrysotis coeligena and Psittacus dufresneanus. Chrysotis dufresnei, juv., Finsch, Die Papag. ii. p. 552 (1868) ; Gieb. Thes. Orn. i. p. 682 (part. ?) (1872). Chrysotis celigena, Lawr. MS.; Sclat. P. Z. S. 1879, p- 815, 1880, p. 68, pl. ix. fig. 1; Lawr. Ibis, 1880, p. 237; Salv. & Sclat. ibid. p. 238; Rehnw. & Schal. Journ. f. Orn. 1880, p. 209; Sclat. Ibis, 1881, p. 414; id. List Vert. An. (8th ed.), p. 8348 (1883) ; Salv. Ibis, 1886, pp. 68, 509. Androglossa ceruligena, Rehnw. Journ. f. Orn. 1881, p. 374 (Consp. Psitt. p. 214); id. Vogelbild. Nachtr. in the text of no. 125 (1883). Diagn. Clare viridis, fronte flavo-aurantiaca, facie tota utrinque cyaneo tincta, speculo alari aurantiaco, caude apice flavicante, crassitie paullo minore quam in C. rho- docorytha. Hab. in Guiana. Obs. Similis C. rhodocorythe, sed fronte non rubra, speculo alari aurantiaco et cauda nullo modo rubra distin- guenda. + 2. CHRYSOTIS RHODOCORYTHA. Psittacus dufresnianus, ad., Kuhl, Consp. Psitt. p. 78 (1820); Desm. Dict. Se. Nat. xxxix. p. 102 (ad.) (1826) ; Cuy. Régn. An. i. p. 465 (part.) (1829). Psitiacus dufresneanus, Wied (nec Shaw), Reise, i. p. 51 (1820), 11. pp. 335, 341 (1821); id. Beitr. iv. p. 225 (Siidl. Brasilien) (1832) ; Burm. Syst. Ueb. ii. p. 188 (Mittl. u. nordl. Bras.) (1856). Amazona dufresniana, Less. (nec Shaw), Tr. d’Orn. p. 190 (1831) ; Schleg. Mus. P.-B. Psittaci, p. 52 (part.) (1864) ; id. op. cit. Revue, p. 27 (1874). Psittacus dufresneanus, ad., Wagl. Mon. Psitt. p. 594 (1832). Chrysotis dufresneanus (part.), G. R. Gr. Gen. B. ii. p. 422, no. 13 (1846). Chrysotis dufresnit (part.), Licht. Nomencl. Av. p. 70 (1854). Chrysotis dufresniana (part.), Bp. Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1854, p. 151, no. 100; ?G. R. Gr. List Psitt. Brit. Mus. Recently published Ornithological Works. 371 p. 80 (part. ?*) (1859) ; Pelz. Orn. Bras, p. 266 (note, part.), pp- 448, lii. (1871) ; Sclat. & Salv. Nomencl. Av. Neotr. p. 113, no. 18 (Brasilia) (1873) ; Sclat. P. Z. S. 1880, p. 68, pl. ix. fig. 2; id. List Vert. An. (8th ed.), p. 348 (1883). Chrysotis dufresnianus, Souancé (nec Shaw), Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1856, p. 154; Bp. Naumannia, 1856, Consp. Psitt. no. 94 (part.) ; ?G. R. Gr. Hand-list, ii. p. 164, no. 8323 (part.) (1870). Chrysotis dufresneana, Bolle (nec Shaw), Journ. f. Orn. 1856, p. 170; Sclat. Cat. Am. B. p. 354, no. 2113 (1862). Chrysotis dufresnei (part.), Finsch, Die Papag. ii. p. 551 (1868) ; Gieb. Thes. Orn. i. p. 682 (part. ?) (1872). Androglossa dufresnii, Rchuw. (nec Shaw), Journ. f. Orn. 1881, p. 374 (Consp. Psitt. p. 214) (syn. emend.) ; id. Vogel- bild. Nachtr. 125 (1883). Diagn. Viridis, pileo antico rubro, loris flavis, genis eyaneo tinctis; speculo alari rubro; caudz apice flavicante et fascia rubra subapicali obtecta notata, crassitie paullo majore guam in C. dufresneana (Shaw). Hab. in Brasilia. XXX VII.—WNotices of recent Ornithological Publications. [Continued from p. 261.] 60. Backhouse on European Birds. [A Handbook of European Birds, for the use of Field-Naturalists and Collectors. By James Backhouse, Jun., F.Z.S, 8vo. London: Gurney and Jackson, 1890. | Mr. Backhouse has produced a useful book and one that will, no doubt, be often referred to by working ornitholo- gists. It is a pity, however, that he did not look after the artist who drew the frontispiece more sharply. The “ anal region” in the typical bird is certainly not properly placed between the legs, nor the “rump” halfway up the back. We must also object to the author’s usage of the term * Gray mentions a specimen from Bogota, but I do not know to which form it belongs. 2D2 372 Recently published Ornithological Works. “‘ Habitat,’ which, since the time of Linneus, has been used to express what Mr. Backhouse calls “‘ Distribution,” and not the kind of country to which a bird mostly resorts. Again, if the Scutelliplantar Passeres are recognized as a separate group they should be placed at the end of the typical Oscines, and not in the middle of them. Mr. Backhouse does not exactly define the limits of “ Europe” as regarded from his point of view, but appears to comprehend in it the Caucasus. He has very wisely not troubled his readers with synonyms, which in a volume of this character are well omitted. But his nomenelature and general arrangement are such as must commend themselves to his brother members of the B.O.U. 61. Barrows on the English Sparrow in North America. (U.S. Department of Agriculture. Division of Economic Ornithology and Mammalogy. Bulletin 1. The English Sparrow (Passer domesticus ) in North America, especially in its relations to Agriculture. Prepared under the direction of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Ornithologist, by Walter B. Barrows, Assistant Ornithologist. 8vo. Washington: 1889. ] This is a memoir of 606 pages on the great Sparrow-question, and may well be believed, as Dr. Merriam claims for it, to be the “‘ most systematic, comprehensive, and important treatise ever published upon the economic relations of any bird.” The Sparrow was only first introduced into America in 1850 ; but it has so thriven as to have now spread all over the eastern States, as is shown by the map attached to the memoir, and in some favoured places to abound in enormous quantities. The result arrived at, after full discussion, 1s that the Sparrow is “ a curse of such virulence that it ought to be systematically attacked and destroyed,” and it is shown how this may be effected by poisoning, trapping, and netting. 62. Berlepsch on Birds from Upper Amazonia. [Systematisches Verzeichniss der von Herrn Gustay Garlepp in Bra- silien und Nord-Peru, im Gebiete des oberen Amazonas, gesammelten Vogelbalge. Von Hans von Berlepsch. J. f. O. 1889, p. 289. } Graf v. Berlepsch continues his account of Herr Garlepp’s bird-collections in Upper Amazonia (cf. supra, p. 111), and Recently published Ornithological Works. 373 now writes of the specimens obtained at various localities on the Ucayali and Huallaga. After recording some interesting notes by Garlepp upon the Toucans and Parrots of these districts, the author proceeds to a systematic account of the species represented in the collection. These are altogether 142 in number, concerning which many excellent critical remarks are given. Cassicus pachyrhynchus is characterized as a new species allied to C. hemorrhous. Ornithion pusil- lum olivaceum and Momotus brasiliensis ignobilis are two new subspecies. Coloured figures are given (plate i.) of two rare Parrots, Ara couloni and Conurus roseifrons. Of the latter, ten specimens were obtained by Herr Garlepp near Tarapoto, and subsequently 31 more at Shanusi near Yuri- maguas, 63. Fiirbringer on Stringops and Tynx. [Einige Bemerkungen iiber die Stellung von Stringops und den even- tuellen Herd der Entstehung der Papageien, sowie iiber den systema- tischen Platz von Jynz. Von Max Firbringer. J. f. O. 1889, p. 236.] Herr Marshall, in his ‘ Zoologische Vortrage,’ has main- tained that Stringops should be considered rather as a modern degraded form than as the oldest and least developed mem- ber of the Psittacine group. Dr. Fiirbringer now gives good reasons why the latter view, which he has adopted in his “ Untersuchungen,” should be upheld. He likewise writes on the question of the local origin of the Psittaci, which some have maintained must have been in the Oriental, and others in the Australian Region, and shows that we have not yet materials for properly discussing this difficult subject. As regards Iynz, which he has treated as the lowest and least-specialized type of the Picide, Dr. Fiirbringer also explains his views on this point, and shows that they are not materially different from those of Herr Marshall; only the latter writer is inclined to regard Tynz as a more specialized development of the Picidz, while Dr. Fiirbringer thinks that it should rather be looked upon as a more primitive form of that group. B74 Recently published Ornithological Works. 64. Hume and Oates’s ‘ Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds.’ [The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds. By Allan O. Hume, C.B. Second edition, edited by Eugene William Oates. Vol. I. With four portraits, Pp. 397. 8vo. London: 1889. R. H. Porter. | As a companion work to his ‘ Birds of British India,’ the first volume of which was noticed in our last number (above, p. 362), Mr. Oates has undertaken the preparation of a new edition of Mr. Hume’s ‘ Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, of which the parallel volume, containing the accounts of the nests and eggs of the species described in the first volume of the former work, is now before us. Every one interested in Indian Ornithology is well acquainted with Mr. Hume’s ‘Nests and Eggs, and although it would have been much better, in our opinion, to have incorporated all the informa- tion on this subject into the pages of the ‘ Birds of India,’ and thus to have only one work to refer to instead of two, this course being impracticable on account of the exigencies of space, we must all feel greatly indebted to Mr. Hume for republishing his most useful work, and to Mr. Oates for editing it. For many years after the publication of his original work, Mr. Hume went on accumulating materials for a second edition of his ‘ Nests and Eggs.’ These mate- rials have now been placed unreservedly in Mr. Oates’s hands and have been employed in the present work, which in arrangement and nomenclature follows exactly the system employed in the ‘ Birds of India.” The volume is appro- priately illustrated by portraits of four leading Indian Orni- thologists, Hodgson, Jerdon, Tickell, and Hume. 65. Leverkiihn on Variations in the Coloration of Birds. [Ueber Farbenvarietiiten bei Vogeln. Von Paul Leverkuhn.—II. J. f. O. 1889, p. 245. ] Herr Leverkiihn continues his papers on variations in the plumage of birds (cf. supra, p. 116), and now gives us an account of those observed in the Museums of Metz, Stras- burg, and Colmar. We regret to hear that the birds in the first of these Collections are not well cared for, comprising as they do many specimens referred to in Malherbe’s great Recently published Ornithological Works. 379 Monograph of the Picide. The German ornithologists should see to this, as it would be a great reproach to them not to keep things in such good order as their French prede- cessors. The Strasburg Collection on the other hand is, we are glad to say, spoken of as being in excellent condition. Herr Leverkiihn gives us some interesting remarks on the question of the two forms of Turdus turquatus (cf. Seebohm, Ibis, 1888, p. 309). 66. Merriam’s Report for 1888. [Annual Report of the Department of Agriculture for the year 1888. Report of the Ornithologist and Mammalogist, C. Hart Merriam, M.D., for the year 1888. 8vo. Washington: 1889.] Dr. Merriam’s Report to the Commission of Agriculture of the U.S.A. upon the operations of the Division of Econo- mic Ornithology and Mammalogy for the year contaiius several items of interest. It appears that “ four flourishing colonies of introduced Pheasants now exist in the Pacific coast-region.”’ One of these colonies is in Vancouver Island, another on an island in Puget Sound, and the two remaining colonies in Oregon. The birds in Oregon do not belong to the ordinary Phasianus colchicus, or what we are accustomed to call by this name in England—which is really a cross-race between P. colchicus and P. torquatus,—but to three Eastern Asiatic species, the Gold Pheasant (Thaumalea picta), the Japanese, Phasianus versicolor, and the true Ring-necked P. torquatus. They were imported in 1882 and subsequent years, and seem to have thriven well. A new crime of the American Crow (Corvus americanus) has been brought to ight —‘ the distribution of noxious seeds.”” A single pound of the dried excrement of some of these birds was ascertained to con- tain 1041 seeds of Poison Ivy (Rhus toxicodendron) and 341 seeds of Poison Sumach (Rhus venenata). On testing these seeds it was found that their vitality was unimpaired ; they germinated even more quickly than fresh seeds. Although of benefit to mankind in some ways, the final verdict is that ‘the harm which Crows do appears to far outweigh the good.” The Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Hedymeles ludovicianus), on 376 Recently published Ornithological Works. the other hand, is shown to be “a valuable friend to the farmer,’ and to deserve “the most careful protection and encouragement.” 67. Meyer’s Illustrations of Birds’ Skeletons. [Abbildungen yon Vogel-Skeletten. Herausgegeben von Dr. A. B. Meyer. Lief. x., xi. (1886), xii., xiii. (1888-89). 4to. Dresden: 1886-89.] Four numbers of Dr. A. B. Meyer’s illustrations of Birds’ skeletons have been issued since we last noticed this work (Ibis, 1886, p. 371). The 13th number concludes the first volume, which contains altogether 130 plates. A systematic Index is now provided, which is a very convenient addition. 68. Modighani on the Birds of Nias. [Un Viaggio a Nias di Elio Modigliani—lTllustrato da 195 incisioni, 26 tavole tirate a parte,e 4 carte geografiche. Royal 8vo. Milano: 1890.] “Yano Niha” or Nias is an island on the southern coast of Sumatra, to explore which Sign. Modigliani made a special expedition in 1886. The present volume gives us a general account of his adventures and of the results arrived at. Count Salvadori published a memoir on the birds ob- tained by Sign. Modighani in 1887 (Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. ser. 2, vol. iv. p. 16) and described the new species. The following birds are now figured :—Syrnium niasense, Mi- glyptes infuscatus, Calornis albirostris, Gracula robusta, Citto- cincla melanura, Terpsiphone insularis, Macropygia modigli- anit, and Carpophaga consobrina. 69. More’s List of Irish Birds. [A List of Irish Birds, showing the species contained in the Science and Art Museum, Dublin. By Alexander G. More, F.L.S., &e. Second edition. 8vo. Dublin: 1890. | This is a second and revised edition of Mr. More’s ‘ List of Irish Birds, of which the first edition was published in 1885 (see Ibis, 1885, p. 44). The List is intended in the first place as a catalogue of the specimens of Irish Birds exhibited in the Dublin Museum of Science and Art. But Recently published Ornithological Works. 377 the names of such Jrish species as are not represented in the Museum are added in a different type, so that the result is a complete list of Irish birds. Short notes on the distribution of each species are added. 70. Nehrling’s North-American Birds. [North-American Birds. By H. Nehrling, M.A.O.U. To be com- pleted in Twelve Parts, with thirty-six coloured Plates, by Professor Robert Ridgway, of the United States National Museum and Smith- sonian Institution, Professor A. Goering, Leipzig, and Gustav Muetzel, Berlin. Parts 1,2. 4to. London: 1890.] These are the first two numbers of what promises to be an important work to American Ornithologists, although, if it is intended to embrace all North-American Birds, we do not quite see how it is to be completed in “ twelve parts.” There is at present no popularly written book on the birds of the U.S. brought up to modern date in existence, and Mr. Nehrling’s work would seem, certainly as regards its text, to be likely to supply this destderatum. But notwithstanding the undoubted talents of the artists combined to draw the illus- trations, we cannot say that the plates are quite satisfactory. The very fully coloured backgrounds mar the effect, and in spite of the enormous advances made of late years in colour- printing, it has not yet, in our opinion, arrived at perfect success as regards birds, although it has some undoubted advantages. 71. Ridgway on Birds from St. Lucia, the Abrolhos Islands, and the Straits of Magellan. [Scientific Results of Explorations by the US. Fish-Commission Steamer ‘ Albatross.—II. Birds collected on the Island of Santa Lucia, West Indies, Abrolhos Islands, Brazil, and at the Straits of Magellan, in 1887-88. By Robert Ridgway. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 129.] Mr. Ridgway writes of the birds obtained by the Natural- ists of the U.S. Fish-Commission’s Steamer ‘ Albatross’ at these three localities. At the first two places little was obtained but what is already well known. At various ports in the Straits of Magellan examples of 66 species of birds were procured. Amongst these is a Geositta, from Elizabeth 378 Recently published Ornithological Works. Island, referred with doubt to G. antarctica, for which the alternative new name G. longipennis is proposed, and a Upucerthia, allied to U. dumetoria, described as U. propinqua, from Gregory Bay. The small Cormorant usually called Pha- lacrocorax brasilianus (Gm.) is termed P. vigua (Vieill.), as Gmelin’s name is considered not to refer to this species. 72. Salvadori on Additions to Papuan Ornithology. [Aggiunte alla Ornitologia della Papuasia e delle Molucche. Per Tommaso Salvadori. Parte seconda. Passeres. 4to. Torino: 1890, ] We have now before us the second part of Count Salva- dori’s account of the additions to the Papuan Ornis since the completion of his great work on this subject. The first part (noticed above, p. 258) referred to the Accipitres, Psittaci, and Picariz. The present part relates to the Passeres, of which 89 additional species are now recognized as belonging to the Papuan Subregion. Of these 89 species, 84 are recent discoveries, | was omitted by inadvertence, 1 is an old species recently met with in the Timor-Laut group, and 3 (Ldolisoma nehrkorni, from Waigiou, Dicruropsis guillemardi, from Pisa, one of the Obi group, and Pachycephala meyeri, from the Arfak mountains, New Guinea) are now described for the first time. Numerous additional references and many notes are also given upon the species enumerated in the former work, so as to bring the whole information on the subject up to date. 73. Sclater on the Tracheophone Passeres. [Catalogue of the Passeriformes, or Perching Birds, in the Collection of the British Museum.—Tracheophone, or the Families Dendrocolaptide, Formicariidee, Conopophagidee, and Pteroptochidee. By Philip Lutley Sclater. London: 1890. | The fifteenth volume of the Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum is devoted to the Tracheophonine Passeres— a group distinguished from the normal Passeres by the peculiar modification of their trachea, as first discovered by Johann Miller. The Tracheophonine structure prevails, so far as is yet known, only in four families of Passeres, all of Recently published Ornithological Works. 379 which are absolutely restricted to the Neotropical Region. These are the Dendrocolaptide, Formicariide, Conopophagide, and Pteroptochide. In the present volume are catalogued about 4482 specimens of Tracheophone, as belonging to the Collection of the British Museum. These have been referred to 92 genera and 531 species, leaving only 28 species known to the author, but not yet represented in the Collection. The “types” in this portion of the series are especially numerous and amount to no less than 172. With the present volume is concluded the account of the great Passerine series, which was commenced in June 1877, by the issue of Mr. Sharpe’s catalogue of the Coleeomorphee (vol. ui.), and has taken up thirteen volumes. 74. Seebohm on the Classification of Birds. [Classification of Birds: an attempt to diagnose the Subclasses, Orders, Suborders, and some cf the Families of existing Birds. By Henry See- bohm, London: 1890. R. H. Porter. 54 pp.] For several years past Mr. Seebohm, as is well known to all readers of ‘ The Ibis,’ has devoted much time and atten- tion to the study of the principal characters upon which the classification of Birds has been based by recent systematists. As the results of his investigations, Mr. Seebohm has contri- buted to this Journal several papers upon the diagnostic characters of the orders of Birds and upon their component families (cf. Ibis, 1888, p. 415; 1889, p. 92; 1890, pp. 29, 200). Having now finished his general survey, he has put his observations together, and shows in the present work how birds may be separated by absolute differential characters into 86 “suborders.”? He also gives two alternative schemes for the combination of these “ suborders ”’ into “ orders” and “subclasses.” Putting aside these proposed combinations, to both of which, we think, serious objections may be made, we should say that Mr. Seebohm is, as we believe, the first systematist who has succeeded in dividing Birds into a tolerably natural series of families separable by absolutely diagnostic characters. These characters are now presented to us in the case of each suborder in an original and highly 380 Recently published Ornithological Works. ingenious way. The characters having been shortly stated, a tabular list of the 36 “suborders” is appended, and it is shown in which of them each of the several selected charac- ters occurs and in which of them it is absent. Thus it is seen at a glance that the ‘ suborder” under consideration is the only one of the set of thirty-six that combines the whole of the selected characters, though many other “ suborders ” may possess One or more of them. The principal characters taken by Mr. Seebohm as the base of his System are :—(1) The condition of the young at birth (to which very special importance was attached by Sundevall) ; (2) the pterylosis; (3) the number of cervical vertebree ; (4) the mode of arrangement of the deep plantar tendons; (5) the manner of bifurcation of the nasal bones ; (6) the presence or absence of cxeca; (7) the condition of the oil-gland (naked or tufted) ; (8) the condition of the palatal bones, especially as regards the presence or absence of basi- pterygoid processes; (9) the arrangement of the femoral muscles as worked out by Garrod; (10) the position of the digits; (11) the form of the dorsal vertebre; (12) the presence or absence of supraorbital fosse. Perhaps the most startling innovation introduced by Mr. Seebohm is the proposal to join the Mimogypes, or American Vultures*, into one “Subclass ” with his “ Picariz ” under the name “ Coraciiformes,” which has already been put for- ward in this Journal (¢f. Ibis, 1890, p. 200). Mr. Seebohm is of opinion that the remarkable deviation from the normal structure shown by these two groups in the arrangement of their deep plantar tendons could hardly have been acquired independently. It is certain that the time has now come when the Mimogypes, shown to differ from the true Acci- pitres in so many trenchant characters, must claim to stand as an Order apart, and that one of the forms of Mr. Seebohm’s * In the present work this group is denominated Cathartes (ser. Catharte). In the tables of his new system placed before the Zoological Society at the Meeting on March 4th last it was designated by the appro- priate term “ Mimogypes.” See also above, p. 203, Recently published Ornithological Works. 381 Picariz* (i.e. Bucorvus) presents no small amount of resem- blance to it. But we are not yet quite prepared to unite the Mimogypes and Syndactylz in the same “ Suborder.” Whatever may be our appreciation of Mr. Seebohm’s new System, we must allow that the author has done an excellent piece of work in thus summarizing the results to be arrived at from the study of the labours of Nitzsch, Sundevall, Hux- ley, Garrod, and Forbes, and in placing them before us in such an intelligible form. 75. Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Water-Birds. [Contributions to the Comparative Osteology of Arctic and Subarctic Water-Birds. Part V. By R. W. Shufeldt, M.D., C.M.Z.S. Journ. Anat. & Physiol. xxiv. p. 89.] Dr. Shufeldt continues his studies of the Arctic and Sub- arctic water-birds (cf. supra, p. 260), and in the present coutribution to this subject descants on the skeleton of the Puffins (Fraterculine). In his conclusions he states that there can be no question as to the right of admission of the Puffins into the Alcidez, and that perhaps the creation of the genus Lunda will prove to be a warranted step. The memoir, as usual, is well and fully illustrated. 76. Shufeldt on Progress in Avian Anatomy. [Progress in Avian Anatomy for the years 1888-89. By R. W. Shufeldt, M.D., C.M.Z.S. Journ. Comp. Med. & Veterin. Arch., January 1890.] Dr. Shufeldt has every claim to our attention when he speaks of Avian Anatomy, and his address on the subject read at the seventh Congress of the American Ornithologists’ Union, held at New York last year, will be read with interest. We are pleased to see Dr. Shufeldt’s announcement that Messrs. Macmillan have accepted for publication his complete treatise on the muscles of the Raven. A good modern text- book on birds’ muscles is much required, and will be very useful to ornithologists. * Picariz cannot properly be used for a group which does not contain the Woodpeckers, so that we prefer the alternative name “ Syndactyle ” for this group. 382 Recently published Ornithological Works. 77. Steyneger and Lucas on Pallas’s Cormorant. [Contributions to the Natural History of the Commander Islands.—X. Contribution to the History of Pallas’s Cormorant. By Leonhard Stej- neger and Frederick A. Lucas. Proc. U.S, Nat. Mus. xii. p. 83.] It seems certain that Pallas’s Cormorant (Phalacrocorar perspicillatus) is now an extinct species, like the Great Auk and the Fregilupus of Bourbon. Dr. Stejneger has already stated thus much (Pr. U. 8. N. M. 1883, p. 65), and now confirms what he has said. The fortunate Museums that contain specimens of this noble bird are the British Museum, the Leyden Museum, and the Museum of the Imperial Aca- demy of Sciences at St. Petersburg. When in Bering Island in 1882, Mr. Stejneger dug out ofthe cliffs at the N.W. end of the island some bones of this extinct Cormorant, which are now described by Mr. Lucas. 78. Tschusi zu Schinidhofen’s Ornithologisches Jahrbuch. [Ornithologisches Jahrbuch.—Organ fiir das palearktische Faunen- gebiet, Herausgegeben von Victor Ritter von Tschusi zu Schmidhofen, Band i. Heft 1. 8vo. Hallein: 1890. } The well-known authority on European birds, Victor, Ritter von Tschusi zu Schmidhofen, has started a new Journal of Ornithology, of which the first number is now before us. It is to relate specially to European birds, but also, it appears, to embrace those of the whole Palearctic Region. The present number contains papers on some scarce birds of Istria, by Dr. S. v. Washington, on those of Prussian Silesia, by C. Hoericke, on those of Moravia, by V. Capek, an acconnt of the breeding of Muscicapu parva in New Pomerania, by Major A. v. Homeyer, and other smaller articles. We wish the new enterprise success, but rather doubt whether there is room for it. 79. Woodford on the Head-hunters of the Solomon Islands. [A Naturalist among the Head-hunters: being an Account of Three Visits to the Solomon Islands in the years 1886, 1887, and 1888. By Charles Morris Woodford. London: 1890. } The well-known explorer of the Solomon Islands has put Recently published Ornithological Works. 383 his adventures and experiences “among the head-hunters ” into a nice little volume, which we can cordially recommend to those who are interested in the study of Nature. Mr. Woodford is an ardent collector of birds, and frequent allu- sion to them will be found throughout his pages. His col- lections have been worked out by Mr. Sharpe and Mr. Grant (see P. Z. S. 1887, p. 328, and 1888, pp. 182, 185). Perhaps the best bird that he discovered was Macrocorax woodfordi (P. Z. S. 1887, p. 382, pl. xxvii.). But we must not suppose that the Avifauna of this most interesting group of islands is by any means yet thoroughly known. Mr. Woodford is certain “that when Bougainville, Choiseul, Ysabel, and Malaita have been properly worked, many hitherto unknown species will be added to our lists. The mountains of Bougainville, over 10,000 feet high, never yet ascended by white man or native, present a field from which we may expect all sorts of prizes, not only in birds, but in other orders.” In one of his chapters Mr. Woodford gives us a good general account of the birds of the Solomon Islands as at present known to us, from which we extract the following passage :— “ As might be expected the Avifauna of the Solomons con- tains many species identical with or closely allied to those occurring on New Guinea and the neighbouring islands. Some families, however, are altogether wanting, or are represented by species that from long isolation have become distinct. “The Paradise-Birds, those gorgeous inhabitants of New Guinea and the islands immediately adjacent, have no repre- sentative in the Solomons, nor do they even reach New Britain and Duke of York. Casuaries, although found in New Britain and Duke of York Island, do not extend to the Solomons, and I consider their absence another proof that land-connection has never existed between the Solomons and New Britain.” 384 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. XXXVIII.—Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. We have received the following letters, addressed “ to the Editor ”” :— Buenos Ayres, Jan. 28, 1890. Srr,—I wish to inform you that in the figure of Chetocer- cus burmeisteri, published in ‘ Argentine Ornithology ’ (vol. 11. pl. xi.), there is a slight error. The two small stripes of crimson-red, shaded with violet-blue, on the throat, are represented as separated by an interval in the middle; whereas they are united there by two rows of smaller feathers of the same colour, and in this manner form a bilobed half- collar. At the point immediately under the beak there are some small white feathers, like a beard. These are not shown in the figure. Yours &e., H. Burmeister. Topelyffe Grange, Farnborough, R.S.0., Kent. Feb. 28, 1890. Sir,—Some time ago, when examining specimens of Rollers for the purpose of writing a monograph of. that family, I found, on comparing examples of the White-necked Roller (Coracias nevia) from various parts of Africa, that there are certainly two clearly separable forms: one which has the crown rufescent or vinaceous pink, inhabiting Abyssinia, the Upper White Nile, Somaliland, Senegambia, and the Niger district ; and the other, which has the crown pale olivaceous green, inhabiting the Congo, Angola, Benguela, Damaraland, Mozambique, the Transvaal, and South Africa generaily. I have not yet fully made out the geographical ranges of these forms, but, so far as I can at present judge, the rufous- crowned form is only found north of the equator, and the olive-crowned form south of the equator. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 385 Heuglin has remarked (Orn. N.O.-Afr. i. p. 173) that there appear to be two forms, but he did not refer to the difference in the coloration of the crown, and tried to separate the southern and western birds from the north-eastern form. Captain Shelley (Ibis, 1885, p. 399) has pointed out the distinctive character in the coloration of the crown, and has separated the two forms correctly, but has only made a sub- species of the southern form, referring the northern species to Coracias nevia, and giving to the southern species the name Coracias nevia levaillantii. Ihave been lately working out the synonymy of the Rollers, and, as it appears to me that the olive-crowned bird should be treated as a good species, the question arises as to what specific name it should bear. The specific names already bestowed on these two Rollers, which have hitherto been generally united, are as follows :— nevia, Daudin, Traité d’Orn. p. 258 (1800). pilosa, Latham, Ind. Orn. Suppl. p. 27 (1801). crinita, Shaw, Gen. Zool. vii. part 2, p. 401 (1809). nuchalis, Swainson, B. of W. Afr. 11. p. 110 (1837). levaillantii, Riuppell, Syst. Uebers. Vog. N.O.-Afr. p. 23 (1845). Of these, the first, nevia of Daudin, undoubtedly refers to the northern or rufous-crowned species, as the author states that the crown is red, and gives the habitat as “ Sene- gambia.” Latham’s pilosa appears to be also referable to the northern species, but his description is very meagre, and he merely gives “‘ Africa”’ as the habitat. Shaw’s name is based, as was Latham’s pilosa, on the Hairy Roller of Latham (Gen. Syn. Suppl. ii. p. 27) and no description is given, Swainson’s nuchalis is also most certainly the northern species, as he states that the crown is “ vinaceous red;”’ and Riippell’s devadl/antit must also refer to the northern species, for though he gives no description, he states that it 1s “ com- mon in the lowlands of Abyssinia.” I may here remark that Riippell refers to this bird as “ Coracias levaillanti, Temminck,” but I cannot find that this name was ever pub- lished by Temminck. SER, VI.—VOL. II. 2E 386 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. From this it will be seen that all the specific names hitherto applied to the two species refer properly to the northern form, and I can see no alternative but to give a fresh name to the southern or olive-crowned species. I pro- pose therefore to call it Coracias mosambicus, retaining the name of Coracias nevius for the rufous-crowned (or northern) species. Yours &c., H. E. Dresser. Edinburgh, May 8, 1890. Srr,—In a small collection of skins lately received from Madeira, I find a specimen which Mr. Salvin has identified ! as CEstrelata mollis (Procellaria mollis, Gould, B. Austr. vil. pl. 50). This bird was taken on the Ilho de Baixo, off Porto Santo. This is a fact which you may consider sufficiently interesting to place on record, more especially as I understand that there are two specimens of the same bird in the Cam- bridge Museum, obtained (as I am informed by Prof. Newton) some 35 years ago by Mr. Robert Frere from near Madeira. Although rather a rare species, it seems by no means im- probable that it may be yet found breeding upon some of the other rocks of the Madeiran group. Yours, &c., Joun J. DALGLEISH. Butorides virescens in Cornwall. At the Meeting of the Linnean Society on the 17th April last, Sir Charles Sawle exhibited a specimen of the North-American Little Heron, Butorides virescens, which had been shot by his keeper, W. Abbott, on the 27th of October, 1889, on his estate, Penrice, St. Austell, Cornwall. The specimen was brought to Sir Charles in the flesh, and forwarded to Mr. Foote, birdstuffer, Bath, for preservation. Butorides virescens has a wide distribution over North and Central America and the Antilles, and likewise visits the Ber- mudas*. ‘There is therefore no antecedent improbability of * See Reid, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus, No, 25, p. 244. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 387 occasional stragglers being met with in Western Europe, though this is the firstrecorded example killed in Great Britain. Phylloscopus superciliosus in the Scilly Islands.—Mr. J. H. Jenkinson (Crowborough, Tunbridge Wells) sends to ‘The Field’ (April 12th, 1890, vol. Ixxv. p. 518) the following letter :— “In ‘The Field’ a short time ago it was announced in a letter from Brighton that Messrs. Pratt had identified a bird temporarily in their possession as ‘ Phylloscopus super- ciliosus, the Yellow-browed Warbler, which had been shot several years ago in the Scilly Islands. More definite in- formation respecting its capture was asked for, but was not given, and it would probably therefore be supposed by readers of ‘ The Field’ that some mistake had been made, and that the bird in question did not belong to this rare species. It is therefore satisfactory to be able to state that Messrs. Pratt were quite right in believing the bird to be the ‘ Yellow- browed Warbler, and that it has been duly identified at the Natural History Department of the British Museum. The bird was shot in October, 1867, by Mr. A. Pechell, in the Scilly Islands. I found on writing to him, that I had been with him there at the time, and on looking back to my notes of that year, 1 found that I had written a careful description of the bird, and of its general appearance, &c., before it was shot. The note especially was observed to be unlike that of either the Goldcrest or the Firecrest, and there were other dif- ferences, which made it very doubtful whether the bird be- longed to either of those species. However, having been sent over to Mr. Rodd, it was settled by him and Mr. Vingoe that it was an immature Firecrest, and as such it has remained in Mr. Pechell’s possession ever since. A fewdays before this bird was obtained, Mr. Pechell had shot one exactly similar to it, but it was so injured by the shot that no attempt was made to preserve it. I found, a day or two ago, that I had kept a wing of this bird, which is of itself quite sufficient to identify the bird as being of the same species as the other. These two birds make the third and fourth specimens which have 388 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. occurred in Great Britain. The first was obtained by Mr. John Hancock in September, 1838, near Newcastle, and appeared in the old editions of Yarrell as the ‘Dalmatian Regulus,’ the second example was obtained at Cheltenham in the same month and year as Mr. Pechell’s two birds.” Turtur orientalis in Great Britain —At the Zoological Society’s Meeting on May 6th last, Mr. Seebohm exhibited a specimen of the Asiatic Turtle Dove (Zurtur orientalis), which had been shot near Scarborough on the 23rd of October 1889. This species (cf. Dresser, B. Eur. vii. pl. 463, p- 45) is new to the British list, but is said to have occurred twice in Scandinavia. Valuable Addition to the National Bird-Collection.—Mr. F, DuCane Godman, F'.R.S., has made another valuable dona- tion to the great Bird-collection in the British Museum in the shape of a nearly complete series of birds from Florida, U.S.A. This consists of about 2500 skins collected by the well-known American naturalist, Mr. W. E. D. Scott, in various parts of that State. The Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum.— Amongst the preceding notices of recent Ornithological Publications in this Number will be found one of the fifteenth volume of the British Museum Catalogue of Birds, containing the account of the Tracheophonine Passeres, which has just been issued. Before the present number of ‘The Ibis’ is published, the thirteenth volume, by Mr. Sharpe, containing his account of the last remaining families of the Oscinine Passeres, will pro- bably have also been issued. These two volumes render the catalogue of the great order Passeres complete. The 13 volumes devoted to this subject, of which the first was issued in 1877, recognize 6480 species of Passerine Birds, represented in the Museum, at the times of publication of the several volumes respectively, by 61,034 specimens. But enormous additions, it must be recollected, have been made of late years to the groups catalogued in the earlier of these volumes. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 389 The next four volumes of the Catalogue will be devoted to the Picariz, and are said to be all in a more or less forward state. That on the Woodpeckers, by Mr. Hargitt, will, we believe, be issued very shortly. Our Honorary Member, Count T. Salvadori, has undertaken the volume on the Parrots (which, we suppose, will be the twentieth), and he will be resi- dent in London during the autumn for the purpose of preparing it. New Bird-books in preparation.—Mr. Dresser is preparing a supplementary volume to his ‘ Birds of Europe,’ and has, we believe, nearly 100 species to add to his former work. Mr. Sharpe has made arrangements with Messrs. Sotheran and Co. to publish a Monograph of the Paradise-birds, for which, we understand, the plates contained in the ‘ Birds of New Guinea’ will be utilized, as far as they are available. Mr. Seebohm is now engaged in passing through the press a work on the Birds of Japan, and has, besides, a Monograph of the Thrushes, with coloured figures of all the species, in preparation. y- Pelagodroma marina in the Canaries.—Mr. Bartlett, during his recent visit to the Canaries, picked up a specimen of Pelagodroma marina dead on the sea-shore near Las Palmas, on the 26th February. Its occurrence in the Canaries has already been noted by several observers (cf. S. G. Reid, Ibis, 1888, p. 81; Tristram, Ibis, 1889, p. 14; Meade-Waldo, Ibis, 1889, p. 517) ; and it probably breeds on some of the adjoin- ing islets, but few specimens of this Petrel have yet been obtained in this locality. Concerning its synonymy, ¢f. Salvin, in Rowley’s Orn. Mise. i. p. 228. Anniversary Meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Union. 1890.—The Annual General Meeting of the British Orni- thologists’ Union was held at the rooms of the Zoological Society, 3 Hanover Square, on Wednesday, the 21st May, at 6 p.m., Mr. P. L. Scrater, Temi Ph.D., F.R.S., in the Chair. 390 Letters, Hxtracts, Notices, &c. The Minutes of the last Meeting having been read and confirmed, the Committee presented their Report, in which it was stated that, in accordance with the resolution passed at the General Meeting of the Union in 1889, the vacant Secre- taryship had been filled up by the appointment of Mr. F. Du Cane Godman, F.R.S., to that office. The accounts presented showed the position of the Union at the close of the year 1889. The cost of the volume for that year had been somewhat in excess of the previous one. This had been mainly caused by its greater size and by the larger number of plates. Moreover, it contained an Index of Contents, occupying 8 pages, which was a new feature in the annual volume. Since the last Annual Meeting, as the Committee regretted to have to remind the Members, a great loss had been suffered by the death of Mr. John Henry Gurney, one of the original Members of the Union. Mr. Gurney was a most active and zealous ornithologist, and had been a constant contributor to and liberal supporter of ‘ The Ibis’ since its foundation. The Union had also to regret the death of Mr. John Marshall, of Taunton, who was elected a Member in 1885. Lord Clifton had resigned his Membership, and another Member had been removed under the rules, for non-payment of his subscription. Notwithstanding these losses, the num- ber of Members continued to increase, and there were at present on the list the names of 194 Ordinary, 1] Extraordi- nary, 8 Honorary, and 19: Foreign Members, making a total of 222. The following Ordinary Members were then balloted for and declared duly elected :— Frank Barclay, Knott’s Green, Leyton. Harry Brinsley Brooke, 33 Egerton Gardens, Ken- sington. Charles Cave, Ditcham Park, Petersfield. James A. G. Drummond-Hay, Coldstream Guards, Guards’ Club, Pall Mall. Lionel Fisher, Kandy, Ceylon. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 391 William R. Ogilvie Grant, 6 Stanhope Place, Hyde Park, W. Joshua Reynolds Gascoign Gwatkin, Manor House, Potterne, Devizes. : Henry Charles Vicars Hunter,7 Bury Street, St. James’s, S.W. Thomas James Monk, St. Anne’s, Lewes, Sussex. Albert Irving Muntz, Umberslade, Birmingham, and Trinity College, Cambridge. C. M. Hayes Newington (Major, King’s Regt.), Lee, Kent; and Army and Navy Club. John Tristram Tristram-Valentine, 1 Sheffield Gardens, Kensington. Stephen Venour, Fern Bank, Altrincham, Cheshire. The following Honorary Members were also elected :— Hans, Graf von Berlepsch, Minden, Hanover. Count Tommaso Salvadori, Zoological Museum, Turin. The following Foreign Members were also elected :— M. Emile Oustalet, Muséum d’ Histoire Naturelle, Jar- din des Plantes, Paris. Dr. Emin Pacha, Bagamoyo, East Africa. Joel Asaph Allen, American Museum Natural History, Central Park, New York. The former President and Secretary were then re-elected, and Mr. R. Bowdler Sharpe was elected into the Committee in the place of Mr. E. Bidwell, who retired by rotation. The Officers for the year 1890-1891 will therefore be as follows :— President. THe Ricut Hon. Lorp Litrorp. Secretary. F. D. Gopman, Ese., F.R.S. Editor. P. L. Sciater, Esa. 392 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. Committee. O. Satvin, Esa. Howarp Saunpers, Esq. R. Bowpier Suaree, Esq. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman the Meeting adjourned. The Annual Dinner, subsequently held at the Café Royal, was attended by thirty-two Members and guests. Obituary. Mr. J. H. Gurney.—By the death of Mr. JoHn Henry Gurney, on the 20th of April last, not only does the British Ornithologists’ Union lose another of its founders, but ‘ The Ibis’ one of its most constant and muni- ficent supporters. Our deceased Member, the only son of Joseph John Gurney, of Earlham in the county of Norfolk (celebrated for the various philanthropic undertakings to which he devoted the leisure of his life), was born on the 4th of July, 1819, and at the age of about ten years was sent to a private tutor, who lived in Epping Forest. Thence he went to the Friends’ School at Tottenham, and on leaving it, being then about seventeen years old, entered the banking business at Norwich, in which his family had long been so suc- cessfully engaged. His love of natural history showed itself very early, and the writer of these lines was told by him of his getting into a serious scrape at school by dissecting a bird on a mahogany desk, which immediately afterwards revealed the secret of the use to which it had been put as an operating table, by the stains on its polished surface from the cam- phorated spirit (supplied to the boys as a cure for colds, and the only antiseptic liquid available) that he had employed to avert the possibility of unpleasant odours from his “ subject.” During his school-days in Essex he made the acquaintance of Mr. Henry Doubleday, of Epping, so long known for his ornithological and entomological collections, and from him obtained, in 1836, an introduction to the equally well known Mr. T. C. Heysham, of Carlisle, with whom he kept up for many years a correspondence, chiefly on zoological matters— Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 393 sending him from time to time birds, mostly obtained in Norfolk ; for at this time Gurney had not begun a collection of his own. That his generosity was then as great as it continued in after years is shown by his letters to Heysham, which have fortunately been preserved, and have been kindly placed at the service of the writer of this notice by their present custodian, Mr. H. A. Macpherson, giving almost the only information to be obtained as to this period of GuRNrEyY’s life. They will compare well with those written by any other youthful zoologist. Zeal is of course to be expected in a greater or less degree, and here it is found to be in the former ; but it seems to be in all cases tempered by a sober judgment ; and, if a partiality be observable towards whatever relates to the zoology, and especially the ornithology, of Norfolk, it must be remembered that this was the subject on which the writer undertook to inform his correspondent, while as the correspondence advances, what may be called its breadth of view decidedly increases. Moreover, it seems to be strictly according to the fitness of things that a young naturalist should begin by paying attention to the objects which, being the nearest to him, come the more closely under his observation, for thus he is able to proceed from the known to the unknown—the surest mode of acquiring knowledge. There have been possibly few men who could, at the age of nineteen, write as GurNuy did to Heysham on the 8th of February, 1838 :— “‘Though I can seldom or never resist the temptation of procuring a tolerable bird in the flesh, when opportunity occurs, I care very little for them after I have once learnt them by heart, as I contrive to preserve them almost as well in my memory as I could hope to do in my cabinet. I therefore generally palm their remains off on some of my friends ; because, though I know that in themselves they often are worthless, yet I always fancy that there is some interest in comparing specimens of the same bird from different localities.” This last must have been an original observation, as it was made before the question of the local variation of species had SER, VI.—VOL. II. QF 394 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. been publicly mooted! He went on to say “it seems to me impossible that any stuffed specimen can bear much resem- blance to the living bird,”—a remark which, even allowing for a general improvement of the taxidermist’s art, is, on the whole, as true now as it was then. Gurney’s earliest published communication seems to have been a note in the ‘Annals and Magazine of Natural History’ for March, 1842 (vol. ix. p. 19), and was followed by another in the same journal for June (fom. cit. p. 353), the subject of both being ornithological occurrences in his own county. In the next year ‘ The Zoologist’ was established, and to this he became a frequent contributor, publishing in the volume for 1846, with the aid of Mr. W. R. Fisher, “ An Account of Birds found in Norfolk,’—a very careful piece of work, and for a good while the most ambitious that he attempted, though he was constantly communicating short notes to that periodical, and did so for the rest of his life. When the scheme for founding ‘The Ibis’ was proposed, he entered warmly into it. He not only attended the meeting held at Cambridge in the autumn of 1858, when the preliminaries were definitely arranged, and by his advice helped to mould into a practicable form various proposals then made, but he liberally promised to defray the cost of a plate for each num- ber of the new Journal, in addition to the two plates for which allowance was made in the original estimate. This charge he continued to bear for the whole of the first series of ‘ The Ibis,’ only stipulating that the subject of each plate that he presented should be a “ Bird of Prey,”’—for he had already made great progress in forming the now vast and celebrated collection of “ Raptores ”’ in the Norwich Museum, to which institution he had been a donor in 1828, when he was but nine years of age. But he was by no means exclusively devoted to this group of birds. He bought a large portion of the ornithological collection formed by Mr. Wallace in the Malay Archipelago, and presented it to the Museum at King’s Lynn (for which borough he sat as repre- sentative in the House of Commons from 1854 to 1865), while about the same time circumstances led him to take Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. 395 especial interest in the ornithology of South Africa, as is shown by his numerous papers in our pages on. collections made, almost entirely at his instigation, by Mr. Ayres in Natal and the Transvaal country, and by his editing in 1872 ‘The Birds of Damara Land ’ from the papers of his friend Charles John Andersson. GurNnery’s own communications to ‘The Ibis ’ reach, if we have counted them rightly, the num- ber of one hundred and forty, the latest being in our last num- ber (supra, p. 262) ; and though some of them are admittedly of slight importance, it is observable of all that they deal with facts and not with fancies. As he never wrote for writing’s sake, and related what he had to state in the simple and precise terms which prove the true man of science, his contributions may have sometimes seemed dull compared with the brilliant essays and daring speculations that this Journal occasionally contains from other pens; but no atten- tive reader can fail to discern the solid foundation on which Gurney’s work rests, and the probability, if not the certainty, of its being consulted and found useful when theoretical treatises have passed out of mind. The secret of this foundation is the accuracy of the in- formation he possessed; and it is undeniable that in his knowledge of the Accipitres and Striges he stood alone. A great part of his information regarding the first of these groups he fortunately contributed to ‘The Ibis’ between 1875 and 1882, in a series of “ Notes” on the first volume of the ‘Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum,’ and on its conclusion he brought out ‘ A List of the Diurnal Birds of Prey, with references and annotations’ (cf. Ibis, 1884, p- 456), which is indispensable to all students of these birds. This was his last important work, for though he contem- plated a companion work on the Nocturnal Birds of Prey, it is believed that not a word of it was written. Indeed, for the last few years the state of his health forbade his often visiting the Museum at Norwich, where alone he could carry on the examination of specimens necessary for the execution of such a work. Some twenty years ago he was affected by a disease believed to be incurable, though its fatal effects might 396 Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. be long delayed by strict attention to diet ; and following closely the medical advice given him his efforts were so far successful that he may be said to have enjoyed the quiet life he led in the old family-house at Northrepps, near Cromer. Though his bodily strength gradually failed, he was only seriously ill for a few days before he calmly expired. In the foregoing remarks the ornithological aspect of Gurney’s life has, as is here fitting, been chiefly dwelt upon. It must be added that at one time Fishes were as favourite an object of study with him as Birds, and in a general way he had a great taste for every branch of Zoology. As an antiquary also he was possessed of no inconsiderable know- ledge. But more than this: it would be wrong to omit refer- ence to his bountiful generosity, which not only showed an extraordinary kindness of heart, but was bestowed with a degree of discretion and retiring modesty that doubled its utility to the recipients. The loss, through the failure of the mercantile house in which he was concerned, of the vast income that he once enjoyed, certainly made no difference in the liberality of his disposition, though it lessened the amount he had for distribution, and caused it to be administered with even less ostentation. But among all the qualities that he possessed, perhaps a placid temper was the most characteristic. To it may possibly have been due some of his misfortunes, but it certainly enabled him to preserve the mens equa in adversis. DEE. EBs: SIXTH SERIES. No. VIII. OCTOBER 1890. XX X1IX.—WNotes on Irish Ornithology. By Henry Seesoum. I. County WareRrorp. Tux study of ornithology in England becomes more difficult every year. The wilder districts are in the hands of the eamekeeper, who ruthlessly destroys half the interesting birds, and does his best to prevent the ornithological student from trespassing in search of those he has left. The fertile districts are in the hands of the farmer, who drains the marshes, cuts down the trees, and thus makes the country uninhabitable by the most interesting kinds of birds. Fortunately this is not the case in Ireland. ‘The oppor- tunities for studying ornithology in Ireland are very great, partly because the number of ornithologists is very small, partly because there is abundance of mountain, rock, and bog that the farmer cannot grapple with, and partly because, with the enforced absenteeism of the landlord, the game- keeper’s occupation is gone. There are consequently many species of birds which have become very rare in England, but which are still fairly common in Ireland. It would be very difficult to find a locality in England where so many interesting birds could be seen m a few days SER. VI.—VOL. II. pare 398 Mr. H. Seebohm—WNofes on as at Cappagh, in county Waterford, where I spent a week at the end of April last, enjoying the hospitality of R. I. Ussher, Esq., the well-known ornithologist of the south-east of Treland. Among the commoner birds here may be mentioned the Goatsucker (Caprimulgus eurapeus), the Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella nevia), the Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus), and the Twite (Linota flavirostris). There are very few demesnes in the county of Waterford where the Woodcock (Scolopax rusticula) does not regularly breed, and where it may not be constantly seen and heard shortly before dusk flying from its nest to its feeding- grounds. It seems to be the general opmion in the south of Ireland that these breeding birds are migratory, and disappear at least a month before the winter flocks of Woodcock arrive. Unfor- tunately we have no information respecting the date of their arrival in Brittany, where, according to Degland and Gerbe, they are very common in autumn. On Heligoland the autumn migration does not begin until the end of September, is at its height in the middle of October, and ceases before the end of November. Siskins (Chrysomitris spinus) breed regularly in the south of Ireland, and Mr. Ussher has frequently seen them on his estate, but he has but once succeeded in finding the nest. He has a beautiful nest in his collection, taken in the ex- treme south of county Wicklow by Mr. Allan Ellison, who has written a most interesting account of the breeding- habits of this species as observed by him in the south of Ireland (Ellison, Zoologist, 1887, p.338), and who sent the nest and eggs, together with both the parent birds, to the British Museum, where they form one of the most interesting cases in the unrivalled collections of these objects which attract so much attention from the visitors to South Kensington. There are no less than a dozen pairs of Peregrines (Falco peregrinus) breeding within an easy day’s drive of Cappagh. Fortunately for ornithology (and the Peregrines) these breeding-places are inaccessible to the casual egg-collector. Most of them are on the coast, and the bird can only be Trish Ornithology. 399 watched on and off her nest from the sea. The cliffs are generally perpendicular, and in many cases overhang, and in all cases can only be reached by a rope. It is not easy to find out which of its several breeding-places the bird has chosen, it is still less easy to find the exact place whence a rope may be let down within access of the cleft or ledge, and it is least easy of all to climb down the rope, or be let down by others. The natives cannot give any assistance; they have an inherited dread of the cliffs, and nothing will induce them to risk their lives over them, either with or without ropes. Mr. Ussher knows every breeding-place of the Pere- grines (under no circumstances do they make a nest), and no cliff is too high or too steep for him. He generally gets the first clutch from each eyrie, but he always leaves the second clutch to be hatched out. If the eyrie of the Peregrine is inaccessible, the nest of the Chough (Pyrrhocoraz graculus) is still more so. It is generally placed on a ledge or in a chink near the roof of a cave, and is a large, deep, and well-made structure. There are at least a dozen Choughs’ nests within drive of Cappagh, but only one of them is accessible without ropes. Although the second clutch is never taken, the number of Choughs is less than it was thirty or forty years ago. It has been sug- gested that the Jackdaws are the cause of this decrease, whilst the blame has also been laid on the Hooded Crows ; but the facts seem to be that the Choughs which built in accessible places have been exterminated by egg-collectors, and that the Choughs of the present generation which breed in almost inaccessible places, suffer greatly in wet seasons by having their nests soaked by water dropping from the roof of the cave in which they are now built. We saw several pairs of Ravens (Corvus corax), but did not succeed in discovering their nests. The most interesting nests and eggs which we found were those of the Crossbill. There are few objects more interesting to an ornithologist than the sight of a nest of a rare bird, especially if it be one which is seen by him for the first time; and it was therefore 262 400 Mr. H. Seebohm—WNotes on with very great interest that I learned from Mr. Ussher that four pairs of Crossbills (Lowxia curvirostra) were breeding in the Scotch-fir plantations in his demesne. They first made their appearance in the winter of 1887-88 (Ussher, Zoologist, 1888, p. 189), and built a nest in a Scotch fir on the estate in 1889. The nest, with four eggs and both parent birds, was sent to the British Museum (Ussher, Zoologist, 1889, p. 180), and many interesting observations upon the habits of the species were recorded. This year they were still more common, and four nests were found ; but when I arrived, on the 18th of April, one of them had been robbed by a Magpie. A second nest was inaccessible, but the parent birds were to be seen feeding on the fir-cones. The third nest (with a red male) contained four eggs, and we climbed up to it several times. The birds were extraordinarily tame, and came within two or three feet of us when we were at the nest. The fourth nest (with a yellow male) contained two young birds, able to leave the nest and to climb about on the adjacent branches on the 26th. We caught one of the nestlings, and examined it care- fully, but could not detect any sign that the mandibles would be crossed when it arrived at maturity. All four nests were in Scotch firs, one close to a pigstye, and not many yards from a house. Were it not for the Magpies and Hooded Crows it seems probable that the Crossbills might become abundant in this district. It is very interesting to find so many birds which we are accustomed in England to-regard as very rare breeding in such numbers in the south of Ireland; but there is another point of view from which the ornithology of Ireland is equally interesting. Many of our common English birds are con- spicuous in Ireland by their absence. Although the country was full of birds, we never once caught sight of a Marsh Tit or a Nuthatch. The Irish distribution of the Parinz is very remarkable. The Goldcrest (Regulus cristatus), the Long- tailed Tit (Acredula rosea), the Blue Tit (Parus ceruleus) , the Great Tit (Parus major), the Cole Tit (Parus ater), the Creeper (Certhia familiaris), and the Wren (Troglodytes parvulus) are as common in Ireland as they are in England; Trish Ornithology. 401 The Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) , the Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus), and the Crested Tit (Parus cristatus), are so very local in England and Scotland that their absence from Ireland is not very surprising ; but that the Marsh Tit (Parus pa- lustris) should be very rare in the north and east of Ireland, and not be known at all in the south and west, and that the Nuthatch (Sitéa cesia) should be absolutely unknown in Ireland, is most extraordinary. Both the last-mentioned species belong to circumpolar genera, one might even say circumpolar subgenera, both are found with very slight modi- fications all across the Palearctic Region to Japan, and both are represented by closely allied species in the Nearctic Region. That such widely spread species should be absent, or nearly so, from Ireland is a most significant fact. Ireland is most admirably adapted for woodland birds of this kind, and their absence can only be accounted for by the hypothesis that some great catastrophe, such as a glacial epoch, drove them from the island, and that they have not yet found their way back again. The Marsh Tit and the Nuthatch are both as common in Northern Europe up to the Arctic Circle as they are in England, but curiously enough they are almost as rare in Scotland as they are in Ireland. These and many other species to be hereafter mentioned have evidently migrated to the east of England from the continent, whence they have slowly extended their range northwards to Scotland, whence, at a still later date, they have migrated southwards across the North Channel into Ireland. If these hypotheses be true, the following facts ought to be observable :—Firstly, we should expect to find that species which are common in Eng- land, but are absent or rare in Ireland, are also absent or rare in Scotland. Secondly, we should expect to find that species which have advanced a stage further in the extension of their range and have reached Scotland in some numbers, but are still rare or local in Ireland, are most abundant in the north-west of that country, in those districts which he nearest to Scotland. Most of our information respecting the distribution of birds in Ireland supports both these assump- tions in a remarkable manner. The Nuthatch is so rare in 4.02 Mr. H. Seebohm—WNofes on Scotland that its occurrence in that country is recorded as a remarkable event, whilst the Marsh Tit is only known in Ireland in that half of the country which lies nearest to Scotland. The Stock Dove (Columba enas) is another case in point. It is absolutely unknown in the south and west of Ireland, but occurs sparingly in the counties nearest to Scotland. The Tawny Owl (Syrnium aluco)is common in England, but is said only recently to have become so in Scotland, so recently, indeed, that it has not yet reached Ireland. On the other hand, the Barn Owl (Strix flammea) and the Long- eared Owl (Asio otus) are equally common in the three kingdoms. The relative distribution of the Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) and the Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) is slightly exceptional. The latter species is scarcely known as a breeding-species in continental Europe west of the valley of the Elbe. Hence we may reasonably assume that the British Islands received their Hooded Crows from Seandinavia, whence they have established themselves as common resideats in Scotland and Ireland, but not to any extent in England. The Carrion Crow, on the other hand, arrived from the south, and has spread over England and Scotland, but is almost unknown in Ireland. The Green Woodpecker (Gecinus viridis) has a very re- stricted range. It is not known to have occurred outside Kurope, and though it is so common in England it can only be regarded as a rare accidental visitor to Ireland and Scot- land. The Little Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus minor) and the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus major), on the other hand, have very wide ranges, extending across Europe to Japan. They are both common, if local, in England, but very rare in Scotland and Ireland. The Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris) and the Cirl Bunt- ing (Hmberiza cirlus) are also common, if local, in England, but almost unknown in Scotland and Ireland. Hitherto we have spoken only of resident birds, but some- what similar conclusions may be arrived at by the considera- Trish Ornithology. 4.03 tion of migratory birds, though more allowance ought to be ‘ made for them. It is scarcely to be expected that they should cross two arms of the sea twice a year, unless the reasons which induce them to enlarge the area of their dis- tribution be very imperative. When we cousider that such birds as the Icterine Warbler (Hypolats icterina), the Great Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus turdoides), the Black Redstart (Ruticclla titys), the White- spotted Bluethroat (Cyanecula wolfi), the Crested Lark (dlauda cristata), and some others breed in great numbers in Holland, but object to cross the Channel to visit England, we can scarcely wonder that a second channel should prove a bar to the further migration of allied species. The Night- ingale (Daulias luscinia) is as unknown in Ireland as it is in Scotland. The Whinchat (Pratincola rubetra), the Red- start (Ruticilla phenicurus), the Garden Warbler (Sylvia hortensis), the Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix), the Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla ravi), and the Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) are common summer visitors to England, and more or less common, though local, in Scotland, but very rare in Ireland. The Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus streperus) and the Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) are very doubtfully recorded from Ireland, though they are common, if local, in England and in many parts of Scotland. The Wryneck (lynx torquilla) is common in many parts of England, but rare in Scotland, and very rare in Ireland. The Irish Limicole and Gavie scarcely differ from those of England and Scotland, but it is worthy of note that the Stone Curlew (Cdicnemus scolopaz) and the Kentish Plover (Aigialitis cantiana) have not been known to breed in either Scotland or Ireland, though both are regular summer visitors to the south of England; and that the Dottrel (Hu- dromias morinellus) and the Red-necked Phalarope (Phaéa- ropus hyperboreus), though they both visit Scotland in summer, have not been known to breed in Ireland. There seems to be an important difference of distribution between the migratory and the resident birds of the British Islands. If a resident English bird does not range as far AOA. Mr. H. Seebohm—WNotfes on north as Scotland, it does not reach the bridge which connects Ireland with Great Britain, and consequently it does not range as far west as Ireland. On the other hand, a migra- tory English bird may range as far north as Scotland without ranging as far west as Ireland. Though the North Channel appears to be the route across which most resident birds in Treland have originally emigrated from Great Britain, it does not appear to be an important line of annual migration. This generalization from the known facts of distribution is remarkably supported by the observed facts of migration. Summer migrants to Ireland appear to cross over from Wales to the coasts of Wicklow and Wexford. “ A marked migra- tory movement might be expected in our north-eastern counties between Scotland and Ireland, where the Channel is narrowest ; but .we have no evidence that such is the ease. The bulk of the migrants arrive on the southern half of the east coast of Ireland and on the easternmost of our southern counties ; in other words, along the shore extending from Dublin to Waterford ” (More and Barrington, Report on the Migration of Birds, ii. p. 126). Mr. Ussher was kind enough to get me a nestling Heron (Ardea cinerea), which obliges me to modify some of the diagnoses in my Classification of Birds. The pterylosis of the nestling Heron a few days old very closely resembles that of the adult, except that the feathers are replaced by down. The spimal bare tract reaches from the nape almost to the oil-gland, and is absolutely naked. The two lateral bare patches on the lower back are also very conspicuous. On the under surface the ventral bare space is well marked from the chin to the vent. II. Great Satrer Isnanp. I am indebted to the kindness of John N. White, Esy., of Waterford, for an opportunity of visiting the Great Saltee Island, which is one of the most interesting breeding-places of Sea-fow! which I bave ever seen. It hes about four miles due south of Forlorn Point, on the south coast of county Wexford, and about thirteen miles due east of Hook Head, Irish Ornithology. 4.05 at the entrance of Waterford Harbour. It is rather more than two hundred acres in extent, and is a pile of granite rocks, which slopes gently down to a shingly coast towards the south-east, but drops more or less precipitously nearly two hundred feet into the sea towards the north-west. There is a farm of about sixty acres on the sunny side of the island, which is cultivated by an Irish family, who are, for the most part, sublimely indifferent to the hundreds of thousands of birds which breed in the cliffs. Outside the farm the island is covered by grass cropped short by sheep and rabbits, and gay with tufts of pink thrift, or variegated with patches, some of them acres in extent, of intensely blue hyacinths, which suggest the former presence of forest, though every trace of a tree-stump, if it ever was there, has disappeared. On the upper portions of the steep side there is plenty of peat be- tween the granite rocks, but lower down the cliffs are bare, with numerous caves and ledges, and in one or two places there is an escarpment which shows a deep deposit of boulder- clay full of angular rocks of all sizes, and resting upon a bed of rounded stones, which is obviously an old coast-line, some fourteen feet above the present high-water mark. I suppose there must have been at least 60,000 Puffins (Fratercula arctica) on the island. The colony was more than two miles long, and many yards in width. In many places the grass on the surface was entirely worn away by the tramping of myriads of red feet, whilst the peat was so honey- combed by the burrows of the birds, that it continually gave way if any attempt was made to walk over it. The Puffins were ridiculously tame, and on one occasion I stood for at least five minutes within six feet of a rock upon which twenty- four of these birds remained in full view. The edge of the cliff was lined with row after row of them, sometimes the sea for acres in extent was thickly sprinkled over with them, and occasionally the air seemed to be full of them flying about in regiments; nevertheless nearly as many more must have been sitting in their burrows, and only took flight when we alarmed them by walking across the colony. The number of Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla) was pos- 106 Mr. H. Seebohm— Netes on sibly less, though we fancied that they increased during the three days that we were on the island. ‘They are much later breeders than the Puffins; we saw no eggs, and the birds did not seem to be in a hurry to finish their nests. The colony of Kittiwakes is not so continuous as that of the Puffins ; they seldom occupy cliffs that are not perpendicular, but in some places the nests were crowded on every ledge and projecting stone. The Kittiwake is just as noisy as the Puffin is silent. It is not easy to estimate the numbers of pairs of Guille- mots (Lomvia troile) or Razorbills (Alca torda) which breed upon the Great Saltee Island, but they must amount to many thousands. There are many places on the cliffs where, with or without the help of a rope, you may climb amongst the eggs of both these species of birds and pick out handsome varieties of each. The Guillemot’s eggs from the Saltees are quite as varied and as rich in colour as those from the Yorkshire cliffs; and what is very remarkable, when we consider the extraordinary range of variation, there is scarcely an egg to be found in one locality that cannot be matched by an example from the other. Either the birds mix together in their winter quarters, and return indiscriminately to any breeding-ground, irrespective of whether it be or be not their birthplace; or we must assume that all the present variety in the eggs of the Guillemot had been attained before the dispersal of the original colony, and that the present colonies have not been isolated long enough for any new variations to have been developed. Not only are the same varieties found on the Saltees as are found on the Yorkshire cliffs, but the comparative scarcity of the rarer and more beautiful varieties is about the same. When the birds were frightened off their ledges it was piti- able to see the number of eggs precipitated into the sea, but so early in the season these would be replaced by a second laying. Three pairs of Great Black-backed Gulls (Larus marinus) breed on the island, one on the highest point, and the others on the top of conspicuous promontories. One of the nests Trish Ornithology. 407 contained three eggs, but the others contained only two eggs each. We left one of the latter, hoping to find a third egg on a future occasion, but when we revisited it the next day the two eggs were gone, and we found the broken shells lying on the rock not far off, probably eaten by one of the smaller species of Gulls, possibly in revenge for a similar act of robbery. It is curious that the Great Black-backed Gull should be so rare. It is the largest and the strongest of the Gulls which breed in the British Islands. It seems to have the pick of the breeding-places, and one would suppose that it had no enemies that it need fear. It seems to stand sullen and proud and solitary amongst the smaller species. Perhaps the reason of its comparative scarcity is to be found in its unsocial habits. It may not yet have learnt the security that is to be found in numbers. © The Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is a smaller bird, but it is very gregarious. There were thousands of pairs scat- tered over the island, some breeding on the level pasture, others on the steep grassy slopes, whilst a few invaded the colonies of Razorbills and made their nests amongst the rocks. The Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuseus) was much less numerous, and was principally confined to one valley, which sloped gently down to the top of the cliffs. Most nests of both these species contained three eggs, but we found one nest of the Herring Gull containing four eggs. We took one very handsome clutch of the Lesser Black-backed Gull containing three blue eggs, with scarcely a spot on them. These large Gulls were very noisy whilst we were near their nests. There are several colonies of Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) on the island, one of them on a lofty pile of granite rocks separated from the main island by a narrow channel. Mr. Ussher swam across and climbed up to the colony. Most of the nests contained young birds nearly as big as their parents, and covered all over with sooty-black down. Some of the young birds were very small, and their slaty- black skins were absolutely naked. A dense crowd of Guille- mots, each sitting upon its solitary egg, filled up the space between the Cormorant’s nests. The top of the rock and 408 Mr. H. Seebohm—WNo/es on some distance down the sides were white with the droppings of the birds, and dead and decaying fishes dropped by the Cormorants assisted to make the atmosphere unpleasant. Shags (Phalacrocorax graculus) were even more abundant than Cormorants, but they were rarely breeding in colonies, and their nests were seldom exposed to view. They prefer a cave or a ledge under an overhanging rock, and probably no Shag would choose to build its nest in a cave already occupied, if there was an empty one near at hand. They were, however, so numerous on the island, that they had perforce become gregarious, and on some ledges half a dozen nests were to be found. The Shag sits very close, especially if she has young, and requires to be driven off the nest, after she has tried her best to drive you away by snake-like hisses and contortions of the neck. But perhaps the most interesting bird that breeds on the island is the Manx Shearwater (Puffinus anglorum). A hun- dred visits might be paid to the island by daylight without the presence of these mysterious birds being suspected. As we steamed to the island the weather was fine and the sea calm, but as we returned a stiff sou’-wester was blowing, the spray splashed over the hurricane-deck, and every now and then we caught a glimpse of the mysterious bird skimming over the waves. On the island itself we did not see a trace of them, but inasmuch as Mr. Ussher had met with them on the same day of May a year previously, we heroically devoted some hours of the night to the pursuit of Shearwaters. On the first night we walked across the island between 10 and 11 without success, probably because the moon was bright and the wind cold. We then turned in for a couple of hours, and tried again from 1 to 2. The moon was behind a bank of clouds near the horizon, and several times we heard the distant crow of the Shearwaters, cuk-cuk-a-00, cuk-cuk-4-00, in various tones, now angry, now plaintive, sometimes seem- ing to express delight, and sometimes surprise. Possibly the cold wind prevented them from appearing in greater force. About 2 o’clock the day began to dawn, and soon afterwards the Skylark (Alauda arvensis) was in full song, and we heard Trish Ornithology. 409 the loud purr of the Goatsucker (Caprimulgus europeus). On the second night we tried from 12 to 1 without success ; it was not quite so cold, but the sky was clear and the moon brighter than ever. Sixty miles to the south-east there is a great colony of the Manx Shearwater, breeding on Skomer, off the coast of Pembrokeshire (Barrington, Zoologist, 1888, p. 367). The most noisy bird on the island is the Oyster-catcher (Hematopus ostraleyus), which was continually pursuing us with loud anxious cries, aud I am afraid not without some reason. We took one clutch of four eggs, and several clutches of three were brought in to us by the farm-labourers. There must have been a score or two of these birds on the island, frequently half a dozen could be seen on the rocks from one spot. They breed among the rocks on the high part of the island, on the short grass halfway down, and on the shingle by the sea on the low side of the island. A clutch of four fresh eggs of the Peewit (Vanellus vulgaris) was found by one of the labourers, and we frequently heard the cries of the birds. A pair of Peregrines (Falco peregrinus) breed on the island, and we saw one of them, but we had not time to look for their eyrie. Mr. Ussher picked up some bones of a hedge- hog which had probably been eaten by the Peregrines, and remembered having found similar bones on a previous visit. The hedgehogs probably live on the island, which seems to have been part of the mainland after the Glacial Epoch, otherwise it is difficult to account for the great deposit of boulder-clay, which has probably been since washed away by the waves, except where the granite foundation upon which it rests is above the sea-level. Twice we saw small parties of Sheldrake (Tadorna cornuta) fly across the island. They may breed in some of the rabbit- burrows on the island, or in the sand-hills on the opposite coast of the mainland. We not unfrequently saw Rock lege (Columba livia) fly out of the caves on the steep side of the island. The Saltee Islands are visited by many species of Passerine 410 Notes on Irish Ornithology. birds on migration, but very few of them remain to breed. The Skylark has already been mentioned, and both the Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) and the Rock Pipit (Anthus obscurus) were numerous. A few Wheatears (Savicola ewnanthe) frequented the rocks at the north-east corner, and we found the empty nest of a Wren (Troglodytes parvulus) on the roof of a cave in which a Shag was breeding. A few Swallows (Hirundo rustica) build in the outhouses belonging to the farm; we saw a solitary pair of Hooded Crows (Corvus cornix), and Jackdaws (Corvus monedula) frequent the cliffs in great numbers. A pair of Pied Wagtails (Motacilla lugubris) frequented the farm-yard, but the almost ubiquitous Sparrow was conspicuous by his absence. There are many other breeding-places of interesting birds within a short distance of the Saltee Islands. Seven miles to the north-west lie the Keragh Islands, where the Common Tern (Sterna fluviatilis), the Arctic Tern (Sterna macrura), and the Lesser Tern (Sterna minuta) breed in some numbers (Ussher, Zoologist, 1886, p. 369). We saw several small colonies of Herring Gulls on the cliffs of the mainland as we steamed up to Waterford. Mr. Ussher showed me some eggs of the Black Guillemot (Uria grylle) which had been taken this year on the cliffs of the mainland 30 or 40 miles due west of the Saltees. We frequently saw Gannets (Sula bassana) on the wing, but their nearest breeding-ground is more than 150 miles to the west. The water round the Saltees is as clear as crystal, the birds are ridiculously tame, and though in most places on the steep side of the island the cliffs drop down into deep water, there are many nooks and crannies where you can creep down to so low a level that you are able to watch the habits of the birds with the greatest ease, and see the Guillemots and the other Alcidz plunge beneath the surface ; and on a calm day you can trace their progress under water to a considerable depth, their wings labouring as if it were very hard work flying through such a dense medium. Cormorants use their wings under water in the same way; but Ducks keep their wings close to their bodies, and trust entirely to their feet On the Foot of the Young of lynx torquilla. 411 to urge them forward. It is worth remembering that in these habits the Divers resemble the Cormorants and the Alcide, whilst the Grebes seem to have had diving lessons from the Ducks. There can be no doubt that the Puffin, and probably its nearest allies, feed their young in the nest until they are able to fly, exactly as the Petrels do, and consequently that my diagnoses of the Ciconiformes and Galliformes (Seebohm, Classification of Birds, p. 1x) are not absolutely diagnostic. The diagnosis of the Order Gallo-Grallz on page 36 is easily altered to exclude the Tubinares and Impennes, but the Alternative Scheme, in the Appendix to the Introduction, must, I think, be given up. XL.—On the Foot of the Young of lynx torquilla. By Dr. A. Gunter. In very young Wrynecks (lynzx torquilla), about two days old, in which the yolk has not yet been completely absorbed, T have found a very peculiar modification of the skin covering the heel. The skin of this part is greatly thickened, forming a. Young. Wryneck, about two days old; nat. size. b. Foot with heel-pad; xX 2 nat. size. a prominent pad, 5 millim. long and half as broad, the surface of which is studded with obtusely conical tubercles, as shown in the accompanying woodcut. These tubercles are the 412 Dr. A. B. Meyer on Birds dermal papille which at a later period of the growth of the bird form the small flat scuta of the integument of the heel. This structure has a distinct function at this early age. In moving about in the nest-hole, particularly when wishing to move to the edge of the cavity, the young bird does not use the toes, but pushes itself forward by means of the rough surface of this heel-pad. It would be interesting to ascertain whether a similar structure is found in young Woodpeckers of the same age. XLI.—Notes on Birds from the Papuan Region, with De- scriptions of some new Species. By A. B. Meyer, M.D., C.M.Z.S., Director of the Royal Zoological Museum of Dresden. (Plate XII.) _ Tue Dresden Museum has recently received, from several sources and from different parts of New Guinea and New Britain, a series of birds, on which I beg leave to offer the following remarks. Ido not propose to give a complete list of the species, but only to mention such as present something new as regards their countries, their native names, their plumages, or their specific differences. In their nomenclature I follow Salvadori’s standard work on Papuan ornithology as nearly as possible. 1. CycLopsirracus DIOPHTHALMUs (FH. et J.). Constantine Harbour, N.E. New Guinea, March 1887 (Kubary). Native name “ Aul kanger.” Eyes dark brown; bill “black, at the base greyish blue; feet light grey, with greenish shades.” 2. CycLopsITTACUS EDWARDsI, Oust. A female ; New Guinea, Constantine Harbour or its neigh- bourhood (Kudary). Oustalet described the male of this bird in the year 1885 (see Ann. Sc. Nat. 7 sér. vol. xix. art. 3; ¢f. Salvadori, Orn. Pap. Spl. i. p. 33), but the female has remained unknown, though Mr. Oustalet has recently written to me that he has received examples of this sex. from the Papuan Region. 413 The female differs from the male chiefly in the absence of the red on breast and abdomen ; besides, the feathers on the middle of the crown are tipped with blue, and in front of the black band on the nape there is an olive-coloured one of the same breadth. Oustalet does not describe the olive band in the male, in which the green of the head is separated from the green of the hind neck by the black band only. Length of wing 0°105 m., of tail 0-056 m., of bill (culmen) 0:020 m., of tarsus 0°01] m. It would perhaps be advisable to remove C. edwardsi and C. salvadorii to a separate genus, on account of the long curiously shaped plumes of the cheeks and sides of the head, which diverge from the eye as a centre, a character not pos- sessed by the other species of the genus Cyclopsittacus. 3. Lorius ERYTHROTHORAX, Salvad. New Guinea, Constantine Harbour or neighbourhood (Kubary). 4, TRICHOGLOSSUS MASSENA, Bp. Constantine Harbour, New Guinea (Kubary). 5. CaLrecHTHrus LEucoLopHus (Miill.). Constantine Harbour, New Guinea, May 1887. Native name “ Géunkohar, Sakéké’’ (Kubary). 6. Merrops pHitippines, L. Kurakakaul, north coast of New Britain. Native name **Purupir” (Kubary). The occurrence of this species in New Britain is very remarkable, as, till now, only Merops ornatus has been re- corded from the Papuan region and Australia. The speci- men is a young bird, apparently of the first year. I have compared it with a long series from Celebes, the Philippines, Singapore, and other localities, as well as with many young specimens of M. ornatus from Celebes and New Guinea. The bill is very short, only 32 mm. (culmen) long; whereas in a specimen from Makassar, captured by myself in the year 1871, of the same age and in quite similar plumage, it measures 35 mm. (in full-grown specimens up to 43 mm ), SER. VI.—VOL. II. 2H 4.1 4 Dr. A. B. Meyer on Birds The other dimensions, too, are rathers maller. I cannot but suppose that Merops philippinus breeds on New Britain. The remark of Finsch therefore (Vogel der Siidsee, 1884, p. 10) that WM. ornatus is the only Bee eater on that island does not hold good. 7. SAUROMARPTIS KUBARYT, N. sp. Fem. S. gaudichaudi similis, sed alarum tectricibus omnino cyanescenti-ceruleis, uropygio clariore et intense cyan- escente, dorso albo et corpore subtus caudaque cinna- momeis, diversa. Long. al. 0°130 m., caud. 0-091, rostri (culm.) 0°059 (ab naribus 0-046), tarsi 0°016. Constantine Harbour, New Guinea; a female, collected the 12th October, 1888, by Mrs. Kubary. “Bill light yellowish green, feet dark grey, claws black, eyes dark brown.” The differences between this bird and the female of S. gau- dichaudi are obvious; the male of S. kubaryi is unknown. The upper wing-coverts are all over intensely blue, whereas they are more or less mixed with black in S. gaudichaudi, and the blue is more extended in the former species. More- over the brown on the underparts and tail is lighter, cinna- momeous, not chestnut ; the rump is ofa remarkably lighter blue, and the white on the middle of the back is much more extended. S. gaudichaudi only shows here and there some white feathers on the back, mostly none at all, but never, so far as I can ascertain from a series of specimens, an unin- terrupted white patch, as in S. kubaryi, except in specimens from the Aru Islands, to which I shall recur immediately. All these differences together induce me to look on S, subaryi as the representative species of S. gaudichaudi in the north- east of New Guinea. I may also remark, that in the speci- men under discussion, the white band on the neck is promi- minently developed, much more so than is usually the case in specimens of S. gaudichaudi. As to the sexual difference in the colour of the tail of S. gaudichaudi (and probably also of S. kubaryt), the speci- mens collected by myself in the year 1873 confirm Salvadori’s views (Orn. Pap. i. p. 493, and Suppl. i. p. 60). Nevertheless from the Papuan Region. 415 T am inclined to consider Guillemard’s opinion (P. Z. 8. 1885, p. 628) as the right one on the point, that adult males have always a blue tail, adult females always a brown one; whereas Guillemard is doubtless wrong in declaring that young males too have a brown tail, which latter point is clearly disproved by specimens collected by myself and now in the Dresden Mu- seum. But I also believe that the sexes of blue-tailed speci- mens, labelled as females, occurring likewise in my collection, may have been wrongly determined. Future collectors ought to put this point beyond any doubt. 8. SAUROMARPTIS GAUDICHAUDI ARUENSIS, subsp. nov. I have mentioned (Zeitschr. fiir ges. Orn. 1884, p. 276) a specimen from the Aru Islands as varying from S. gaudi- chaudi, which variation Salvadori (op. cit. Suppl. i. p. 59) con- sidered to be but an individual one. I have consequently again compared the six specimens from Aru in the Dresden Museum with S. gaudichaudi from elsewhere, and have dis- covered that all the specimens from Aru have the white patch on the back, which I have described in S. kubaryi, though they are in all other respects similar to 8. gaudichaudi. This induces me to separate the Aru bird as subsp. aruensis. I am not able, as yet, to understand the blue feathers on the sides of the head of the one Aru specimen described by myself (/. c.), but future collections from there will probably settle this also. 9. Mertipora MAcRorHINA (Less.). A pair from South-east New Guinea (Goldie) have much green on the webs of the tail- and wing-feathers, very con- spicuous in certain lights ; the spots on the upperside of the body, too, are greenish. Salvadori (Orn. Pap. i. p. 500) does not mention this character in his diagnosis, but Sharpe notes it in his description of his M. collaris from South New Guinea (J. Proce. Linn. Soe. xii. p. 314). Ramsay, again, does not allude to it in the description of his M. goldiei from the same region (Proc. Linn. Soc. N. 8. Wales, i. p. 389). Salvadori (op. cit. 1. p. 502, and iii. p. 527) considers the bird from the south to be identical with that from the north of New 2H2 416 Dr. A. B. Meyer on Birds Guinea; but if all southern birds show the above-mentioned greenish tints, it would be justifiable to separate them as M. goldiei, Rams. M. jobiensis, Salv., from Jobi (Salva- dori, op. cit. i. p. 502), has the green tints, but the female is different in the coloration of the head. (I never got a male on Jobi, and only one female.) A specimen from Rubi (Southern Geelvink Bay) approaches the southern form (in the same way that other Rubi birds show affinities to southern forms); but specimens from Waweji, Doré, and Andei (North-west New Guinea) have no trace of this green hue. Sharpe, in Gould’s ‘ Birds of New Guinea’ (vol. iv. pl. 53), does not figure the specimens with green, but he does not mention whence his original specimens came. 10. Macropreryx MystTacga (Less.). New Britain, 19th December, 1885, a male (Kubary). Native name “ Aviu.” 11. Peitops BLAINVILLU (lL. et G.). Karagassi, Constantine Harbour, 15th November, 1888, a male (Kubary). Native name “ Mangawase” in the Bongu dialect. “Byes dark purple-red; bill and feet black.” The bill of the specimen is rather large (0°024 m. in length), whereas I measure in specimens from Arfak and Passim (Geelvink Bay) 0°020-0:022 m. The white patch on the mantle is not much expanded. 12. RurprpuRA FINscHI, Salvad. One specimen from Duke-of-York group (Brown). Salvadori (Orn. Pap. iii. p. 532) described this species from New Britain, and it is therefore not remarkable that it occurs on the near-lying Duke-of-York group too. But from the latter island R. setosa (Q. et G.) has been recorded, a wide-spread species (see Sharpe, Cat. iv. p. 829, and Salva- dori, op. cit. p. 62). The differences between these two species are slight, but, if once recognized, are trustworthy, and a renewed comparison will perhaps prove that all spe- cimens from the Duke-of-York group belong to R. finschi. from the Papuan Region. 417 13. Savroprocra mELaLevca (Q. et G.). Kubary gives the native name of this species on New Britain as “ Angariri,” Finsch (J. c. p. 12) “ Angarira.” 14. Ruecres rerrueinevs (S. Mill). Constantine Harbour, New Guinea, May 1887, a male (Kubary). Native name ‘“ Kogolin.” 15.- Hermotimra corinna, Salvad. A female from New Britain (Kudary). This specimen differs from Shelley’s plate (Mon. Nect. pl. 39. p- 117) in this particular, that the white of the throat extends farther on to the breast. The males from Duke of York and New Britain ought to be compared carefully. 16. Cyrrosromus rrenatus (S. Miill.). Constantine Harbour, New Guinea, 2lst Nov., 1888 (Kubary). “ Hyes very dark greyish brown; bill and feet black.” 17. Donactcota sprcraBitts, Sel. New Britain, 6th June, 1886, a female (Kubary). Native name “ Aouringande.” Finsch (/.c. p. 14) gives another native name for this bird. 18. Catornis nitipa, G. R. Gr. New Britain, a male and female, 21st 1 May, 1886 (Kudary). I do not agree with Salvadori that C. nitida should be united to C. metallica (T.). All the specimens from the Bismarck archipelago which I have seen are devoid of the steel-green spot in the middle of the violet of the interscapular region, and I cannot convince myself that this is only an individual difference (¢f. Salvadori, Orn. Pap. ii. p. 452). According to my views, it is a specific (insular) character of exactly the same value as the specific characters of C. inornata, Salv., from Mysore, of C. cireumscripta, mihi, from Timorlaut, set of others. After a close examination other constant differences between C. metallica and C. nitida can easily be found, for instance, the more gioomy metallic colour of the head and the more greenish (less bluish) wings in C. nitida. 418 Dr. A. B. Meyer on Birds 19. Mino pumont1, Less. Constantine Harbour, New Guinea, one female, 21st Nov., 1888 (Kubary). “ Eyes dirty light brown ; bill and feet vivid orange-yellow.” The specimen is green, like specimens from Passim, Nappan, Inwiorage, and Rubi, on the Geelvink Bay, and not bluish, as the specimen from Kafu (North New Guinea), which I mentioned Z. f. ges. Orn. 1886, p. 35. (I must amend the remark which I made then, specimens from Jobi and Aru being neither of them so blue as the specimen from Kafu, though rather more blue than specimens from the other parts of New Guinea.) 20. Erimacuus ELLIoTI, Ward. A male from North-west New Guinea, without more exact locality (vid Ternate). This is the first complete specimen known, as the type was a defective native skin, also without locality (see Salvadori, Orn. Pap. ii. p. 548, and Suppl. i. p. 154). Elhot’s plate (Mon. Parad. xx.) is quite wrong, Gould’s (Birds of N. Guin. - vol. i. pl. 8) much better, though neither are exact, as the fol- lowing details show :—The green colour of the flank-plumes, belly, and base of the ornamental breast-plumes is darker, as well as the violet of the breast, which latter colour shades slowly into the green of the belly ; the throat is metallic green, shading into violet laterally ; the metallic margins of the ornamental sickle-shaped breast-plumes are broader on the lower ones (up to 4 mm.), narrower on the upper, and entirely wanting on the outermost; all are much narrower underneath (see Gould’s chief figure) ; the tail underneath is darker; the shape of the tail is concave ; the violet of the back and wing-coverts is less vivid than on the plate. As no exact measurements of the male are known, I add the following :—Bill 0-041 m., wing 0°202, tail 0°403, tarsus 0-050, longest ornamental breast-plumes 0°125, longest flank- plumes 0°190. The female of this species is unknown. from the Papuan Region. 419 21. DrepaNnornis BRUIUNI, Oust. Walckenaers Bay, west of Humboldt Bay, on the north coast of New Guinea (vid Ternate). A male in full plumage, whereas Oustalet had no such one in hand, as appears from his words, “ vestiges de la livrée du jeune Age,” viz. brown cross bands on the belly (see Le Naturaliste, 1887, p. 180, and comp. Salvadori, Orn. Pap. ii. p. 5538, and Suppl. ii. p. 155), and as is further proved by his description of the ruff (“ fraise”’), which is less developed than in the specimen before me. The brown feathers of this foreneck-shield, mentioned by Oustalet, are black at their ends, margined with metallic blue-violet (nct metallic green, as in Oustalet’s specimen), the black shining in certain lights metallic green. On this layer of feathers lies another and shorter one of the same black colour (shining with metallic green in certain lights), margined, about 3 mm. broad, with metallic carmine copper-bronze, and forming a fan of twelve plumes. Oustalet speaks only of two or three such feathers, with carmine copper-bronze margins, at the commencement of the rows of ornamental side-plumes. The hair-like feathers of the upper breast are metallic greenish. In other respects Oustalet’s description agrees generally with the Dresden specimen, though a more accurate description of this remarkable bird appears not to be superfluous, and a figure is very desirable. 22. CRASPEDOPHORA INTERCEDENS (Sharpe). A male from Constantine Harbour, N.E. New Guinea. 23. CRASPEDOPHORA DUIVENBODEI, n. sp. (Plate XII.) Mas, maribus C. magnifice et C. intercedentis affinis, sed minor ; nuchz plumis dorso concoloribus, elongatis, erectis, collaris vel flabelli ad instar; scuto pectorali viridi, ejusdem plumis lateralibus elongatis ; dorso alisque violascentioribus et stria gulari centrali metallica brevi et angusta, diversus. Long. tot. c. 0°280 m., al. 0°160, caud. 0°109, rostri (culm.) 0°040, tarsi 0°033. A male from N.W. New Guinea, without exact locality. 420 Dr. A. B. Meyer on Birds This new species I dedicate to Mr. C. W. R. van Renesse van Duivenbode, of Ternate, to whom science is already in- debted for many interesting additions to the Papuan avifauna. The female is, as yet, unknown. This Paradise-bird is easily distinguished from C. magnifica and C. intercedens by the elongated erectable nuchal collar*, with its central feathers shorter (3 cm.), its lateral ones longer (4cm.), as also by the following characters :—The whole upperside, wings, and head, except its metallic-green top, are more reddish violet, whereas, especially in C. interce- dens, the colour is decidedly blue-violet ; the metallic-green breast-shield lessens towards the throat to a narrow band of only 1 mm. breadth, and ceases altogether at a distance from the base of the bill equalling the length of the free mandible ; this narrow metallic-green stripe is surrounded by a violet velvet-like one, and this latter again by a broad olive-coloured — zone. ‘The lateral feathers of the metallic breast-shield are more elongated (over 3 cm. long, only 2.cm. in the two other species) ; the narrow line of feathers beneath the metallic of the breast is of less brilliant colours; in C. duivenbodei it is dark olive with a slight purple gloss, and in the middle of the breast less vivid. The green metallic breast-shield covers at its distal end a layer of feathers, margined with black and with metallic-blue subterminal spots. The breast and belly are darker ; the ornamental flank-plumes are short, they do not reach the tip of the wing; the inner webs of the first two primaries are cut out at their tips, and the whole wing has not the remarkable rounded form of the two other species. 24. PaRraDISEA FINSCHI, mihi. I described (Z. f. ges. Orn. 1885, p. 383) under this name a mutilated skin from the north coast of New Guinea, brought home by Dr. Finsch, and declared by him to belong to a new species, as all specimens seen were of smaller size * Though I am not inclined to create a new genus for every new Bird of Paradise, I presume that this species will soon be generically separated by someone on account of its erectable nuchal collar. - In such vase | would propose to call the new genus Paryphephorus, from mapupy =collare, and mopew=fero. from the Papuan Region. 421 than P. minor. Now, having received from Constantine Harbour and its neighbourhood six specimens of different ages (Weisser and Kubary), I may state that the differences in size hold good, the ornamental plumes being shorter and the bill more slender, though its colour is as in P. minor (contrary to the statement /.c.). The skin brought home by Dr. Finsch had been prepared by natives, and is somewhat faded ; the differences of colour (compared with P. minor) in fresh specimens are not so noticeable as was maintained J. ¢., though existent; besides, the yellow of the lesser wing- coverts is more restricted and the mantle rather darker than in P. minor. 25. PARADISEA AUGUST#-VICTORI&, Cab. A male from Kaiserwilhelmsland, without exact locality. Prof. Cabanis has given a short Latin diagnosis of the male (J. f. O. 1888, p. 119), and has figured male and female (id. 1889, pl. 11.), but he also could give no exact locality for his specimens. It may be that Van Musschenbroek (Dagboek, van Bernstein, 1883, p. 187) had previously mentioned the species, though it would be difficult to be sure of it. More- over that author appears to have named at the same time (1. c.) P. gulielmi-secundi of Cabanis as P. minor, var. albes- cens. (Comp. also Salvadori, Orn. Pap. Suppl. ii. p. 158, sub P. minor.) 26. Cicinnurus ReEGIUS (L.). A pair from Constantine Harbour or that neighbourhood (Kubary). ‘The male, not yet in full plumage, has a lighter tail, like the specimen from Kafu, north coast of New Guinea, mentioned by me (Z. f. ges. Orn. 1886, p. 36), and the black marking over the eye appears to be very long and pointed. 27. PrILOPUS QUADRIGEMINUS, N. sp. Pt. gemino, Salv., similis, sed capitis lateribus et gula cinereis vix virescentibus; pileo lilacino paulo letiore, postice linea purpurea nulla; area abdominis crocea paulo pal- lidiore diversus. Long. al. 0°115 m., caud. 0:066, rostri 0-012, tarsi 0:015. 4.22 Dr. A. B. Meyer on Birds A male from Constantine Harbour or its neighbourhood (Kubary). Hasily distinguished from the three allied species—P. coro- nulatus, Gr., P. trigeminus, Salv., and P. geminus, Salv.— by the grey cheeks and throat, the latter showing hardly a hue of yellowish in its middle, as well as by the absence of the purple stripe on the occiput in front of the yellow band. The lilac of the head is much lighter than in P. coronulatus, and more reddish thanin P. geminus. (I have not specimens of P. trigeminus for comparison as to this character.) Finally, the yellowish brown of the belly is somewhat lighter, whereas the yellow of the under tail-coverts and abdomen is more intense. 28. PTILOPUS PLUMBEICOLLIS, 2. Sp. Similis Pt. perlato et Pt. zonuro, sed capite cinereo et collo postico plumbeo diversus. Long. al. 0°155 m., caud. 0°076, rostri 0-021, tarsi 0°021. A specimen, not sexed, from Constantine Harbour or its neighbourhood (Kudbary). Easily distinguished from Pt. perlatus and Pi. zonurus by the whole of the head being light grey, only faintly tinged with green on the nape and whitish towards the front, as also by its sharply defined ight plumbeous hind neck, which colour stretches on to the sides of the neck. This plumbeous collar is also possessed by the two other species, but in these it is quite narrow, whereas in Pt. plumbeicollis it measures 20 mm. in breadth. The brown of the breast is still hghter than in Pt. perlatus. Pt. plumbeicollis has, like Pt. zonurus, a light terminal band on the tail, but this is narrower (10 mm.) and less vivid. The under tail-coverts equal those of Pt. zonurus. 29. MeGaLoprePia POLIURA, Salvad. A specimen, not sexed, from Gumbu, N.E. New Guinea, 10th Nov. 1888 (Kubary). “ Eyes dark orange-red, eye-ring and lids tinged with citron-yellow; bill orange-yellow, base of the upper bill pur ple up to the nostrils; feet ohve-g naa nails dark horn-grey.’ Length of the wings 0°160 m. from the Papuan Region. 4.23 Dr. Finsch records (Végel d. Siidsee, 1884, p. 28) M. assimilis from S.E. New Guinea, considermg M. poliura (polinea !) undistinguishable from it. This is, im my opinion, a mistake. 30. GYMNOPHAPS ALBERTISI, Salv. A female from Constantine Harbour, February 1887 (Kubary). “Feet purple; eyes orange-brown ; bill purple, tip and base of maxilla bluish grey ; region of eyes crimson. Native name ‘ Buna jarur’.” 31. RernwaRDT@NAS REINWARDTI (T.). A specimen from Constantine Harbour or neighbourhood (Kubary). 32. MacropyGia NIGRIROSTRIS, Salvad. Three specimens from New Britain, 23rd May and 17th June, 1886 (Kubary). All three specimens have a brown bill, imstead of a black one ! 33. Mxcapopius BRENCHLEYI, G. R. Gray. An egg from the island of Sawo, Solomon Islands (Dr. Finsch). Length 78 mm., breadth 47 mm. Vinaceous buff (Ridgway, Nomenclator of Colours, 1886, pl. v. no 15), but rather more yellow, inclining to pinkish buff. (pl. v. no. 14) ; elliptical oval (/.c. pl. xvi. no. 10), 34. Mrcaropius Eremita, Hartl. Six eggs from New Britain (Dr. Finsch ; see ‘ Vogel der Siidsee,’ 1884, p. 20). Length 75-82 mm., breadth 45— 486 mm. Vinaceous buff (Ridgway, pl. v. uo. 15, but rather darker). 35. TALEGALLUs (sive AEPYPODIUS), sp. inc. Two eggs from Constantine Harbour (Kubary). Length 100°4 and 97:3 mm., breadth 62:4 and 62°3 mm. Fawn- colour (Ridgway, pl. iii. no. 22), one specimen rather lighter than the other one. What species of this genus occurs in the North-east of New Guinea is still unknown ; in the south occur Talegallus fuscirostris, Salv. (see Salvadori, op. cié. 11. p. 248) and depypodius arfakianus (Saly.) (see vp. cit. i. p.564). 4.24 Mr. A. H. Holland on some Birds The eggs therefore may belong to one of these species, or to an unknown one. 36. TALEGALLUS FUSCIROSTRIS, Salvad. The measurements of the egg of Talegallus fuscirostris are still unpublished, so far as [ know. The Dresden Museum has a specimen from Aru (Ridde and Kiihn): length 97 mm., breadth 60 mm. Vinaceous cinnamon (Ridgway, pl. iv. no. 15). Elliptical oval. Judging from the colour, the eges from Constantine Harbour, described above, do not © belong to T. fuscirostris. 37. TALEGALLUS JOBIENSIS, A. B. M. In the year 1874 I published the measurements of two eges of Talegallus jobiensis from Jobi (Sitz. Akad. Wien, Ixix. p. 88), viz. 88-93 x 60-62 mm. I then had no good instrument at my disposal for the measuring of eggs, and am obliged now to correct my statement. Length 95- 98:3 mm., breadth 60°4-61°5 mm. Colour.and form similar to the two eggs described above from Constantine Harbour, but rather more reddish and more pointed, in structure smoother. The measurements of the eggs of Talegallus cuvieri, Less., Aepypodius arfakianus (Salv.), and dep. bruijnit (Oust.), are still unpublished, so far as I know. Length. Breadth. mm. mm. Telegallus jobiensis ...... 95-933 60°4-61'5 PUSCIPOSUTIS),.«;cveialers's a 97 60 sp. ine. ex Noy, Guin. 100°4 62:4 38. ORTYGOMETRA CINEREA (V.). Kurakakaul, North coast of New Britain (Kubary). XLII.—On some Birds of the Argentine Republic. By A. H. Houtanp. With Notes by P. L. Scuater. [Mr. A. H. Hotianp has kindly sent to me for examination a collection of beautifully prepared birds lately made by him- self at the Estancia of Espartillar, near the Ranchos Station of the Southern Bailway of Buenos Ayres, where he is resi- of the Argentine Republic. 4.25 dent. The collection contains examples of 65 species”, all of which are included in ‘ Argentine Ornithology’ except one. This is the Gull-billed Tern (Sterna anglica), of which a single example (marked female), apparently an adult in winter plumage, is in the series. Mr. Holland sends me also a few remarks on some of the species, which he has noticed. I trust that he may continue his researches, and furnish us with more information, as there * The following is a list of them :— 1. Mimus modulator. 34. Polyborus tharus. 2. Polioptila dumicola. 85. Ardea cocoi. 3. Troglodytes furvus. 36, —— egretta. 4. Anthus correndera. 3o7. candidissima, 5. Parula pitiayumi. 38. Ardetta involucris. 6. Progne tapera. 39, Nycticorax obscurus. 7. Atticora cyanoleuca. 40. Plegadis guarauna. 8. Spermophila czerulescens. 41, Ajaja rosea. 9. Paroaria cucullata. 42, Phoenicopterus ignipallia- 10. Embernagra platensis. tus. 11. Sycalis pelzelni. 45. Chauna chavaria. 12. Molothrus bonariensis. 44, Querquedula cyanoptera. 18. badius. 45, flavirostris. 14. Leistes superciliaris. 46, versicolor. 15. Teenioptera coronata. 47. Dafila spinicauda. 16. Lichenops perspicillatus. 48, bahamensis. 17. Serpophaga subcristata. 49. Spatula platalea. 18. Pitangus bolivianus. 50. Metopiana peposaca. 19. Pyrocephalus rubineus. 51. Nomonyx dominicus. 20. Tyrannus melancholicus. 52. Zenaida maculata. 21. Milvulus tyrannus. 53. Fulica leucoptera. 22. Furnarius rufus. 54. Aramus scolopaceus. 23. Leptasthenura zegithaloides. 55. Vanellus cayennensis. 24. Synallaxis hudsoni. 56. Himantopus brasiliensis. 25. Anumbius acuticaudatus. 57. Totanus melanoleucus. 26. Guira piririgua. 58. Actiturus bartramius. 27. Coccyzus melanocoryphus. 59. Sterna anglica. 28. Bolborhynchus monachus. 60. trudeauii. 29. Asio brachyotus. 61, Larus dominicanus. 30. Speotyto cunicularia. 62. maculipennis. 31. Circus cinereus. 63. Aichmophorus major. 32. Tinnunculus cinnamominus. 64, Tachybaptes dominicus. 33. Milvago chimango. 65. Nothura maculosa. 4.26 Mr. A. H. Holland on some Birds is yet much to be done in working out the Argentine Avi- fauna.—P. L. 8.] 1. Warre-THRoATED FINcH. This little Finch I am unable to name, as I cannot find a description to suit it. The nest was placed in the fork of a poplar-tree low down. It was composed of twigs, rootlets, thistle-down, leaves, and moss, and lined with white cow-hair. The eggs were pointed, white, faintly spotted with pale red. [The specimen sent, marked 3, appears to be a female or young female of Spermophila cerulescens (Arg. Orn. 1. p. 46), but I should lke to see more examples of both sexes.— Pal, Ss 7 2. Tyrannus MELANcHOLIcUS. (Arg. Orn. i. p. 158.) In November I took a nest of this bird in a small Euca- lyptus wood. It contained eggs of Molothrus bonariensis. The nest was placed at the outermost end of a bough, in a very exposed situation, and was very slight, being composed of a few roots and twigs firmly interwoven and lned with a very little hay. The nest contained two eggs of the Tyrant and two of the Cow-bird; those of the latter were white, thinly spotted with pale red. 3. LEPTASTHENURA HGITHALOIDES. (Arg. Orn. 1. p. 177.) Common. In October, during the last week, I found three nests of this Spine-tail, all of which were in those of deserted Oven-birds. The first nest was composed of num- berless soft feathers, with a little grass as a lining, the others of feathers and wool, with no lining besides. The eggs were three in one nest and one in another; they are white, very broad towards the larger end, and thick-shelled, without any gloss. 4. Burso, sp. inc. This Buzzard arrives here towards the middle of January in company with Buteo swainsoni, the latter in immense flocks. In the daytime the flock departs over the camp, of the Argentine Republic. 427 soaring in a straggling body in search of beetles, but returns at sundown to roost in the monte of Eucalyptus trees. They are anything but shy, and take little notice of being shot at. [am not certain when or where they depart. [As Mr. Holland supposes, this is the young of Buteo swainsoni (Arg. Orn. ii. p. 59).—P. L. S.] 5. Cuauna cuavaria. (Arg. Orn. ii. p. 119.) [One of the most interesting specimens in Mr. Holland’s collection is the skin of a chick of the Crested Screamer (Chauna chavaria) apparently quite recently hatched. Mr. E. Gibson (Ibis, 1880, p. 166) has given us some excellent notes on the breeding-habits of this strange bird. “The young, when hatched,” he says, “are covered with an abundance of beautifully soft down, of a yellow-brown colour.” This, as is seen in the present specimen, is quite true. The down is very dense, very soft, and con- tinuous over the whole of the body above and beneath, leaving only the bill, lores, rim round the eye, feet, and lower part of tibie naked. But the head in the present specimen is tinged with rufous, and on the back the down is shghtly tinged with blackish. The condition of the chick, therefore, in this form, as well. as the structure of the egg, strongly tend to confirm the view originally put forward by Parker (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 511) that the nearest living allies of the Palamadeide are the Anseres. The egg of Chauna is so much like that of a Goose (Anser), that it is difficult to tell any difference. The characters of the chick serve to confirm this resemblance.—P. L. S.] 6. Meroprana peposaca. (Arg. Orn. i. p. 137.) In October and November almost every nest of Fulica armillata and Fulica leucoptera, as also many nests of Larus maculipennis and a few of Chauna chavaria, contained para- sitic eggs. These eggs were undoubtedly those of a Duck, though they varied in size and shape, the largest being 23 in. x 12; in colour they were of a dirty white. This Duck, I think, must be Metopiana peposaca, as these birds were ex- tremely plentiful this year throughout the breeding-season, and I have taken the eggs of all the other Ducks here that 4.28 On some Birds of the Argentine Republic. are at all common, excepting those of the Shoveller. These eges were invariably covered over with a fresh lining in the nests of Fulica armillata, but not in the others. Tt 7. STERNA ANGLICA. Viralva aranea, Darw. Zool. Beagle, iu. p. 143 (Bahia Blanca). Gelochelidon anglica, Scl. et Salv. P. ZS. 1871, p. 572 (S.E. Brazil). As mentioned above, this species was accidentally omitted in ‘Argentine Ornithology.’ Darwin obtained a specimen of it near Bahia Blanca, and Rogers got examples on the coast of S.E. Brazil. Mr. Holland sends a single, apparently adult female in winter plumage. + 8. Srerna rrupEAuu. (Arg. Orn. 1. p. 195.) This Tern is rare with us, excepting in the breeding- season, when it appears suddenly and in numbers, either singly or in pairs. Whilst hunting through a large gullery of Larus maculi- pennis early in November, I came upon a corner of the lagoon entirely occupied by these pretty Terns. There was little shelter for the nests, a few scattered willow-stumps, but no rushes or flags, and the water was some 43 feet deep. The nests were all placed close together, as the Gulls’ nests were, thirty or forty of them, each a foot or two from its neighbour, and so on; they were very shallow structures, composed of green water-grasses (very succulent ones and wet), with no lining, and supported on the water by the thick growth of grass underneath. The eggs were three to four in number, of the usual Tern-type, varying from the dark, thickly spotted and blotched varieties to the thinly spotted pale ones; in no two nests were the eggs similar. As I approached the ternery (if there is such an expression) the birds became very anxious, darting down close to my head as I stood over a nest and uttering shrill cries. The sight was a beautiful one, with the thousands of Gulls and these graceful Terns as well, all showing beautifully against a blue sky. + 9, Larus crrrnocepnatus. (Arg. Orn. i. p. 201.) This Gull is very plentiful here in the breeding-season, but I was unable to find its nesting-place. On the Birds of the Canary Islands. 4.29 _ XLIT.—Further Notes on the Birds of the Canary Islands. By E. G. Meapr-Watpo. (Plate XIII.) I am afraid that I have much less to relate of these islands, ornithologically, this time than in my previous papers, having recently explored only the little island of Hierro, which is but a small field, and Lanzarote, that resembles the worst parts (for birds) of Fuerteventura. Tenerife was visited this spring on April 25th by a great influx of migrants; the oldest inhabitant had never seen anything: like it. There was no gale of wind or anything to account for it, the migration being only preceded by two or three days of dull steamy heat. Chelidon urbica and Hirundo rustica were in thousands; Cofile riparia was very numerous. The Golden Oriole (Oriolus galbula) was in small parties of four or five individuals, frequenting the orange and loquat trees. When disturbed in these they would dart away into the tops of the tallest plane trees, where it was almost impossible to see them. A small dark form of the Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) was very numerous, as was also the Bee-eater (Merops apiaster). The Pied Fly- catcher (Muscicapa atricapilla) occurred at Laguna, as did also Merops persica ; and Coots (Fulica atra) and Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) were common. I have heard, since I left, that a gentleman at Tacaronte has some living Purple Gallinules (Porphyrio?) that were caught by the country- people at the same time. Red-footed Falcons (Falco vesper- tinus) were not uncommon, and were shamefully bullied by the Common Kestrels. Nearly all the common Waders were in large numbers, except the Knot ; Curlew Sandpipers (Tringa subarquata) in nearly full breeding-plumage and Greenshanks (Totanus glottis) being especially numerous, and frequenting the tanks, not the shore. Common Herons were also exceedingly numerous and absurdly tame. By the 4th of May I do not think there was left a single example out of this vast number of birds, all having gone away on the night of the 3rd. SER. VI.—VOL. II. 21 430 Mr. E. G. Meade- Waldo on the Don Anatael Cabrera has added to his interesting collec- tion of birds killed in the neighbourhood of Laguna an ex- ample of Ardetia sturmi and several of Porzana maruetta aud Porzana parva, which appear to be pretty regular winter visitors to the ditches round Laguna. I spent last summer in the Valle de Guerra, near Laguna, where the Barn Owl (Striv flammea), which has generally been considered a scarce bird in the Canaries, was quite common, its shriek being heard every night. I once saw five on the wing together ; they are all large and very dark-coloured birds here. I found in castings of this bird from a cave many more small bird-remains than is usual in this country, also remains of lizards. The Long-eared Owl (Asio vulgaris) I found to be exceedingly numerous on the lava-flows near the sea, where they inhabit the large candalabra-like Euphorbia canariensis, and prey principally on lizards; they breed on the ground in the centre of these practically impenetrable strongholds during the winter, for I procured a young one at the end of January this year, just able to fly. Many birds breed very irregularly in these islands, for in November last a little girl brought me a Thick-knee ((idicnemus crepitans) still in the down. The distribution of the Shrike (Lanius algeriensis) in Tenerife is rather peculiar. It frequents the hot Hu- phorbia-covered slopes close to the sea on the south side of the island; it is almost equally common and resident all the year on the “ Cumbre,” 5000 to 7000 feet, and is seldom or never seen on the north or west of the island. On the 19th of November, 1889, I went to Hierro, calling at Santa Cruz de la Palma on the way, and, as the steamer was obliged to wait all day, I got a mule and rode up to the mountain where I had procured the first Palma Tit (Parus pal- mensis). Very nearly in the same spot where I shot my first specimen I had the luck to shoot in a few minutes four beauti- ful examples. They came to a call which I always find very effective in bringing up small birds, viz. imitating the cry of a rabbit that a stoat or ferret has got hold of; all the small birds on hearing it come up and utter their alarm-notes. [also shot some Chaffinches (Fringilla palme). The young males Birds of the Canary Islands. 431 at this time of year are quite indistinguishable from young males of F. tintillon. We went on board that night, and called for a few minutes next morning at the beach below the Valle Hermoso, Gomera. This enabled me to have a glimpse of the Cordillera, where I had procured my first Columba laurivora. We then steamed slowly on and anchored off the Port of Valverde, Hierro, at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. The Port of Hierro is very unpretentious; there is not even a beach, but here the precipices, which almost surround the island, are a little less steep. There is not a single house in sight, but there is a cave, in which what little business there may be on the weekly arrivai of the mails is trans- acted. The delivery of the mails is unique in its way— the small mail-bag is opened on the beach, the corre- spondence handed round among the crowd, and anyone who sees a letter for himself, or for any of his acquaintances who may live near him in any part of the island, appropriates it or undertakes to deliver it. Nearly two hours’ climb brought us to Valverde, the capital, a small straggling village, about 2000 feet above the sea. Hierro has no coast-town, the island being a high undulating tableland, surrounded by almost perpendicular precipices, excepting the valley of El Golfo, which, in a way, resembles the valley of Orotava on a small scale, except in that the mountain rises much nearer to the coast and is far steeper. Nothing much is grown in the valley except figs and tobacco, there being no water to irrigate the crops. As soon as it was known that I had come to look for birds, I was conducted to see a great rarity that had been caught a few days before, a Common Coot (Fulica atra). It seemed a strange bird to be introduced to on one’s first arrival in this out-of-the-way little island. The man that we engaged as guide, and servant also, was anxious to procure for us specimens of the large lizard that inhabits the outer Zalmone Rock. After we had arranged to visit this spot, the dark.weather and heavy surf prevented any attempt at landing on it while we were in Hierro, but Canon Tristram, who came afterwards, was more successful. We started for El Pinal next day, passing through the centre of 212 4.32 Mr. E. G. Meade-Waldo on the the island, a high down-like tableland. Nearly all the birds of the Western Canaries are common here, the Common Linnet (Linota cannabina) and Berthelot’s Pipit (Anthus bertheloti) being perhaps the most numerous; but Canaries, Corn Buntings, Goldfinches, and Rock Sparrows were nearly equally abundant. The Chiffchaff and Black-headed Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) were common where there was suit- able cover. The dark-coloured Kestrels were fairly common, but I do not think quite so much so as in the other Western islands. The Quail is not rare, but there is no Partridge in Hierro: they tell me it has been introduced from Gomera, but has died from want of water. The Thick-knee (Cidicnemus crepitans) is far fromrare. The Buzzard (Buteo vulgaris) is fairly numerous in the Ladera of El Golfo, and the Red Kite (Milvus ictinus) is in about the same numbers. We did not see the Neophron, neither is the name of “ Quirre”’ known to the islanders, so I expect that if it visits Hierro, it is only occasional. It is common in Gomera, but unknown in Palma. Probably nowhere in the world is the Tangier Raven (Corvus tingitanus) more numerous than here ; it is always in sight, flying in flocks, large and small, walking about close to one, and showing but little fear. They would come to our tent and greedily pick up the bodies of birds that had been skinned, and the pine-forest where our tent was pitched resembled a scattered rookery. ‘The pairs in November frequently sat by their old nests and made most ridiculous noises, sometimes almost resembling a song. The peasants tell me (and I can quite believe it, for food for so many must be very hard to get) that the Ravens do them a great deal of harm, that they have great difficulty in saving their lambs from them (for in Hierro sheep take the place of the goats of the rest of the islands), that they are equally destructive amongst their crops, and that if it were not for the Ravens the island could support many more people. The most interesting bird in Hierro is the Tit. I pro- cured my first specimens soon after entering the pine-forest, and when looking for a camping-ground I shot three more, which at a glance I saw belonged to a new species. This Birds of the Canary Islands. 433 decided me in choosing what proved to be an excellent spot. This Tit, which in habits resembles Parus palmensis, lives apparently only in the pine-forest, occasionally wandering into the tree-heath ; it has the voice of Parus tenerife, and also the style of that form, not standing so high on its legs, nor in the knock-kneed manner of the Palma Tit. It is the largest and strongest of all the Canarian Tits, and differs in having the whole of its back of a fine olive-green instead of blue, there being only a band of light blue at the back of the neck ; the yellow of the breast is very rich in colour, and there is never a trace of white; the black line is very indis- tinct. It is quite a common bird in the pine-forest, and I had no trouble in procuring as many specimens as I wanted. I have described this bird as a new species, and named it Parus ombriosus, after ‘“ Ombrios,” King Juba’s name for the island of Hierro. Parus omBriosus. (Plate XIII.) Parus ombriosus, Meade-Waldo, Ann. Mag. N. H. ser. 6, v. p. 108. Parus tenerife similis, sed fortior et robustior: tergo toto olivaceo-viridescente nec czruleo: tectricibus alarum viridibus, majoribus angustissime albo terminatis: subtus citrinus, P. tenerife similis. Femina haud a mari dis- tinguenda. This Tit adds a fourth to the number of forms found in the Canary Islands, three of which are quite peculiar to the archipelago, and two are peculiar to their own islands. Fuer- teventura and Lanzarote have Parus ultramarinus, almost indistinguishable from the mainland bird. Grand Canary, Tenerife, and Gomera have Parus tenerife, easily known from P. ultramarinus by its brighter colouring and in never having white-tipped wing-coverts. The island of Palma has Parus palmensis, distinguished by having its under- parts white instead of yellow, the wing-coverts slightly tipped with white, and the tail and tarsi longer. It has also a differently pitched voice, which can be distinguished at once from the other Tits, and its more slender form and different style show it at once to belong to a different race. Besides it is confined to the pine-forest, only occasionally coming into 434 Mr. E. G. Meade- Waldo on the the laurels, and apparently never frequenting villages and gardens, as does Parus tenerife in the three islands which it frequents. Parus ombriosus resembles Parus tenerife in all its ways, except that it lives only in the pine-forest, and occasionally in the tree-heaths and laurels. In Hierro the Goldcrest (Regulus tenerife, Seebohm) is common in the pines and heath-forest. It is of the same form that is common to all the Canary Islands where Gold- crests exist, and has the black sides to the crest joined across the forehead, asin R. ignicapillus. It appears that some Gold- crests from other parts have the same feature, especially those from China, but in my large series from all the Canary Islands I find no variation in this respect. The Chaffinch is not very numerous. It is intermediate between Fringilla tintillon and F. palme, having a little green over the tail, and the breast of a dirty, not pure, white, as in F. palme. Grand Canary, Tenerife, and Gomera have the same Chaffinch (F. tintillon), the adult male of which has a pure buff breast, a dark-slate back, and agreenrump. La Palma has its Chaffinch, with no green on the rump and very little green on the wings, a white breast, and the slate-blue of the head is paler than in F. tintillon. It is interesting to note that in the three islands where the Chaffinch is the same the Tit is also the same, and where the Chaffinch is different, as in Palma, both have white breasts; this, however, does not apply to Hierro, where both are different. I noticed that in Palma F. palme ranged right through the pine-forest, as does F. teydea in Tenerife. ie v 4 re a f D Lea CLA we) SipyLNyo Vrlao a1 al kore “UAL J8"Jep siwzeurstMsy 4 ‘P ‘du -soig wre pairyy Pam, Oost S14] A ibis, 620 Eis J.G Kenlemans del. et lith Mintern Bros. imp. FRANCOLINUS GRISEO-STRIATUS Tors. 16a" sala hacia’ Sn oa J.G.Keulemans del.et lith Mintern Bros. imp. FRBANCOLINUS CASTANEICOLLIS Ibis; 1690. Fe XII. J G Keulemans del. et lth CRASPEDOPHORA DUIVENBODE!. Mintern Bros. = 4 ae, ee a (ee) : 6} 2 : oa (o@) a ei ft) ~~ 4 on) “es =) ry Ud ee \Y — ae i <4 Cay VW) a a J.G Keuwlermans Ibis. 1890. Pl. XIV. J.G Keulemans del et lith Mintern Bros. imp. ACCIPITEAR GRANT. SIXTH SERIES. Vox. Il. No. d. Hh LBS, QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. Price 68. JANUARY 1890. EDITED BY PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.B.S., SECRETARY TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. LONDON: GURNEY AND JACKSON, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. . (Successors ro JOHN VAN VOORST.) ———— Annual Subscription, payable before 31st March each year, £1 Te ——— ee SUS raAyLOR AND FRANCIS, PRINTERS, ] {RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. ‘2! y Q PusBLicaTions (continued). 18. Smiri. On the Habits of Ocydromus australis, (Trans. N.-Z. Inst. xyiii. p. 151, 1885.) 19, SmrrH, On the Birdsof Lake Brunner District. (Trans. N.-Z. Inst. xxi. p. 205, 1888.) 20, SHUFELDT. Osteological Studies of the Subfamily Ardene.—Part II. (Journ. Comp. Med. & Surg., Oct. 1889.) 21, Savrenpr. Contributions to the Comparative Osteology of Arctic and Sub-Arctic Water-birds—Part IV. (Journ. Anat. & Physiol. xxiii. p. 537.) 22. SuureLptT. Studies of the Macrochires, Morphological and otherwise, with the view of indicating their Relationships and defining their several Posi- Bon in the System. (Journ. Linn. Soc. (Zoology), xx. 299. . TkLLMER. Experimente titber Hind- und Riick ung der Militar-Brief- A (8vo. Berlin, 1889.) 24, ZnunTNER. Zur Entwicklung von Cypselus melba (Alpensegler). (Zool. Anzeiger, 1889). NOW READY. Demy 8vo. Pp. 240. Price 12s. 6d. INDEX GENERUM AVIUM, OR A LIST OF THE GENERA AND SUBGENERA OF BIRDS. BY F. H. WATERHOUSE, A.L.S., LIBRARIAN TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, R. H. PORTER, 18 PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, W. In two Volumes, Royal 8v0. £3 3s. ARGENTINE ORNITHOLOGY: A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 0B THE BIRDS OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. BY P. L. SCLATER, M.A., Pu.D., F.R.S., ere. WITH NOTES. ON THEIR HABITS BY W. H. HUDSON, C.M.ZS., LATE OF BUENOS AYRES. With 20 Coloured Plates by J. G. Keulemans. R. H. PORTER, 18 PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, W. M. SUCHETET, Propriétaire, Rouen, Seine-Inférieure, France, is making a study of hybrids, and would be glad to receive notices of ‘specimens of hybrid birds possessed or observed by Members of the B.O. U. or other ornithologists. CONTENTS OF NUMBER V.—SIXTH SERIES. i II. III. AI. SO DOI OT YH CON 15. 16. 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Giglioli’s First Report on the Results of the Ornithological Investigation of Italy . . Leverkiihn on the Legend: ary History of the Hoopoe . , Leverkiihn on Variations in’ the Coloration of Birds [ Contents continued on page 3 of ee | Publishers. Page 24 3 Hanover Square, Advertisements &c. to the Publishers, GuRNiY & JAcKson, 1 Paternoster Row, London, E.C. (Successors to J. Van Voonsr). Members of the B. O. U. are requested to keep the Secretary, F. DuCanz i informed of any ay be sent to them CONTENTS OF NUMBER V. (continued). _ 17, Leverkiihn on the Literature of Syrrhaptes 5 18. Menzbier and Severtzow on the ical panied of Turkestan 19. Meyer on scarce Varieties of Tetrao . 20. Muirhead on the Birds of Berwickshire 21, Ridgway on new Costa-Rican Birds. 22. Robinson on Albino Birds . 23, Salvadori on Three new Birds from Burmah . 24, Salvadori on the Birds collected by Fea in Burmah. | oe 25. Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Tubinares and Stegano- ‘ ae 117 podes . ‘ 26. Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Herons . 27. Sousa on new Collections from Angola . 28. Stejneger on Japanese Nutcrackers . 29. Stejneger on Japanese Wrens. . ; 80. Tristram’s Catalogue of his Collection . . 31. Van Kempen on rare Birds of the North of France 32. Waterhouse’s ‘ Index Generum Avium’ 33. Winge on Pallas’s Sand Grouse in Denmark . XIl. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &¢. :— Letters from Count T. Salvadori; J. H. Gurney, Esq.; Dr. R. W. Shufeldt ; Robert Ridgway, Esq.; R. Lloyd Patterson, Esq. Extract from a Letter from Count Salvadori; Note on Spodiopsar fuscogularis ; The Southern Range of the Correbide ; The Raffles Museum at Cinauiahe : Omithological Works in Progress: .° ) . 124 19 193 PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE Issuz OF No. 4, SixtH coe AND NOT NOTICED IN THE PRESENT NUMBER. 1. ALLEN. Remarks on Individual and Seasonal Variation in a large Series of Elainea from Chapada, Matto Grosso, Brazil ; with a Revision of the Species of the restricted Genus Elainea. (Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. ii. p. 183.) 2. Barspoza pu BocackE. Sur deux espéces a ajouter a la faune Ornitholo- ique de St. Thomé. (Jorn. Sci. Math. Phys. e Nat. Lisboa, 2* ser. no. 2, p. 142, 1889). 3. Cuapman. Further Note on Amazilia eneobrunnea. (Bull. Am, Mus. Nat. Hist. ii. p. 182.) 4, Die Schwalbe, Jahrgung xiii. (1889), Nos. 13-20. 5. Kempen. Séjour des Syrrhaptes dans le Nord de la France en 1888. (Bull. Soe. Zool. France, 1888, p. 145, 1889, p. 18.) 6. Kempen. Sur quelques Once rares du Nord de la France. (Bull. Soc. Zool, France, 1889, p. 104.) 7. Mnvrer. Beschreibung der bisher unbekannten Weibchen von Astrarchia stephanie und Epimachus macleay Yane. 8. Meyer u. Hew. iv. Jahresbericht (1888) der ornithologischen Beo- bachtungstationen im Konigreich Sachsen. (4to, Berlin, 1889). 9. Ninnr. Sulle recentissime opinioni intorno alle Specie Venete del Genere Acredula. (8vo. Venezia, 1889.) 10. Preske. Ornithographia Rossica, Bandii. Lief.2. (4to. St. Pétersbourg, 1889, 1h Report of the Trustees of the Australian Museum, New South Wales, for the Year 1888. 12. Ripeway. A Revision of the Genus Xiphocolaptes of Lesson. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 1.) 13. Ripeway. A Review of the Genus Sclerwrus of Swainson. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xi. p. 21.) 14. RipewAy. Birds collected on the Galapagos Islands in 1888. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 101.) 15. Rupotr (Prince or Austria). Notes on Sport and Ornithology. Translated, with the Author’s permission, by C.G. Danrorp. (8vo. London, 1889. 16. Oa Agegiunte alla Ornitologia della Papuasia e delle Molucche. —Pt.I. (4to. Torino, 1889.) } 17. Sauvaporr. Le ultime notizie intorno al Sirratte in Italia negli anni 1888 e 1889. (Bull. Mus. Zool. ed Anat. comp., Torino, iv. no. 70.) Publications continued on page 2 of Wrapper. | THE IBIS, A Oo oS ae ed —t es —— arg = a io) Ss -<-5 vA, = ped on) ua Ss LONDON: GURNEY AND JACKSON, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. (Successors ro JOHN VAN VOORST.) Annual Subscription, payable before 31st March each year, £1 1s. BG TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, PRINTERS, ] [RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET. | _ NOW READY. ee ne ; Sea Byo. bees 240. Price 128. 6a. oe BY F. H. WATERHOUSE, A.LS., LIBRARIAN ee THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDOR. In two Volumes, Royal 8vo. £3 3s. ARGENTINE ORNITHOLOGY: g A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. OF THE BIRDS OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. BY : : P. L. SCLATER, M.A.; Pu.D., F.RS., ere. WITH NOTES ee THEIR HABITS ; W. 4H. HUDSON, C.M.Z.S., LATE OF BUENOS AYRES. With 20 Coloured Plates by J. G. Keulemans. Royal 8vo, cloth, price 3s. 6d. CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS: An attempt to Diagnose the Subclasses, Ontes: Suborder i and some of the Families of Existing Birds. By HENRY SEEBOHM. Demy Bu, cloth, price 16s, SUNDEVALL’S TENTAMEN. — g _ [METHODI NATURALIS AVIUM DISPONENDARUM TENTAMEN.] TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH, WITH NOTES, By FRANCIS NICHOLSON, F.Z.S. Portrait of Cart J. Sunprvatt, and Plate. Post Ato, cloth, price 12s. 6d. BELONGING TO H. B. TRISTRAM, D.D., LL.D., E.R.S. Medium 8vo, Vol. I., cloth, price £1 1s. Bia : NESTS AND EGGS OF INDIAN BIRDS 2 By ALLAN O. HUME, C.B. Second Edition, Edited and Revised by E. W. OATES. ae ‘ Portraits of A. O. Humn, T. C. Jerpon, Colonel TrckEext, and Brian Hop R. H. POR TER, i8 PRINCES STREET, CAVEN“ISH SQUARE, W. CONTENTS OF NUMBER VI.—SIXTH SERIES. } ‘ : Page XIII. On the Ornithology of Northern Borneo. By R. BowpLer Suarpr, F.LS., F.Z.S., &c., Zoological Department, « British Museum. With Notes a JoHN WHITEHEAD.— Parco Vea tcats t « . 183 XIV. Notes on the Paradise-birds of British New Guinea. = A. P. Goopwin, of Lismore, N.S. W.. . . . 150 XY. On a Collection of Birds made by the late Mr. J. 8. Jameson on the Aruwhimi River, Upper Congo. By Captain G. E. Suetusy, F.Z.8. (Plate V.) . . . . 156 XVI. On some of the Birds of the Sandwich Islands. By Scorr Wataowy E.Z:S. > (Plate VE). wr a ae Be XVII. On the Development of the Feet of % ype melba. ae L. Zenntyer, Cand. Phil., of Bern. . . . 196. XVIII. An Attempt to Diagnose the Subclass Ooraciiformes & and the Orders, Suborders, and Families comprised . therein. By Henry Srepoum, F.Z.8. . . . . . . 200. XIX. Descriptions of three new Species of Flycatchers. By R. Bowprer Suarpe, F.LS., F.Z.8.,&e. . . . . . 205 XX. On the Young of Pallas’s Sand-Grouse (Syrrhaptes para- dowus). By Atrrep Newron. (Plate VIE.) . ... 207 XXI. On the Columbine Genus Macropygia and its Allies. By Major R. G. Warptaw Ramsay, F.LS., F.ZS., &. 214 XXII. On a new Genus of the Order Columbe. si Mae R.G. Waroraw Ramsay, F.L.S., F.Z.8., &.. 2. . 246 Buu. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications :— - 34, Allen on the Genus Elainea . , 247 35. Bocage on Birds new to the Island of St. ‘Thomas, West ADIGA ones ‘ 248 36, Bartlett on Weavers and Finches. 37. Cha man on Amazilia eneo-brunnea . tle oe 0 ee eae 38. Hickson’s ‘ Naturalist in North Celebes’ . . rd hac 39. Kempen on Pallas’s Sand-Grouse in Northern France. . 40. Lumholtz’s Adventures in Queensland . : aps [ Contents continued on page 3 of Wrapper. ] Covers for binding last year’s Volume may be had on application to the Publishers, Communications may be addressed to the En1ror, 3 Hanover Square, London, W. Advertisements &c. to the Publishers, Gurney & JACKSON, 1 Paternoster Row, London, E.C. (Successors to J. Van Voorsr). Members of the B. O. U. are requested to keep the Secretary, F. DuCanx Gopman, Esq., 10 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, W., informed of any change of Residence, so that the Numbers of ‘ The Ibis’ may be sent to them without delay 44, Ninni on the Venetian Long-tailed Titmouse. . , .45,.Noll.on, Bxtinet Birds. 32° 05 ives aries Scene eee 46. Oates’s ‘Birds of British India’ . . . . 2... 47. Oates’s ‘Matabele-land.’ (Secondedition.) . .. . . 48. Pleske’s ‘ Ornithographia Rossica’, . . 2. . 1 . 6 AQ, Pleske on the Birds of Prjevalski’s Journeys in Cent Asia tes MoS al eo ae a ee ee eee 50. Ridgway on the Genus Xiphocolaptes . . . . 51. Ridgway on the Genus Sclerurus. . . . . . «ss 52. Ridgway on Birds from Galapagos . . . . 1. . 53. Salvadori on Additions to Papuan Ornithology . . . .. 54, Salvadori on Pallas’s Sand-Grouse in Italy. ee eae, 55. Saunders’s ‘ Manual of British Birds’ . . . . .. . 56. Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Water-Birds . er i 57. Shufeldt on the Macrochires . . era ie ; 58, Shufeldt on the Herons <°°i"*.- 2" > 2 7. 0 = he ea ee 59. Smith on the Birds of Lake Brunner District, New Zealand ies XXIV. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. Hs Letters from J. H. Gurney, Esq.; Dr. G. Hartlaub; and A. H. Everett, Esq. Birds of the Bellenden-Ker Range, Queensland ; New extinct Swan in New Zealand; The Generic term Calo- dromas, Obituary—George Cavendish ‘l'aylor; José Augusto de Sousa; Carl Hunstein; Ladislas Taczanowski; José Arévalo y Baca; Edward Thomas Booth. . ....... . «262 PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE IssuzE or No. 5, Sixru SERigs, AND NOT NOTICED IN THE PRESENT NUMBER. e 95. The Auk, Vol. vii. No. 1 (1890), ene 26. Barrows. The English Sparrow in North America. (Bull. U.S. Dep. Agr. division Econ, Orn. & Mamm. no. 1, 1889.) 27, BERLEPSCH. Systematisches Verzeichniss der von Herrn Gustav Garlepp in Brasilien und Nord-Peru im Gebiete des oberen Amazonas gesammelten = Vogelbilge. (J. f. O. 1889, p. 289.) a 98, FURBRINGER. Linige Bemerkungen iiber die Stellung von Stringops und den eventuellen Herd der Entstehung der Papageien, sowie iber den systema-_ tischen Platz von Jyna. (J. f.-O. 1889, p. 236.) 99. LeveRKUHN. Ueber Farbenvarietiten bei Vogeln.—IIl. (J. f. O. 18 . 245. 30. Aone. A List of Irish Birds. Second edition. (8vo, Dublin, 1890. 831. Neurirmne. North American Birds. Parts I., II. (4to. London, 189 32, Ornithologisches Jahrbuch, Band i. Heft 1 (1890). a 33. Report of the Department of Agriculture for the Year 1888.—Report the Ornithologist and Mammalogist, C. Hart Merriam. (8vo. Washingt 1889. . oe Ripaway. Birds collected on the Island of Santa Lucia, West Indies Abrolhos Islands, Brazil, and at the Straits of Magellan in 1887-88. (Proc. U S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 129.) : 35, SeEBnoHM. Classification of Birds. (8vo. London, 1890.) 96, SrEJNEGER and Lucas. Contribution to the History of Pallas’s— morant. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xii. p. 83.) . 3 37. SuuFrELDT. Contributions to the Comparative Osteology of Arctic Sub-arctic Water-Birds.—Part V._ (Journ. Anat. & Physiol. xxiv. p. 89 38. SHurELpT. Progress in Avian Anatomy for the Year 1888-89. (¢ ‘Comp. Med. & Veterin. Arch. Jan., 1890.) ee Spee 29..WooprorD. A Naturalist among the Head-Hunters. (8vo. Lon 1890.) y ae Pe PCRS . rine - ? Cor ty as 7 Si Yi “SIXTH SERIES. A Vor. II. No. 7. JULY 1890. THE IBIS, EDITED BY “% fa B70. JUL 2 “909 Price 6s. My QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Ph. i ERS. “SHORE : ~ TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY = Parade LONDON: GURNEY AND JACKSON, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. (Successors Tro JOHN VAN VOORST.) TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, PRINTERS, ] Annual Subscription, payable before 31st March each year, £1 1s. RED LION COURT “Lt STREET. [ Pe e'D STREET a BS i : COLOURED FIGURES OF THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS, Issuep By LORD LILFORD, F.ZS., &c., President of the British Ornithologists’ Union. Parts I-XV. Ready. Roy. 8vo. Price 9s. 6d. per Part. = e In two Volumes, Royal 8v0. £3 3s. ARGENTINE ORNITHOLOGY: A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE “a BIRDS OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. BY P. L. SCLATER, M.A., Pu.D., F.RS., ere. WITH NOTES ON THEIR HABITS BY W. H. HUDSON, C.M.Z5S., LATE OF BUENOS AYRES. With 20 Coloured Plates by J. G. Keulemans. 4 Royal 8vo, cloth, price 3s. 6d. — et CLASSIFICAT HON: OF BIRDS: = 4 An attempt to Diagnose the Subclasses, Orders, Suborders, and some of the Families of Existing Birds. By HENRY SEEBOHM. Demy 8vo, cloth, price 16s, SUNDEVALL’ S TENTAMEN. [METHODI NATURALIS AVIUM DISPONENDARUM TENTAMEN.] TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH, WITH NOTES, By FRANCIS NICHOLSON, F.ZS. Portrait of Cart J. SunpEvALt, and Plate. Demy 8vo. Price 2s. post-free. Bak PS BIRDS: KEY LIST. By Lieut.-Col. L. HOWARD IRBY, F.Z.S., &c. Medium 8vo, Vols. I. § IL., cloth, price £1 1s. each. ee NESTS AND EGGS OF INDIAN BIRDS. By ALLAN O. HUME, C.B. Second Edition, Edited and Revised by E. W. OATES. Portraits of A. O. Humr, T. C. Jprvon, Colonel Trcxeit, Baran Hopason, 3 Be W. T. BLaNnForp, "R. G. Warpiaw RAMSAY, Col. H. H. Gopwin- Austen, and I. Biuyru. ee, > aie: R. H. PORTER, AI TATA AMDODMN MAITOAINTAT ANTTTADD Wr CONTENTS OF NUMBER VII.—SIXTH SERIES. ERS Page XXY. On the Ornithology of Northern Borneo. By R. Bowprer Suarez, F.LS., F.Z.S., &e., Zoological Department, British Museum. With Notes by Jonny War1renzap.— Pere WEE. (Piste WiLL), ose oe es “Hs 213 XXVI. On Photodilus badius, with Remarks on its Systematic | Position. By Frank E. Bepparp, M.A., F.R.S.E., F.Z.8., Prosector to the Zoological Society of London , 293 XXVIL On the Principal Modern Breeds of the Domastie Fowl. By W. B. Treurmeter, F.Z.S.,M.B.0.U.. . . . . 304 XXVIII. On the Habits of the Hoatzin (Opisthocomus oristatus). By J. J. Quetcu, B.Sc. (Lond.), C.M.Z.8., Curator of the British Guiana Museum . Pea tees Se ets 9b XXIX, ne Range of the Gudcharo (Steatornis caripensis) in «South America. By P. L. Scuarer, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. 335 XXX. On a new Finch from Midway Island, North Pacific. By Scorr B, Wirson, F.Z.8. (PlateIX.) . . . . 339 XXXI. Notes on some Birds collected by Dr. G. Radde in the Transcaspian Region. By H. E. Dresser, F.Z.8. . , 342 XXXII. Note on Turnix beccarii, Salvadori. By W. R. Oairvie oO Larner ae eee Asters oc RR Te XXXII. On some new and rare Francolins. By W. R. Oettviz Grant (Nat. Hist. Museum). (Plates X., XI.) . . 345 XXXIV. Extracts from the Letters of Mr. J. Granax Kerr, Naturalist to the Pilcomayo Expedition . ove 0 va OO XXXY. On a small Collection of Birds from Mount Penrisen, Sarawak. By R. Bowptzr Sarre, PLD ete. ee, Oe XXXVI. On the Identity of Chrysotis celigena with Psittacus - dufresnianus. By Count T. Satvavori, C.M.Z.S. . , 367 XXXVII. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications :— 60. Backhouse on European Birds. . . . . . . . Peet: Fa 61. Barrows on the English Sparrow in North America / 379 62. Berlepsch on Birds from Upper Amazonia. , . . : : [ Contents continued on page 8 of Wrapper. } SASSER ES) DRE O59 BERD ayes Covers for binding last year’s Volume may be had on application to the Publishers, Communications may be addressed to the Eprror, 3 Hanover Square, London, W. Advertisements &c. to the Publishers, Gurnry & JACKSON, 1 Paternoster Row, London, E.C, (Successors to J. Van Voorsr), Members of the B. O. U. are requested to keep the Secretary, F. DuCanx Gopman, Esq., 10 Chandos Street, Cavendish quare, W., informed of any change of Residence, so that the Ny abers of ‘The Ibis’ may be sent to them without delay. CONTENTS OF NUMBER VII. Saab iss /E 63. Fiirbringer on Stringops and Iynz phere a4 64, Hume and Oates’s ‘ Nests and Eges of Indian Birds’ 65. Leverkiihn on Variations inthe Coloration of Birds . 66. Merriam’s Report for 1888 . . Se Whar ica he 67. Meyer’s Illustrations of Birds’ Skeletons . . . . . 68. Modigliani on the Birds of Nias . . . 1. 1... 69. More’s List of Irish Birds . . 2... . 70. Nehrling’s North-American Birds. 71. Ridgway on Birds from St. Lucia, the " Abrolhos s Islands, and the Straits of Magellan . . 72. Salvadori on Additions to Papuan Omithology . 73. Sclater on the Tracheophone Passeres . ieee Re 74, Seebohm on the Classification of Birds. . Seopa.” 75. Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Water-Birds ; 76. Shufeldt on Progress in Avian Anatomy Paes ges ys 9 ‘ies 77. Stejneger and Lucas on Pallas’s Cormorant . . 5 Bhs 78. Tschusi zu Schmidhofen’s ‘ Ornithologisches J; aint 4 79, Woodford on the Head-hunters of the Solomon Islands . XXXVIII. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &e.:— - Letters from Dr. H. Burmeister; H. E. Dresser, Esq. ; John J. hd Dalgleish, Esq. Butorides virescens in Cornwall; Phylloscopus superciliosus in the Scilly Islands; Turtur or ientalis in Great Britain; Valuable Addition to the National Bird-Collection ; The Catalogue of Birds in the British Museum; New Bird- books in preparation ; Pelagodroma marina in the Canaries ; Anniversary Meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Union, 1890; Obituary—J. ‘HL Gurney Sen oni hte ae es ee PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE ISSUE OF No. 6, Sixt SERIE, AND NOT NOTICED IN THE PRESENT NUMBER. 40. The Auk, (Vol. vii. No. 2, 1890.) 41, Curisty. The Birds of Essex. (8vo. Chelmsford, 1890.) 42, CLARKE. The Birds of Jan Mayen Island. (Zoologist, Jan, & Feb., 1890. rt The Horned Larks of North America. (Auk, vii. p. 138.) 44, Harritaus. Ueber eine Sammlung Chinesischer Vogel. (Abhandl. naturw. Ver. Bremen, xi.) 45. Hartrert. Zur Ornithologie der indisch-malayischen Gegenden. (Journ. f, Ornith. 1889, p. 345.) 46. ‘Ornis.’ (Jahrgang iv. Heft 1.) 47. Ornithologisches J ahrbuch. (Band i. Hefte 2-4, 1890.) 48, Pycrart. A Contribution to the Pterylography of Birds’ Wings. (8vo. Leicester, 1890.) 49, Records of the Australian Museum. (Vol. i. no. 1, 1890.) rs 50. Report of the Government Scientitic Expedition to Bellenden-Ker Range. (8vo. Brisbane, 1889.) 51. Rrpgway and Forses. The Ornithology of Illinois. (Royal 8yo. Springfield, Ill.) ees: 52. SaHurEeLpt. Contributions to the Comparative Osteology of the Families Bee ye)! of North-American Passeres. (Journ. of Morphol. iii. pl. 81.) : 53, SaureLpT. Notes on the Anatomy of Speotyto cunicularia Hypogea. (Journ. of Morphol. iii. p. 116.) ae 54. Suuretpt. On the Position of Chamea in the System. (Journ. of | Morphol. iii. p. 475.) 55. SuvFELDT. Contributions to the Comparative Osteology of Arctic and Sub-arctic Water-Birds.—Part VI. (Journ. Anat. & Physiol. xxiv. p. 169.) 3 56. SrrsneceR. Notes on a third Collection of Birds made in Kauai, Hawaiian Islands, by Valdemar Knudsen. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus, xii. p, 377.) 57. Tscuust zU ScHMIDHOFEN. Das Steppenhuhn (Syrrhaptes paradonys, — Bae Pall.) in Oesterreich-Ungarn. (Mitth. naturw. Ver. fiir Steiermark, 1889.) _ 58. ZELEDON. Catalogo de las Aves de Costa Rica. (Anales Mus. Nac. Rep. Costa Rica, 1887, p. 103.) _ ea | OCTOBER 1890. Price 68. ise 4 THE er Ss. A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY. EDITED, BY PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.BS., SECRETARY TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. LONDON: ¢ “ot GURNEY AND JACKSON, 1, PX PRY OSTERS (Successors to JOHN VAN VOO Annual Subscription, payable before 31st March each year, £1 1s. (ere AND FRANCIS, PRINTERS,] —/ Parts I-XVI, Ready. Roy. 8vo. Price 9s. 6d. per Part. COLOURED FIGURES OF THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS, Issurep By LORD LILFORD, F.ZS., &c., President of the British Ornithologists’ Union. In two Volumes, Royal 8v0. £3 3s. ARGENTINE ORNITHOLOGY: A DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS OF THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. BY P. L. SCLATER, M.A., Pu.D., F.R.S., erc. WITH NOTES ON THEIR HABITS BY W. H. HUDSON, €.M.ZS., LATE OF BUENOS AYRES. With 20 Coloured Plates by J. G. Keulemans. Royal 8vo, cloth, price 3s. 6d. CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS; An attempt to Diagnose the Subclasses, Orders, Suborders, and some of the Families of Existing Birds. By HENRY SEEBOHM. Demy 8vo, cloth, price 16s. SUNDEVALL’S TENTAMEN. [METHODI NATURALIS AVIUM DISPONENDARUM TENTAMEN. ] TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH, WITH NOTES, By FRANCIS NICHOLSON, F.ZS. Portrait of Cart J. Sunpevatt, and Plate. Ready. Royal 8v0. Cloth, price 25s. THE BIRDS OF THE JAPANESE EMPIRE. BY HENRY SEEBOHM. WITH NUMEROUS WOODCUTS. Medium 8vo, Three Vols., cloth, price £3 3s. NESTS AND EGGS OF INDIAN BIRDS. By ALLAN O. HUME, C.B. Second Edition, Edited and Revised by E. W. OATES. Portraits of A. O. Humn, T. C. Jerpon, Colonel Trickett, Br1an Hopason, W. T. Buanrorp, R. G. WaRDLAW Ramsay, Col. H. H. Gopwin- AusTEN, E. BuyTH, Artuur, Ninth Marquis or TWEEDDALE, W. E. Brooks, R. BowDLER SHARPE, and W. R. Davison. R. H. PORTER, . 18 PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, W. : ae & 2S " > I ee Se cael ae. -OONTENTS OF NUMBER VIII—SIXTH SERIES. rag — Page XXXIX. Notes on Irish Ornithology. By Hryry Szrnonm . . . 397 XL. On the Foot of the Young of Iynx torquilla. By Dr. A. ; Gaatans oe! rater sore eas am ee eee XLI. Notes on Birds from the Papuan Region, with Descriptions of some new Species. By A. B. Meyer, M.D.,C.M.Z.8., Director of the Royal Zoological Museum of Dresden. PE IMOP MEE Sosy keg fee mst oo ak ee XLII. On some Birds of the Argentine Republic. By A. H. Hortano. With Notes by P. L. Scrarer. . . . . 424 XLIII. Further Notes on the Birds of the Canary Islands. By EK. G. Mzapr-Watpo, (Plate XIII.) . . . . . . 429 XLIY. Notes on some Birds obtained at Madeira, Deserta Grande, and Porto Santo. By W. R. Ocrtvim Grant (Nat. Hist. Musi Gilate. REVS) see, ee eas os ee XLY. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications :— 80. The British Museum Report for 1890 . ..... ... 440 81. Burmeister'on Patagonian: Birds... . 0. 0. Se 4 82. Burmeister on the Fauna ebPatipryee 2 225. hee Sees 448 83. Christy’s ‘Birds of Essex’ . Shs Pegi ewe 84. Clarke on the Birds of Jan Mayen Aslan auth . . 449 85, Everett on the Birds of Borneo. f sera has PAL, ." acetne 450 &6. Hargitt on the Picide. . Baer 87. Hartert and Kutter on East-Indian Birds and ees » Ya 9452 88. Hartlaub on Birds from China. . . ; wo ate 32453 SOoeOustaletyon-a new limamowe. se accel tee. - oO, Pyeratt ou the Birds Wine 5 seat 5. Pda ta ot 91. Records of the Australian “Musenni Peay, Seg eae ara d wioae Girma 92, Reid on the Birds of the Lucknow Museum ar Gr ous 2 93. Ridgway’s ‘ Birds of Illinois’ . . 2 ee 94, Sharpe’ s Catalogue of the Stur niformes and Amonuak Passer es. 456 95, Shufeldt on the Anatomy of Speotyto.. 0°. en 8 eo . 96, Shufeldt on the North-American Passeres . rape 458 97. Shufeldt on the Postition of Chamea. . . + te teen ee ee 98. Shufeldt on the Osteology of the Water- Birds Pian ss 99. Stejneger on Birds from Kauai, Hawaiian Islands . . . j Be 100, Tschusi zu Schmidhoffen’s ‘ Ornithologisches J. ahrbuch’ . | 101. Tschusi zu Schmidhoffen on Pallas’s Sund-Grouse mentee sees 102, Zeledon on the Birds of Costa Rica . . . VOSS ecru ene [ Contents continued on page. 3 of Weayper:| Covers for binding last year’s Volume may be had on application to the Publishers, Communications may be addressed to the Eprror, 3 Hanover Square, London, W. Advertisements &c. to the Publishers, Gurney & JAcKsoN, 1 Paternoster Row, London, E.C, (Successors to J. VAN Voorst). ? Members of the B. O. U. are requested to keep the Secretary, F. DuCanr GopMAN, Esq., 10 Chandos Street, Cavendish Square, W., informed of any change of Residence, so that the Numbers of ‘ The Ibis’ may be sent to them without delay.- CONTENTS OF NUMDbBEW Vili. (coniinued). XLVI. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. :— ; Letters from W. W. Smith, Esq.; Lt.-Col. E. A. Butler; Heer F. E. Blaauw; A. H. Everett. Syrrhaptes paradoxus in Cap- tivity. A Tame Cuckoo. New Breeding Birds in the Trondhjem District; International Ornithological Congress of 1891 ; Breed- ing of Falco babylonicus; The Gatke Collection, Obituary— W. K. Parker. J. H. Gurney (Correction of an Error). . . 462 index of Scventitie Names. ue fan 82. ck le se, aosbehs Gao eee Saves of Contenta sre 6) mete otis we hye ae . 485) Titlepage, Preface, List of Members, and Contents. Page PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED SINCE THE issuE OF No. 7, SixTH SERIES, AND NOT NOTICED IN THE PRESENT NUMBER. 59. Abstract of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New York for the Year ending March 7, 1890. 60. The Auk. (Vol. vii. No. 3.) 61. BerLepscH v. LEVERKUKN. Studien tiber einige siidamerikanische Végel nebst Beschreibungen neuer Arten. (Ornis, vi. p. 1.) 62. Brustna. Motriocem ptitjega Svijeta. Naputak i popis Domacik ptica. (Glasnik Hrv. Naravoslov. Druztva, v. 1890.) 63. FEILDEN. The Deserted Domicile of the Diablotin in Dominica, (Trans. Norf. and Norwich Nat, Soc. v. p. 24.) 64. GierioL1. Primo Resoconto dei resultati della inchiesta Ornitologica in Italia. Parte seconda. (8vo. Firenze, 1890.) 65. Hume and Oatss. The Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds. Vols. I. & III. (8vo. London, 1890.) bei ' 66. LeverKvHN. Zur Geschichte des Vogelschutzes in Hessen. (Monatschr. Deutsch. Ver. z. Schutze d. Vogelw. xv. p. 211.) 67. Lucas. Catalogue of Skeletons of Birds collected at the Abrolhos Islands, Brazil, the Straits of Magellan, and the Galapagos Islands, in 1887-88, (Proce. US. Nat. Mus. xiii. p. 127.) , 68. Marroretii. Nota Ornitologica sopra alcuni esemplari del Gen. Zimosa appartenenti alle specie Limosa lapponica, Linn., e Limosa uropygialis, Gould. (Atti Soe. Ital. sci. nat. xxxiii. 1890.) 69. Maynarp. Das Brillen der amerikanischen Rohrdommel (Botaurus lentiginosus, Steph.).—I. (Monatschr. Deutsch. Ver. z. Schutze d. Vogelw. xv. p. 242. a6, Mee nee III. Ornithologischer Jahresbericht (1887) aus den Rus- sischen Ostsee-Provinzen. (8vo. Wien, 1890.) 71. Mittheilungen des ornithologischen Vereines in Wien. (xiv. 1890, Nr. 1-14. 72. Oriihitessehed Jahrbuch. (Band i. Hefte 6-8, 1890.) 73, Ramsay. Supplement to the Catalogue of the Australian Accipitres in the Australian Museum, Sydney, N.S.W. (8vo. Sydney, 1890.) 74, Ramsay. Catalogue of the Australian Birds in the Australian Museum at Sydney, N.S.W.—Part HUI. Striges. (8vo. Sydney, 1890.) 75. Ripgway. Further Notes on the Genus Xiphocolaptes of Lesson. (Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. xiii. p. 47.) 76. Satvaport. Viaggio di Lamberto Loria nella Papuasia Orientale.—I. Collezioni Ornitologische. (Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova, ser. 2, ix. p. 476.) 77. Satvapori. Il Cypselus affints in Liguria, (Ann, Mus. Ciy. Stor. Nat. Genova, ser. 2, ix. p. 549.) 78. SaLvapDort. Viaggio di Lamberto Loria nella Papuasia Orientale—TI. (Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova, ser. 2, ix. p. 554.) 79, ScnaLtow. Neue Beitrige zur Vogelfauna von Brandenburg. (J. f. O. 1890, p. 1.) 80, BammonM, The Birds of the Japanese Kmpire. (Royal 8vo, \London, 1890.) BP <4 8 @ gai 81. SuctrFELDT. Contributions to the Comparative Ostenledy of Arctic and Sub-Arctic Water-Birds—Part VII. (Journ. Anat. & Physiol. xxiv. p. 543.) 82. Srprre. Madagascar Ornithology. (8vo. Antananarivo, 1890.) 83. Sronz. Catalogue of the Owls in the Collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philad. 1890, p. 124.) 84. TorrEy. Das Briillen der amerikanischen Rohrdommel (Botaurus lenti- ginosus, Steph.).—II. (Monatschr. Deutsch. Ver. z. Schutze d. Vogelw. xv. p. 62.) iy ine y ‘| a ga ‘ va'3 ‘oD fe y 3 9088 00996 5799 wi