AeA ae aS:
A
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY.
EDITED BY
PHILIP GUTILEY SCLATER M.A, Ph.D. HRs.
SECRETARY TO THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON,
AND
HOWARD SAUNDERS, F.LS., F.Z8.
WOL. Ue tenes
SEVENTH SERIES.
Non moriar, sed vivam, et narrabo opera Domini,
LONDON:
GURNEY AND JACKSON, 1 PATERNOSTER ROW,
(Successors to J. VAN VOORST.)
1896.
ALERB ? FLAMMAM.
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS,
RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
oper Los {2
a :
“ar 2 e
f w \ el” ca? == aie
x ose
F HV)
PREFACE.
On bringing the thirty-eighth volume of this Journal
to a conclusion, the Editors of ‘The Ibis’ wish to
express their thanks to the contributors who have
rendered them assistance during the past year. On
turning over the pages of the second volume of the
Seventh Series it will be found that articles have been
received from nearly every part of the globe, except
perhaps from the United States, where an excellent
periodical devoted to the same science naturally
absorbs the energies of American ornithologists.
The Editors are always anxious to secure new
contributors, and in the present volume they have
been fortunate enough to succeed in doing this in
several instances. It is sad to think of the severe
losses among the older Members of the Union, but
it is some alleviation to find that the younger men
are disposed to come forward with aid.
As regards the general strength of the British
Ornithologists’ Union, nothing can be more satis-
1V PREFACE.
factory than the steady increase in number at the
close of every year. The J.ist now issued shows that
there are at the present time 291 Ordinary Members,
and it is understood that several candidates are ready
for election at the next Meeting.
London, October Ist, 1896.
Io
15
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.
1896.
[An asterisk indicates an Original Member. It is particularly requested
that Members will give notice to the Secretary of the Union, 10 Chandos Street,
London, W., of any error in their addresses or descriptions in this List, in order
that it may be immediately corrected. |
Date of
Election.
1896.
1893.
1887.
1888.
1896.
1885.
1892.
1889.
1890.
1872.
1885.
1889.
1881.
1884.
1880.
1884.
1892.
1891.
1893.
ALEXANDER, Boyp ; Swifts Place, Cranbrook, Kent.
Awne, Major Ernasr L. 8.; 21 Victoria Square, Newcastle-
on-T'yne.
Artin, Freperick Cuartes ; Bodicote, Banbury, Oxon.
ApLin, OttveR VeRNon; Bloxham, Banbury, Oxon.
ARCHIBALD, CHARLEs F,; 9 Cardigan Road, Headingley, Leeds.
Bacxuovss, Jamus, F.Z.8.; Daleside, Harrogate.
Baxsr, E. C. Sruarr; District Superintendent of Police,
Hafflong, North Cachar, Assam, India; care of H. S.
King & Co.
Batston, Ricuarp Jamus, F.Z.S.; Springfield, Maidstone.
Barcray, Francis Husert; Knott’s Green, Leyton.
Barctay, Colonel Hansury, F.Z.S8.; Tingrith Manor,
Woburn, Bedfordshire.
Barcray, Hueu G.; Colney Hall, Norwich.
Barretr-Haminton, Geratp E. H., F.Z.8.; Kilmannock
House, New Ross, Wexford.
Barrineton, Ricwarp Manutrre, LL.B.; Fassaroe, Bray, co.
Wicklow.
Bepparp, Frank E., M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S., Prosector to the
Zoological Society of London ; Zoological Gardens, Regent’s
Park, N.W.
Browett, Epwarp; 1 Trig Lane, Upper Thames Street, E.C.
Brneuam, Lt.-Col. Caartes T. (Indian Staff Corps), F.Z.S. ;
care of Messrs. H. 8. King & Co., 65 Cornhill, E.C.
Brrp, The Rev. Maurice C. H., M.A.; Brunstead Rectory,
Stalham, Norfolk.
Buaavw, F. E., C.M.Z.8.; s’Graveland, Hilversum, Holland.
Braae, Ernest W. H.: Greenhill, Cheadle, Staffordshire.
20
25
30
35
4o
45
Date of
Election.
1896.
1873.
1893.
1894.
1878.
1895.
1885.
1884.
1895.
1896.
1889,
1896.
1888.
1892.
vl
Brakenty, Ropert, R.E.; Aldershot Camp.
Branrorp, Witt1aM T., F.R.S., F.Z.8. ; 72 Bedford Gardens,
Kensington, W.
Boxam, Groner, F.Z.S. ; Castlegate, Berwick-on-Tweed.
Bonnore, Jonn Lewis; 68 Lexham Gardens, Kensington, W.
Borrer, Witxr1amM, M.A., F.L.S.; Cowfold, Horsham.
BrapForp, Dr. J. Ross, F.R.S.; 52 Upper Berkeley Street,
Portman Square, W.
Brocknorrs, WitttAm F.; Claughton-on-Brock, Garstang,
Lancashire.
. Brooxs, Harry Briystey; 33 Egerton Gardens, Kensington, W.
. Brooxs, W. Epwin ; Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada.
. Bucxtry, THomas Epwarp, B.A., F.Z.8. ; Rossal, Inverness,
NEB:
5. Burearra, H.R.H. Frrptnanp, Prince of; Sophia, Bulgaria.
72. BuieEr, Sir WaLtER Lawry, K.C.M.G.,Sc.D., F.R.S.,C.M.Z:S. ;
Wellington, New Zealand.
. Burier, Lieut.-Col. E.A.; Brettenham Park, Bildeston, Suffolk.
. Burrerrietp, W. C. J. Ruskin; Wilsden, Bradford, and
10 Stanhope Place, St. Leonards-on-Sea.
Buxton, Grorrrey Fowert; Sunny Hill, Thorpe, Norwich.
Buxton, 8. Gurney, F.Z.8.; Catton Hall, Norwich.
Cavz, Francis J.; Teighmore, Cheltenham.
Cameron, Ewen Somerten, F.Z.S.; Terry, Montana, U.S.A.
Cameron, James S.; Ist Bn. Royal Sussex Regt., Fermoy.
Cameron, Joun Duncan; Low Wood, Bethersden, near Ashford,
Kent.
CampBELL, Cuartes WriiiiamM, C.M.Z.S.; H.B.M. Chinese
Consular Service; British Legation, Peking, China.
*1858. Campsect-Orpe, Sir Jonn W. P., Bart., F.2Z.S., late Captain
1888.
1890.
1888.
1894.
1884.
1894.
42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment; Kilmory House,
Lochgilphead, Argyllshire, N.B.
Carter, JAMes; Burton House, Masham, Yorkshire.
Cave, Cuarzes Joun Puri, F.Z.8.; Ditcham Park, Petersfield.
CuamMBERLAIN, Watrer, F.Z.S.; Harborne Hall, Harborne,
near Birmingham.
Cuance, A. Macoms, Jun., B.A.; Lawnside, Edgbaston,
Birmingham,
Cuapman, Asai; 7 The Avenue, Sunderland.
Cuapman, Enwarp Henry: 17 St. Hilda’s Terrace, Whitby.
vil
Blection.
1882. Cuasz, Roserr Wrii11am; Southville, Priory Road, Edgbas-
ton, Birmingham.
1889. Crarxn, SrepHenson Rosert, F.Z.8.; Borde Hill, Cuckfield,
Sussex.
+ 59 1880. Crarxe, Wiirr1aM Eases, F.L.S.; Museum of Science and Art,
Edinburgh.
1895. Corns, Ricnarp Epwarp; Oakfield, Milton, Lymington.
1880. Cooprr, Lieut.-Col. E. H., F.Z.S8. ; 42 Portman Square, W.
1874. CorprEavx, Joun; Great Cotes, R.S.O., Lincoln.
1888. Corpraux, Captain Witr1am Witrrip; (21st Hussars), Secun-
derabad, India.
~55 1882. Cory, Cartes B., F.Z.S.; Third National Bank, State Street,
Boston, Mass., U.S.A.
1892, Coursey, Harotp Mircnett; Snowdenham, Bramley, Guild-
ford
1896. Cowrm, Capt. ALexanpeR Hveu, R.E.; Stanhope Lines,
Aldershot.
1896. Crawrorp, Francis C.; 4 Raymond Buildings, Gray’s Inn,
W.C.
1894. Crewe, Sir Vauncry Harrvr, Bt.; Calke Abbey, Derbyshire.
60 1896. Crocknrr, Samvurt Rvuruerrorp; Bank House, Penicuik,
1895.
1882.
1877.
1896.
65 1874.
1883
1891
1893
1896
70 1896
.
Midlothian.
Crosstey, Sir Savite B., Bt., F.Z.S.; Somerleyton, Lowestoft,
and 12 Carlton-House Terrace, S.W.
Crow ey, Purtip, F.Z.S.; Waddon House, Waddon, Croydon.
DatetetsH, Joun J.; Brankston Grange, Bogside Station,
Stirling, N.B.
DanrorD, Bertram W. Y., R.E.; St. Mary’s Barracks,
Chatham.
DanForp, CuHartus G., F.Z.S.; Hatszeg, Siebenbiirgen,
Hungary, and Conservative Club, St. James’s Street, S.W.
Davipson, James; Karwar, Kanara, Bombay, and 32 Drum-
sheugh Gardens, Edinburgh.
. Dr Vis, C. W. ; Queensland Museum, Brisbane, and care of
B. Quaritch, 15 Piccadilly, W.
De Winton, W. E.; Graftonbury, Hereford, and 7 South-
ampton Row, W.C.
Deeri Opp1, Count Ch. Errore Arricontr, Societa del Casino
Pedrocchi, Padua, Italy.
. Dosarr, James B., F.Z.8., 3.4 Pitt Street, Edinburgh.
atk
—_ 80
85
go
Date ot
Election.
1889.
1883.
1895.
1880.
1865.
1896.
1890.
1878.
1896.
1870.
1895.
1891.
1892.
villi
Doster, Wittiam Henry, M.R.C.S.; 22 Upper Northgate Street,
Chester.
Dore, Scrore B.; Public Works Department, Bombay.
Donovan, Surgeon-Capt. C., I.M.S., Civil Surgeon; Man-
galore, South Canara, India.
Dowserr, Arruur, F.Z.8.; Castle Hill House, Reading.
Dresser, Henry Heres, F.L.S., F.Z.8.; Topclyffe Grange,
Farnborough, Beckenham, Kent.
Drewirt, Dr. Frevertck D.; 2 Manchester Square, W.
Drummonp-Hay, James A. G. (Coldstream Guards); Guards’
Club, Pall Mall, 8.W.
Dvurnrorp, W. Artuur, J.P.; Elsecar, Barnsley.
Durare, Lt.-Col. W. H. M.; Row, Doune, Perthshire.
Exxiot, Danret Grraup, F.R.S.E., F.Z.S.; Field Columbian
Museum, Chicago, U.S.A.
Extiotr, Epuunp A. S., M.R.C.S.; Woodville, Kingsbridge,
South Devon.
. Extiorr, Ateernon, Civil & Sessions Judge, Amraoti Camp,
Berar, H.A.D., India.
. Ewes, Henry Jonny, F.Z.8S.; Colesborne Park, Cheltenham.
. Ertancer, Freiherr Canto von; Nieder Ingelheim, Rhein
Hessen, Germany.
. Evans, ArtauR Humste, M.A., F.Z.8.; 9 Harvey Road, Cam-
bridge.
. Evans, Witiiam, F.R.S.E.; 184 Morningside Park, Edin-
burgh.
. Everett, ALFRED Hart, C.M.Z.S.; Labuan, Borneo.
. Farrsriver, Witi1am Grorer; 133 Long Market Street,
Capetown.
. Fatconer, Joun J. M.; Magdalene College, Cambridge.
. Farquuar, Commander Arruur M., R.N.; H.M.S. ‘Buzzard,’
North American and West Indian Station.
. Frinpen, Col. Henry Wemyss, C.M.Z.S.; West House, Wells,
Norfolk, and Junior United Service Club, St. James’s,
S.W.
. Frerauson, Lieut. Harotp Srvart, Nair Brigade; Trevandrum,
Travancore.
Fretv, Leororp; St. Stephen’s Club, Bridge Street, West-
minster, S.W.
Finn, Franx, b.A., F.Z.S.; Indian Museum, Calcutta.
Date of
Election.
95 1890.
1884.
1880.
1887.
1865.
—-I100 1881 .
1895.
— 1881.
1886.
1885.
tos 1892.
1879.
1879.
Fisuer, Lioner; Kandy, Ceylon.
Forses, Henry Oee, LL.D., F.Z.S.; Free Public Museums,
Liverpool.
Foster, WittrAm; Braeside, The Heath, Weybridge.
Fowrer, Wittram Weekes, M.A.; Lincoln College, Oxford.
Fox, Rev. Henry Eviorr, M.A.; 12 South Bailey,
Durham.
Frexr, Percy Eyans; Step House, Borris, co. Carlow.
Frouawk, Frepprick Witt1am; 39 Dornton Road, Balham,
S.W.
Gapow, Hans, Ph.D., F.Z.S.; University Zoological Museum,
Cambridge.
GatnsporoucH, Caartes WitiraAm Francis, Earl of; Exton
Park, Oakham.
Gatiwey, Sir Rate Payne, Bart. ; Thirkleby Park, Thirsk.
Gerrard, Joun; Government Inspector of Mines; Worsley,
Manchester.
Grsson, Ernest ; care of Thos. Gibson, Esq., 1 Eglinton Court
Edinburgh,
Gripson-CarmicHatt, Sir Tuomas Davi, Bart., F.Z.S.; Castle
Craig, Dolphinton, N.B.
’
+- *1858. Gopman, Freprerick DuCanz, F.R.S., F.Z.S.; 10 Chandos
*1858. Gopman,
110 1874.
1884.
1895.
1886.
1890.
115 1885.
1876.
— 1870.
1896.
1890.
Street, Cavendish Square, W.
Percy Sanpen, B.A., C.M.Z.S.; Muntham,
Horsham.
Gopwiy-Avsten, Lieut.-Col. Henry Haversuam, F.R.S.,
F.Z.8.; Shalford House, Guildford.
Goopcuitp, Joun G., F.Z.S.; Museum of Science and Art,
Edinburgh.
GraBHAM, Oxtry, M.A.; Westfield, Flaxton, York.
Granam, WixtiAM, F.Z.8.; Manor House, Crayford, Kent.
Grant, WitttAm R. Ocirvin; 26 Hereford Square, S.W.
GurttEMarD, F. H. H., M.A., M.D., F.Z.S.; Eltham, Kent.
Gtntner, Atpert C. L. G., M.A., M.D., F.RBS., F.ZS8.;
2 Lichfield Road, Kew Gardens, S.W.
Gurney, Joun Henry, F.Z.S.; Keswick Hall, Norwich, and
Athenzum Club, Pall Mall, S.W.
Guryey, Rozerr; Sprowston Hall, Norwich.
Gwatkin, Josnvua Reynontps Gascoren ;
Potterne, Devizes.
Manor House,
I20
130
135
140
Date of
Election.
1891.
1887.
1886.
1883.
1893.
1868.
1896.
1893.
1873.
1887.
1895.
1884.
1877.
1891.
1888.
1893.
1895.
1881.
Haieu, Grorcu Henry Caton; Grainsby Hall, Great Grimsby,
Lincolnshire.
Harness, Jouw Prrypert Witton; The Lodge, Gloucester.
Hamitton, Epwarp, M.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S.; 16 Cromwell Place,
S.W. ‘
Harcourt, Lewis Vernon ; Malwood, Lyndhurst, Hants.
Harrert, Ernst; The Museum, Tring, Herts.
Harrine, James Epmunp, F.LS., F.Z.8. ; Linnean Society,
Burlington House, Piccadilly, W.
Harrianp, Joun Cotes; c/o Messrs. Hunt & Co., P.O. Box 11,
Yokohama, Japan.
Harrmann, WittrAm; Tangley Mere, Chilworth, Surrey.
Harvis-Brown, Joun A., F.Z.S.; Dunipace House, Larbert,
N.B.
Hespert, Cuartes T., F.Z.8.; The Rhodrons, Hook, Kingston-
on-Thames.
Hinxman, Lionen W., B.A.; Geological Survey of Scotland,
Edinburgh.
Hoxipsworrn, Cuaries James, J.P.; Kendal, Westmorland.
Hoxrpswortn, Epmunp W. H., F.Z.S.; South Town, Dart-
mouth, Devon.
Hottanp, Artuur H.; Sta. Elena, Soler, Ferro-Carril al
Pacifico, Buenos Ayres, and Holmhurst, Copse Hill, Wim-
bledon, 8.W.
Horsrietp, Hersert Knienr; Ivy Lodge, Chapel Allerton,
Leeds.
Hosr, Cuartes, F.Z.S.; Baram, Sarawak, Borneo.
Howarp, Henry Exitor; Stone House, Kidderminster,
Howarp, Ropert James; Hawkhurst, Blackburn, Lanca-
shire.
*1858. Hupieston, Witrrip Hupieston, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S. ;
1893.
1869.
1890.
1870.
8 Stanhope Gardens, 8.W.
Hopson, Witt1AmM Henry, C.M.Z.8.; Tower House, St. Luke’s
Road, Westbourne Park, W.
Houmr, Auran Octavian, C.B., C.S.L, F.Z.8.; The Chalet,
Kingswood Road, Upper Norwood, 8.E.
Hunter, Henry Cuaritzes Vicars; Mawley Hall, Cleobury
Mortimer, Salop.
Hytron, Hepworru Hytron, Lord, F.Z.S8.; Merstham House,
Red Hill, Surrey.
i
Date of
Election.
1870.
1888.
145 1892.
1896.
150 1894.
155 1892.
160 1885.
Xi
Irpy, Lieut.-Col. Leonarp Howarp L., F.Z.S.; 14 Cornwall
Terrace, Regent’s Park, N.W.
Jackson, Freperick J., F.Z.8. ; 13 Westbourne Square, W.
James, Henry AsnworrH; 11 Oxford Square, Hyde Park,
W.
JussE, Wint1am; La Martiniére College, Lucknow, Oudh,
India.
. Jounson, Frepertck Ponsonsy; Castlesteads, Brampton,
Cumberland.
. Jounston, Sir Harry Hamitron, K.C.B., F.Z.8.; Queen
Anne’s Mansions, Queen Anne’s Gate, S.W.
. Ketuam, Major Henry Roserr (2ud Bn. Highland Light
Infantry) ; Fyzabad, Oudh, India, and Roydon Lodge,
Camberley, Surrey.
Ketsatt, Henry Josepu, R.A.; Aden.
. Kermopr, Pattie M.C.; Hillside, Ramsay, Isle of Man.
. Kerr, J. Granam; Christ’s College, Cambridge.
. Kayesrorp, Wirtiaam Epwarp; Ashdene, East Molesey,
Surrey.
. Kyusitry, Rev. Epw. Ponsonsy, M.A.; Staveley Rectory,
Leeds.
Laiwiaw, THomas Gepprs; Bank of Scotland, Morningside
Branch, Edinburgh, and 8 Morningside Road, Edinburgh.
. Laneton, Hursert; 11 Marlborough Place, Brighton.
. Lascettes, Hon. Grratp; Queen’s House, Lyndhurst.
. La Tovcus, Joun Davip Diauxrs pp; Chinese Imperial Mari-
time Customs, Foochow, China.
. Laws, ArrHuR Moorzt; Buluwayo Engineering and Wagon
Works, Buluwayo, Matabeleland, South Africa.
Lawson, Grorer, C.B.; 36 Craven Hill Gardens, Hyde Park,
W.
. Lee, Oswiy, A. J.; 58 Manor Place, Edinburgh.
. Lreen, Col. Wrrt1am Vincent (late R.A.), F.Z.8.; Cullenswood
House, St. Mary’s, Tasmania.
. Le Srraner, Hanon, F.Z.S.; Hunstanton Hall, King’s Lynn,
Norfolk.
. L’Esrraner, Col. Pager Watrer, R.A.; Llwynbedw, Bon-
castle, R.S.0., South Wales.
. Lewis, Freperick; Assistant Conservator of Forests, c/o
The Forest Department, Colombo, Ceylon.
Date of
Election.
1889.
1874.
1889.
1896.
EVO Sic
1896.
1894.
1886.
1875.
175 1878.
1894.
1894.
1878.
1896.
180 1883.
1886.
1879.
1892.
1890.
185 1886.
1893.
1892.
1885.
1882.
190 1895.
xu
LeyLanD, CuristopHer Joun; Haggerston Castle, Beal,
Northumberland.
Luoyp, Col. Joun Hayes, F.Z.S.; 95 Adelaide Road, N.W.
Loyp, Major ArtHur Purvis, F.Z.8. (late 21st Hussars) ;
Hornham Cliff, Salisbury.
Lussock, Percy; 72 Cadogan Gardens, 8.W.
Lumsprn, James, F.Z.S.; Arden House, Alexandria, N.B.
Lurrman-Jounson, J. A., M.A.; 101 Mount Street, W.
Macrrerson, Arraur Hoxre ; 51 Gloucester Terrace, Hyde
Park, W.
Macpuerson, Rev. Hue Atexanper, M.A.; 11 Victoria Place,
Carlisle.
Matcotm, Joun Wivnerietp, Lord, C.B., F.Z.S. ; Poltalloch,
Lochgilphead, Argylishire, and 23 Great Cumberland
Place, W.
Marks, Henry Sracy, R.A., F.Z.8.; 5 St. Edmund’s Terrace,
Regent’s Park, N.W.
MarsHatt, Arcuipatp McLean ; Crowhill, Innerwick, E.
Lothian.
MarsHatu, JAMES McLean ; Crowhill, Innerwick, KE. Lothian.
Maruew, Rey. Murray A., M.A., F.L.S.; Buckland Dinham,
Frome, Somersetshire.
Maxwe tt, Sir Herserr E., Bt., M.P.; 49 Lennox Gardens,
Da.
Meapr-Waxpo, Epmunp Gustavus Bioomrierp, F.Z.8.; Rope
Hill, Lymington, Hants.
Mutrats, Jonn Guitte, F.Z.S.; Melwood, Horsham.
Mircuett, Freprrick Sxaw; Edmonton, Alberta, N. W. T.,
Canada.
Mivart, Sr. Grorer, Ph.D., M.D., F.R.S.; 77 Inverness
Terrace, W., and Oriental Club, Hanover Square, W.
Monx, Tomas Jamus; St. Anne’s, Lewes, Sussex.
Morruead, Geores, F.Z.8.; Mains of Haddo, Aberdeen.
Motiens, Witu1am H., M.A., F.Z.8.; 9 St. James’s Place, S.W.
Monn, Purire Wincuester ; Laverstoke, Whitchurch, Hants.
Nxatz, Epwarp; 43 Charlotte Street, Portland Place, W.
Netson, THomas Hupson ; Sandringham House, Redcar, York-
shire.
Nusuam, Rozsert; Utrecht House, Queen’s Road, Clapham
Park, 8.W.
195
210
215
Date of
xii
Election.
1876. Nevitt, Huew; Newton Villa, Godalming.
1872.
Newcome, Francis D’Arcy Wititram Croven; Feltwell Hall,
Brandon, Suffolk.
*1858. Newron, Atrrep, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.8., Professor of Zoology
in the University of Cambridge ; Magdalene College, Cam-
bridge.
*1858. Newton, Sir Epwarp, K.C.M.G., M.A., F.L.S., C.M.Z.S. ;
1891.
1886.
1876.
1895.
1887.
1882.
1892.
1889.
1883.
1880.
1894.
1891.
1891.
1886.
1888.
1893.
1896.
1893.
1896.
1888.
14 Wellington Esplanade, Lowestoft.
Nicnott, Diesy Seys Wurrttock, F.LS., F.Z.S.; The Ham,
Cowbridge, Glamorganshire.
Nicuotts, Howarp Hitt Jonny, M.R.C.S.; The Moat, East-
bourne.
Nicnotson, Francrs, F.Z.8.; Oakfield, Ashley Rd., Altrincham.
Nosrz, Hrartey; Temple Combe, Henley-on-Thames.
Norman, Groree Cameron, F.Z.8.; 68 Lombard Street E.C.,
and Bredon’s Norton, Tewkesbury.
Oates, Evernr WituiaM, F.Z.S.; Mandalay, Burma.
Oaiivie, Ferevs Menterra, M.A., F.Z.8.; 5 Evelyn Mansions,
Carlisle Place, Victoria Street, S.W.
OeLr, Bertram Savire; Hill House, Steeple Aston, Oxford.
Parker, Henry, C.E., F.Z.S., Irrigation Officer, P.W.D.;
Kurunegala, Ceylon.
Parkin, Tomas, M.A., F.Z.S.; Fairseat, High Wickham,
Hastings.
. Parrerson, Rosertr; Tilecote, Malone Park, Belfast.
. Parrerson, R. Lroyp, F.L.S.; Croft House, Holywood, co.
Down.
Pearson, Coartes Epwarp ; Chilwell House, near Nottingham.
Pearson, Henry J.; Bramecote, Notts.
Prnrosk, Franx, M.D.; 4 Harley Street, W.
Puiturs, EK. Lorr, F.Z.8.; 79 Cadogan Square, S.W.
Purtures, Grorcr THorne ; Wokingham, Berkshire.
Pieorr, THomas Diesy, C.B.; 5 Ovington Gardens, S.W.
Prxr, Arnorp, F.Z.8.; ¢/o Miss Pike, 65 Cadogan Place, S.W.
Pixe, THomas Mayer, M.A.; care of Mr. Porter, 7 Prince’s
Street, Cavendish Square, W.
Pornam, Hvea Lerysorne; Templeton, Hungerford, and
Oxford & Cambridge Club, Pall Mall, S.W.
Powys, Mervyn Owen Wayne, B.A., F.Z.8.; 2 Tenterden Street,
Hanover Square, W.
220
225
230
XIV
Date of
Election.
1893. Pycrart, Wittram Pranze; Department of Comparative
Anatomy, University Museum, Oxford.
1888. RapciyFre, Cuartes Rosert Evsrace; Ist Life Guards, and
Hyde, Wareham, Dorset.
1879. Rawson, Hersert Evertyn, F.Z.S.; Fallbarrow, Winder-
mere.
1894, Reap, Ricnarp Henry, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S.; Church Street,
Hanley.
1888. Reap, Ropert H.; 7 South Parade, Bedford Park, W.
1877. Rei, Capt. Savite G. (late R.E.), F.Z.S.; The Elms, Yalding,
Maidstone.
1893. Renpatt, Percy, M.D., F.Z.S.; Devonshire Club, St. James’s
Street, S.W.
1895. Ricxerr, Cuartes Boueury ; Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank,
Foochow ; care of H. 8. King & Co.
1896. Rrpron, Major Groren; 7th Burma Battalion, Meiktila, Burma.
1896. Rogers, Capt. J. Mippieron, F.Z.8.; 1st (Royal) Dragoons,
Dublin.
1894. Roruscuitp, The Hon. Cuartes, F.Z.8.; Tring Park, Tring,
Herts.
1893. Roruscuttp, The Hon. L. Water, F.Z.S8.; Tring Park, Tring,
Herts.
1883. Sr. Quintin, Wittiam Herserr, F.Z.S8.; Scampston Hall,
Rillington, Yorkshire.
*1858. Sanvin, Ospert, M.A., F.R.S., F.Z.S.; 10 Chandos Street,
W., and Hawksfold, Fernhurst, Haslemere.
- 1870. Saunpers, Howarp, F.L.S., F.Z.S.; 7 Radnor Place, Hyde
Park, W.
+ *1858. Scnater, Parip Lurney, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S.; Secretary
235
7
to the Zoological Society of London; 3 Hanover Square,
London, W., and Odiham Priory, Winchfield.
1891. Scrarer, Wittram Lurtry, M.A., F.Z.8.; South African
Museum, Cape Town, South Africa. r
1881. Scutty, Surgeon-Lt.-Col. Joun, F.L.S., F.Z.S.; 14 Hartfield
Square, Eastbourne, and care of Messrs. H. 8. King & Co.,
65 Cornhill, E.C.
1889. Sennousr, Humpurey Parricrus, B.A.; The Fitz, Cocker-
mouth, Cumberland.
1871. SHarrr, Richarp Bowpier, LL.D., F.LS., F.Z.S.; Senior
Assistant, Zoological Department, British Museum (Natural
History), South Kensington, 8.W.
XV
Date of
Election.
1886. Saaw, Wittram Carsrarrs; Bank of Madras, Madras.
1870. Suettry, Capt. G. Ernest, F.Z.S. (late Grenadier Guards) ;
10 Thurloe Square, 8.W.
1865. SuernerD, Rev. Coartes Witiiam, M.A., F.Z.S.; Trotters-
cliffe Rectory, Maidstone, Kent.
240 1894. Surrtey, Sewariuis Everyn; Ettington Park, Stratford-on-
Avon.
1881. Sruson, F. B., F.Z.S. ; Broom Hill, Spratton, Northampton.
1882. Sater, Rey. Henry H., M.A., F.Z.S. ; Thornhaugh Rectory,
Wansford, Northants.
1864. Smrrn, Rev. Atrrep Cuartrs, M.A.; Old Park, Devizes,
Wilts.
1896. Sonpes, Earl; Lees Court, Faversham.
245 1881. Sovurnwett, Tuomas, F.Z.S.; 10 The Crescent, Chapel Field,
Norwich.
1893. Sranzey, Samuet 8.; 3 Regent Grove, Leamington, Warwick-
shire.
1875. Srarx, A. C.
1889. Sroatr, Witt1Am ; Belmont, Burnham, Somerset.
1893. Sronaam, Cuartes, F.R.C.S., F.Z.8.; 4 Harley Street,
Cavendish Square, W.
250 1881. Sruppy, Col. Roperr Wricur (late Manchester Regiment) ;
Waddeton Court, Brixham, Devon.
1887. Sryay, Freperick WiLL1AM, F.Z.S. ; Ben Craig, Bayham Road,
Sevenoaks, and Shanghai, China.
1887. SwinpuryeE, Jonny; Carlton Lodge, Catel, Guernsey.
1882. Swinnor, Col. Cuartzs (Indian Staff Corps), M.A., F.L.S.,
F.Z.S.; Avenue House, Cowley Road, Oxford.
1884. Tarr, Writram Caaster, C.M.Z.S.; Entre Quintas 155, Oporto,
Portugal.
255 *1858. Taytor, Epwarp Cavennisu, M.A., F.Z.8.; 74 Jermyn Street,
S.W.
1873. TreetmereR, Wititam Bernuarp, F.Z.8S.; 16 Alexandra
Grove, North Finchley, N.
1889. Tennant, Epwarp Prravitx; 40 Grosvenor Square, W., and
The Glen, Innerleithen, N.B.
1886. Terry, Major Horacr A. (Oxfordshire Light Infantry) ;
Burvale, Walton-on-Thames.
1891. Taorneiit, Witt1AM Brunpett ; Castle Cosey, Castle Belling-
ham, Ireland.
260 1893. Tuorrr, Dixon L.; Loshville, Etterby Scaur, Carlisle.
265
275
280
285
XV1
Date of
Election.
1894. Trcenvrst, Norman Frepertc ; Winstowe, St. Leonards-
on-Sea.
1893. Trevor-Barryr, Ausyn B.R., F.Z.S.; 2 Whitehall Gardens,
S.W.
*1858. Trisrram, Rev. Henry Baxer, M.A., LL.D., F.R.S., C.M.ZS.,
Canon of Durham; The College, Durham.
1864. Upcurr, Henry Morris, F.Z.S.; Sheringham Hall, and East
Hall, Feltwell, Brandon, Norfolk.
1896. Urwicx, Wittiam F.; 27 Bramham Gardens, S.W.
1894. Ussuer, Richarp Joun; Cappagh House, Cappagh, R.S.0.,
Lismore, Ireland.
1890. Venour, Srepnen; Fern Bank, Altrincham, Cheshire.
1884. Verey, ALERED Sarnsspury ; Heronsgate, near Rickmansworth.
1881. Verner, Major Wirt1am Witiovensy Core (2nd Bn. Rifle
Brigade) ; Junior United Service Club, 8.W.
1886. Wanper-Datrton, Col. H. D.; Hauxwell Hall, Finghall, R.8.0.,
Yorkshire.
1895. Watuiis, Henry Marriage; 6 Southern Hill, Reading.
1881. Watstnenam, Tuomas, Lord, F.R.S., F.Z.S. ; Merton Hall,
Thetford, Norfolk.
1872. Warpiaw-Ramsay, Major R. G., F.Z.8.; Tillicoultry House,
Tillicoultry, N.B.
1896. Warkriys, Warxrn ; Shotton Hall, Shrewsbury.
1874. Wuarron, CHartes Byerave, F.Z.S.; Hounsdown, Totton,
Hants.
1891. Wuiraxer, Bensamriy Incuam; Hesley Hall, Tickhill, Rother-
ham.
1884. Wuiraknr, Joseeu, F.Z.8S.; Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield,
Notts.
1891. Warraker, Jossrn I. 8.; Malfitano, Palermo, Sicily.
1887. Wurrenead, Jerrery ; The Homestead, Orpington, Kent.
1894. Witxinson, Jounson ; Huddersfield, Yorkshire.
1896. Wituiams, Lionen A.; Llangurran, Salisbury, and Isthmian
Club, Piccadilly, W.
1888. Wuitson, Cuarres Josera ; 16 Gordon Square, W.C.
1887. Witson, Scorr Barcuarn, F.Z.S.; Heatherbank, Weybridge
Heath, Surrey.
1891. Wirutyeton, Frank; Kingston Post Office, Jamaica.
1875. Wrieut, Cuartes A., F.LS., F.Z.S. (Knight of the Crown of
Italy); Kayhough, Kew-Gardens Road, Kew, 8.W.
Xvi
Date of
Election.
1871. Wricut, E. Percrvat, M.D., F.L.S., F.Z.8., Professor of Botany
in the University of Dublin.
1891. Wrieut, Tuomas, M.D.; Castle Place, Nottingham.
1876. Wyarr, Craups W.; Adderbury, Banbury.
1895. Yersury, Lt.-Col. Joan Witiiam, R.A., F.Z.8.; Army and
Navy Club, 8.W.
290 1889. Youne, Commander James B., R.N.; 2 Ventnor Villas, West
Brighton.
1878. Youne, Jonny, F.L.S.,F.Z.S.; 64 Hereford Road, Bayswater, W.
Extra-Ordinary Member.
1860, Wattace, Atrrep Russet, F.Z.8.; Corfe View, Parkstone,
Dorset.
Honorary Members.
1886. Ayres, THomas; Potchefstroom, Transvaal.
+. 1890. Berturscu, Graf Hans von, C.M.Z.S.; Schloss Berlepsch,
Post Gertenbach, Witzenhausen, Germany.
—-1860. Casanis, Dr. Juan, C.M.Z.S., Friedrichshagen, bei Berlin.
— 1870. Finscu, Dr. Orro, C.M.Z.S.; Delmenhorst, near Bremen.
5 1880. Girxe, Herreicn, C.M.Z.8.; Heligoland.
— 1894. Gretrort, Dr. Henry Hittyer, F.M.Z.8.; Reale Istituto di
Studi Superiori, Florence.
— 1860. Harrtavs, Dr. Gustav, F.M.Z.S.; Bremen.
1860. Layarp, Epear Leorotp, C.M.G., F.Z.8., Otterbourne, Bud-
leigh Salterton, Devonshire.
— 1893. Rutcuenow, Dr. Anron, C.M.Z.S.; Museum fiir Naturkunde,
Invalidenstrasse, Berlin.
—10o 1890. Satvaport, Count Tommaso, M.D., F.M.Z.S.; Royal Zoological
Museum, Turin.
Foreign Members.
1890. Atuen, Jonn Asapo, O.M.Z.S.; American Museum of
Natural History, Central Park, New York City, U.S.A.
— 1872. Bocacr, Prof. J. V. Barsoza pv, C.M.Z.8.; Royal Museum,
Lisbon.
1880. Bureau, Louis, M.D.; Ecole de Médecine, Nantes.
— 1873. Cottert, Prof. Roperr, F.M.Z.S. ; Zoological Museum, Christi-
ania.
SER. VII.—VOL. II. b
Date of
Election
5 sie.
1875.
1872.
1872.
, —1866.
1o 1872.
1883.
—1894.
1880.
1872.
15 1890.
1894,
1872.
1880.
1894,
20 1896.
XVill
Cours, Dr. Exttorr,C.M.Z.8. ; Smithsonian Institution, Wash-
ington, D.C.
Dorta, Marchese Gracomo, F.M.Z.S., Genoa.
Fatio, Dr. Victor, C.M.Z.S., Geneva.
Lonecuampes, Baron Dr Setys, Liége.
Mavardsz, Dr. Juxntus von; National Museum, Buda-
Pesth.
Matmeren, Dr. A. J., Helsingfors, Finland.
Marsa, Prof. Oruniet Cuartus, C.M.Z.S.; Yale College, New-
haven, U.S.A.
Menzeimr, Prof. Dr. Micnarr, C.M.Z.S.; Imperial Society of
Naturalists, Moscow.
Meyer, Dr. Apotr Bernuarn, C.M.Z.8., Director of the Royal
Museum, Dresden.
Mityz-Epwarps, Prof. AnpHonss, F.M.Z.S.; Jardin des Plantes,
Paris.
Ovsrater, Dr. Emmis, C.M.Z.8.; Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle,
Jardin des Plantes, Paris.
Preskr, Dr. Toeopor, F.M.Z.S.; Imperial Zoological Museum,
St. Petersburg.
Ranppz, Prof. Gustav, C.M.Z.S., Tiflis.
Riveway, Rosert, C.M.Z.S.; Smithsonian Institution, Wash-
ington, D.C.
Scuatow, Herman; 105 Rathenowerstrasse, Berlin, N.W.
Wince, Hertvr; University Zoological Museum, Copenhagen.
CONTENTS or VOL. IL—SEVENTH SERIES,
(1896.)
Numper V., January.
Page
I. Remarks on the Stereornithes, a Group of Extinct Birds
from Patagonia. By Cuartes W. Anprews, F.G.S. . 1
IL. Further Notes on the Birds of Aden. By Lieut.-Col. J.
W. Yersury, R.A., F.Z.S. (Plate L.) 18
IIIf. On the Birds observed at the Salvage Islands, near
Madeira. By W. R. Ocitvie Grant. 41
LIV. On the Species of the Genus Turdinulus. By W. R.
OGILVIE GRANT . od
V. On a new Species of Tit-Babbler from the Naga and
Manipur Hills. By W. R. Oertvir Grant . 61
VI. On Birds observed in the Goolis Mountains in Northern
Somali-land. By KE. Lorr Pures, F.Z.8., F.R.G.S.
(Plate II.) ae geet 62
VII. Further Notes on Tunisian Birds. By Josnrn I. 8.
Waurraker, F.Z.S. . era 87
VIIL. Note on Anas erythrophthalma, Wied. By Count T.
Satvaport, C.M.Z.S. cca oer 99
IX. On the Birds of the Philippine Islands.—Part VI. The
Vicinity of Cape Engano, N.E. Luzon, Manila Bay, and Fuga
Island, Babuyan Group. By W. R. Oetrvin Granr. With
Field-Notes by Jonny Wuitenzap, (Plate IIT.) . 101
508 CONTENTS.
Page
X. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club. Nos. XXIX.
& XXX. 128
XI. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications :—
1. Andersen on Diomedea melanophrys in the Feroes . 136
2. Annals of Scottish Natural sures Nos. 15 & 16,
July and October, 1895 2137
3. *The Auk.’ July and October, 1895. 3 ts | Rube
4. Berlepsch on a new Phanicophaes an a new
Spilornis ce ty eee Woe dae . 188
5. Blanford’s ‘ Birds of British India’ . 1389
6. Buttikofer on certain Paradise-birds . . 139
7. Dubois on the Birds of Belgium . 139
8. Dwight on the Ipswich Sparrow . 140
9, Gitke’s ‘ Heligoland.’ (English Hanlon ne . 141
10. Godman and Salvin’s ‘ Biologia Centrali-Americana’ . 143
11. Hamilton on the Feathers of the Moa . 145
12. Hamilton on the Birds of Macquarie Island . 144
13. Hartert on Birds from Fergusson Island . 144
14. Hartert on a new Prionochilus . . 145
15. Hartert on a new Goura. : . 145
16. Hartert’s Notes on Humming-birds . 145
17. Hartert on Birds from the Natuna Islands . . 145
18. Hudson’s ‘ British Birds’ ‘ . 146
19. Irby’s ‘ Ornithology of the Straits of Chace . 146
20. Jentink on the Birds of Holland . Lae
21. Lawrence’s ‘ Valley of Kashmir’ . 148
22. Meyer on the Egg of a new Bower-bird . . 148
23. ‘Ornis,’ 1895. Parts 1-3 . 148
24. Parker on the Dinornithide , 149
25. Prazik on some of the Paride . . 150
26. Reichenow on new African Birds . . Lok
27. Reichenow on the Ornithological Literature of 1890 wet
28. Rothschild on a new Paradise-bird ; ube
29. Sharpe’s ‘ Handbook to the Birds of Great Britain’ ~ Lok
8&0. Stone on the Generic Term Calliste ; Lo2
31. Suchetet on Hybrids among Birds . . 153
32. Treyor-Battye’s ‘ Jee-bound on Kolguev ’ . 1538
CONTENTS. XXi
Page
XII. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c. :—
Letters from Prof. Dr. M. Menzbier, Mr. J. Cordeaux, and
Mr. A. Trevor-Battye. Rare Birds at Madras; Occurrence of
Bulweria columbina in China; Nesting of Kaup’s Flycatcher
(Arses kaupi); Movements of Ornithologists ; The Position of
the Feet of Birds during Flight; Egg of Pityriasis gymno-
cephala; Proposed Memoir of the late A.G. More . . . . 154
XIIL. Obituary.—H. T. Wharton ; Henry Seebohm ; H. E.
ibaenes;; nopert; Brown; UT. H. Muxley,. 5 02). 9s. 52. + 159
Numser VI., April.
XIV. Notes on the Ornithology of the Barberton District of
the Transvaal. By Percy Renpatt, M.D.,F.Z8. . . . . 16d
XY. On a Collection of Birds from Mount Chiradzulu, in the
Shiré Highlands, Nyasaland. By Capt. G. E. SHetrey, F.Z.S.
With Prefatory Remarks by P. L. Sctarer. (Plate IV.) . . 177
XVI. Birds’-nesting in and‘around Lucknow. By Witt
Jesse, La Martiniére College, Lucknow, Oude. . . . . . 185
XVII. Notes on Birds observed in Russian Lapland, Kolguey,
and Novaya Zemlya, in 1895. By Henry J. Pearson. With
Introductory Remarks by Col. H. W. Frempren, C.M.Z.8. . . 199
XVIII. Remarks’on Richardson’s Merlin (Falco richardson,
Ridgway). By W. E. Brooxs. (Plate V.) . .. . . . 226
XIX. On a Collection of Birds made by Mr. Alfred Sharpe
in the Zomba District of Nyasaland. By Capt. G. E. Smeniey,
XX. Notes on a small Collection of Birds from Mashonaland.
Lea i ge Go Bs ye -elt ” arar eae 5|
XXI. On the Geographical Distribution of Sterna dougalli,
ion vby. HowARD SAUNDERS {* so ue a) 2002) 6) te dG
XXll
CONTENTS.
XXII. On a new Species of Honey-eater (Péilotis spilogaste7)
from South-eastern New Guinea. By W. R. Ocitvim Grant . 250
XXIII. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club. Nos.
XXXI-XXXITI. . 252
XXIV. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications :—
33. Barrows and Schwarz on the American Crow 265
34, Baur on the Galapagos 5 265
39. Blackburn (Mrs. H.) on bir d-life : 266
36. Buttikofer on Turdinulus and the allied Cataks 266
37. Chapman (F. M.) on the Birds of Trinidad . 267
38. ‘ Check-list of North-American Birds ’ 5 267
39. Dresser’s Supplement to the ‘ Birds of Europe’ 268
40. Drummond-Hay on the Birds of the Tay 269
41. D’Urban and Mathew on the Birds of Devon 269
42. Elliot on North-American Shore-Birds 27
43. Hartert on new Birds 270
44, Hartert on Birds from Mindoro 271
45. Kirby (F. V.) on African Wild Game Zit
46. Leverkiihn upon Bird-protection in England 271
47. Lilford’s ‘ Coloured Figures of British Birds’ 272
48, Lilford’s ¢ Birds of Northamptonshire’ . 212
49. Lumsden and Brown on the Fauna of Loch itoutoadee 273
50. Martorelli’s Notes from Italy : . 27
51. Meyer and Wiglesworth on Birds from the Talaut
Islands . . 274
52. Millais on the Seen eee Veldt . 274
53. Muirhead’s ‘ Birds of Berwickshire ’ : . 275
54. Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists’ Society’s Mieer
actions” : 276
55. North’s Notes on Avinteslin (Onuielegy 277
56. Noska and T'schusi zu Schmidhoffen on the Caucasian
Black Grouse . > eae
57. Poynting’s ‘ Eggs of eee Birds? . 278
58. Read on the Colours of Birds 279
59. Rothschild on new Species of Birds 279
60. Salvadori on the Chenomorphe, Crypturi, aud ae 279
61. Salvadori on Birds from Argentina and Paraguay 282
62. Salvadori on the Bearded Vulture . 282
CONTENTS. XXill
Page
63. Saunders on the Gavi, and Salvin on the Tubinares. 282
64. Schalow on Birds from Western Greenland . . 284
65. Sharpe on rare British Birds . 284
66. Suschkin on a new Shrike é . 284
67. Thompson’s ‘ Glossary of Greek Birds ’ dee . 285
68. Townsend on Birds from Cocos and Malpelo ere . 285
XXY. Letters, Extracts, Notices, &c.:—
Letters from Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown, Dr. F. D. Drewitt,
Mr. Osbert Salvin, Dr. W. T. Blanford, and Dr. A. Reichenow.
The Sun-birds of Ruwenzori; Turnix sylvatica in Sicily ; The
Seebohm Collection ; The Ameghino Collection of Fossil Birds ;
Ornithology in New Zealand ; Proposed new German Zoological
Work ; Movements of Naturalists . 286
XXVI. Obituary.—Col. H. M. Drummond-Hay » 296
Numser VII., July.
XXVII. On the Nesting of Nyctibius jamaicensis and Scle-
rurus umbreita. By Dr. Emin A. Goxrtpr, C.M.Z.S., Director of
the Museum in Para .
XXVIII. On some Chinese Species of the Genus Alecippe.
By F. W. Sryan : ;
XXIX. Descriptions of some new Eggs from the Bloomfield-
River District, North Queensland. By D. Le Sovitr, Melbourne
XXX. Field-Notes on the Birds of the Estancia Sta. Elena,
Argentine Republic.—II1. By A. H. Hortanp. With Remarks
by P. L. Sctater
XXXI. Notes on the Nidification of some Indian Birds not
mentioned in Hume's ‘ Nests and Eggs.’—Part III. By E. C.
Sruarr Baxer, F.Z.S. .
XXXII. Notes on some Birds obtained at Kalaw, in the
Southern Shan States. By Major G. Rippon
|
on
—
.
wt
XX1V CONTENTS.
Page
XXXIIT. Notes on some Species of the Families Cypselide,
Caprimulgide, and Podargide, with Remarks on Subspecific
Forms and their Nomenclature. By Ernsr Harrerr. (Plates
IVSIGG AVAIL A) et ele fe ek se oe
XXXIV. On the Skull, Sternum, and Shoulder-Girdie of
Aipyornis. By Cuas. W. Anprews, B.Sc., F.G.S., Assistant in
the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). (Plates VIII. & IX.) . . 376
XXXYV. Proceedings at the Annual Meeting of the British
Ornithologists’ Union, held April 22nd, 1896 . . . . . . 389
XXXVI. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club.
Nicer o. SG 9. @. 0.08 EAE AR SMMC RA i 5. 8 2 2G,
XXXVII. Notices of recent Ornithological Publications :—
. Annals of Scottish Natural History. Nos.17 & 18. 405
. ‘The Auk,’ January and April, 1896 . =. 2 2 e406
for)
Oo ©
. Finsch on the Avifauna of New Zenland ei iprmme ane sa 22)
. Fisher on Hawks and Owls considered agriculturally 411
80. Hartlaub on Birds recently Extinct or likely to
become so. ae eee roel:
81. Loomis on Californian Warr ids Site! er Gey Se, Gas
82. Lorenz-Liburnau on a new Dendrocolaptine Bird . 413
83. Lucas on the Tongues of North-American Wood-
co CO
i
71. Beal on the Crow Blackbirds and their Food . . . 407
72. Beal on the Food of the Woodpeckers . . . . . 408
73. Boucard’s ‘Humming Bird’ . . . «eee Meee
74. Bruun on the Birds of South ea iy we ee eeeoe
75. Buttikofer on Phasianus ignitus and its Allies . . 410
76.Chapman ‘on-Ardetiameorenay. 0) 5.) 2 eee
77. Elliot on two new Ptarmigans . . as oie ones aera llce)
4.
7
peckers . . . . 414
84. Meyer and Wisleeean on Binds a Nee alee
Celebes, Peling, and Bangeai ) . . = = sealer
85. North on Zosterops cwrulescens . . . . . . . 415
86.. North’s ‘ Oological Notes = = 9.25 } nat. size.
(From Ameghino.)
The pelvis of Phororhacos (figs. 3, 3a) is remarkably
long and narrow, and at first sight has some resemblance to
those of Hesperornis and Colymbus, but on comparison is
found to differ in nearly every point. For example, in
neither of these birds do the pre-acetabular portions of the ilia
unite in a crest above the neural spines. In Hesperornis the
8 Mr. C. W. Andrews on a Group of
ischium does not unite posteriorly with the ilium nor the
pubis with the ischium. In Phororhacos the pubis is very
small, and indeed, except for the short distance during
which it forms the inferior boundary of the passage for the
obturator internus muscle, it fuses with the lower border of
the ischium, beyond which it does not seem to have extended,
although the posterior prolongations may have been broken
away. The compressed form of the pelvis and the elonga-
tion of the post-acetabular portions of the ilium are notable.
Prof. Milne-Edwards has remarked that the larger the pre-
acetabular ilium the better a bird is adapted for walking,
while the post-acetabular portion increases in length in pro-
portion as the bird is better adapted for swimming. This,
no doubt, is generally true, and is well illustrated in Hesper-
ornis and Podicipes, in the former of which the post-ace-
tabular ilium is about three times the length of the pre-
acetabular portion, and in the latter about twice as long.
In Phororhacos the proportions are nearly as in Podicipes,
but, considering its long powerful legs and digits provided
with hooked claws, it is difficult to imagine that it was a
good swimmer. ‘The pelvis of Cariama, though shorter and
broader in the post-acetabular region, is nevertheless somewhat
similar to that of Phororhacos, and this likeness is more
striking when the pelvis is viewed from the side. The
relation of the ischium to the illum is exactly similar, and
the pubis, which is extremely slender, is closely applied to
the ventral border of the ilium, with which, however, it is
not co-ossified in the specimen examined. ‘The posterior
extremities of the pubes extend beyond the ischia and are
expanded: in the fossil these may easily have been lost.
The pelvis of Psophia is not so similar, and those of the
Tinamou and of Cathartes are still more unlike.
The femur is long, straight, and comparatively slender.
The head rises above the slightly developed trochanter; in
this respect the bone is similar to that of Gastornis (although
in that bird the trochanter is much larger) and Phalacro-
corax. In Grus, Cariama, Psophia, and Aptornis the tro-
chanter is largely developed and rises above the head. In
Extinct Birds from Patagonia. 9
Chauna and Cathartes the neck is exceedingly short and
stout, and the distal extremity slightly expanded. In all the
Ratite this bone is considerably stonter in proportion to its
length and differs in other respects.
The tibio-tarsus of Phororhacos is about twice as long as
the femur, and is straight and slender. The distal condyles
are subequal and the intercondylar groove is shallow. The
bridge over the groove for the extensor tendons lies towards
the inner border of the bone and is somewhat oblique. In
Cariama the tibio-tarsus is more slender and is more than
twice the length of the femur. The extensor bridge is some-
what less oblique, and the intercondylar groove is shallower
than in the fossil. The crest for the attachment of the
fibula (not shown at all in the figure of the fossil) is pro-
minent. The tibia is considerably different at its lower end
from that of Gastornis, in which the bridge is median, the
groove deep, and the lower end as a whole somewhat inflected,
closely resembling that of an Anserine bird. In all the
Ratite the intercondylar groove is shallow, and except in the
Dinornithide the extensor bridge is wanting. In some of the
smaller members of the latter genus the resemblauce to the
fossil is considerable.
The metatarsus and, indeed, the tibia also of Phororhacos
have already been compared with the corresponding bones
in the Ratites and in some of the Carinates by Dr. Gadow.
Here it will be sufficient to mention that in the structure of
the hypotarsus and in the arrangement of the distal trochlez
it agrees in some respects with Cariama. In this bird, how-
ever, the bone as a whole is more slender than in Phororhacos.
The latter, in the whole structure of the limb, differs widely
from Hesperornis and Colymbus, to which the form of the
pelvis might lead one to expect some similarity. From
Cathartes and the Tinamou there are also great differences.
The digits of Phororhacos are provided with powerful hooked
claws unlike those found in any of the Ratite.
The coracoid (fig. 4, 6, p. 10) is remarkably long and slender.
In general form it resembles that of some Gallinaceous birds ;
in any case it is quite unlike that of any of the Ratite, in
10 Mr. C. W. Andrews on a Group of
which this bone is usually broad and flat, and possessed of a
more or less well-developed precoracoid process (except in
Apteryx, in which it is rudimentary). This great difference
Phororhacos inflatus. #} nat. size.
a. metacarpus; 5. coracoid; c. ulna.
(From Ameghino.)
in the form of the coracoids constitutes, in my opinion, one
of the greatest difficulties in the way of supposing that the
Ratitze are descended from these extinct forms. The Ratite
Extinct Birds from Patagonia. 11
shoulder-girdle seems more primitive, and it is difficult to
suppose that its condition is secondary and due to retrogres-
sion, or, in other words, that it is ‘‘ pseudoprimitive.” In
most of the Gruiformes the coracoid is short and stout, but in
Cariama the bone is comparatively slender and the hyo-
sternal process reduced.
The humerus in Phororhacos is much reduced, and is short
and stout. The upper end is not figured, but the lower is
remarkable for the obliquity of the distal border, the inner
margin being prolonged into a pointed process which extends
below the articular surfaces. The distal extremity is some-
what similar to that of the humerus of Aptornis, which also
is oblique, but without the acute internal angle. The con-
tinuity of the articular surfaces is probably merely the result
of reduction; the same condition is well shown in the
humerus of Casuarius.
The ulna (fig. 4, c) is short, stout, and compressed. The
tubercles marking the points of insertion of the secondaries
are strongly developed: these do not occur in the Ratite.
There is a well-developed olecranon process.
The metacarpal (fig. 4, a) is of the usual avian form, but as
in some Ratites the distal ends of metacarpals 2 and 3 are
not so firmly fused as in most Carinate.
The wings of Phororhacos, though so much reduced that the
power of flight was almost certainly wanting, were neverthe-
less powerful organs with apparently well-developed remiges.
Most likely they were employed as aids in running or
possibly in swimming, though the latter seems unlikely.
Sejior Ameghino unfortunately does not state upon what
evidence the various bones are referred to Phororhacos, but,
assuming that they are correctly determined*, the comparison
given above shows that there is not much reason for
supposing that any close relationship exists between Phoro-
rhacos and the Gastornithide, and the difference of the age
of the deposits in which they respectively occur renders such
relationship the more improbable.
* I have lately been informed that the bones described under the
name Phororhacos inflatus nearly all belonged to a single individual.
12 On a Group of Extinct Birds from Patagonia.
The Ratite are in many respects more primitive, and not
improbably were already sharply separated from the Carinatze
when the Stereornithes arose.
The absence of specimens of the Stereornithes from Euro-
pean museums is much to be regretted, since without actual
examination of the bones it is rash to express any definite
opinion as to the affinities of the group. Nevertheless, in
the meantime it may be suggested that some at least of the
Stereornithes may form a specialized offshoot of the stock
which gave rise to the Neotropical Gruiformes: possibly
some affinities to the Ralliformes may also be found.
Besides Phororhacos, Ameghino describes several other
genera, including Brontornis, Pelecyornis, Liornis, and
Callornis, but, in the absence of sufficient material, much
less completely. Most likely the number of genera will have
to be increased by the retention of some of those founded
by Moreno and Mercerat, which have been placed by
Ameghino among the synonyms of Phororhacos—e. g.,
Dryornis, of which the humerus, as figured, is totally unlike
that of* Phororhacos. Certain of these genera differ so
widely one from another that their reference to distinct
families seems quite justifiable. Indeed, the Stereornithes
seem to be a heterogeneous group of birds in all of which
the wings were reduced and the bulk increased through the
operation of some peculiar local conditions; for instance, the
land which they inhabited may have been an island on which
no large carnivorous animals occurred. A similar example
is offered by New Zealand, where the Dinornithide, Apteryz,
Aptornis, and Cnemiornis (all flightless birds of large size,
belonging to several distinct orders) were formerly found.
Indeed, there seems no reason why at any time, from the late
Secondary period onward, and in any region, similar groups
of flightless birds might not have arisen under favourable
circumstances. The Gastornithidze may be another instance
of such. In most cases such specialized races die out with-
out leaving any descendants when the peculiar conditions to
which they lave become adapted pass away ; but the modern
Ratite may be survivors of one or several ancient groups of
such flightless birds.
Notes on the Birds of Aden. 13
11.—Further Notes on the Birds of Aden.
By Lieut.-Col. J. W. Yersury, R.A., F.Z.8.
(Plate I.)
So much has already been written by the late Mr. Barnes
(Lbis, 1893, pp. 57 & 165) and by myself (Ibis, 1886, p. 11
et seqg.) about the physical aspect of the country in the
neighbourhood of Aden that it is necessary to say but little
more on that subject. Haithalhim, which was formerly one
of my favourite hunting-grounds in this district, has been, I
regret to say, almost entirely spoiled by floods. The irri-
gation works have been destroyed and half the garden has
been carried away; the trunks of big tamarind-trees, 15 feet
or more in circumference, are to be seen lying in the river-
bed, while the remaining trees are either dead or dying. I
was unlucky in the time that I selected for visiting Lahej,
as, owing to the drought, the country was quite burnt up,
the jowari and other crops having in great measure failed in
consequence. I must add a few words of explanation as to
why so little was done ornithologically during my recent
trip. When I decided to visit Aden I determined to direct
my attention chiefly to the followmg groups—Diptera,
Mammals, and Reptiles,—and only to collect such birds as
appeared in the Aden list as “species incerte,’” or which I
did not recognize. On showing a list of Aden birds to
Dr. Sharpe before going out and asking him to tick off the
desiderata, I found my field of work considerably increased,
though even then I was glad to see not enough to necessitate
systematic collecting. Specimens of many common species,
however, were obtained, as at times it was necessary to feed
the skinner (taxidermist, as he loved to style himself), when
there were no mammals or good birds for him to work at.
But after all a great deal still remains to be done ornitho-
logically in the neighbourhood, while a visit to the moun-
tains inland would probably produce unknown treasures.
It having been suggested that the addition of a few words
regarding the localities of the present collection is necessary,
I now give them, The bulk of my collection was made round
about three places, viz.:—Shaik Othman, about five miles
14 Lieut.-Col. J. W. Yerbury—Further Notes
from the Barrier Gate; Al Hautah or Lahej, 19 miles off;
aud Haithalhim, roughly 25 miles away. Aden itself yielded
little but shore-birds. Aden has, however, many human
visitors “ passing on migration”; and as most of these land
and drive to the tanks, a word regarding the birds likely to
be seen there may be of interest. The species will be few, and
the following list will probably include all, viz. :—Neophron
percnopterus and Milvus egyptius en route, while at the
tanks the following are almost certain to be met with:
Columba livia, Turtur senegalensis, Passer domesticus, Pycno-
notus xanthopygius, Myrmecocichla melanura, and Ptyano-
progne obsoleta ; Hyphantornis galbula and Passer euchloris
are both close by, and may also be seen. Other birds, of
course, resort to the tanks occasionally, but their visits are
few and far between. On returning to the ship Larus
hemprichi is certain to be seen round about.
I. ACCIPITRES.
1. Vuttur Monacuus, Linn.
Gyps fulvus, Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 63.
A pair of large Vultures were seen in the Maala plain,
Aden, on February 15th, but not shot at; the only occasion
on which these birds were met with during my recent visit.
The Vulture referred to by Barnes as being in the possession
of Mr. Still at Aden is now in the Zoological Society’s
Gardens, and has been identified as Vultur monachus * ; but
it is possible that some species of Gyps may also occur there.
2. NEoPpHRON pPeRCcNopreRUS (Linn.); Yerbury, Ibis,
1886, p. 13; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 64.
On reference to my old notes I find this species recorded
as having been seen at Aden in every month of the year,
whence my conclusion that it was a resident and bred there.
On talking the matter over with Capt. Shopland and Capt.
Nurse, both these gentlemen stated that in their experience
the numbers of this species diminished considerably during
the hot weather. It is probable therefore that Barnes is
* (See P.Z.S. 1892, p.716. The specimen was presented by Mr. W. H.
Still, of Aden.—P. L. S.]
on the Birds of Aden. 15
correct in saying that this Vulture does not breed in Aden,
the large rookeries seen in many parts of the peninsula being
roosting- and not nesting-places. Capt. Shopland told me
that he had sent a native up to one of these rookeries, but
that no nests were to be found.
3. Crrcus macrurus (S. G. Gm.); Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. i. p. 67 (1874).
a. g. lLahej, March 10, 1895.
Common inland at Aden.
4. Mexiterax potyzonus (Riipp.) ; Barnes, Ibis, 1893,
p07.
Not uncommon round Lahej.
5. AccIPITER Nisus (Linn.) ; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 65.
a. g. Lahej, March 8, 1895.
Not uncommon in the Aden district.
6. Aquiza ImPERIALIS (Bechst.) ; Barnes, Lbis, 1893, p. 66.
Recorded by Barnes, but not met with by me.
7. AQUILA cHRyYsAETUS (Linn.); Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 65.
An Eagle seen on the plateau below Shum-shum, sailing
along the edge of the cliffs bordering the deep nullah running
into the tanks, was probably of this species.
8. Hatiazrus LeucocaAsteR (Gm.); Barnes, Ibis, 1893,
p- 66.
Recorded by Barnes, but surely a most unlikely bird
to be found near Aden.
9. Mitvus aeyprtius (Gm.) ; Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 14;
Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 67.
A resident species, very common and generally distributed.
It breeds everywhere in the neighbourhood—in Aden on the
cliffs, at Lahej} and Shaik Othman in the small trees. A
nest found at the latter place in March 1895 contained only
one egg; it was situated in a tree, about 25 feet from the
ground.
10, Exanus camruxzus (Desf.); Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 67.
Not uncommon at the edge of the desert round Lahej
(Al Hautah).
16 Lieut.-Col. J. W. Yerbury—Further Notes
11. Fatco perecrinus, Gm.; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 64.
Recorded by Barnes, but, as no specimen was collected,
the identity of the species is by no means established.
12. Fatco punicus, Levaill.; Gurney, List of B. of Prey,
Dae.
Falco barbarus, Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 64.
Dr. Sharpe informs me that he considers his former iden-
tification of Barnes’s bird may be incorrect, and that the
identification of Lord Lilford, as given in the editorial
note (Ibis, 1893, p. 65), is right. I never met with the
species myself in the neighbourhood of Aden, but a young
bird given to me by Mr. Chevallier is apparently an imma-
ture F. punicus. This bird was shot in September 1894, and
is said to have played havoc among the Pigeons on Telegraph
Hill for some time before it was killed.
13. TINNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS (Gm.) ; Barnes, Ibis, 1893,
p. 65.
Cerchneis, sp. inc., Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 13.
A young male was shot at Lahej on Nov. 21st, 1894, by
Capt. Nurse. The Kestrel is not uncommon at Aden. I
paid a visit to the site of the nest mentioned in my former
paper, but did not see the birds anywhere in its vicinity.
14. Panpion HaLiazTus (Linn.); Yerbury, Ibis, 1886,
p. 14; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 66.
I did not meet with the Osprey during my recent visit,
but I think there is no doubt that it is resident and breeds
in the peninsula.
II. STRIGES.
15. Buso miuest, Sharpe, Ibis, 1886, p. 163, pl. vi.
A single specimen, said to have been shot at Haithalhim,
was given to me by Mr. Chevallier. It agrees with the
types of B. milesi in the British Museum. Dr. Bowdler
Sharpe says of this Aden specimen :—“ I notice that Mr.
Gurney (Ibis, 1890, p. 262) suggests the identity of Budo
milesi with Otus abyssinicus of Guérin. This may be the
case, but until an example of B. milesi has been compared
on the Birds of Aden. 17
with Guérin’s type it will be impossible to decide the ques-
tion, for his description might be made to fit a dozen species
of Owl. The figure given in the ‘Atlas,’ pl. ili., certainly
looks like B. milesi, but is so bad that nothing can be made
of it. The description may answer for Asio butleri of Hume,
and I think that this is the bird which Heuglin refers to as
Otus abyssinicus.”’
16. Cartne, sp.ince., Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 14; Barnes,
Ibis, 1893, p. 68.
I did not meet with this Owlet during my recent trip.
When camped at Haithalhim, at the end of March, Owlets
were to be heard nightly, but the light was too bad to admit
of a specimen being shot.
17. Astro accrpiTrinus (Pall.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
li. p. 324.
A specimen of the Short-eared Owl has been obtained by
Mr. Chevallier.
18. Scors e1u (Scop.) ; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 68.
Recorded by Mr. Barnes.
19. Srrix ruaMMeEs, Linn.; Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 14;
Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 68.
I saw the Barn-Owl several times when camped at Haith-
alhim. A specimen killed on the 16th of March, 1895, was
shot by mistake under the impression that it was of another
species, and the skin was made into a screen. The Owls
reputed to inhabit the neighbourhood of the houses of the
Agents of the P. & O. and M. M. Companies are probably
of this species.
III. PICARLA.
20, CypseLus MELBA (Linn.).
Micropus melba, Hartert, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 438
(1892).
Cypselus, sp. inc., Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p.15; Barnes, Ibis,
1893, p. 69.
The Swifts obtained by me at Lahej in March 1883 are
entered in the British Museum Catalogue as of this species.
SER. VII.—VOL. Il. 0
18 Lieut.-Col. J. W. Yerbury—Further Notes
When I first arrived at Lahej, early in March 1895, a con-
siderable number of Swifts were to be seen daily, and from
their size I should say they were undoubtedly of this species ;
they all disappeared before the end of the month. At Shaik
Othman, on the 3rd and 4th of April, a flock of Swifts was
flying about over the village. I watched these birds for some
time, but could not detect any white on their underparts,
and I know that I have a similar note in my diary of 1885
regarding a flock seen at the tanks in Aden, but I cannot
now verify the date ; it is possible, therefore, that C. apus also
occasionally visits the neighbourhood of Aden.
21. Cypseus arrinis, Hardw.
Micropus affinis, Hartert, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 453
(1892).
I met with examples of this species on two occasions
hawking about over the bed of the Wady Sugher. The first
was near Lahej on the 12th of March. On this occasion I
fired three reduced charges (vide Hume, ‘ Indian Ornitho-
logical Collector’s Vade Mecum?’) without result, and the
flock declined to wait for further attentions. The second
occasion was near Haithalhim on the 23rd of March, when I
had only a butterfly-net with me.
22. CaPRIMULGUS NUBICUS, Licht.; Hartert, Cat. B. xvi.
p. 560.
Caprimulgus, sp. inc., Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 15; Barnes,
Ibis, 1893, p. 69.
The Aden Nightjar is almost to a certainty of this species,
still the smgle specimen obtained by me does not quite tally
with either of the two specimens of C. nudicus in the British
Museum. Capt. Nurse, 13th Bo.N.J., informs me that he
found a nest containing two young Nightjars in a wady at
Lahe} in May 1894. The nest was probably one of this
species.
I believe that a second species of Nightjar is to be found
in the neighbourhood of Lahej; it is altogether a larger
bird, but as the only glimpses of it have been obtained in
on the Birds of Aden. 19
the gloaming, when it has been too dark to shoot, its iden-
tification must remain a mystery for the present.
23. Merops cyanopurys (Cab. & Heine); Yerbury, bis,
1886, p. 15; Barnes, Ibis, 1893; p. 70.
Common inland and resident. I never found a nest of
this species, though I saw a pair prospecting a hole in a
nullah’s bank near Lahej. The hole, however, was only
about 6 inches deep, and if the birds had intentions of breed-
ing in it, it would have required considerable deepening.
24. Merrops persicus, Pall.; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
Xvil. p. 66 (1892); Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 70.
An Aden specimen of the Bee-eater is in the possession of
Capt. Nurse, who procured it on the 14th of November 1894.
I met with this bird only three times during my recent trip.
At Lahej on the 12th of March a large flock was flying across
from west to east, making a good deal of noise calling. A
single specimen was seen at Shaik Othman on the 4th of
March; while the third occasion was in the middle of the Red
Sea, on the 21st of April, when a large flock was passing from
west to east. This flock came fairly close to the ship, and
from their appearance and voices I should say they were
undoubtedly of this species.
25. Merops, sp. ine., Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 71.
With Barnes, I believe in the existence of a third species
of Bee-eater at Aden, but its identity still awaits verifi-
cation.
26. Coracias GARRULA, Linn.; Yerbury, [bis, 1886, p. 15;
Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 71.
The European Roller appears to be a regular cold-weather
visitant at Aden, though I did not see a single specimen
during my recent visit. I can find only two records of its
appearance logged in my old note-books, though I must
have met with it much more frequently. These occasions
were at Huswah in August, 1883, and Gold-Mohur Valley
on the 14th of August. A specimen is in Mr. Chevallier’s
collection.
c2
20 Lieut.-Col. J. W. Yerbury—Further Notes
27. Coracias aByssinica, Bodd.; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 72.
The only occasion that I met with a Long-tailed Roller
was at Haithalhim on the 20th of March 1883.
28. Urupa npors, Linn.; Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p.16; Barnes,
Ibis, 1898, p. 73.
The Hoopoe is a regular cold-weather visitant.
29. Hatcyon semic#RvuLEA (Forsk.); Barnes, Ibis, 1893,
De fe
I met with this bird twice during my recent visit, the first
occasion being at the tanks on the 4th of April, 1895, and
the second at Gold-Mohur Valley on the 18th of April. I
saw the skin of a third specimen in the possession of Capt.
Nurse, but took no note of date of capture.
30. CucuLus canorus, Linn.; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 72.
Recorded by Mr. Barnes.
31. Coccystrs sacosinus (Bodd.); Shelley, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. xix. p. 217 (1891).
Coccystes, sp. inc., Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 15; Barnes,
Ibis, 1893, p. 73.
I met with a pair of this bird on my way back to Shaik
Othman among the baubul-trees beyond the edge of the
cultivation of the Lahej oasis. Unfortunately I had knocked
off the hammer of the right barrel of my gun just before I
saw the birds, so, after a snap-shot at one of them through
the trees, I was placed hors-de-combat. A specimen procured
at Shaik Othman on the 31st of March is in Capt. Nurse’s
collection. ;
32. CENTROPUS SUPERCILIOSUS (Hempr. & Ehr.); Shelley,
Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xix. p. 363 (1891).
Centropus, sp. ine., Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 15; Barnes,
Ibis, 1893, p. 73.
This bird’s booming note is often to be heard round Lahej,
and, in spite of its skulking habits, it was not unfrequently
seen in March. The Arabs of that district call it “ Hood-
Hood,” but Capt. Nurse informs me that “ Htid-Hid” is
on the Birds of Aden. 21
generally given in Arabic dictionaries as the equivalent of
** Hoopoe.”
IV. PASSERES.
33. Lanrus tautora, Sykes; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 73.
Lanius, sp. inc., Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 16.
A specimen was obtained on the 3lst of March in the
baubul forest just outside the limits of the Lahej oasis. It is
a common bird inland, and resident. I found a nest near
the so-called forest at Shaik Othman in a prickly bush.
34, Lanrus nusicus, Licht.; Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 16;
Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 73.
A specimen shot at Lahej in January 1885 has already
been recorded. This is probably an uncommon species in
the locality.
35. Lanius IsaBELLINus, Ehr. ; Gadow, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
vill. p. 277 (1888).
Probably a resident. Although not uncommon, all the
specimens met with were either females or immature males.
Capt. Nurse’s collection contains specimens from Lahej,
procured there in December and March.
36. Lanius cotLurio, Linn.; Gadow, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
Vill. p. 286 (1883).
I procured an example of this species at Aden in April
348683. This was the specimen referred to in my previous
A paper (Ibis, 1886, p. 16) as having been sent to Mr. Hume.
It is now in the British Museum.
37. Hypoco.rus ampetinus, Bp.; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. iii. p. 316 (1877) ; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 74.
Recorded by Barnes, but, like several species included
in his list, on somewhat insufficient evidence. Still, as the
bird is known to leave Fao in the autumn and to occur in
the coast regions of Abyssinia, it may well be that it passes
by Aden on migration.
22 Lieut.-Col. J. W. Yerbury—Further Notes
38. Muscicapa crisoxa (Linn.); Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 74.
1 have no record of having met with this species in Aden
or in its neighbourhood.
39. TenpsiPpHoNne cristata (Linn.); Yerbury, [bis, 1886,
p. 16.
Terpsiphone paradisi, Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 74.
A male shot at Lahej in Mareh 1895 had acquired the
elongated tail-feathers, and had begun to assume the white
plumage of theadult. Itisarare bird in this neighbourhood,
though probably more frequent when the country is under
irrigation than at any other time.
40. Hrrunpo rustiea, Linn.; Yerbury, [bis, 1886, p. 14;
Barnes, Ibis, 1898, p. 68.
Not met with during my recent trip, but Capt. Nurse has
a specimen killed near Aden on the 25th of October, 1894.
It seems to visit Aden only after stormy weather.
41, Pr¥yoNoPROGNE OBSOLETA (Cab.).
Cotile obsoleta, Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 14; Barnes, Ibis,
1893, p. 69.
This species appears to be much more abundant m Aden
now than formerly. Im 1884-85 I saw but few nests,
situated, as a rule, im the roofs of caves in the rocks. This
year, however, several nests were fonnd in the Great and
Little Tunnels and in one or two of the houses near the
Native Infantry mess. Three is the usual number of eggs
inaclutch. The size of the eggs m different clutches varies
considerably, so much so as to cause doubt as to the identity
of the parent birds. It is quite possible that P. rupestris
may occur at Aden also.
42, Monricoza cyanus (Linn.); Yerbury, [bis, 1886, p.16;
Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 74.
The Rock-Thrush is a regular cold-weather visitant at
Aden. I saw several times in the neighbourhood of Lahej a
bird that looked like a species of Thamnobia, but failed to
obtain a specimen.
on the Birds of Aden. 23
43. CERCOTRICHAS MELANOPTERA (Hempr. & Ehr.); Yer-
bury, Ibis, 1886, p. 16; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 75.
a. Lahej, March 1895.
A common bird inland. I found a nest of it at Shaik
Othman on the 7th of April, 1895. It was placed between
three almost vertical leaves of a young date-palm (which
caused the nest to assume a peculiar triangular appearance
on its outer margin) at about two feet from the ground. The
nest contained two eggs of a pale greenish ground-colour,
dotted with green-brown. The eggs were taken, as a week
at least would have had to elapse before another visit could
be paid to the nest. Probably, therefore, the full clutch of
eggs was not laid.
44, ARGYA sQuaMIcePS (Cretzschm.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B.
Brit. Mus. vii. p. 395 (1883).
Argya, sp. inc., Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 16; Barnes, Ibis,
1893, p. 75.
A common bird inland. Odates’s description of the habits
of A. earlii (Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, i. p. 106) exactly applies
to this species also.
45. Pycnonotus ARSINOE (Hempr. & Ehr.) ; Yerbury, Ibis,
1886, p. 17; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 74.
This is a common and permanent resident.
46. Pycnonotus xantHopyGius (Hempr. & Ehr.); Barnes,
Ibis, 1893, p. 75.
a. Lahej, March 1895.
b. Aden. In the collection of Capt. Nurse.
This is another common permanent resident. A nest was
found near the reservoir, in the Isthmus position, containing
three hard-set eggs, and one of the parent birds was shot, as
above noted. Although I kept a look-out for the large
Bulbul previously referred to by Mr. Barnes and myself, I
failed to meet with it during my recent visit.
47. OrtoLus GaLBuLa, Linn.; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 76.
An occasional cold-weather visitor.
24, Lieut.-Col. J. W. Yerbury—Further Notes
48. Saxicota @NANTHE, Linn.; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 76.
This species, recorded by Barnes, was never met with by
me, but Capt. Nurse has a female bird shot on the 15th of
November, 1894.
49. SaxIcoLa DESERTI, Temm.
Saaicola stapazina, Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 76.
I did not for certain identify any Chats in my former
paper, and only suggested that S. stapazina might be one of
the species found near Aden. I have no doubt that S. de-
serti was the species I intended, and I have seen a male in
Capt. Nurse’s collection.
50. SaxtcoLa PLESCHANKA (Lepech.} ; Barnes, Ibis, 1893,
p- 76.
Saxicola morio, Seeb. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. v. p. 372.
Observed by Barnes, but no specimen procured.
51. Saxrcoua ISABELLINA (Cretzschm.) ; Seeb. Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. v. p. 500.
A specimen of this Chat is im Capt. Nurse’s collection. It
was shot at Shaik Othman, Oct. 28, 1894.
52. MyRMECOCICHLA MELANURA. (Plate I. fig. 2.)
Myrmecocichla melanura (Temm.); Yerbury, Ibis, 1886,
p. 17; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 77.
A common permanent resident. After a Jong search a
nest of this bird, containing three young ones, was found in
a deep hole in the vertical face of the Great Tunnel on the
camp side. This is the bird most familiar to the Aden resi-
dents, taking the place with them of our own Robin, and has,
too, a sweet little song. It can be understood, therefore,
how loth one is to shoot a specimen.
The corresponding form of Palestine has lately been shown
by Dr. Sharpe (Bull. B. O. C. iv. p. xxxviii; Ibis, 1895, p. 384)
to be distinct from the present species of Arabia, Abyssinia,
and Somaliland, and named Myrmecocichla yerburui (Pl. I.
ie),
Both species are figured, for comparison, in the accom-
panying Plate.
‘TAUN GUA ct eg
‘VUONVTSWM. VIHDIDODAWUAN 1
* dur *sougd UIs PUTT
“YAY 2 ‘Tep SUBUIa[nay DH Pf
f : c
pele 268. StS]
we
or
on the Birds of Aden.
53. RuvrrerLia, sp. me.
A Redstart is a casual cold-weather visitant, but the exact
species awaits identification. It will, however, in all pro-
bability, be found to be R. phenicurus or R. mesoleuca.
54. Prinia, sp. inc.
A nest of a species of Prinia was found at Shaik Othman
on February 24th, 1895, containing four brick-red eggs.
55. Cistrcoia cisticota (Temm.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. vu. p. 259 (1883).
I brought back a battered specimen of a Fantail Warbler,
which Dr. Sharpe identifies as belonging to this species.
56. Puyxuoscorus, sp. ine., Barnes, t. c. p. 78.
I also have noticed a Willow Warbler on occasions, but
could never manage to secure a specimen.
57. Burnesta GRrAciLis (Cretzschm.); Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. vii. p. 210 (1883).
A common bird round Lahej, wherever the tall rank grass
grows. The dimensions of a specimen (shot March 22,
1895) taken in the flesh were :—Length from tip of bill to
vent 3°50 inches, tail (root to end of longest feather) 1°55,
pinion-joint to tip of second feather 1°95. All the speci-
mens obtained were unfortunately spoilt, either by shot or
in skinning. I regret not having made preparations for
carbolizing specimens of the smaller birds.
58. Moraciztya asa, Linn.; Yerbury, Ibis, 1886, p. 17;
Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 78.
A common cold-weather visitor.
59. Moracitia re_pecer, Michah.; Yerbury, Ibis, 1886,
p- 17; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 79.
I saw a few Yellow Wagtails in the stream near Haith-
alhim in March 1895, but never had a gun with me when I
chanced upon them. There is a specimen in the British
Museum shot by Mr. Chevallier in May 1885.
60. Necrartnta METALLICA, Licht.; Yerbury, Ibis, 1886,
p- 15; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 73.
Common and generally distributed inland. At Haith-
26 Lieut.-Col. J. W. Yerbury—Further Notes
alhim in March it seemed to affect by preference bushes of
Calotropis gigantea.
61. Dtropuus caruncutatus (Gm.) ; Yerbury, Ibis, 1886,
p- 18; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 80.
The flock previously recorded by me (Ibis, 1886, p. 18) is
the only occasion on which I have met with this species.
62. Corvus arrinis, Riipp.
Rhinocorax affinis, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. ii. p. 46
(1877).
When first I arrived at Lahe} in March 1895 there was a
large flock of these birds in the neighbourhood. My atten-
tion was attracted to them by their curious call and their
non-corvine look when on the wing, the latter due, I fancy,
to a shortness of tail and great breadth of wing near the
body, quite out of proportion to the size, as a Crow. The
whole flock disappeared in about a fortnight, as, when I went
out some days later to shoot another specimen, not a single
bird was to be seen.
63. Corvus corax, Linn.
Fairly common inland.
64. Corvus umBRinus, Sundev.; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mise ip. 17-1877).
a. Lahej, March 15, 1895.
6. Shaik Othman. In the collection of Capt. Nurse.
These Ravens are very plentiful at Lahej, Shaik Othman,
and on the Isthmus, but during my recent trip I never saw
them in Aden itself, except near the reservoir at the Isthmus
position just inside the walls, and this seems to be the limit
of their wanderings. Barnes records C. culminatus as the
commou Aden Crow, but the skins obtained, as above noted,
are those of C. wumbrinus. When I went to Aden in 1869
three Crows were to be frequently seen, and concerning them
a story, as narrated by Barnes, existed. They were, how-
ever, frequently to be observed at Steamer Point ; I have seen
them pretty well all over the peninsula, and they by no means
confined themselves to the Isthmus position only. These
birds were recorded (provisionally) by Blanford (‘ Fauna and
on the Birds of Aden. 27
Flora of Abyssinia”) when he passed through Aden at the
time of the Abyssinian Expedition as C. affinis, but I think
they were all defunct when J returned to Aden in 1882.
Crows breed in the rocks outside the Isthmus position
and in the doum palms at Shaik Othman, at which latter
place Capt. Nurse told me he took a nest containing four
eggs on the 25th March, 1895.
65. Hyenantornis GALButa (Riipp.) ; Yerbury, Ibis, 1886,
p. 18; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 80.
A resident, breeding in many places in the crater at Aden.
It is very common, too, at Lahe} and Shaik Othman.
66. EsrreLpa RUFIBARBA (Ehrenb.) ; Yerbury, Ibis, 1885,
p. 18; Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 82.
Obtained at Lahej in January 1884.
67. AipeMosyNE canTAns (Gm.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. xiii. p. 3871 (1890).
Uroloncha, sp. inc., Barnes, Ibis, 1893, p. 82.
Very common in flocks in the big baubul-trees at Shaik
Othman and on the road to Lahej. This is probably the
Uroloncha of Barnes’s list. Capt. Nurse informs me that he
found a nest of this bird, containing two pure white eggs,
at Shaik Othman on the 25th of March, 1895.
68. Passer EUcHLORUs (Licht.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
xi. p. 341 (1888).
Although not included in Mr. Barnes’s list, I knew of the
existence of this bird at Lahej, where it is very common,
before I left Aden in 1885. One or more big flocks have
established themselves now in Aden itself, breeding in the
thorny trees at the tanks and alongside of the gaol-wall.
They are gregarious and build a thick nest of thorny twigs.
The eggs vary somewhat in markings and size. }
Tenga Pani, near Sadiya. Type of Turdinus
Noa Dihing, ,, PF | Godwin-Austen williamsoni,
Chakha, Manipur Hills. ( Coll. Godw.-Aust.
Konchungbuna, Manipur
Hills, 4
4, TURDINULUS ROBERTI (Godwin-Austen & Walden).
Pnoépyga roberti, Godwin-Austen & Walden, Ibis, 1875,
p. 252; Godwin-Austen, J. As. Soc. Beng. xlv. pt. ii. p. 195
(1876) ; Hume, Str. F. iv. p. 218 (1876).
Turdinulus murinus, Oates, Birds Brit. Burmah, i. p. 62
(1883) [part ; description of type only].
Specimens in Brit. Mus. from :—
Chakha, Manipur Hills. Types of the species.
Asalu, Manipur Hills.
Eastern Naga. > Godwin-Austen Coll.
Noa Dihing, near Sadiya.
Manbiim, near Sadiya. J
Subsp. a. TurpinuLus cGurraricotiis, Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 432.
Specimens in Brit. Mus. from :—
Miri Hills. :
G -
Mishmi Hills. odwin-Austen Coll,
Type of the species,
60 On the Species of the Genus Turdinulus.
5. Turpinutus exsut, Sharpe; Biittikofer, Notes Leyd.
Mus. xvii. p. 76 (1895).
Turdinulus roberti, Hume & Davison (nec Godw.-Aust. &
Wald.), Str. F. vi. p. 234 (1878); Sharpe, Notes Leyd. vi.
p. 173 (1884) ; Oates, Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds, i. p. 176 (1889).
Turdinulus murinus, Hume (nec Blyth), Str. F. ix. p. 115
(1880) ; Oates, Birds Brit. Burmah, i. p. 62 (1883) [except
description of type].
Specimens in Brit. Mus. from :—
( Cheeks and sides of
the throat washed
with rust - colour:
underparts less clearly
suffused with tawny
L buff,
( Cheeks and_ sides
of the throat with
scarcely a trace of
rust-colour (as in Bor-
Klang, Selangore. W. Davison. Hume Coll. 4 neanexamples); under-
parts mostly whitish,
partially suffused and
edged with pale buff
| and reddish brown.
¢ Cheeks and sides
of the throat mostly
white, with only a
slight trace of rust-
colour ; underparts
rather more richly suf-
\ fused with tawny buff,
Thoungyah. J. Dariing. |
Mt. Mooleyit. W. Davison. J
Mt. Mooleyit. W.Limborg. Tweeddale Coll.
Hume Coll.
NAS
Kina Balu. A. H. Everett, Esq. [C.].
Mt. Dulit. C. Hose, Esq. [C.1.
Mt. Penrisen. C. Hose, Esq. [C.].
a
By some ornithologists the Tenasserim birds may be con-
sidered worthy of specific distinction, but the differences
between them and the Bornean specimens are so slight that
I prefer to include them under the heading of 7. exsul.
With regard to the specimen from Klang, I think it
quite possible that it may represent a distinct species, but
without more material I cannot give a decided opinion.
Mr. E. W. Oates was evidently also at one time inclined to
consider the Klang specimen distinct, for it bears a MS.
name in his handwriting, which, however, he never published.
On a new Species of Tit-Badbbler. 61
6. TurpinuLus xEpitePripotus (Temm.), Sharpe, Notes
Leyd. Mus. vi. p. 172 (1884); Biittikofer, Notes Leyd.
Mus. xvii. p. 75 (1895).
Myiothera murina, Blyth (nec S. Miill.), Ibis, 1865, p. 47.
Specimen in Brit. Mus. from :—
\G Mount Jedeh, Java. Dr. Vorderman,
This specimen agrees exactly with Dr. Sharpe’s descrip-
tion of the type from Sumatra in the Leyden Museum, and
this species apparently inhabits both islands.
V.—On a new Species of Tit-Babbler from the Naga and
Manipur Hills. By W. R. Octivie Grant.
Wuitz continuing the incorporation of Col. Godwin-
Austen’s Collection recently acquired by the Trustees of the
British Museum, I found five examples of a new species of
Tit-Babbler, as Mr. E. W. Oates calls the birds of the genus
Proparus, which had been wrongly identified with Proparus
vinipectus (Hodgs.). From this species, however, the Naga
and Manipur birds are easily distinguished, having the crown
and back of the head somewhat more rufescent, the bands
bordering the sides of the occiput and nape dark chocolate
instead of black, and the white on the underparts restricted
to the throat, the fore neck and chest being uniform vinous-
buff instead of white. I have calied this very distinct
species after Col. Godwin-Austen, by whom the type
specimen was obtained in the Naga Hills. The following is
a full description :—
PROPARUS AUSTENI.
Proparus austeni, Grant, Bull. B. O. CG. 1895, no. xxix,
Dp. dit.
Adult (type). Crown and occiput pale chocolate-brown
washed with rufous, the latter margined along the sides by
bands of deep chocolute, beneath which run the white eye-
brow stripes, which commence above the middle of the eye
aud are continued backward to the sides of the nape.
Lores and ear-coverts deep vinous-brown; mantle much
62 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
hike the crown, but less rufescent and shading into ferru-
ginous on the lower back, rump, and wing-coverts ; the outer
primaries edged with hoary grey, the next few mostly black
on the outer web, and the remaining quills with the outer
webs ferruginous. Chin and throat white, feathers of the
lower throat with reddish-brown spots at the extremity of the
shaft ; chest and upper breast uniform vinous-buff, shading
into fulvous on the abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts ;
tail brown, washed with ferruginous towards the base of the
outer webs. Total length 4°5 inches, culmen 0°43, wing 2°3,
tail 2°, tarsus 0°9.
A second adult example from the Manipur Hills is perfectly
similar to the type.
In three younger birds, also from the wae Hills, the
crown and sides of the head are much paler, the white super-
ciliary stripes absent, and the white on the chin and throat
suffused with pale vinous and spotted with reddish brown.
The abdomen, sides, and flanks are bright rust-red.
Habitat. Naga and Manipur Hills.
V1I.—On Birds observed in the Goolis Mountains in Northern
Somali-land. By E. Lorr Puittirs, F.Z.8., F.R.G.S.
(Plate II.)
On January 4th, 1895, we left London in the P. and O.
s.s. ‘Rome,’ bound for Aden, thence to Somali-land, where
we hoped to spend a very pleasant three months, away from
the cold and damp of an English winter. Of our party of
five persons: my wife, Miss Edith Cole, and my brother-in-
law, Mr. Frank Gunnis, were about to make their first trial
of camp-life in Africa, while Mr. G. P. V. Aylmer and
I were fairly old hands, having made several shooting-trips
together. Arriving at Aden on the 21st, we were most
hospitably entertained at Government House by General
and Mrs. Jopp, and the A.D.C., Capt. J. O. Mennie, rendered
us the most welcome assistance in getting together our
servants and horses, for which we were very grateful.
Aden is not a particularly cheerful spot to make a pro-
observed in Northern Somali-land. 63
longed stay at, and we were lucky enough to find that a
small steamer, belonging to the great Parsee firm of Cowasjee
and Dinshaw, was due to start for the Somali coast two days
after our arrival. This just gave us time to make our neces-
sary arrangements, and no more; so we embarked on the
steam “ cockle-shell” ‘Tuna’ on the evening of the 23rd,
hoping to arrive at Berbera the following morning about 10;
but, alas! our hopes were doomed to disappointment, and it
was five in the evening before we sighted the Berbera light-
house. Thoroughly as we subsequently enjoyed ourselves,
none of us care to dwell on the horrors of that crossing.
Arrived at Berbera, we at once called on the Resident,
Captain Cox, and Mrs. Cox most kindly had rooms prepared
for my wife and Miss Cole, while Aylmer, Gunnis, and I had
our tents pitched on the Maidan and spent the night under
canvas. The next day was devoted to hiring camels, horses,
and men, and we should have got off to the hills with very
little delay, had not we three men been attacked with a violent
sort of sickness which we attributed to “tinned provision
poisoning,” our cook, with economic zeal, having used for
breakfast the contents of a tin that had been opened the day
before. I had a very sharp attack, but used strong measures
with myself, with the result that I was about again the next
day, while the other two, who could not, at first, be prevailed
upon to follow my example, were laid up for several days.
For the benefit of those who may be similarly attacked, I
will venture to give the secret of my treatment,—repeated
doses of castor oil, with hot-water emetics. Having hired
our camels and camp-followers, and an excellent lot of men
they proved themselves to be, I started with the ladies for
Dobar, a place about eight miles from Berbera, where we
awaited our invalids, who joined us two days later. Dobar
is a little oasis nestling among barren-looking hills, but it is
of the utmost importance to Berbera; for it is from here
that the latter place draws its water supply.
Tiny threads of the precious liquid, quite hot, ooze out
of the rock in all directions, and would soon be absorbed
by the parched ground around, were they not carefully
64 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
conducted into cisterns, whence the water finds its way by
gravitation to Berbera through iron pipes laid down by the
Egyptians during their occupation of the country. Remains
of ancient stone culverts also exist belonging to a far earlier
period. Around the cisterns trees have been planted and
gardens laid out, the whole being enclosed within a strong
zareeba, and from here weekly consignments of fresh vege-
tables are sent to Aden for the use of the troops. The
garden is worked by an old ex-Egyptian soldier, Farragh by
name, a native of the White Nile, assisted by about a dozen
Berbera jail-birds who are “ doing their bit of time,” and a
very easy “bit” too from all appearances ; indeed, but for
the fact of their having chains on their legs, one would
hardly take them for convicts. At night they sleep in a
ruined fort on a hill above the gardens built by the Egyptians
as protection to the place.
Here we spent two very pleasant days collecting, and
during the midday heat we made ourselves very comfortable
with table, chairs, and books, under a spreading tamarind-
tree which cast a shadow, “as that of a great rock,’ on the
thirsty ground beneath. Above our heads the little Yellow
Weaver-birds were very busy with their hanging ball-shaped
nests, and it was delightful to watch them working with long
streamers of grass or strips of palm-leaf. Grasping the
half-completed structure firmly with their claws, they would
poke one end of the material through the side, then they
would run inside themselves and pull it through and poke the
end out again and then come out and pull it, repeating the
operation all round. Butterflies (Arabic “ Birds of Paradise”)
and beetles were fairly plentiful, and it was most amusing to
watch old Farragh’s almost contemptuous astonishment with
which he viewed the delight of the ladies at every new speci-
men. “ What will the mem-sahibs do with these things ?”’
he asked ; “‘ they are useless even for food!!”; but never-
theless he managed to catch a few himself, and brought them
fluttermg with one wing grasped firmly between a horny
thumb and forefinger. From Dobar we marched to Bihen,
passing the night at a waterless spot called Boosti. We started
observed in Northern Somali-land. 65
again the next morning before the sun was up, reaching
Bihen at tea-time, where we found the tents already pitched,
for we ourselves had taken it easy on the march, and had
rested for some hours in the shade of a large tree covered
with creepers, where butterflies and Sun-birds were very
plentiful.
Bihen is another oasis, caused by a strong spring of deli-
cious water that comes bubbling out of the rock at the root
of a large fig-tree. After forming two large pools, which,
by the way, are full of small turtles, it loses itself in a dense
mass of tall rushes, a favourite resort of lions a few years
back. The bright green of the close-cropped sward and of the
tall rushes is very grateful to the eye after the arid country
through which the road from Berbera passes, so we decided
to stay here for a few days. The following morning Aylmer
started off to a sugar-loaf mountain called “ Dimoleh.”
It has hitherto been marked on the maps as “ Inaccessible
Peak,” the natives saying that no man had ever been known
to reach the top. However, Aylmer and his two “ boys”
succeeded in reaching the summit after a stiffish climb.
Hersi, one of the natives, gave a most amusing account of
the horrors of the ascent in Somali-English, and finished up
by saying: “If Mr. Elmer give me two hundred pound to
go up again, I don’t take him; what use two hundred pound
if you no live to spend him?” MHersi was a great wag.
While at Bihen we were visited by hundreds of baboons,
who barked at us from the rocks above; they have a secure
and safe sleeping-place close by, which has all the appearances
of having been thus used for ages. It is an overhanging
cliff, accessible from below; here on the upper ledges sleep
the young ones and females, while the old males form a
semicircle about the top, and woe to any prowling leopard
which attempts a midnight raid.
From Bihen we made a short march to Gelloker (“place
of the Little Bustard’’), the country becoming more and
more interesting as we approached the Goolis Mountains,
the tops of which (curiously enough for this time of
year) had been veiled in mist ever since we started. Tall
SER, VII.—VOL, II. ¥
66 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
flat-topped mimosa-trees here take the place of the smaller
bushes nearer the coast, while dense thickets of the ever-
green arak, or toothbrush-tree, give shelter to Franco-
lins, Guinea-fowls, and Lesser Bustards, as well as to many
smaller birds, which seek seclusion in their dark recesses. It
has been a matter of regret to us all that we only spent one
day at Gelloker. Butterflies and birds were particularly
abundant, and there were many tracks of antelopes. How- —
ever, as water was very scarce, we decided to push on to
Hammar, at the foot of the Sheik Pass, which we reached
the next evening. Hammar is a really beautiful spot, but
it is hardly a desirable camping-ground, having been used
from time immemorial as a resting-place for caravans about
to ascend the Pass. On a slight eminence in the rocky
gorge stand three ancient tamarind-trees, the very soil
beneath them consisting of the remains of countless camp-
fires. Mountains rise abruptly on all sides, well clothed
with timber, among which the giant, candelabra-like Ku-
phorbia is most conspicuous. A tiny stream trickles down
the gorge, forming pools at intervals, over which lovely
butterflies hover for a moment and then sail away above the
highest tree-tops, to the disgust of their would-be capturers.
From crevices in the rocks hang clusters of the beautiful
broad-leaved maidenhair fern. Near one of these pools I
had an adventure, which might have had an ugly ter-
mination. JI was waiting with a butterfly-net for the
return of one of the aforesaid errant beauties, when I saw
a snake gliding down over the smooth rock towards the
water. To run forward and scoop him into the net was the
work of a moment, and I congratulated myself on having
obtained an unharmed specimen so easily. He struggled
violently for a few minutes, but when he had quieted down I
brought the net nearer my face to examine him, when
suddenly I felt a slight spray upon my cheek and a sharp
pain in my right eye. TIT flung down the net and went and
bathed my face in the pool, then recaught my captive, which
had escaped, and hurried home to camp, where I dropped
him safely into spinit. ‘The pain in my eye now became much
observed in Northern Somali-land. 67
worse, and I spent the rest of the afternoon in my dark-
ened tent bathing it; however, towards sundown the pain
lessened, and the next morning my eye was quite well again.
Dr. Giinther, to whom I subsequently showed the specimen,
pronounced it to be a cobra, and said that had I had any
abrasion of the skin, which would have allowed the poison to
enter the system, the result might have been fatal. I feel that
I have the greatest reason to be thankful for my escape, the
more so as a few weeks later an old man came and begged
for some medicine that would restore the sight to one of his
eyes, and when I asked him how he had lost it, he replied,
“Ten years ago a snake spit into my eye.” While at
Hammar, Gunnis brought in a little baboon; it was a poor
weakly little thing that had not had strength enough to hold
on to its mother’s back while she bounded over the rocks. We
hardly thought it would live, but the ladies tended it with
the greatest care, with the result that it is now, together
with a little female that we obtained later, a most popular
show at the Zoological Society’s Gardens.
Leaving Hammar, we ascended the pass by a beautiful
new road lately engimeered since the British occupation,
such a contrast to the old rocky “ staircase ” existing for-
merly, when on two occasions it took from sunrise to
sunset to get our caravan up it. Now all is plain sailing,
and in about three hours from starting the camels emerged
on to the level plain at the top, which forms one of the
upper ledges of the Goolis range, 4000 feet above the sea.
The view was magnificent, whichever way we looked. Away
to the north lay Berbera, with its shipping and minaret
just discernible through the shimmering tropical haze, while
long white lines of surf divided the faint yellow of the
maritime plain from the even paler blue of the sea. The
intervening country, with its gleaming dry watercourses
accentuated by the green of the trees along their banks, and
the small round-topped hills, reminds one forcibly of a raised
map. ‘To the west, as far as the eye can reach, stretch the
precipitous bluffs of the upper Goolis, while to the east
Wagga Mountain, over 7000 ft. in height, looms faintly in the
F2
68 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
distance. From the top of the pass the caravan route con-
tinues due south through an opening in the hills, past an
ancient mosque-like tomb, or “ Sheik,” from which the pass
derives its name.
Having travelled due south so far, we now turned sharply
to the west along the Merzo ledge, our camps being Gooldoo
Hamed, Geddinyarli, Darra As, Darra Sarri, Woob, and
finally we descended again to the head of the great Hainwaina
plain, or bay-like inlet at Dooloob, and worked our way
back along the base of the hills, arriving at Bihen on the 20th
April, and passing close to the base of the no longer inacces-
sible Dimoleh peak. Of all our different camps we give the
palm to Darra As. The huge cedar-like junipers (Juniperus
procera) there attain a size which we noticed nowhere else,
while the open glades, resembling park-like spaces, were in
the evening often covered with countless Guinea-fowls.
Birds and butterflies were particularly abundant, but
alas! large game is scarcer than it was some years ago.
It was here that some natives brought us a little koodoo
calf, which we managed, after infinite trouble, to bring alive
to London, where it is to be seen at the Zoological Gardens.
They also brought us a little klipspringer, which Miss Cole
tended with the utmost care; but, alas! the little thing
died at Dooloob. Leopards we found particularly fearless ;
they came into our camp five times, killing sheep and goats,
but, to our shame, we never succeeded in slaying one of
them in return, though we tried every device. Both the
ladies were thirsting for their blood, and were particularly
anxious that a leopard should be killed inrevenge. They sat
up with us on several occasions; my wife even climbing a
large tree, and remaining with me from sunset till the small
hours of the morning. The natives were not the least sur-
prised at our non-success, declaring, with the old ‘ Were-
Wolf’ superstition, that these leopards were “ Orgoobas,”
or witchfolk, and that they always knew when they were
being waited for and would not come, but that they would
bide their time. This belief was borne out by the fact that
on one occasion, when we were at dinner and the camp ablaze
observed in Northern Somali-land. 69
with light, a leopard had the audacity to spring into the
sheep-pen—which was in the centre of the camp—and out
again with one of our best milch-goats, but it got hung up
in the tent-ropes, and had to relinquish its prey, which
had its throat nearly bitten through.
At Dooloob we were brought two perfectly fresh Ostrich
eggs, which proved delicious eating, one egg making both
omelets and pancakes for five people. Wild Ostriches are
getting very scarce, but there are a few on the Hainwaina
plain. The Midgans (low-caste Somalis) keep tame Ostriches,
and take the feathers to Berbera for sale.
The only bit of cultivation we saw the whole time after
leaving Dobar was at Dooloob ; here three brothers had
cleverly laid out a garden with an irrigation-trench above it,
so as to insure a constant supply of water. Their only tools
were their spears, and they were so much struck with a spade
and rake we had in camp that we promised to leave those
articles for them with the Governor at Berbera when we
quitted the country. So great, however, was their desire to
possess these useful implements that one of the brothers
appeared at Berbera the very day we arrived, having walked
50 miles in order that there should be no mistake about getting
them ; and there certainly was no mistake about his joy at
becoming the proud possessor of them. After Dooloob our
camps were Allareea, Djedanio, Oombayle, Gotten, Wadaba,
Bihen, Faradairo, and then into Berbera. Gottin and
Wadaba were both delightful spots; there had been several
heavy local showers about a fortnight previously, so that
when we arrived everything was wearing its brightest green,
and the ladies made great botanical hauls. Of their dried
specimens sent to the Herbarium at Kew 69 represent new
species, including 3 new genera*, while their seeds, bulbs, and
orchids have not yet made sufficient growth to be finally
pronounced upon, Among our other collections, we were
fortunate enough to obtain two new lizards, two new
scorpions, two new spiders, and one new fossil coral, as well
as the new Corvus and Merula mentioned hereafter.
* See “Diagnoses African,” no, vii., in Kew Bull, 1895, p. 211.
70 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
Between Wadaba and Bihen we had a most exciting
experience. We were now about to leave the foot-hills
and strike out over the “red-hot” plain, so we decided
to leave the camp before sunrise, and get over a good bit
of ground before the great heat of the day, trusting to find
some shady spot on our road, where we could rest till
the evening. We passed several suitable places, but decided
that they were not far enough on our way to warrant
our stopping ; however, the further we advanced the smaller
we found the trees, which were decidedly dwindling as
the distance from the hills increased. Our road lay along
a glaring white water-course, and we were beginning to
despair of finding a convenient place, when, far ahead, we
spied a pillar of green apparently rising out of the white sand
of the river’s bed. We joyfully pressed forward and found,
on a low flat island, two huge mimosa-trees completely
covered with creepers, the rope-like stems of which hung
down in festoons, nearly to the ground. We congratulated
ourselves most heartily on this lucky find, and told the “ boys”
to get breakfast ready as soon as possible, as we were more
than ready for it ourselves. On these occasions a camel
always accompanied us, having on its back two large Scotch
game-panniers, which not only held our food and drink for the
day, but also books, papers, &c., as well as collecting-boxes,
while on the top were tied folding chairs and table, and also
ground-sheets ; so we were able to make ourselves thoroughly
comfortable. Breakfast over, we composed ourselves for a
well-earned siesta. We had been asleep for about an hour,
when Hersi came and touched me, saying, “ Sahib, plenty
rain comin’; can’tyou hear him shoutin’ upstairs ?”’ At the
same moment I heard the roll of the thunder among the
tops of the upper Goolis, accompanied by the peculiar
hissing noise of a tropical downpour. I woke the others,
and we hastily converted the ground-sheet into a tent, using
the chairs and table as a wall on the weather-side. We
had barely completed our arrangements before the storm was
upon us. In our anxiety to keep our things dry, the possi-
bility of lightning seems to have escaped us, and it was only
observed in Northern Somali-land. 71
when we were cowering under our shelter that a loud burst
of thunder over our heads reminded us of our rifles, upon
which we were almost sitting. The situation was far from
pleasant, for, apart from the fact of our having so much iron
near us, the two tall trees under which we were sheltering
were very likely conductors in themselves, being the only
trees of their size for miles around. However, there was
nothing to be done for it, as the only alternative was to
stand outside and be drenched to the skin, and court an
almost certain attack of fever. The storm raged overhead,
and our trees, burdened as they were with their “ top
hamper ” of creepers, seemed almost certain to crash down
upon us. After about ten minutes’ suspense the storm
gradually moved off in an easterly direction. But now a
new anxiety presented itself. We were encamped, as I
said, on a little low island in the broad river-bed, and hardly
had the storm abated when we heard the rush of advancing
waters, which were hidden by a bend a little way above us,
Soon a thick turbid flood came surging round the corner,
and spread out on both sides of us from bank to bank. We
were still two feet above the water ; but masses of débris piled
against the trees showed to what height previous floods had
risen, and, as it was still raining in torrents among the hills,
though it had ceased with us, we thought it wiser to put
our things out of harm’s way. So saddles, panniers, chairs,
and rifles were lifted up into the loops of the creeper-
stems above the highest flood-mark, we ourselves intending
to follow when there was no longer any dry land left to stand
on: however, we were spared this, and the water, having
nearly deprived us of standing-room, began to abate.
By 3 p.m. the river’s bed was dry again, and we started on
our way to Bihen, arriving there about 6.30, To our great
relief, we found that the caravan had escaped the rain
altogether. So very local are these tropical downpours that,
though the caravan had only passed a few miles to the south
of us, on the other side of Dimoleh, it had entirely missed
the storm. Aylmer, who was shooting in that direction,
escaped a wetting, while Gunnis, who was with us, was
72 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
thoroughly drenched, luckily, however, with no ill effects.
Arriving at Berbera, we found the little Maidan all bustle and
confusion ; it was crowded with tents, as there were three
shooting expeditions about to start for the far interior ; while
a gallant Colonel, lately commanding at Aden, had just
arrived from beyond Hainwaina, having had his arm mauled
by a lion. To our great joy we found the Royal Indian
Marine troopship ‘Mayo’ in the harbour, and were kindly
offered a passage over to Aden, which we gladly accepted.
Captain Mennie again met us with an invitation to Govern-
ment House, a delightful termination to a most charming
expedition, which we had all of us thoroughly enjoyed.
In arranging the following field-notes, which give the results
of our observations on the birds of the Goolis, I am grate-
fully indebted to my friend Dr. Bowdler Sharpe for his very
kind assistance. In compiling them I have in most cases
given references to Captain Shelley’s paper on the birds of
my former expedition (Ibis, 1885, pp. 389-418), and have
followed nearly the order of classification adopted by him.
1, PxocrPHALUs RUFIVENTRIS (Riuipp.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p. 393.
These lively little Parrots are fairly common wherever the
giant Euphorbia is to be found, and are often seen chasing
each other with loud screams among the candelabra-like
branches. The natives say that they breed in holes in the
rotting stems; but I was never lucky enough to find a nest.
2. IRRIsOR ERYTHRORHYNCHUS (Lath.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p. 395.
These noisy, evil-smelling birds are fairly common both in
the plains and on the Goolis range. They are gregarious,
and small parties of 8 or 10 may be seen flying from one
big tree to another. On the wing they are almost silent, but
the moment they alight they set up a deafening chatter,
and, holding tightly on to the bark, they throw themselves
backward till their heads are level with their feet. They
then regain the upright position and, raising their beaks, all
chatter in concert, repeating this performance at each fresh
observed in Northern Somali-land. 73
tree. They have a most disgusting smell, the cause of which
I am unable to explain, and it was with the greatest repug-
nance that I managed to skin one specimen.
3. Upupa soMaLiensis, Salvin, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xvi. p. 13.
Upupa epops senegalensis, Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 397.
Very common, and does not seem to differ in its habits
from the Hoopoe, which is such a familiar object along the
bauks of the Nile. It is quite fearless of man, and its great
tameness may be accounted for by the fact that it is beloved
by the Somalis, who look upon it as a harbinger of good
times to come. One day, as I was watching one of the
beautiful birds seated on an ant-hill close to the tents, a
native who prided himself on his English said to me, “ You
know what he sayin’? He say hoot-hoot-hoot, plenty rain
comi’ ; hoot-hoot-hoot, all the camels an’ cows make young
ones, all de goats an’ sheep make young ones; hoot-hoot-
hoot, plenty grass comin’.” Who would not love the bearer
of such good news?
4. Merors nusicus (Gm.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 397.
I was unable to obtain a specimen of this fine Bee-eater ;
but on the 7th of April I saw hundreds of them high in the
air apparently making their way in a north-easterly direc-
tion. They were easily distinguishable by their bright
carmine bellies.
5. Mewirropuacus cyanostictus (Cab.).
Melittophagus pusillus cyanostictus, Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p. 398.
This little Bee-eater is one of the most familiar objects both
on the march and in camp. It is to be seen everywhere
perched on a prominent dry twig, or making its beau-
tiful undulating flight in pursuit of some quickly-flying
butterfly, which it invariably captures seemingly without an
effort. Unless disturbed, it always returns with its prey to
its own particular twig, in which it seems from long usage
to have established a sort of vested right, to judge from
the droppings and insect “débris” which are to be found
underneath, . |
74 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
6. Mexirropnacus revoiti (Oust.); Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p. 398.
Far from common. Only two pairs were noticed on the
lower slopes.
7. Coracias Garrutus, Linn.; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
Xvii.. p. 15 (1892).
One specimen of the Common Roller was shot by Aylmer
at Gotten, at the foot of the Goolis, early in April.
8. Coracias Navius (Daud.) ; Shelley, [bis, 1885, p. 399.
This handsome bird seems to prefer the higher and more
thickly wooded ledges of the Goolis to the open plain, where
I only noticed it on two occasions. Among the euphorbias,
however, it may be met with daily. Like its cousin, C. loréi,
it is very noisy and pugnacious, often chasing Hawks, Crows,
and even members of its own species to a great height, and
then on its return earthward I have seen it turning over
and over uttering loud cries as if in a paroxysm of delight at
having vanquished its foe. Its food seems to consist of
beetles and small lizards, and I have watched it catching the
large yellow locust on the wing.
9. Coractas tort, Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 399.
This Roller, of which I obtained only two specimens in
1885, was very plentiful along the base of the hills, but
I never noticed it on the upper “ledges” of the Goolis,
where, however, C. nevius was fairly common. Like that
species it was generally to be seen in pairs, and was far from
shy, its harsh scolding cry seldom leaving one long in ignor-
ance of its proximity. It is easily seen, as it loves to perch
on the top of the highest tree, a dead branch being always
preferred to a living one.
10. Scuizoruts LEUCcoGaSTER (Riipp.) ; Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p- 400.
These handsome birds are fairly plentiful among the tall
mimosas that grow along the banks of the “tugs” or water-
courses, and have a curious habit of running about over the
flat interlaced thorny twigs, more after the manner of
observed in Northern Somali-land. 75
squirrels than of birds. Their cry strangely resembles the
bleat of a goat, and I remember being bitterly disappointed
in 1885, after a ten days’ waterless march, to find that the
welcome “ baaing,’”’ which would have meant to us milk and
water, proceeded only from a flock of these birds. Alas! the
wells to which we had been pressing were dry and the
herds had been moved elsewhere. The flight of this Touraco
very much resembles that of the Magpie, and immediately
on alighting they raise and lower their handsome crests.
11. Cenrropus surercitiosus, Hempr. et Ehr.; Shelley,
Ibis, 1886, p. 400.
To this Cuckoo—so seldom seen, yet so often heard—the
traveller is indebted for one of the most charming sounds
heard on the march whenever the latter follows the course
of running water, for the Centropus loves the dense masses
of reeds which are always to be found in such localities. So
shy, however, is it that it was only during last winter (my
fifth spent in East Africa) that I was able to identify the
beautiful familiar bell-like tones with the well-known bird
occasionally seen scuttling away into covert at one’s approach.
Its song, if such it can be called, consists of ten clear distinct
notes following each other down the scale with the utmost
regularity. I had previously (I don’t know why) attributed
these sounds to a little bronze Dove, when to my delight and
surprise, as I was waiting for large game, well hidden in a
patch of reeds, I saw a Ground-Cuckoo steal out of another
patch, when, doubtless thinking himself alone and unobserved,
he mounted a stone and began to sing, repeating the song
every few minutes; but he kept an anxious look-out from
side to side as if in fear of being caught in the act, like a shy
human amateur.
12. Cucutus cutaris, Steph.; Shelley, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
xix. p. 244 (1890).
Two Cuckoos were seen, at a place called Gotten, at the
base of the Goolis range. Aylmer shot a specimen of
C. gularis,so that the other Cuckoos observed were probably
of this species.
76 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
13. TrerpstPpHoNE cristata (Gm.); Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p. 400.
Fairly plentiful on the upper slopes in the euphorbias,
among which the male endeavours to conceal himself, as if
painfully conscious of his startling appearance; his move-
ments seeming terribly handicapped by the long streaming
white tail-feathers, which certainly give a most weird look.
The little brown female, on the contrary, is extremely lively,
flitting from bough to bough, uttering a sharp “ chat-chat”
the whole time. Though I have never actually seen her
feeding her long-tailed mate, I feel almost sure that she
must cater for him, as she is so incessantly active, while
he remains hidden among the thick branches, and when he
does take a short flight it is so laborious that the idea of fly-
catching seems out of the question. I should, however, be
very glad to have my theory corroborated.
14, PacnHyPRoRA ORIENTALIS (Heugl.).
Batis orientalis, Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. iv. p. 186
(1879).
Always to be found in the neighbourhood of water.
15. Brapyornis pumiuus, Sharpe, P. Z. 8. 1895, p. 480.
This bird is generally seen in pairs. Its habits closely
resemble those of the Redbreast.
16. Bucuanea assimitis, Bechst.; Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p. 401.
This handsome Flycatcher is very plentiful im northern
Somali-land, being found from Berbera itself to the top of
the Goolis range. It is also very fearless, often taking up a
position on the hedge of the zareeba, attracted, no doubt, by
the quantities of flies which invariably infest a camp in hot
climates.
17. Lanius antinori, Salvad.; Sharpe, P. Z.S. 1895,
p- 477.
This specimen was unfortunately destroyed, but I managed
to save the wings, and Dr. Sharpe says that there can be
no doubt that the Shrike was of this species, with white
‘observed in Northern Somali-land. TE
tips to the secondaries. On my former expedition I got a
specimen of L. dorsalis (cf. Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 401), and
now that ZL. antinorii is found in the same district of Somali-
land, it is quite possible that Dr. Sharpe may be right, and
that L. dorsalis and L. antinorii are merely sexes of the same
species (cf. Sharpe, P. Z.S. 1895, p. 477).
18, Lanius pHenicuRorDEs, Sev. ; Gadow, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. viii. p. 278 (1883).
Aylmer shot a specimen of this Shrike.
19. Dryoscopus runesris, Hartl.; Gadow, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. vii. p. 133.
This Bush-Shrike keeps well out of sight in the thickest
clumps of the arak, or toothbrush-tree, among which its
beautiful metallic note may be heard at any time of day.
So shy, however, did I find it that it was only after a good
deal of creeping about on my hands and knees that I was
able to identify the bird with the note.
20. Laniarius crveNtus (Hempr. et Ehr.); Shelley, Ibis,
1885, p. 402.
This lovely Bush-Shrike is to be met with on all open
spaces on the Goolis, as it seems to avoid the thickets
altogether. It is far from shy and may be seen towards
sundown in small parties, going through the most ridiculous
antics. ‘They chase each other solemnly round and round
some big stone with outspread wings and tail, or else, perched
on a dead bough, bob up and down to each other and all the
time utter two metallic notes such as might be produced by a
child’s mouth-organ. During this pantomime they seem to
be in a state of ecstasy, and may be approached within a few
yards before they appear to be conscious of one’s presence,
21. Prionops poLtiocePpHaLus (Stanley); Shelley, Ibis,
1885, p. 403.
I only noticed one flock of these weird-looking “ Camel-
birds ” during the whole trip, although in 1885 they seemed
fairly common towards the Debbe river. ‘This flock I saw
early in April, at Gotten, at the foot of the Goolis, where it
78 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
may have been simply resting during the general migration
which seemed to be taking place. I have called them
‘“‘Camel-birds,” as their flight and ery forcibly remind one
of the Camel-bird, Buphaga erythrorhyncha; but I have
never actually seen them feeding on the camels’ backs,
though I am nearly sure I saw them perched on the
grazing cattle in 1885. The curious yellow fleshy excres-
cence around the eyes gives them a very “ uncanny” ap-
pearance.
22. EUROCEPHALUS RUEPPELLI, Bp.; Shelley, Ibis, 1886,
p. 308.
These birds are fairly numerous in the thickly-wooded
districts, their white rumps making them very conspicuous
when on the wing. Early in March I watched a pair for
some time busily engaged on a nearly-completed nest, which
was, for such large birds, a miracle of ingenuity. It was
built almost entirely of spiders’ webs with a foundation of
moss, and looked like a magnified nest of a Humming-bird.
It was stuck against the side of a tallish tree, about 12 feet
from the ground, and at a little distance could scarcely be
distmguished from the bark.
23. Hypotais tancuripa (H. & E.); Seebohm, Cat. B.
Brit. Mus. v. p. 80 (1881).
Of this species only one was seen, which was shot near
Berbera on Feb. 1st.
24. Merruta Lupovicia. (Plate IT.)
Merula ludovicie, Lort Phillips, Bull. B. O. C. iv. p. xxxvi;
Ibis, 1895, p. 383.
I was delightfully reminded of our English Blackbird when
I first saw an example of this new species. It was early
morning, the bushes and grass were glistening with dew,
and under a gigantic cedar I caught sight of a dark grey
bird with yellow bill and feet hunting for worms in the truly
orthodox manner, whilst on the topmost bough another was
pouring forth his morning song. I watched them for some
time and then continued my way, as I only had my rifle
with me. It was, however, some days before I was able to
litin.
Iris de} et
(> Keuler
observed in Northern Somali-land. 79
obtain a specimen, and then I was lucky enough to find a
nest containing two eggs in a thick bush, much resembling
abox-tree. I also shot both the male and the female, which
have been admirably figured in Plate IL.
I have named this new species after my wife, who is a
keen observer, and was a very great help to me with my
collection.
The nest is a coarsely-made structure of small twigs and
bark, peeled off in strips and intertwined with the sticks and
a few straws. The lining is of dried grass with a few leaves,
and there is a little moss on the outside of the nest. The
eggs were two in number, of a very delicate type for a
Blackbird. The ground-colour is a very pale greenish blue,
plentifully sprinkled with tiny spots of rufous, clouding
together at the longer ends; the underlying markings and
spots are faint purplish grey. Axis 11 inch, diam. 0°75.
25. MonricoLa RUFOcINEREA (Riipp.) ; Seebohm, Cat. B.
v. p. 827 (1881).
An adult male was procured.
26. MykMercocicHLa MELANURA (Temm.).
Myrmecocichla cinerea, Seebohm, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. v.
p. 358.
I met with a couple of these birds on the bare hills at
Dobar. They consisted of an old bird and a young one, and
the latter was being fed by the parent. The nestling plumage
is thoroughly Chat-like, and the feathers are tipped with
sandy buff.
27. SaxicoLa pHituiprsi, Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 404.
Fairly common both on the Berbera plain and on the
upper ledges of the Goolis, wherever open spaces are to be
found. Its habits do not seem to differ from those of other
Chats.
28. Saxicota pbessert1, Temm.; Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p. 405.
Plentiful on the Berbera plains,
80 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
29. SAxICOLA ISABELLINA, Riipp.; Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p. 405.
This Chat, like the S. deserti, was plentiful on the Berbera
plains in February.
30. RuricinLa PHa@NIcURUs (Linn.).
An adult male bird was procured. The Redstart was
fairly common on the higher ground where, on March 15th,
I found a pair nesting in a hole of a tree overhanging the
path. The same day I sawa Bluethroat but failed to get it.
31. ErxyrHropyeia LeucopTeRA (Riipp.); Shelley, Ibis,
1885, p. 406.
This species frequents the open plains, and may be seen
dodging about among the low mimosa-bushes. When on
the wing it spreads out its tail like a fan, but for which
peculiarity it would often escape notice.
32. CaLAMONASTES SIMPLEX (Cab.); Sharpe, Ibis, 1892,
p. 154.
This remarkable little bird is fairly plentiful among the
low foot-hills, but I never noticed it on the upper ledges of
the Goolis. For so small a bird, it has a loud and almost
startling note, resembling the sound that would be produced
by striking two thin pieces of very hard dry wood together.
When first I followed up the sharp “ click-clack, click-clack,”
I was quite prepared to see a largish bird, but instead of
this, there was a tiny creature in an ecstasy of excitement
emphasising the two loud notes by raising itself up on the
first and coming sharply down on the second. ‘The peculiar
up-and-down movement of our common Dipper when perched
upon a rock after a short flight will serve well as an illus-
tration of this bird’s antics.
33. Cratrropus smitut, Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. iv. p. xli;
id: BP. Z. 8.. 1895; p. 487.
This noisy bird is far oftener heard than seen, as it keeps
out of sight in the thick bushes. I bave never noticed it on
the plain, but on the upper ledges of the Goolis it must be
fairly common. Its usual cry is a sort of harsh chattering,
observed in Northern Somali-land. 81
but it is also gifted with mimicry, imitating the call of the
Guinea-fowl so well that on several occasions members of
our party were completely deceived, not to say horribly dis-
appointed, after a stealthy creep through the bushes. For,
instead of the expected “family shot” and subsequent
luscious roast for which the hungry soul yearned, behold a
flock of useless chatterers, which fly off, evidently delighted
with their little joke.
34. ANTHUs sorDIDUS, Rupp. ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
x. p. 560 (1885).
A female bird shot by Aylmer at Durra Surri.
35. ANTHUS RUFULUS, Vieill.; Sharpe, Cat. B. x. p. 574
(1885).
A male, also shot by Aylmer at Woob.
36. Movracitta BoREALIS, Sundev.; Sharpe, Cat. B. x.
p. 522 (1885).
Fairly common, and seen hunting for insects among the
feet of the feeding cattle, as at home.
37. CINNYRIS HABEssINICUS (Hempr. & Ehr.) ; Shelley,
Ibis, 1885, p. 406.
This living gem is extremely common in the Goolis range,
and both high up and low down it is one of the most
familiar objects of bird-life. Whilst on the wing it utters
continually a sharp ‘‘ chat-chat-chat,” as if to draw attention
to its flashing colours. That it was breeding I feel sure,
but we looked for its nest in vain. Miss Cole found a beau-
tiful little hanging nest resembling a “ Bottle Tit’s,”’ made of
cobwebs, with a regular pent-house protecting the entrance ;
but we failed to identify its owner, though we strongly sus-
pected it belonged to C. habessinicus.
38. Cinnyris osrais, Finsch ; Shelley, Mon. Sunb.
p. 215.
This specimen was first seen by my wife, and was the only
one obtained. It was among the large-leafed colchicums (?),
where it was feeding in company with C. habessinicus. We
had great hopes that it would prove a new species, for I had
SER, VII.— VOL, LI. G
82 Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
never seen one before, though both C. habessinicus and
C. albiventris were exceedingly numerous.
39. CINNYRIS ALBIVENTRIs (Strickl.) ; Shelley, Mon. Sunb.
p. 233, pl. Ixxiii.
This exquisite Sun-bird is common both on the hills and
on the plains, where it may be seen in company with its
dowdy little mate wherever the mimosa is in blossom or the
aloe hangs its crimson and yellow bells. It is very fearless,
and does not seem to mind being watched in the least.
40. TextTor DINEMELLI, Horsf. ; Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 409.
Only seen along the foot of the Goolis range, where it
was breeding in small colonies in March and April. The
nests are huge clumsy affairs placed at the extremity of the
boughs of the taller mimosa trees and look like flat masses
of the sharpest thorns; the entrance, however, is from below,
and the interior is lined with soft grasses. The eggs are
pale blue, dotted with dark brown spots.
41. BurpHAGA ERYTHRORHYNCHA, Stanley; Shelley, Ibis,
1885, p. 410.
Somali name ‘‘ Hoorie.”
As soon as the camping-ground has been reached and the
camels turned out to graze, these noisy plagues put in an
appearance, and, swooping down upon the tired beasts, com-
mence a systematic hunt all over their bodies for ticks &c.,
running with the greatest ease over the backs and under the
bellies of the camels, which, far from appearing pleased at
their attentions and at being rid of their disgusting parasites,
try to knock the birds off, wherever they can reach them with
their long necks. The movements, and the facility with which
the birds run up and down the camels’ sides, remind one
of the Woodpecker, and, like the latter, who always tries to
keep a tree-trunk between himself and the observer, they will
also, on the near approach of man, run round to the further
side and peep at him over the ridge of the camel’s back.
The natives detest them, declaring that they not only worry
the feeding camels, but also aggravate their sores and,
observed in Northern Somali-land. 83
by pecking away at the exposed flesh, prevent their healing.
Surely the baggage-camel’s lot is not a happy one!
42. Cosmopsarus REGIUs, Reichen. ; Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p. 411.
This bird is far from plentiful, but is to be met with on
the open plains in small parties of three or four. I never
noticed it in the thickly-wooded parts of the Goolis, nor
could I find out where it nested. A flock of these gorgeous
birds in the dazzling sunshine is a sight not to be forgotten.
43. AmypRus morio (Linn.); Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
X01. -p, 161.
These Grakles frequent the highest part of the Goolis
range, and are always to be found in the neighbourhood of
the precipitous cliffs which crown the range and arein many
places quite perpendicular for some hundreds of feet. These
cliffs are studded with wind-worn cavities varying in size
from a pigeon-hole to a good-sized cavern. In the former
the “ Morios ” make their homes, flying in and out after
the manner of Jackdaws, and indeed, when seen from above,
lying flat at the edge of the cliffs, the male (?) bird, with his
grey head and noisy cry, greatly resembles our familiar
“ Jack.””? The larger holes are tenanted by Vultures, Hawks,
Eagles, and Owls, and seem to be a general breeding-place
for Northern Somali-land, as from the top of the cliffs the
land slopes away southwards hundreds of miles, and forms a
vast undulating plain, while towards the north there is a
rapid fall of 6000 feet in the short space of 40 miles which
intervenes between the Goolis and the sea.
44, Noravces supersus (Riipp.); Shelley, Ibis, 1885,
p. 412.
This lovely Starling is one of the most familiar objects of
bird-life in Somali-land. It is a persistent camp-follower,
showing little or no fear of man, hopping about over bales
and boxes and peering into the tents, its little white eyes
gleaming with intelligence all the while. We found it
breeding in small colonies during March and April, the
nests being placed far out on the boughs of the taller
G2
84. Mr. E. Lort Phillips on Birds
mimosas. Like those of Textor dinemelli, they are protected
from above by a covering of the sharpest thorns, the entrance
being from below.
45. Lamproco.ius cHaLysBEus (Ehr.); Sharpe, Cat. B.
Brit. Mus. xiii. p. 176.
This Starling—unlike Notauges superbus, which was always
with us—was met with only at one place on the upper
Goolis, called “ Darra As,” where there was a small plateau
covered with a short heath, among which I saw about twenty
pairs daily while we camped there. That they were so
local was all the more extraordinary as we came across
several of such plateaux. The birds differ again from
Notauges superbus, to which they must be closely allied, in
their choice of breeding-places, for while the latter species,
like Textor dinemelli, makes huge thorny structures at the
ends of the mimosa boughs, L. chalybeus prefers holes in the
trunk of some big tree. Indeed, a pair had a nest in a cleft
of a cedar under which we were encamped, and reminded us
forcibly of our common Starling in their noisy attendance on
their young.
46. Corvus epitH#, Lort Phillips, Bull. B. O. C. iv.
p. xxxvi; Ibis, 1895, p. 383.
Only four of these birds were seen during the whole trip.
At Dejamio, in the Hainwaina Plain, I was writing in my
tent, and, hearing a distinctly different caw-caw to that of
our usual camp-followers, I went out and saw two brown
Crows seated on a koodoo head that had been put outside
the zareeba hedge for the birds to clean. Directly they saw
me they flew away, but came circling back over the camp
nearly out of shot. However, I was lucky enough to drop one,
to the huge delight of the natives, who never cease to wonder
at a bird being shot flying. The other bird flew straight
away. Three days later I saw another pair about five miles
from camp, but as I only had a heavy rifle with me I could
not get one. Was this a fresh pair, or had the survivor
mysteriously supplied itself with a mate, as Ravens have been
reported to have done in districts where only a solitary pair
observed in Northern Somali-land. 85
was previously known to exist, one of them having come to
an untimely end ?
I have named this new Crow after Miss Edith Cole, who
accompanied our party to Somali-land.
47. Vinaco waatia (Gm.); Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
Rs AD,
Wherever the huge fig-tree is to be found these lovely
Pigeons make their home in the thick branches, finding not
only a plentiful supply of food, but also the grateful shade
which seems essential to them. I have never seen them
flying about except in the cool of the evening or when
disturbed. Indeed, so loath are they to leave the shade
that I have often known them to sit motionless without
betraying their presence for more than an hour while we
have been eating luncheon below, when suddenly, as if
unable to bear their enforced stillness any longer, they
would dash out with a whirr-r-r of wings that was quite
startling.
48. PreRNISTES LEUCOSCcEPUS (Gray) ; Ogilvie Grant, Cat.
B. Brit. Mus. xxi. p. 181, pl. viii. (1893).
Fairly common wherever there is thick undergrowth. It
is very noisy at sunrise and sunset, its cry being a harsh
grating sound, which it repeats over and over again. At
such times it may be seen in the little open glades, but it
will take covert again the moment it thinks itself observed.
It is capital eating, and will rise well once, but is difficult to
flush a second time. We found several nests in March
and April containing from seven to ten eggs, the shells of
which are so hard that one can rattle them about together
without the least fear of their breaking. When once caught
these birds are very easily tamed, and I was fortunate enough
in 1884 to bring home alive a pair of this species as well
as a pair of Francolinus granti, which were, I believe, the
first ever received by the Zoological Society.
49. Francouinus Granti, Hartl.; Ogilvie Grant, Cat. B.
Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 148 (1893).
ais
This little “Partridge” is far oftener seen than Pter-
86 On Birds observed in Northern Somati-land.
nistes leucoscepus, as thick covert does not seem to be so
essential to it. Like the latter, it is very noisy.in the
morning and evening, and has a surprisingly loud, harsh ery
for so small a bird. It affords capital sport, as it rises well,
and its flesh, though rather dry, is always a welcome change.
50. Lornoris cinp1ana (Oust.); Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. xxii. p. 292 (1894).
This little Bustard, called “Gello” by the Somalis, is very
plentiful on the flat ground, where, however, it is much
oftener heard than seen. Its cry is rather mournful; be-
ginning low down, it mounts the scale in a series of double
notes, the bird itself not infrequently, at the end of its
“song,” rising high into the air with rapid beating of the
wings, and when a sufficient height has been gained it will
throw back its head and neck till they seem to rest on its
back, and then flutter slowly to the ground, as if in a dying
condition. We found them breeding in March and April,
and several beautifully-marked round eggs were brought in
by the boys ; in each case the nest contained two.
Of the Great Somali Bustard, called ““Saramudly” by the
natives, Aylmer obtained one specimen, which was too
much damaged by the bullet to make a ‘ skin’ of: its flesh,
however, proved excellent for the table. In 1878 I flushed
a female from a nest containing two eggs.
51. Cursorius soMALrENsIs, Shelley.
Cursorius gallicus somalensis, Shelley, Ibis, 1885, p. 415.
Having reached the top of the Sheik Pass, I started off
with my ‘ boy,’ Aden Arrali, in the hope of falling in with
another flock of the Somali Courser, as I had done 10 years
previously. In vain he tried to assure me that no birds
were to be found on the arid ground to which we made our
way. At last I reached the well-remembered spot, but, alas!
no Coursers were to be seen, and I sat down, hot and tired.
I was almost smiling to myself that I should have been
sanguine enough to expect to find in the identical place the
descendants of the flock out of which I obtained my first
specimens, when suddenly something moving among the
Notes on Tunisian Birds. 8&7
stones caught my eye, and there, within a few yards, were
three Coursers, the colour of which so exactly matched the
surrounding objects that they had even escaped the sharp
eyes of my boy, till one of them stretched out its wing over
its extended leg. I promptly secured all three of these
victims of misplaced confidence, and returned to camp well
pleased with myself. These were the first and the last that
I met with during the whole trip.
VIJ.—Further Notes on Tunisian Birds.
By Josern I. 8S. Wuiraxer, F.Z.S.
A.rHoucH prevented from visiting the Regency myself this
year, I am nevertheless able to give another short list of some
additions to my collection of Tunisian birds, the greater
number of which were obtained by Mr. O. V. Aplin during a
collecting tour lately made by him in Tunis on my account.
The list also includes a few species of which specimens
have been received from the Tunisian naturalist, M. Blane,
and four others, examples of which were obtained by myself
last year, but were inadvertently omitted in my last list
(Ibis, 1895, p. 85).
With regard to Mr. Aplin’s journey I need merely say
that he started on his travels in January last, going first
south from Gabes, towards the Tripoli frontier, and then
working round, and gradually travelling north, till he finally
reached Ghardimaou in the Tell country, where his collect-
ing trip ended about the middle of June. As may be seen
from the accompanying map (p. 88), Mr. Aplin got over a
good deal of ground, and visited districts not previously worked
by myself, or by any of my collectors ; but unfortunately, the
season was exceptionally dry, and bird-life in the far south
seems to have been more wanting than usual this year, thus
accounting for asomewhat disappointing result, so far as that
part of Tunis is concerned. At the same time, however,
although meeting with but few birds new to my collection,
Mr. Aplin came across and secured specimens of several
interesting southern species already recorded by me, the
Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds.
ne
fd
gaat manag) aitellegue
Tebe cree Is
adjeb
Aioun
= Bi.
Ghezen
Bir Sultane
Kesseur®
Medinene
Od. bel Recheb
merzed \Maideur
EN
Biar 3 RSS
es
Douirat
Walker & Boutall se.
Map oF Tunis, sHowine Mr. Apiry’s Route.’
- wae ee
eg Soe oe
Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds. 89
Chats and Larks naturally being foremost in the number.
Of the Saxicoline he met with all those previously obtained by
myself, including Saxicola lugens, and the two forms of Black-
throated Chat, S. stapazina and S. melanoleuca. In the way of
Larks, besides Rhamphocorys clot-bey and Alauda arborea,
new to my collection, he met with all those alluded to in
my former papers in this Journal, with the exception of
A, cinctura. Of Chersophilus margarite he got five specimens,
all very rufous in colour, and more so even than the specimen
obtained by myself last year. Of the Crested Larks he found
the four species or races treated of in my papers, but, like
myself, failed to meet with the typical Alauda (Galerita)
cristata. Mr. Aplin’s specimens and observations, | may
here say, confirm entirely what I have already written on the
subject of the Crested Larks found in Tunis.
I take this opportunity of observing that Dr. Koenig, in his
interesting work on the Ornis of Algeria (J.f.O. 1895, p. 413),
alluding to the pale Crested Lark described by mein my pre-
vious paper in ‘ The Ibis’ under the name of Alauda cristata
pallida (Ibis, 1895, p. 100), must surely be in error when he
refers it to Galerita arenicola (Tristr.). Putting aside the
question of the specific distinctness of G. arenicola, of which
Canon Tristram himself was in doubt (Ibis, 1861, p. 414), and
which I believe is not now generally admitted, Canon Tristram,
when speaking of this Lark (Ibis, 1859, p. 426) very clearly
states that its bill “is extremely elongated, slender, and
curved, its length being ‘9 inch from the gape.” Again
further on, comparing the bill of G. arenicola with that of
G. macrorhyncha, he says “in both species the extremity of
the bill is rounded and dilated, instead of running toa point,
as in other Galeride.”’ Now A. cristata pallida, as Dr.
Koenig himself states, is a short-billed form, its culmen, in
most of my specimens, measuring half an inch, or just over
that, and moreover being distinctly pointed, and not blunted
at the tip. Should this pale form of Crested Lark be consi-
dered sufficiently distinct to be separated from the others, its
name, I think, must therefore stand as ALAUDA CRISTATA
PALLIDA, with the following description :—
90 Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds.
like Alauda cristata theckle, but much paler, and of a
hght sand-colour.
Ad. g. Total length 6 in., wing 3-9, tail 2:2, culmen
‘55, tarsi °8.
Ad. ¢. Total length 5:5 in., wing 3°6, tail 2, culmen ‘5,
tarsi ‘8.
Hab. Tunisian Sahara.
In my rather large series of Crested Larks from South
Tunis, I have several specimens which correspond in some
measure with Canon Tristram’s description of G. arenicola,
but I have placed these under A. macrorhyncha. The large-
billed Larks certainly differ among themselves to a consi-
derable extent, apart from any difference there may be
between the sexes of each individual race, and I have in my
collection three fairly distinguishable varieties, coming from
different districts, viz.:—No. 1, a very large and very pale
bird; no. 2, a smaller and darker bird; and finally no. 8, also a
smaller, but a pale bird. I had not, however, intended
speaking of these local forms of large-billed Larks, for the
present at any rate, or until I had made further and fuller
investigation into the matter, but Dr. Koenig, I see, has fore-
stalled me in his above-mentioned work on the ornithology of
Algeria, although he seems to have noticed but two varieties.
While, without doubt, these can merely be looked upon
as local, sedentary forms, modified according to the climate
and natural characteristics of the district in which each par-
ticular form may occur, it is nevertheless highly interesting
to notice to what an extent such modification can be, and is,
carried by natural causes; and in no family of birds, perhaps,
is this better exemplified than in that of the Larks.
Apologizing for this digression, and returning to Mr.
Aplin’s journey, I may say that in the north of the Regency
he met with much better luck than m the south, obtaining
specimens of several species new to my collection, among
others Garrulus cervicalis, Picus numidicus, Gecinus vaillanti,
Parus ledouci, and Pycnonotus barbatus, all procured in the
neighbourhood of Ghardimaou, where the country is thickly
wooded and well watered.
Mr. J. 1. 8. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds. 91
In conclusion, I may observe that besides the species which
appear in the subjoined list, of which specimens were actually
obtained, Mr. Aplin met with a few others, not included in my
previous lists, as to the identity of which he had little or no
doubt whatever, but I have preferred not to introduce these.
Except when otherwise stated, the observations on the dif-
ferent species in the following list are taken from Mr. Aplin’s
field-notes, with which he furnished me on his return home.
1. Saxicona 1saBELLIVA. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. v. p. 399.)
M. Blanc has sent me specimens of this Chat from Tata-
houine, in the south of the Regency. I never came across it
myself, nor did Mr. Aplin meet with it during his late
journey, so I think it must be looked upon as rather a rare
bird in Tunisia, which is perhaps the extreme western limit
of its range.
2. SYLVIA HORTENSIS.
I got a specimen of the Garden Warbler last year, but
overlooked it when making out my list. The species is not
uncommon in Tunis in spring. Mr. Aplin also found it
near Ghardimaou.
3. SYLVIA SARDA. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. v. p. 33.)
I have specimens of this Warbler both from Mr. Aplin and
M. Blane. Fairly common in the south in winter, it frequents
the low bushes bordering the dry river-beds, and is found
also on the lower hillsides. It utters a harsh alarm-note,
somewhat like that of S. melanocephala.
4, Sytvra peseRticoLa, Tristr. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. v.
p. 32.)
This is another of the birds which should have been
included in my last list. On re-examining my specimens of
Warblers I found two regarding the identity of which I had
some doubt, and a suspicion then formed in my mind that
they belonged to the present species was subsequently con-
firmed on seeing Mr. Dresser’s plate and description of Meli-
zophilus deserticola in Part II. of his supplement to the ‘ Birds
of Europe.’ I obtained my specimens towards the end of
March in the Aleppo-pine woods between Tebessa and Feriana,
92 Mr. J. J. S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds.
and I believe I met with the species again on the Djebel Sel-
Joum, also a pine-clad mountain, near Kasrin, but [never found
it anywhere further south, nor do any of my collectors appear
to have met with it in the Tunisian Sahara, either in winter
or in spring. Canon Tristram discovered this bird in the
South Algerian Sahara between Nov. 29 and Dec. 23 (Ibis,
1859, p. 58), when it was presumably in winter quarters,
and this seems to be the only record, thus far, of its occur-
rence at any great distance from the Aures and Nemencha
Mountains, which may perhaps be looked upon as the summer
quarters of the species. Whether it occurs throughout the
entire range of the Saharan chain of mountains remains to
be seen. Dr. Koenig, although constantly on the look-out
for it, failed to meet with it in the South Algerian Sahara
in spring, but found it, breeding, further north near Batna
(J. f. O. 1895, p. 290), in which district Mr. C. Dixon had
previously rediscovered the species in the spring of 1882
(Ibis, 1882, p. 565). Apparently there is a considerable
difference between the summer and winter plumages. My
specimens, having been obtained towards the end of March,
are naturally in breeding-plumage, or almost so. It would
be interesting to know something more of this bird’s move-
ments during winter. With reference to its breeding and
summer life we are indebted to Dr. Koenig for some very
detailed and interesting notes.
5. Hypoxais potyetorra. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. v. p. 79.)
I have specimens of this species both from Mr. Aplin and
M. Blane. Fairly common in the north, among the wild-
olive woods and on the bushed hillsides, but never very
high up. Its song is very rich and varied, with some remark-
ably clear notes.
6. Hyporats 1CTERINA.
Also common in the north, but found generally at a lower
level than the preceding species. Very plentiful among the
thorny shrubs, and oleander clumps bordering the river
Medjerdah near Ghardimaou. Its song, although rather
pretty, is inferior to that of //. polyglotia, and partakes more
Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds. 93
of the character of that of the true Acrocephali, although
not so much as the song of H. pallida. This last-named
species is, however, altogether more Acrocephaline generally
in its ways and habits.
7. ACROCEPHALUS PHRAGMITISs.
Found at Gafsa, Source des Trois Palmiers, and near
Ghardimaou, though never common anywhere.
8. Crsticona cursitans. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vii. p. 259.)
Found near Gabes, and at Source des Trois Palmiers.
9. Parus MAJOR.
Found only in the high oak and cork woods near Ghardi-
maou, and El Fedja, where it was fairly common.
10. Parus tEpouci. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. viii. p. 44.)
Also found at Ghardimaou and El Fedja, though less
abundant than the preceding species, and occurring only in
the oak forests, which are at a higher level than the cork
woods. The range of the Algerian Cole Tit appears to be
confined to the wooded mountains of the North. Certainly
I never met with it in the South, or even in Central Tunis,
where the sole representative of the Tit family would seem
to be P. ultramarinus.
1]. CeRTHIA FAMILIARIS.
Fairly common in the woods near Ghardimaou, where it
was breeding. A nest with young in it found on 20th May,
and young on wing met with in the second week of June.
12. ANTHUS CERVINUS.
I have specimens of this Pipit both from Mr. Aplin and
M. Blanc. The former found it at the Source des Trois
Palmiers, and near Kairouan towards the end of April.
M. Blanc obtained his specimens in the far south in the
early winter. In habits the Red-throated Pipit seems greatly
to resemble the Meadow-Pipit, but its note is altogether
different. Both species were seen and heard on the same day.
18. Pycnonortus Barsatus. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vi. p. 146.)
The Dusky Bulbul was fairly common in the wild-olive
woods, and macchia of myrtle, cistus, &c., bordering the
94. Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds.
streams of the Medjerdah Valley, as also on the slopes of
the adjacent hills, but never in high forest. A shy bird, and
much oftener heard than seen. Call-note or song rich and
clear. The following fairly expresses it :—“ tit, wot, wot,
tit, tit,” uttered sometimes from top of a bush.
The present species apparently does not occur far south of
the Tell Mountains, although it extends westward into
Algeria and Morocco, where it appears to be much commoner
than in Tunis.
14. Lanius ratiax. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. vii. p. 247.)
Mr. Aplin brought home with him a specimen of Grey
Shrike differing entirely from the ordinary form found in
South Tunis, which is L. dealbatus, or L. elegans, according
to Dresser. I was at first inclined to consider this Shrike a
hybrid between L. dealbatus and L. algeriensis, but on
further consideration, and on comparing it with the speci-
mens in the British Museum labelled L. fallax, I find it
agrees so closely with these, being indeed I may say abso-
lutely identical with some of them, that I have decided to
refer it to the present form.
Mr. Aplin secured the specimen in question, a female,
near Gabes on the 27th January last, and apparently it was
the only one of this form that he met with. Had the locality
been further north, where L. dealbatus and L, algeriensis
meet, there would have been more reason, perhaps, for sup-
posing it to be a hybrid, and less in favour of its being
L. fallax.
I believe this is the first recorded instance of L. fallax
having been found in this part of North Africa, although it
occurs both to the east and to the west, viz. in N.E. Africa,
Palestine, and further east on the one side, and in the
Canary Islands on the other. Such being the case, there-
fore, the fact of this Shrike occurring in South Tunis is
perhaps not to be wondered at, the wonder, if any, being
that it should not be of more common occurrence there. It
would be interesting to know whether this form be more com-
mon further south than Tunis, in Tripoli for instance, which
Mr. J. 1. 8S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds. 95
lies more in the same degree of latitude as the hitherto recog-
nized habitats of Z. fallax. It is quite possible that the
bird found by Mr. Aplin may have strayed northwards, along
the sea-coast to Gabes.
While on the subject of Grey Shrikes I may observe that
I have among my numerous specimens from South Tunis a
few which ditfer from the ordinary type of ZL. dealbatus in
having the grey of the upper parts tinged with an ashy brown
shade instead of being of a pure French-grey, the white alar
patch also being much smaller, the secondaries having much
less white in them, and the darker tail-feathers being brown
instead of black. The underparts, however, are pure white,
as in the typical bird. These are probably immature birds.
15. MusicaPa COLLARIS.
I have specimens of the White-collared Flycatcher both
from Mr. Aplin and from M. Blane. The former found it
at the Source des Trois Palmiers, but nowhere else, and
apparently it is not acommon species in Tunis. It frequents
low bushes near water, and in its habits resembles its congener
the Pied Flycatcher.
16. CoriLe rupestris. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. x. p. 109.)
Only met with on one occasion, viz. on the 11th April, in
the rocky gorge near the Source des Trois Palmiers, where
three or four individuals were flying about, in company with
some White-rumped Swifts (Cypselus affinis) .
17. CoccoTHRAUSTES VULGARIS.
Mr. Aplin shot a male Hawfinch on the 14th May, ina
wild-olive wood in the Medjerdah Valley. Contrary to what
one would have expected, this specimen was of a very dull
colour, and more like our English bird than the brighter-
coloured form found in South Europe.
The Hawfinch is apparently not a common bird in
Tunisia, although so plentiful in Sicily and Southern Italy
generally.
18. EmpBeriza CIRLUS.
Met with only in the Medjerdah Valley, on the shrubbed
hillsides, where a pair was secured after considerable trouble.
96 Mr. J. 1. S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds.
A few others were seen, but the species does not appear to
be so common in Tunisia as it is further west.
19. ALAUDA ARBOREA.
I have specimens of the Wood-Lark both from Mr. Aplin
and from M. Blane. The former found it in the north, in
the month of May, when it was evidently breeding.
M. Blanc met with it in the early winter in the far south,
viz. at Zarzis on the sea-coast. Although the species thus
seems to have an extensive range, it is not a common bird in
the Regency.
20. Ruampuocorys cLot-Bey. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xiii.
Doe)
Mr. Aplin met with this Lark—a true desert species—on
two occasions only, viz. at the desert wells of Bir Ghezen
and Bir Abdallah, to the S.E. of the Chott Djerid, securing
one specimen at the first-mentioned place. At the latter
place he saw three or four others, in company with some
Short-toed Larks, but failed to obtain another example.
The country in the above districts is either bare, or sparsely
dotted with scrub vegetation.
This species seems to have a very restricted range in
Tunis, and even where it occurs it is by no means abundant.
Further west, in the Algerian Sahara, I believe it is com-
moner, and near Ain Sefra, in the province of Oran, I under-
stand it is plentiful *.
21. GarRuLus cervicaLis. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. in. p. 98.)
Found in small numbers in the high oak woods near
Ghardimaou. Their cry and habits resemble those of the
common Jay.
22. CYPSELUS APUS.
Met with the first on 20th April, on the march to El
Djem, and subsequently at Kairouan and at Ghardimaou.
The Common Swift is plentiful, and breeds at Tunis and
* [In February, 1889, the Zoological Society of London received living
specimens of this Lark, believed to have been obtained in the same district.
See P. Z. S. 1889, p. 26.—Epp. ]
Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds. 97
other towns in the north of the Regency. I am told, however,
that it does not breed in the far south, occurring there only
on passage. I may here observe that I cannot hear of any
of the Swifts wintering anywhere in the Regency.
23. CypseLus paLLipus. (Dresser, B. of Europe, iv.
p. 597.)
Mr. Aplin met with this species also at El Djem on the
20th April, when he secured a specimen, and he fell in with
it again a few days later at Kairouan, but no further inland.
At El Djem it was fairly plentiful, hawking for insects over
the old Roman Amphitheatre, and at Kairouan it simply
swarmed, being the common Swift of the place, and far out-
numbering C. apus, which was also present, as were also one
or two White-rumped Swifts, all circling round and about
the Great Mosque of Sidi-Okba. C. pallidus and C. apus
no doubt breed at both these places. Mr. Aplin appa-
rently had no difficulty in distinguishing one species from
the other, when on the wing in company. ‘The note or
ery of C. pallidus also seemed to him different from that of
C. apus.
I notice that Dr. Koenig found the present species in
Algeria, at Bordj Saada near Biskra (J. f. O. 1895, p. 184).
24. Denprocopus Numipicus. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xvii.
p..217.)
Not at all uncommon in the high oak forests of Ghardimaou,
at El Fedja, and in habits and alarm-note resembling
D. major. Mr. Aplin thought he also once heard D. minor
in these woods, but was not quite certain about it.
25. Gecinus vaILLANTII. (Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xviii. p. 41.)
Found in the same forests, but less numerous than the
preceding species, and extremely shy and difficult to ap-
proach. The ringing-note of this bird resembles that of
our species, and is not so deep in tone as that of G. canus.
26. ALCEDO ISPIDA.
Specimens were obtained both by Mr. Aplin and M. Blane.
The Kingfisher occurs both in the north and in the south of
SER. VII.— VOL. II. H
98 Mr. J. I. S. Whitaker on Tunisian Birds.
the Regency, but is less common in the latter districts, owing
to the want of water.
27. CrRCcUS ERUGINOSUS.
I obtained a specimen of this Harrier last year, but
omitted to include it in my list.
28, PrRNIS APIVORUS.
M. Blane sent me a specimen of the Honey Buzzard,
which occurs as a regular migrant in Tunis.
29. RaALLus AQuaTIcus.
Only one specimen, obtained at the Source des Trois
Palmiers.
30. PorzANA PARVA.
Also only one specimen, obtained at Gafsa.
31. Cursorius GALLICUS.
Met with on several occasions, notably at Bir Sultane and
to the S.E. of the Chott Djerid, and again later on further
north, on the road to Sfax. The birds were sometimes in
pairs, at others in small flocks of six or seven individuals, and
always on bare sand hillocks or semi-desert country. Their
running powers are wonderful. On the wing their short
tails and broad wings, with black underneath, give them a
curious appearance. They sail a good deal on still wings,
and sometimes twist about hke a Lapwing. The note,
uttered on the ground, is a short sharp “ weet,” also “ weet-
quoi.”
32. SQUATAROLA HELVETICA.
A specimen of the Grey Plover was received from
M. Blane.
33. TRINGA MINUTA.
Specimens obtained near Ghardimaou.
54. CaLIDRIS ARENARIA.
A specimen received from M. Blane.
35. STERNA FLUVIATILIS.
Specimens from M. Blanc, both in adult and immature
plumage.
On Anas erythrophthalma. 99
36. STERNA DOUGALLI [?] *.
Specimens from M. Blanc, among them a beautiful adult
male, perfectly white, with the exception of the black head
and faint roseate tinge on the underparts. Both the Roseate
and the Common Tern are plentiful m summer in the south
of the Regency, and particularly on the island of Djerba,
which is a favourite breeding-haunt of the Terns.
37. HypRocHELIDON NIGRA.
Obtained last year, but omitted in my list.
VIIT.— Note on Anas erythrophthalma, Wied.
By T. Satvapor1, C.M.Z.S.
One of the most obscure species among the Ducks is
Anas erythrophthalma,W ied (Beitr. iv. p. 929), described from
Villa de Belmonte, in Southern Brazil.
Of the two birds collected by Wied, the female was in good
condition, but the male had the wings imperfect, having lost
the quills. These two specimens, like the rest of Prince
Max of Wied’s collection, are now in the American Museum
of Natural History in New York. They were examined many
years ago by Mr. Salvin, who thought that perhaps they
were to be referred to Metopiana peposaca (Ibis, 1874,
p- 319). The same opinion was expressed two years later
by Sclater and Salvin in their excellent ‘ Revision of the
Neotropical Anatide” (P. Z. 8S. 1876, p. 399, note). But
more recently, in 1889, Mr. Allen, in a paper on Wied’s
types (Bull. Am. Mus. N. H. ii. p. 269), has quite emphatic-
ally expressed the opinion that A. erythrophthalma is a very
different bird from Metopiana peposaca.
This was the state of things when I undertook the prepara-
tion of the Catalogue of the Ducks in the British Museum.
Naturally I made a point to settle the question.
Very soon I found that Dr. Hartlaub in 1844 (Verz. Ges.
Mus. p. 119) had mentioned a specimen in the Bremen
* [We leave this as written, but Mr. Aplin, to whom Saunders has
written on the subject, states that the only grey Tern he observed was
Sterna anylica.—Evv. |
5)
H «
106 On Anas erythrophthalma.
Museum under the name of Anas erythrophthalma. Having
asked Dr. Hartlaub to give me some information about that
specimen, he replied that unfortunately the specimen, in
some unaccountable way, had disappeared from the Bremen
Museum. Upon this I wrote to Mr. Allen on the subject ;
he kindly sent me a photograph of the two types, but this was
not sufficient to enable me to make up my mind on the subject,
and, as he most positively insisted on the bird being different
from M. peposaca, 1 suggested to him to compare the
specimens with the figure of Fuligula nationi, Sclat. & Salv.
(P. Z.S. 1878, p. 477, pl. xxxii.), from Lima; and the reply was
that he really thought they were one and the same species.
Most strangely, while I was studying the types of Fuligula
nationi, | had found that they were very similar to specimens
of Nyroca brunnea, Eyton, from South Africa; the resem-
blance was so great that there was scarcely any tangible
difference, and Mr. Salvin suggested to me that they should
be put together.
Wishing as far as possible to solve the difficult problem,
I proposed to Mr. Allen to send the types of Anas erythro-
phthalma to London in order to make a direct comparison.
This he kindly did, but the specimens arrived after my
departure from London. Mr. Salvin, to whom the birds were
addressed, having made the necessary comparison, wrote to
me as follows :—
“The types of Anas erythrophthalma, Wied, are in old worn
and faded plumage ; the wings of the male are imperfect, the
quills lost, and the speculum not visible on any of the re-
maining feathers.” (‘This was the state in which Wied described
the male bird.) ‘The most nearly allied species are Nyroca
brunnea, Kyton, and Nyroca nationi, and from these the male
hardly differs in plumage, inclining rather to N. brunnea
in colour than to N. nationi. The sides of the head and
upper neck are rather lighter and redder, but this may be due
to fading. ‘The bill and legs are now of a pale yellowish
brown; in both N. brunnea and N. naticni they are quite
dark. In size the bill agrees very nearly with N. brunnea,
but is perhaps slightly higher at the base.
On the Birds of the Philippine Islands. 101
“The female agrees very closely with that of Nyroca
brunnea. The distribution of white on the face and throat
is similar in the two birds, but less in extent in 4. erythro-
phthalma. The whole plumage, especially the under surface,
is more ferruginous, as is often the case in some specimens
of Anatide. As in the male, the bill and legs are now pale.
The two birds are of the same size, the wing in each case
measuring about 8 inches. ”
The principal difference between the type specimens of
A. erythrophthalma and N. brunnea and N. nationi is the
present pale colour of the bill and legs of the first, which no
doubt is due to fading, as we learn from Wied’s description
that the dill was plumbeous like the legs.
After all this it seems extremely likely that the Brazilian
N. erythrophthalma (Wied), the Peruvian N. nationi, and the
African N. brunnea are one and the same species (which will
have to stand under the name of N. erythrophthalma), common
to South America and South Africa. The case would be
similar to that of Dendrocycna viduata and D. fulva, which
are also found on both these continents, the latter species
extending even to India. Possibly Nyroca erythrophthalma
is only a straggler to South America, unless we are to believe
that the Ducks found very common near Arica and Mollendo
by Mr. MacFarlane (Ibis, 1887, p. 203) really belong to
N. erythrophthalma.
Turin, Zoological Museum, November 1895.
1X.—On the Birds of the Philippine Islands—Part VI.*
The Vicinity of Cape Engatio, N.E. Luzon, Manila Bay,
and Fuga Island, Babuyan Group. By W. R. Ocitvis
Grant. With Field-Notes by Joun WuitTeneap.
(Plate ITI.)
On the 6th April, 1895, our indefatigable friend, Mr. White-
head, started off once more for the north of Luzon, his
* For Part I. see Ibis, 1894, pp. 406-411; Part II. cid. pp. 501-522;
Part IL. Ibis, 1895, pp. 106-117 ; Part IV. tdid. pp. 249-267; Part V.
ibid. pp. 483-472.
102 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
destination this time being Cape Engaiio, the extreme north-
east point of the Island. From thence he hoped to reach the
ranges of mountains that run parallel with the east coast,
but the impossibility of obtaining either Negrito porters or
boats proved a serious obstacle. Having arrived safely at
Aparri, where he was obliged to remain for some days, as it
was “semana santa”? (holy week), he managed to charter a
large coasting-boat to take him on to Cape Engajio. The
start was made on a Monday night, but a contrary wind
drove the boat in a northerly direction far out of its course,
and for a couple of days she was obliged to seek shelter under
Fuga Island, one of the Babuyan group. Here Mr. White-
head landed, and, though the time at his disposal was very
limited, several interesting birds were collected, the most
important being examples of a new species of Bulbul (Hypsi-
petes fugensis), which finds its nearest ally in the Loo Choo
Islands. The boat having been only chartered to put him
down at Engafio, he was obliged to move when the Indian
captain thought fit, and, the wind becoming favourable,
arrived at bis destination two days later. The Cape proved
somewhat of a disappointment, for, owing to the want of
boats and porters, he was unable to reach the east coast.
The Negrito tribes which inhabit that part of Luzon never
do any baggage-carrying, so a move to any great distance
was out of the question, and, to add to other troubles, the
weather was miserably wet, rain falling for three or four
days on end. By making a couple of trips in a canoe, which
he managed to prccure, a small quantity of baggage was
taken up a neighbouring river; but, all the Negritos having
run away, he found it impossible to proceed further, and
during the ten days he spent in the forest not a native was
to be seen. As it was impossible to remain longer where he
was, he returned to the Cape, and, taking advantage of a large
coasting-boat belonging to a Spaniard, sent one of his men
back to Aparri with a view to obtaining a boat and returning
to the Babuyan group. This boat was wrecked in the same
typhoon which swamped one of the coasting-steamers and
drowned nearly two hundred people.
Birds of the Philippine Islands. 108
Mr. Whitehead’s servant, however, had better luck and
escaped with his life, but his mission was not attended with
success, for, the natives being scared by the recent disaster,
not a boat was to be hired, even for $100 per month, and
he returned to Cape Engajio. It was a long time before
there was another chance of returning to Aparri, and for ten
days Mr. Whitehead and his men had to wait camped out on
the shore to the south of the Cape.
During all this time many interesting birds were collected,
including examples of three new species—a beautiful blue Fly-
catcher (Stphia enganensis), with white abdomen and ferru-
ginous flanks, most nearly allied to an Indian species; a green-
backed Tailor-bird (Orthotomus chloronotus), and, more inter-
esting still, a third new species of the new genus Zosterornis.
Two of these new forms are well shown in the accompanying
Plate (III.), the Golden-capped Babbler (Z. dennistouni) being
especially beautiful and attractive. During this expedition
a number of birds were obtained which Mr. Whitehead had
not met with previously, and we have no doubt that, should
he succeed at some future time in exploring the eastern
chain of mountains, many novelties will be discovered.
There still remains some good unexplored ground to the
south of Luzon which should also be well worth visiting.
Meanwhile our friend, hoping to escape from an unusually
wet season in Manila, departed to Samar, whence we hear a
rumour of a fine collection on its way home with specimens
of several species which he believes to be undescribed.
A few mammalia and reptiles were sent from Cape Engajfio,
and among them a pair of the great rat (Phleomys cumingi)
and examples of a new species of frog.
A small collection of Hymenoptera sent from Engaiio has
been worked out by Col. Bingham and contains specimens of
no less than seven new species, one being a remarkably large
form of the handsome genus Scolia, which has been called
S. whiteheadi. This paper has been published in the ‘ Annals
and Magazine of Natural History’ (1895, xvi. pp. 438-446).
We have also been promised reports on the Arthropoda
and Diptera collected during this and former expeditions.
104 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
Many fine Hemiptera remain still unexamined, and it is to
be hoped that ere long some one may be found able and
willing to examine and report on them.
1. Asrur soLoensis (Lath.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus.
i. p. 114, pl. iv. fig. 1 (1874).
A male of Horsfield’s Short-toed Goshawk was obtained in
the neighbourhood of Cape Engafio; it is a nearly adult
bird, but the flanks and outer tail-feathers are barred, and
there are a few barred feathers on the middle of the lower
breast.
2, AcciPITER GuLARIS (Temm. & Schleg.) ; Seebohm, B.
Japanese Emp. p. 205 (1890).
Astur (Nisus) gularis, Temm. &Schleg. Fauna Japon., Aves,
p. 5, pl. 1. [ ¢ & 2 ad.] (1845).
Accipiter nisoides, Blyth, J. As. Soc. Beng. xvi. p. 727
(1847) ; Gurney, List Diurn. B. of Prey, App. O, p. 165
(1884).
Accipiter stevensoni, Gurney, Ibis, 1863, p. 447, pl. xi. [ ¢ ].
Mr. Whitehead procured a fine adult female of this
Sparrow-Hawk on the island of Fuga. The identification of
this specimen has led me to make a very careful examination
of the large series of specimens of so-called Accipiter virgatus
now forming part of the British Museum collection. Being
anxious to arrive at an independent opinion on the somewhat
intricate question as to whether all the birds included under
this name were really all local forms of one and the same
species, I measured and examined all the adult and many of
the immature examples before looking up what had been
written on this subject since the publication of Dr. Sharpe’s
standard work (Cat. Birds, vol. 1.) in 1874. I now find that
the conclusions at which I have arrived are practically those
already published by Gurney (‘List of Diurnal Birds of
Prey,’ App. O, pp. 165-177, 1884). On certain minor
points I should, however, like to offer some remarks and
to make a few corrections, more especially as the number of
specimens has enormously increased, thanks to the mag-
nificent donations received during the last ten years.
Birds of the Philippine Islands. 105
Under the synonymy of Dr. Sharpe’s Accipiter virgatus,
we find A. guluris (Temm. & Schl.), A. nisoides, Blyth, and
A. stevensoni, Gurney, aud though these names, no doubt
synonymous inter se, belong to a species which is certainly
very distinct from the typical A. virgatus, Temm., it must
be borne in mind that when vol. i. of the ‘ Catalogue of Birds”
was written the material available was poor enough, very
different from the grand series of skins to be seen at the
present time.
A, gularis really belongs to a perfectly distinct group from
A, virgatus, Temm., and its allied forms, and is much more
closely allied to A. nisus, having the barring on the underparts
of the female continued up to the throat, while in the females
of the A. virgatus group the chest is, on the whole, ongi-
tudinally marked and blotched, or nearly uniform in colour,
in contrast to the barred breast and underparts. Again, in
the female of A. gularis the ashy black line down the middle
of the white throat, formed by the marking on the middle
line of feathers, is very narrow and confined to the shafts,
while in A. virgatus the median band is much wider and more
strongly marked. Lastly we may note the difference in the
shape of the wing, which, though mentioned by Schlegel
(Mus. Pays-Bas, i1., Astures, pp. 32-33, 1862), has been
overlooked by subsequent writers. In A. gudaris the fourth
primary quill, forming the angle of the wing, is considerably
longer than the fifth, while in A. virgatus and its allied forms
the fourth quill is only slightly longer than the fifth. This
difference appears to be constant in birds with fully-developed
quills.
A. gularis may thus be briefly described as follows; the
list of measurements is taken from specimens in the British
Museum collection :—
? adult. Like A. nisus, being barred transversely up to
the throat, which is white, with a more or less well-marked
dark line down the middle, formed by the very narrow black
or greyish-black shaft-stripes to the feathers. Fourth primary
quill longest and considerably longer than the fifth.
106 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
Wing
in.
[9 ad.] Sumatra ...... 74
[9 nr.ad.] Java ...... 73
Oma dam lbiaiUAT Select. 'eis >. 75
OFad:) Kina Balu ....... 72
© ad. Zamboanga...... 75
OU BD Te Ea ee 73
[2 ad.] Yokohama .... 7°35
[Penred.| Fokien .... 7:45
© nr. ad. Shanghai .... 7°5
@ ad. Shanghai ...... 75
(2 ad.]) Malacca-—....... 75
[9 ad.] Malacca ...... 75
Porad Malacca orc. 75
Tail.
in.
55
5:0
54
54
53
54
54
5'6
5)
53
55
55
56
Tarsus.
in, Barring on the underparts.
92:05 Reddish brown.
2:0
3)
2:05 Dark brownish.
1:95 Ss
2:0 , tinged
with rufous.
2:0 Dark brownish.
2] ‘
2:0 Reddish brown.
2:05 i
20 ”
1:95 Rufous.
2:05 He
1:95 _
S adult. Throat white, the line of feathers down the
middle with black shafts, forming a very narrow black central
line, absent in the most adult examples.
The fourth primary
quill longest, and considerably longer than the fifth.
Wing.
in.
CeO ME SUMALL er esas 6:3
ef Glo SENG opin oe 64
GH 1tbe, Pola ALAN gage c 6-2
6 imm. Palawan...... 6:3
SA papa ie ser. alee «10 66
Cprlte Iu hieeyano nando 64
Dewan CheloOnerienere 6:4-6°6
3. Coast of China, near
SaGdlle alts Mees rapeneate anes 6:6
Geecoehin' China: i... 6:5
Bilis Malacea: i... 6... 6:2-6°6
Pig) Malacca... ....: 64-65
Tail.
in.
45
46
4-7
4:5
4:7
4:6
4:5-4:7
4°5
4:7
Tarsus. General colour of the
in. chest and breast.
1:75 Pale rufous.
18 Very pale rufous buff.
1:8 Rufous.
175 (Adult feathers light
red.)
1:75 Pale grey, tinged with
rufous.
18 Pale rufous, with less
grey than in the
last specimen.
1:8-1'85 Pale rufous.
18 Pale greyish rufous.
18 Bright rufous chestnut.
45-4:7 1°6-1:75
45-46 1:75-1:85
”? ”?
Pale rufous butt.
Birds of the Philippine Islands. 107
As will be seen from these notes, the barring on the
underparts of the females varies considerably in colour—
specimens from Malacca, Sumatra, Java, and China being
more rufous, those from Borneo, the Philippines, and Fuga
Island dark brown.
The colour of the chest and breast in the male also varies
much, The majority of adult males have these parts pale
rufous or rufous buff, but some, such as the examples from
Cochin China and Timor and two birds from Malacca, are
bright rufous, while two examples from Japan are unusually
pale, one being pale grey with merely a tinge of rufous.
I am unable at present to offer an opinion as to the cause
of these differences, but they may be individual and due to
food and condition.
The type of Accipiter virgatus, Temm., is said to have
come from Java, but the British Museum collection has no
examples from that island. Temminck’s figure (PI. Col. i.
pl. 98 [no. 109], 1824) shows that his bird has the wide dark
stripe down the middle cf the throat, and both the description
and figure agree closely with males from Southern India and
Ceylon.
The large Himalayan form (which is also met with in
Formosa) is called Accipiter affinis, Hodgson, by Gurney,
and may certainly be considered subspecifically distinct from
typical A. virgatus, on account of its larger size, browner
and much less uniform chest, even in the most adult females.
It may be briefly described :—
Adult female. Above dark brown, sometimes with a distinct
greyish gloss on the mantle ; throat white, a line of feathers
down the middle, with wide dark ashy-black shaft-stripes ;
chest mostly reddish brown, often mixed with dusky and
edged with white on the sides of the feathers, the general
appearance of the markings being longitudinal, in marked
contrast to the breast and rest of the underparts, which are
reddish brown widely barred with white; the under surface
of the inner webs of the quills white.
108 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
Wing. Tail. Tarsus.
in. in. in.
Average measurements of }
various birds ranging | A
8:0-8'3 67-1 DEN ORY
JEST a OR Soe
From Formosa (Seebohm ee eee FS
Sai aaa anne seen ie ae
From Formosa uae .
8:7 — 2:2 (ex Gurney
BRC ACLA ES Sh fee Surneae
Adult male. Closely resembles, as regards size and the
colour of the underparts, the female of the smaller insular
form, A. manillensis, Meyen, but may be generally recog-
nized by the dark slate-grey colour of the upper parts.
Wing. Tail. ‘Tarsus.
in, in. in.
Average measurements of
various birds from the 6:5-6'7 5'0-5°5 2-0
Himalayas and Pegu..
From Formosa ........ 6:9-7°1 5'5-5'6 Dp
In ‘ Stray Feathers,’ vol. ix. p. 231, Hume gives the fol-
lowing wing-measurements of Himalayan examples which
he wrongly refers to A. gularis, T. & S.:—
in, in.
INnnenmalese.cm anemic. 7:60 to 7:80
Hight females.......... 8:00 to 8:20
The measurements of the males are obviously a mistake,
and should read—
in. in.
INineiimales .she Sok... 6:60 to 6°80
It will be further noted that the Himalayan males are not
larger than Formosan males (¢f. Gurney, List, App. O,
p- 170), just the reverse, but Gurney was misled by Hume’s
mistake.
The wing-measurement (8°7) of the female from Formosa
in the Norwich Museum is probably individual if correctly
|
|
Birds of the Philippine Islands. 109
given, for the three female examples of which the measure-
ments are given above are the same size as Himalayan
examples. I feel confident also that Hume is mistaken in
stating that the true A. virgatus occurs in the Himalayas
as well as A. affinis (which he calls A. gularis) ; the male
from Darjeeling, with a wing-measurement of 6:9 inches, of
course belongs to the large race.
Accipiter manillensis is also, I think, subspecifically
distinct from typical A. virgatus, and Mr. Whitehead
having, in addition to the Museum series, now obtained
three adult females, we have a fair number of skins for
comparison.
Adult female. Differs from the female of A. virgatus in
having the chest, breast, and sides nearly uniform light red
in the most adult birds, while in somewhat younger examples
the middle of the breast shows distinct cross-bars of reddish
brown and white; the under surface on the quills washed
with rufous.
Wing 6°9-7:0 inches, tail 5°4—5°5, tarsus 2°05-2°1.
Adult male. Like the male of A. virgatus.
Wing 6:0-6'1 inches, tail 4°8-4°9, tarsus 2°0.
Adult examples of the typical A. virgatus are comparatively
poorly represented in the Museum collection, and without
more material it is impossible to form definite conclusions as
to the relationship between the birds from Southern India,
Ceylon, the Andaman Islands, Java, and the Philippines.
An adult female from the Andamans closely approaches
A, manillensis, having a great deal of uniform rufous colouring
on the sides of the chest and breast. This bird measures :—
Wing 7:2 inches, tail 5°7, tarsus 2-0.
It may be that A. manillensis is not even subspecifically
distinct from typical A. virgatus.
The smallest representative form of this group, charac-
terized by the wide black throat-stripe, is Accipiter rufotibialis,
Sharpe, from Kina Balu, North Borneo, distinguished by its
uniform rufous-chestnut tarsi.
Wing 5°85-5:9 inches, tail 4°5-4°6, tarsus 1°8.
110 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
3. SPIZAHTUS PHILIPPENSIS, Gurney; Grant, Ibis, 1894,
p- 5038. .
A fine male example of this rare bird, the Philippine Hawk-
Eagle, from Cape Engaiio.
4. SpitorNis HoLospitus (Vig.) ; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 251.
An adult female of this fine Serpent-Eagle came in the
second half of the Lepanto collection, but arrived too late to
be added to my last list in the October ‘ Ibis,’ 1895.
From Cape Engaiio we have received an immature female,
which has the head and upper mantle whitish buff, with
brown shaft-spots; there is the beginning of a short deep
black superciliary band extending above the eye, while a few
feathers of a more adult plumage are beginning to make
their appearance on the occiput ; these are brownish red, with
a wide subterminal black tip. (The appearance of this black
eyebrow-stripe is very puzzling, as it does not appear in the
adult plumage; it may be part of an intermediate plumage
or fade with age and wear to the dark brown of the adult.)
General colour above brown, with irregular, ill-defined reddish-
white spots on either web; tail dark brown, with two wide
brownish-white bands across the terminal half; chin and
throat whitish buff; sides of the head and underparts pale
buff, with brownish-red shaft-stripes, widest on the terminal
half ; thighs buff, with wide chestnut middles, constricted at
intervals, so as to form ill-defined buff spots down the sides
of the feathers, one or two half-grown adult feathers on the
left thigh.
Wing 15:2 inches, tail 10°7, tarsus 3°4.
Although somewhat peculiar in plumage and large in size,
I have no hesitation in referring this specimen to S. holo-
spilus, and Mr. Whitehead shares the same opinion.
5. Ninox puiuiprensis, Bonap.; Grant, Ibis, 1895, p. 441.
The Philippine Hawk-Owl was again found in the neigh-
bourhood of Cape Engajio, where several adult birds and an
immature female were collected.
The immature female differs from the adult in having the
Birds of the Philippine Islands. 111
underparts nearly uniform tawny buff, only some of the
feathers of the upper breast tipped with dull rufous-brown,
and the white markings on the upper parts, especially those
on the greater coverts, larger and better defined.
6. Nrnox saponica (Temm. & Schl.).
Strix hirsuta japonica, Temm. & Schl. Fauna Japonica,
Aves, p. 28, pl. 93 (1845).
A male of the Japanese Hawk-Owl was obtained on the
island of Fuga. It differs from the typical N. japonica from
Japan and the Loo Choo Islands in having the predominating
colour of the underparts white instead of reddish brown, all
the feathers being white, with an oblong reddish-brown spot,
about 0-6 of an inch long, at the end of each. Examples
from Luzon and Mindanao, however, approach the Fuga-
Island bird, having less reddish brown and more white on
the underparts.
N. japonica appears to be perfectly distinct from the Indian
N. scutulata, the markings on the sides and flanks in the
latter species taking the form of wide bars with a detached
heart-shaped spot or bar at the tip of each feather. The
sides and flanks thus appear spotted, not longitudinally
streaked, as in N. japonica.
7. Ortotus cHiNnENsIs, Linn. ; Grant, Ibis, 1895, p. 252.
An adult female of the Chinese Oriole from Fuga Island.
8. Dicrurus Baticassius (Linn.) ; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 441.
Both sexes of the Crow-billed Drongo from the vicinity of
Cape Engano.
9. Hypotnymis azurea (Bodd.); Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 442.
The Black-naped Flycatcher from the vicinity of Cape
Engaiio.
10, Rurpipura cyanicers (Cassin); Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 252.
Mr. Whitehead sends an adult female and nest of the
Blue-headed Fan-tailed Flycatcher. The nest is of the ordi-
112 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
nary form of Rhipidura, cup-shaped, composed of fine dry
fibres, and finished off on the outside with a thin covering of
spiders’ webs, the whole structure being placed on a narrow
horizontal branch.
11. Zrocrruus rurus (G. R. Gray); Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. iv. p. 343 (1879).
A fine series of this beautiful bright chestnut Flycatcher
was obtained in the neighbourhood of Cape Engaiio. In
fully adult males the tail is much in excess of the measure-
ment given by Sharpe (op. cié.) ; instead of 3°95 inches the
tail measures 6°45 in the finest specimen, and in several speci-
mens the longest feathers are between 5 and 6 inches long.
It is the middle pair of feathers that are produced, far sur-
passing the second pair in length. The genus Zeocephus
must therefore be transferred to section /' of Sharpe’s key,
“Tail with elongated centre tail-feathers, &c.,’’ which in-
cludes the Paradise Flycatchers (Terpsiphone).
12. CryproLopHa ontvacea (Moseley); Bourns & Wor-
cester, Occ. Pap. Minnesota Acad. 1. no. 1, p. 39 (1894).
Abrornis olivacea, Moseley, Ibis, 1891, p. 47, pl. ii. fig. 2.
A single male specimen of the Olive Flycatcher- Warbler
was obtained in the neighbourhood of Cape Engaijio. It has
hitherto been recorded from the islands of Samar and Negros
(Moseley), and also from Mindanao, Sulu, and Tawi Tawi
(Bourns § Worcester), but this is the first time it has been
met with in Luzon. The types of this species are in the
British Museum collection, and are quite similar to the
Engaio bird.
13. SIpHIA PHILIPPINENSIS (Sharpe) ; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 443.
Another male of the Philippine Red-breasted Flycatcher
from Engano.
14. Srpwia ENGANENSIS, Grant, Bull. B. O. C. no. xxix.
p- ii (1895).
The Engafio Flycatcher is interesting as finding its nearest
Birds of the Philippine Islands. 113
ally in the Indian Siphia pallidipes (Jerd.). Both sexes
are, however, easily distinguished by the following cha-
racters :—
Adult male. Like the male of S. pallidipes, but the sides
and flanks are fawn-coloured instead of pure white.
Adult female. Even more different from the female of
S. pallidipes :—the lores are rust-coloured instead of white,
and a short superciliary band of the same colour reaches as
far as the eye, above this there is a line of pale blue feathers,
confluent across the forehead; the basal part of the outer
webs of the tail-feathers washed with pale blue instead of
reddish chestnut. Sides of the face dark brown, shading
gradually into the rust-coloured throat, whereas in the female
of S. pallidipes the sides of the head are grey, and sharply
defined from the bright rust-coloured throat.
Adult male. Total length 6:0 inches, culmen 0-7, wing 3:1,
tail 2°5*, tarsus 0°85.
Adult female. Total length 5-3 inches, culmen 0°65, wing
2°9, tail 2:15, tarsus 0°73.
15. Puyxioscorus BoreEaLts (Blas.); Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 443.
A male of the Arctic Willow-Warbler was collected at
Cape Engajio. Exposed part of bastard-primary 0°45 inch ;
ord primary longest; 2nd intermediate in length between
5th and 6th; 3rd, 4th, and 5th primaries emarginate on the
outer web; length of wing 2°7 inches.
16. Hyrsiprres rucensis, Grant, Bull. B. O. C. no. xxix.
p- 11 (1895).
The Red-eared Bulbul from Fuga Island adds a fourth
species to the brown-plumaged section of the genus Hyp-
sipetes, of which H. amaurotis (Temm ) from Japan is typical,
while H. sguamiceps (Kittl.) inhabits the island of Bonin,
and H. pryeri, Stejneger, has more recently been described
from the Loo Choo Islands.
Adult male and female. Most nearly allied to H. sguamiceps
and H. pryeri, having the chestnut ear-coverts united by a
* Wrongly printed as 2:1, Bull. B. O. C. no. xxix. p, ii.
SER. VII.—VOL. II. I
114 Mr. W.R. Ogilvie Grant on the
band of the same colour extending across the throat, but the
top of the head, which is almost devoid of a crest, and the
neck are brown, like the back, instead of dark slate-grey ; and
the white tips to the feathers of the breast and belly are
almost entirely absent, or only faintly indicated along the
middle line of the underparts. Total length 10°5 inches,
culmen 1:15, wing 4°85, tail 4°65, tarsus 0°85.
Habitat. Fuga Island, Babuyan Group.
Since vol. vi. of the ‘ Catalogue of Birds’ appeared in 1881
two examples of a Hypsipetes from the island of Chusan have
been added to the national collection.
Dr. Stejneger (P. U.S. Nat. Mus. ix. p. 643, 1886), after
describing H. pryeri, goes on to say, ‘‘a specimen from
Chusan, China (U. 8S. Nat. Mus. no. 85685), acquired by
Mr. Jouy at the Shanghai Museum, differs in no essential
from the typical Japanese H. amaurotis.”
Though the two British Museum specimens from Chusan
at first sight seem rather different from Japanese examples
of H. amaurotis, I am satisfied that this is partly due to the
somewhat soiled condition of the underparts in both. There
is a distinct indication of the reddish-brown collar across the
throat, but this is often nearly as much developed in typical
birds from Japan. There seems to be no doubt that H. amau-
‘rotis is partly migratory, as the species is recorded as found
during the winter months in Korea, and we have examined
examples from Chusan, Ningpo, and the Loo Choo Islands ;
but H. squamiceps, H. pryeri, and H. fugensis are appa-
rently resident forms which do not migrate. Although
H. squamiceps and H. pryeri closely resemble one another in
plumage, they are perfectly distinct, the Bonin bird being
not only much larger, but having the bill and, as Dr. Stej-
neger points out, the tarsus longer in proportion. In all
these species the males are, on the whole, distinctly larger
than the females, a point which is not apparent from the
wing-measurements given by Mr. Seebohm. He kindly
allowed me to look over his fine collection of Hypsipetes,
and these, added to the British Museum specimens, make
an exceptionally fine and complete series from the Bonin
115
Birds of the Philippine Islands.
H. amaurotis. H, squamiceps.
(In Seebohm Coll.)
(In N. H. M.) (In Seebohm Coll.)
Japan. Japan. Bonin Is,
No. of birds. in. No. of birds. in. No. of birds. in
i Wing 4:7 iF Wing 47 | 1(Q). Wing 4:85
3: Sy) Geely) 25 s¢ PASE Bits 4). On
i oe earl! 1e y -40b Biggar nm Oe
ie Sie ct Metall al % DOR a Ca Gide. a Ole
(CQ). Paola. a tall
B(SS, 9) » 805 | 2 , 62
2(d). i ed
2. Ore Tsu-sima.
1. a Dep aon, Wing 47
i ” 5:4 9 (3 3). Ps 4:8
1(3). 5 «9
aed 3(3dd). » 50
1. Wing 4:85 | 1(¢). Ol
iL » 5:05
Seven Is.
1 Wing 4:7
Loo Choo Is.
al Wing 5:0
il. Fe
Ningpo.
1(d). Wing 5:0
a
H. pryeri. H. fugensis.
(In N. H. M.) (In Seebohm Coll.)
Fuga Is., Babuyan
Loo Choo Is. Loo Choo Is. Group.
No of No. of birds. in. No. of birds, in.
birds. in. yee Wing 43 | 1(Q). Wing 43
1. Wing 45 | 1. » 44 1109). or eee
ie rene ele es se. SD Lay) » £55
1(3). » 485/38(3dd) » 475
1(¢). 5 £6 1(¢)- » £8)
le yet 12}
ily » £9
ite Og)
116 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
and Loo Choo Islands, Japan, and other localities. Of
these I add a table of measurements (see p. 115), the sex,
where recorded by the collector, being placed in brackets.
17. Po1roLopnus vrRostictus (Salvad.) ; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 253.
Several males and females of the Wattled Brown Bulbul
from Engaiio.
18. Irena cyanocastra, Vigors; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. vi. p. 175 (1881).
The Luzon Fairy Blue-bird was obtained by Mr. White-
head for the first time in the neighbourhood of Cape Engajio.
The plumage of the male, contrary to the statement of
Dr. Meyer, differs slightly from that of the female in having
the black on the chest more extended and deeper in colour. In
the female the throat and fore neck are not such deep black
and slightly glossed with purple, while the band of purplish-
blue feathers across the chest which succeeds the black neck
is deeper in colour than the rest of the underparts.
19. CirrocincLa LUZONIENSIS (Kittl.) ; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 447.
Mr. Whitehead now sends additional specimens of the
Philippine Shama from Engaiio, collected in the end of April
and the beginning of May. The males are perfectly typical,
but all the three females are unusually dark in plumage, though
no doubt this is partly accounted for by their somewhat
worn condition. The crown of the head is very dark choco-
late-brown, tinged with rufous in all three, and in one bird
the mantle and back are nearly black, each feather being
tinged with brown, and the fore neck and chest are blackish,
while in the other two specimens the back is blackish brown,
each feather margined with deep chocolate-brown ; the
feathers of the throat and fore neck, as well as the sides of
the head, are greyish black. The whole appearance of these
birds conveys the impression that they are young males
attaining their adult plumage. I cannot see that it is possible
for the ordinary female (described ‘ Ibis,’ 1895, p. 447), even
in very worn plumage, to become so black on the back and
8
ef
2 3
¥
me |
ie,
tad:
“rae
oT Uy eee
Ibis. 1896. riya
Mintern Bros . imp. it
J.G.Keulemans del.et lith.
t ORTHOTOMUsS CHLORONOLUS:
9 ZOSTERORNIS DENNISTOUNI.
Birds of the Philippine Islands. li?
chest, for the basal part of her feathers in autumn plumage is
greyish, not black. It seems just possible that a mistake
may have been made in ascertaining the sex.
20. CopsycHUs MINDANENSIS (Gm.); Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 448.
A pair of the Philippine Magpie-Robin from Engaiio.
21. OrrHotromus cHLoronotus. (Plate IIT. fig. 1.)
Orthotomus chloronotus, Grant, Bull. B. O. C. no. xxix.
p. 11 (1895).
Only asingle example of the Green-backed Tailor-bird was
obtained, in the neighbourhood of Cape Engajio.
As already remarked, it is easily distinguished from its
nearest ally, O. derbianus, from having the back and upper
parts, as well as the under tail-coverts, uniform olive-green.
In the colour of the upper parts it resembles the smaller
O. atrigularis, Temm., from Burmah and the Malay Penin-
sula, but among other differences the latter may be distin-
guished at a glance by the tail being olive-green instead of
rufous brown.
Adult male. Top and sides of the head, including the eye,
dull chestnut; back and wing-coverts olive-green, quills
dark brown edged with olive-green on the outer web ; cheeks,
ear-coverts, and underparts grey, with white middles to the
feathers, less conspicuous on the flanks, which are tinged
with olive; thighs chestnut ; under tail-coverts olive-green ;
tail-feathers rufous brown, edged on the outer web with
yellowish olive-green. Total length 4°8 inches, culmen 0°75,
wing 2°2, tail 1°8, tarsus 0°8.
22. Cisticoxa Exiuis (Vig. & Horsf.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. vii. p. 269 (1883).
The Red-headed Fantail-Warbler was obtained at Laguna
de Manila in April. It is in full summer-plumage, with the
crown and nape chestnut, shading into dull rufous brown on
the hind neck; chin, throat, and underparts ferruginous. Our
bird agrees exactly with C. erythrocephala from Southern India
(Oates, Faun. Brit. Ind., Birds,i. p. 371). Iam very doubtful
whether it is correct to call the Philippine bird C. evilis ; it
118 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
appears to differ from the typical Australian examples im
several particulars, and, if it is not identical with Southern
Indian birds (I think it is), may have to stand as C. semi-
rufa, Cabanis (J. f. O. 1866, p. 10, & 1872, p. 316), the type
of which comes from Luzon.
23. ZosTeRoRNIS sTRIATUS, Grant, Ibis, 1895, p. 110, pl. iv.
fig. 1.
The Striped Silver-eyed Babbler was again met with in the
mountains in the vicinity of Cape Engafio, and does not differ
in any particular from the types.
24. ZosPTERORNIS DENNISTOUNI. (Plate III. fig. 2.)
Zosterornis dennistouni, Grant, Bull. B. O.C. no. xxix. p. il
(1895).
It is very interesting that a third new species of this new
genus should have been discovered in Luzon. The new
form from the neighbourhood of Cape Engajio agrees
with Z. whiteheadi and Z. striatus in all particulars, except
that the ring of plumes surrounding the eye is pale yellow
instead of white, so the generic characters must be modified
accordingly.
I have much pleasure in naming this beautiful Golden-
headed Babbler in honour of Mr. John Dennistoun, one of
those who have taken such a kindly interest in the success of
Mr. Whitehead’s expedition.
As in the other species of the genus, the male and female
are perfectly similar in plumage.
Adult male and female. Forehead and crown shining golden |
yellow, shading into yellowish grey on the back and sides of
the head and neck, and greenish grey on the back and rest
of the upper parts, all the feathers with narrow whitish shaft-
stripes ; wings dark brown, the quills margined with yel-
lowish brown. Chin and throat golden yellow, but paler
than the crown, and shading into whitish yellow on the breast
and rest of underparts, sides and flanks washed with greenish
grey. ‘Tail-feathers brownish black, margined on the outer
webs with yellowish brown, the five outer pairs tipped with
Birds of the Pilippine Islands. 119
white, the tips increasing in width towards the outer pair,
which has also the greater part of the outer web white.
Total length. Culmen. Wing. Tail. Tarsus.
in, in. in. in, in.
TE Bi eS ee 5d 0'7 2°7 at 075
Hemgle 2 2...5..05% 5:3 0:7 26 2°2 0:75
Immature birds resemble the adult, but the golden-yellow
forehead is represented by yellowish-brown feathers with pale
middles, the quills are edged with rufous, and the underparts
are white slightly tinged with yellow.
25. Parus sEMILARVATUS (Salvad.) ; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
pe it.
A few additional specimens of the Black Titmouse from
the neighbourhood of Cape Engaiio include a young male
bird with the belly brownish black, in which the white patch
on the nape is very conspicuous, some of the feathers form-
ing the patch being nearly pure white, with only a very nar-
row brownish-black margin. This white patch is also present
in both the adult male and female, but hidden by the wider
black tips to the feathers.
It is worth mentioning that the adult female differs from
the adult male in having the underparts deep brown instead
of shining black, for this sexual difference appears to have
been hitherto overlooked.
26. Lanrus Lucionensis, Linn.; Grant, Ibis, 1894, p. 512.
An adult male of this Shrike from Engaiio district.
27. Ruaspornis MystacaLis (Temm.) ; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 450.
The Bridled Flower-creeper is apparently fairly common
in the neighbourhood of Engajio. Several males were sent.
28. DrnpRopHiLa mEsoLeuca, Grant, Ibis, 1895, p. 450.
Two immature males of the White-backed Nuthatch from
Engafio. We again observe scarcely a trace of the charac-
teristic white stripes down the middle of the back, and the
underparts are warm dull fulvous with some purplish gloss.
120 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
29. CINNYRIS EXCELLENS, Grant, Ibis, 1895, p. 255.
This lovely little Sun-bird is another species which was
met with for the first time in the Albay district of South-
east Luzon, as well as on the island of Catanduanes. Among
the five birds sent from Cape Engajio is an adult female,
and we now see that the type described was not so nearly
adult as was supposed, for in the mature plumage there is a
bright yellow patch down the middle of the lower breast and
belly, similar in shape and position to the orange-red patch
in the male. The rest of the plumage is similar to that of
the type already described. The female of the allied form,
C. guimarasensis, Steere, is described by Messrs. Bourns and
Worcester as having the “ entire breast bright orange-yellow,
paler on the flanks, abdomen, and under tail-coverts.”
30. CINNYRIS WHITEHEADI, Grant, Ibis, 1895, p. 451.
Whitehead’s Sun-bird appears to be fairly common in the
neighbourhood of Cape Engaiio. Specimens of both sexes
were obtained.
31. ANTHOTHREPTES GRISEIGULARIS, Tweed. ; Grant, Ibis,
1895, p. 451.
Several specimens of the rare Grey-throated Sun-bird from
Engaiio.
32. ZosteRops Luzonica, Grant, Ibis, 1895, p. 257.
The Luzon Yellow-breasted Silver-eye, first met with in
the Albay district, was again procured near Cape Engaiio,
the birds from both localities being perfectly similar.
33. DickUM RUBRIVENTER, Less.; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 453.
A male of this Red-bellied Flower-pecker from Engaiio.
34. Dicmum xantuopycium, Tweedd.; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 453.
A few males of the Yellow-rumped Flower-pecker from
Engano. These differ slightly from the birds sent in the
Lepanto collection, being devoid of the dull olive-green fringes
to the feathers of the nape and back of the neck which
characterize the latter, which are, no doubt, freshly moulted.
Birds of the Philippine Islands. 121
35. Pirra aTRIcaPILLA, Less.; Grant, Ibis, 1895, p. 112.
The Philippine Black-headed Pitta has the plumage abso-
lutely similar in the adult male and female; a nearly adult
male has a white spot on each side of the throat.
36. Pirra ERYTHROGASTRA, Temm.; Sclater, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. xiv. p. 432 (1888) ; Whitehead, Ibis, 1893, p. 504.
Nearly mature males of this Red-bellied Pitta were col-
lected near Cape Engaiio. Mr. Whitehead is of opinion (Ibis,
1893, p. 505) that Pitta propinqua, Sharpe, is not specifically
distinct from the present species. The type of P. propinqua
came from the island of Balabac, and since Mr. Whitehead
examined the British Museum series we have obtained,
through Mr. Everett, an adult male from the typical locality.
This bird agrees perfectly with Dr. Sharpe’s original de-
scription (Trans. Linn. Soe. (2) 1. p. 330, 1877), and differs
much from typical examples of P. erythrogastra. It must,
however, be stated that both forms were found by Mr. White-
head in the island of Palawan, one of his specimens being
almost typical P. propingua, and, given a larger series, we
should probably find that the two forms pass more or less
one into the other in Palawan. Still P. propinqua is a very
well-marked insular form, and I consider Dr. Sharpe fully
justified in regarding it as distinct. Both he and Dr. Sclater
are certainly mistaken, however, in regarding the “ J juv.
Dumalon, Mindanao,” collected by Prof. Steere, as the young
of P. propinqua, the Mindanao bird being typical P. erythro-
gastra.
37. CAPRIMULGUS MANILLENSIS, G, R. Gray; Grant, [bis,
1895, p. 462.
A male of the Manilla Nightjar from the vicinity of Cape
Engajio has the ends of the outer pair of tail-feathers simi-
larly coloured to those of the male mentioned in the last
collection.
38. BarracHosToMUS MICRORHYNCHUS, Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 463.
Another male of the Luzon Frog-mouth has been forwarded
from the Engaiio district ; it is an interesting specimen in
122 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
the chestnut phase of plumage, the upper parts being like
those of the female type described in the last collection, but
the outer webs of the scapulars are pale buff, as in the dark-
coloured male type, though the subterminal black spots are
small, as inthe female. The feathers of the throat and of
the chest between the white bands are paler chestnut than in
the female, and have white middles irregularly edged and
barred with black. The belly, flanks, and under tail-coverts
brownish white, with a few faint reddish-brown mottlings.
In the wing-measurement given of the types of this species
(Ibis, 1895, p. 463) I have just observed an unfortunate
printer’s error, which had escaped my notice, and might be
misleading. The wing of B. microrhynchus, given as “5°52,”
should read 5-5°2. ‘The measurements of the chestnut male
are :—
Culmen.
= Sage OA Ip as
Length. Width at gape. Wing. Tail. Tarsus.
in. in. in. in. in.
0°85 1:25 6:15 4] 07
As will be seen, the length and width of the culmen are
slightly greater than in the types. There cannot be the
slightest doubt that these three differently-plumaged birds
all belong to one species, though Mr. Whitehead was in-
clined to believe that the dark and rufous forms represented
distinct species.
39. Eurystomus orIENTALIS (Linn.) ; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p- 114.
’ A female of the Broad-billed Roller from Cape Engaiio.
40. Hatcyon coromanpus (Lath.) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. xvii. p. 217 (1892).
A pair of this widely distributed Lilac-backed Kingfisher
from the vicinity of Cape Engajio. The male has the under-
parts cinnamon, slightly paler on the belly, and the chest and
upper breast are conspicuously glossed with violet. The
female has the underparts altogether paler, especially on the
middle of the belly, which is whitish buff, and there is no
trace of lilac on the chest.
Birds of the Philippine Islands. 123
41. Harpactes arpens (Temm.); Grant, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. xvi. p. 487 (1892).
Mr. Whitehead has sent home some splendid specimens
of the Philippine Trogon, and among them two quite young
examples, one being marked a male; both resemble the female
adult, only differing in having the bars on the wing-coverts
and secondaries coarser. Bill black, only the ridge and tip
of the culmen yellowish.
42, Microstictus ruNEBRIs (Valenc.); Grant, [bis, 1895,
p- 262.
A very fine old male of this black Woodpecker from Engaiio,
with the sides of the head unusually bright deep carmine.
43. Iyneipicus vaLipIrostRIs, Blyth; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 465.
A female of the Luzon Pigmy Woodpecker from Engaiio.
44, LepipoGRaMMUS CUMINGI (Fraser); Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 466.
Two females of the Curl-crested Cuckoo from Engaii.
One, an immature bird, has the shining blue-black wax-
like ends to the feathers of the crest and throat much nar-
rower and more elongate than in the adult, and the white
subterminal spots on the crest-feathers are absent.
45. DasyLopnus suPEeRciLIosus (Cuv.); Grant, lbis, 1895,
p- 262.
A pair of the Crimson Eye-browed Cuckoo from Engaiio.
46. Eupynamys, sp. inc.
Mr. Whitehead obtained an adult male bird of this genus
on the island of Fuga. It resembles the male of EH. minda-
nensis (Linn.), but is considerably larger; unfortunately no
female was obtained, so it is impossible to say whether the
Fuga bird is distinct or not.
Comparative measurements :—
Culmen. Wing. Tail. Tarsus.
in. in. in. in.
3 from Fuga Is..... 1°35 85 8:7 155
do from Luzon...... ~~ | 76 75 1:25
l
3 from Mindanao .. 1:25 8:0 76
124 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
47. Bo.porsirracus LUNULATUS (Scop.); Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 467.
Additional male examples of the Luzon Collared Parrakeet
from Engaiio.
48. Loricutus pHrtipPeNsis (P. L. 8. Mull.) ; Grant, Ibis,
1895, p. 264.
A female of the Philippine Lorikeet from Engaiio.
49, PriLopus LECLANCHERI (Bonap.); Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 264. |
This handsome Black-throated Fruit-Pigeon had previously
been obtained by Mr. Whitehead only on the island of Catau-
duanes. We have now received several examples of both sexes
from the vicinity of Cape Engajio, including the adult male
and female and two young females, one somewhat larger
than the other, but both nearly alike in plumage. They re-
semble the female adult, but the dark chin-spot is entirely
absent, as well as the partially-defined deep chestnut band
across the breast ; the under tail-coverts are, moreover, paler
cinnamon. Count Salvadori describes the pectoral band of
both male and female as “dark purplish” (cf. Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. xxi. p. 80, 1893). We can only conclude that his
description must have been made in one of the numerous
thick fogs prevalent during the time he was writing the
Catalogue, for we know that our respected friend is not in
any way colour-blind.
50. CarPoPHAGA CHALYBURA, Bonap.; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 264.
Further examples of Bonaparte’s Philippine Fruit- Pigeon
from Engaii district, with the dark purplish-grey band across
the nape well defined.
51. CaRPoPHAGA NUCHALIS, Cabanis; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 116.
Some fine examples of the Maroon-naped Fruit-Pigeon
collected in the neighbourhood of Engajio are perfectly
similar one to another and to those already sent from the
province of Isabella, in the same neighbourhood.
a ———
Birds of the Philippine Islands. 125
A male from the island of Fuga is, however, rather
puzzling, the patch on the nape being deep vinaceous grey,
intermediate in colour between that of the present species
and C. chalybura. The Fuga bird may be a distinct
subspecies, but more material is required to settle this
question.
52. Prinocotpa caroLta, Bonap.; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
pe l17.
Both sexes of the Grey-breasted Fruit-Pigeon from Engaiio.
The immature female differs from the adult in having the
breast and rest of the underparts grey, slightly washed with
rufous, instead of chestnut, and the under tail-coverts pale
cinnamon edged with grey, not uniform deep chestnut.
53. CuatcopuHars inpica (Linn.); Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 471.
A young example of the Indian Bronze-winged Dove
from Engaiio.
54, PHitoca@nas Luzonica (Scop.); Salvadori, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. xxi. p. 585 (1893).
Beautiful examples of both sexes of the Blood-breasted
Ground-Pigeon collected at Engaiio are almost perfectly
similar in plumage, but the female, being a younger bird, is
almost devoid of the fine purple gloss on the feathers of the
back and scapulars.
55. Mxcaropivus cuminel, Dillwyn; Grant, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. xxii. p. 449 (1893).
An adult female of Cuming’s Megapode from Engaiio
and an immature male from Fuga Island.
56. AMAURORNIS OLIVACEA (Meyen) ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit.
Mus. xxii. p. 153 (1894).
A somewhat immature female of the Philippine Crake has
the chin and throat mixed with white. It is evident from
the diagnosis of this species given by Dr. Sharpe in his
Catalogue that the MS. containing the first part of the
description has, by some accident, slipped out and been lost.
We are thus led to believe that the whole plumage of the
126 Mr. W. R. Ogilvie Grant on the
male is dark slaty grey, but this, of course, really refers to
the underparts only.
57. ANGIALITIS GEoFFRoyI (Wagl.).
Charadrius geoffroyi, Seebohm, Geogr. Distr. Charadr.
p- 146 (1888).
Geoffroy’s Sand-Plover from Engajio and Manila Bay in
full breeding-plumage was obtained at the end of April and
in the first week of May. The male has the bands from
the lores to the ear-coverts, as well as the band between the
eyes and its offshoot to the base of the culmen, deep black ;
but these markings are dark greyish in the female, and the
latter, at least, not very clearly defined. In both the crown
of the head, nape, and pectoral band are pale rufous chestnut,
but brightest in the male.
58. ANGIALITIS MONGOLICA (Pall.).
Charadrius mongolicus, Seebohm, Geogr. Distr. Charadr.
p. 147 (1888).
Five adults in full breeding-plumage obtained at Manila
Bay. If the sexes marked on the labels were correctly ascer-
tained, the male and female are perfectly similar in plumage,
but I have reason to believe that one of the specimens marked
? isreallya g. I may here mention that the birds from
Manila Bay were evidently not obtained by Mr. Whitehead
himself, for he was at Cape Engafio at the time when they
were collected.
59. AiGIALitTis PeRONI (S. Mill.).
Charadrius peroni, Seebohm, Geogr. Distr. Charadr. p. 166
(1888).
An adult male and nestling of the Malay Sand-Plover
collected at Cape Engaiio.
60. SrRepsinas INTERPRES (Linn.); Seebohm, Geogr.
Distr. Charadr. p. 410 (1888).
A pair of Turnstones were shot at Cape Engaiio.
61. Toranus BREVIPES, Vieill.
Totanus incanus brevipes, Seebohm, Geogr. Distr. Charadr.
p. 361 (1888).
Birds of the Philippine Islands. 127
A female of the Asiatic Wandering Tattler from Manila
Bay.
62. Trinea suBarQuata (Gildenstadt) ; Seebohm, Geogr.
Distr. Charadr. p. 419 (1888).
A male Curlew Sandpiper from Cape Engaiio, in fullest
breeding-plumage, was shot on the 18th May.
63. TrINGA RUFICOLLIS, Pallas.
Tringa minuta ruficollis, Seebohm, Geogr. Distr. Charadr.
p- 437 (1888).
Two females of the Red-throated Stint from Manila Bay
in full breeding-plumage.
64. Esacus MAaNirostris, Geoffr. St.-Hil.
CEdicnemus magnirostris, Seebohm, Geogr, Distr. Charadr.
p- 89 (1888).
A fine adult male of the Austro-Malayan Stone Curlew
from Engaiio.
65. Nycricorax MANILLENSIS, Vigors; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p- 266.
An immature female of the Manila Night-Heron, with
streaked underparts and buff-spotted back and wing-coverts,
was shot in the vicinity of Cape Engaiio.
66. ARDETTA CINNAMOMEA (Gmel.) ; Grant, Ibis, 1895,
p. 266.
An immature female of the Chestnut Bittern from Manila
Bay.
67. ArpetTa sinensis (Gmel.); Bourns & Worcester, Occ.
Pap. Minnesota Acad. i. no. i. p. 32 (1894).
A female of the Little Yellow Bittern from Manila Bay.
68. DemiecretTa sacra (Gmel.) ; Bourns & Worcester,
f €. p. 32.
The Ashy Egret was obtained at Cape Engaiio.
69. HyprocHELIpon HyBrIDA (Pallas); Bourns & Wor-
cester, ¢.c. p. 30.
A fine male of the Whiskered Tern from Manila Bay,
shot on 28th of April, is in full breeding-plumage.
128 Bulletin of the British
70. Freegata Minor (Gmel.); Bourns & Worcester, ¢. c.
p- 32.
The Lesser Frigate-bird obtained at Cape Engaiio com-
pletes the list.
X.—Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club.
Nos. XXIX. & XXX. .
No. XXIX. (Oct. 31st, 1895.)
Tue twenty-eighth meeting of the Club was held at the
Restaurant Frascati, 32 Oxford Street, on Wednesday, the
23rd of October, 1895.
Chairman: P. L. Scuater, F.R.S.
Members present: —G. Barrett-Hamitton, E. Bivwe tt,
Puitre Crowtzy, W. E. De Winton, A. H. Evans, Major
A. P. Loyp, E. Neate, R. Nesuam, W. R. Ocitvie Grant,
C. E. Pearson, H. J. Pearson, Frank Penrose, T. Dicsy
Picort, C.B., Howarp Saunpers (Treasurer), Henry SEE-
BoHM, R. Bowpter Suarre (Editor), Capt. G. E. Suuxiey,
W. B. Tecetmerer, H. M. Watts, C. A. Wricut.
Visitors: Dr. F. D. Drewirt, C. E. Facan, Sir WittiamM
Frower, K.C.B., F.R.S., Sir Henry Howorrta, K.C.I.E.,
F.R.S.
The Cuarrman read the following Address to the Club :—
On taking the Chair at the first meeting of the Fourth Session
of the B. O.C., I propose to address to you afew remarks on
recent events in Ornithology. Before commencing these,
however, I must express the regret which all the Members of
the Club will feel at the loss we have lately suffered by the
death of our friend and colleague, Henry Thornton Wharton,
who was well known to us as an expert in British Orni-
thology, and as the author of a useful list of British Birds,
published in 1877. He was also the active and efficient
Secretary of the Committee for the preparation of the
Ornithologists’ Club. 129
B.0.U. List of British Birds, published in 1883, and the General
Editor of that work. In the composition of the B. O. U. List,
Wharton’s classical knowledge was of very great assistance to
the Committee, and it was to his learning that we are indebted
for the explanations of the generic and specific terms, which
form such useful features in that work. I must also not forget
that we have lately lost from our ranks an energetic Indian
ornithologist, Lieut. Henry E. Barnes, F.Z.S. I may likewise
allude to the untimely death, from hematuric fever, of Ernst
Baumann, as recently announced at Berlin. Baumann was a
young and energetic collector, who had worked hard at the
birds of the German Colony of Togoland, on the West Coast of
Africa, and had added upwards of 100 species to its avifauna.
I will now proceed to more cheerful topics.
Since we commenced our last Session great progress has
been made with the British Museum Catalogue of Birds, and
we may well expect that the year 1896 will witness its final
completion. Count Salvadori’s volume on the Anseres,
Tinami, and other lower Orders is complete and ready for
publication. The joint-volume of Mr. Saunders (on the
Laride) and Mr. Salvin (on the Tubinares) is nearly ready,
I am informed ; and that of Dr. Bowdler Sharpe on the
Waders is said to bein a very forward state. There remains,
therefore, only Dr. Sharpe’s Catalogue of the Divers, Pelicans,
Cormorants, and Herons, on which, I believe our Editor is
busily employed at the present time. I am much pleased
also to learn that steps have been taken towards the compi-
lation of an additional volume (as suggested in my last
Address), in which the names of all species described since
the commencement of the Catalogue in 1874, and not already
recorded in the different volumes, will be enrolled. When
this additional volume and the General Index of the whole
series shall have been issued, the result will be a work
of surpassing value to all workers on the Class of Birds.
As regards other works on systematic Ornithology in
progress, I will not say much more on the present occasion. I
may, however, mention that Captain Shelley is now engaged in
printing a complete Catalogue of African Birds, which he has
SER. VII.—VOL. II. K
130 Bulletin of the British
had for some years in preparation. Captain Shelley’s intimate
acquaintance with this subject will, no doubt, render it a
most useful and valuable work. As soon as it is finished, we
must call upon him to prepare a new edition of the ‘ Birds of
Egypt.’ When visiting that country last winter, I received
many complaints as to this useful volume being out of print.
I may also express a hope, which I am sure will be joined in
by all ornithologists, that Capt. Bendire’s ‘ Life-Histories of
North-American Birds,’ of which the first part was published
in 1892, will be continued and completed. Such a work is
just what we require for a better understanding of the Nearctic
Ornis.
As regards future explorations, on which I sometimes
obtrude my advice, it is still abundantly manifest that every
piece of new land into which the traveller thrusts his way
will continue to supply novelties in Ornithology, as in other
branches of Natural History, and that the age of discovery
is by no means yet past. Dr. Donaldson Smith’s researches
in Galla-land, Mr. Whitehead’s expedition to the Philippines,
and Mr. Baron’s excursions in the Andes of Northern Peru,
alike prove that such is not the case. From New Guinea,
again, and the adjacent islands, as the Members of this Club
well know, we still continue to receive new and most strange
forms of Paradise-birds. One of the most remarkable of these
extraordinary birds (Pteridophora alberti) has only become
known to us during the last Session of the Club. As the
mountains of New Guinea become invaded by the scientific
explorer, more, no doubt, remain to follow. But to attain
the recesses of Galla-land, the Philippines, or Peru, are tasks
not to be undertaken lightly. For shorter excursions which
might be accomplished in a winter’s travel, besides the ex-
pedition up the Euphrates, which I suggested in last year’s
Address, I will venture to put forward the claims of Tripoli
and Arabia Felix to ornithological investigation. Tripoli,
lying between Tunis and Egypt, presents features of con-
siderable interest, and though its birds would be few, yet we
should like to know what are to be found there. Tripoli is
commonly supposed to be inaccessible, owing to the fanaticism
—————
Ornithologists’ Club. 131
of its inhabitants ; but it is evident from Mr. Cowper’s recent
archeological expedition into that country (of which an
account was given at the recent Meeting of the British
Association) that these supposed difficulties are by no means
unsurmountable. Where the archeologist can go the natu-
ralist can surely follow. The Editors of ‘The Ibis’ have
already sung the praises of Arabia Felix in their last number
(see ‘ Ibis,’ 1895, p.510). It is a pity that Mr. Bent did not
take a collector with him to Dhofar. As he neglected this
good opportunity, some ornithologist must follow in his
footsteps, and tell us what the birds of Dhofar really are.
In concluding my remarks I will again urge upon you the
great want of a modern Handbook on the Anatomy of
Birds. Notwithstanding the labours of Garrod, Forbes, and
Gadow in this country, and Fiirbringer on the continent, we
have no convenient systematic treatise on this important
subject in a handy form. ‘There is an enormous quantity of
knowledge available, but it requires to be concentrated into
a tangible shape. I may say, however, that I have some
hopes that Mr. Beddard and Mr. Chalmers Mitchell, who is
working with Mr. Beddard in the Zoological Society’s
Prosectorium, will undertake this formidable task, and that
before long we may be gratified by having ready for use a
Handbook on the Anatomy of Birds, properly illustrated
and written in the tongue most familiar to us.
Mr. H. J. Pearson gave an interesting account of his
expedition to Kolguev and Novaya Zemlya, in the yacht
‘Saxon,’ during the summer of 1895, and exhibited a series
of the eggs of the Grey Plover (Squatarola helvetica) and
the Little Stint (Zringa minuta) from Kolguev. At his
request, the further account of the expedition relating to
Novaya Zemlya was postponed till the next Meeting.
Mr. C. E. Pearson exhibited one of the nests of the Little
Stint, which he presented to the National Collection.
Two nestlings of Bewick’s Swan (Cygnus bewicki), obtained
by Colonel Feilden, a member of the expedition, were also ex-
hibited. These also were presented to the British Museum.
K 2
132 Bulletin of the British
Mr. W. R. Ocitviz Grant exhibited specimens of some
new species of birds sent by Mr. John Whitehead from the
Philippines, and described them as follows :—
SIPHIA ENGANENSIS, Sp. Nn.
& similis S. pallidipedi, sed hypochondriis cervinis distin-
guenda. 9? a 9 S. pallidipedis, loris ferrugineis, et
fascia superciliari angust& czruleé trans frontem ducta
distinguenda. Long. tot. 6:0 poll., culm. 0°7, ale 3°],
caudze 2°5, tarsi 0°88.
Hab. Cape Engafto, Luzon.
HyYPsIPETES FUGENSIS, sp. nN.
3 ¢. Similis H. pryeri, sed pileo colloque brunneis, nec
cinereis, et dorso concoloribus, abdomine haud albo
notato distinguendus. Long. tot. 10°5 poll., culm. 1°15,
alee 4°85, caude 4°65, tarsi 0°85.
Hab. Fuga Island, Babuyan Group.
ZosTERORNIS DENNISTOUNI, Sp. Ni.
Z. sordide viridescens, noteo angusté albido striolato: subtus
pallide flavus, gula letiore: fronte et sincipite aureis
distinguendus. Long. tot. 5:5 poll., culm. 0°7, ale 2°7,
caudze 2:2, tarsi 0:75.
Hab. Cape Engafio, Luzon.
OrTHOTOMUS CHLORONOTUS, Sp. Nn.
Similis O. derbiano, sed noteo toto et subcaudalibus oli-
vascenti-viridibus distinguendus. Long. tot. 4°8 poll.,
alee 2°2, caude 1°8, tarsi 0°8.
Hab. Cape Engaiio, N.E. Luzon.
Mr. Gran also described a new Proparus from Manipur
and the Naga Hills, which he proposed to call
PROPARUS AUSTENI, Sp. 0.
P. similis P. vinipectori, sed pileo rufescentiore, et albedine
gutturis restrictA: preepectore vinaceo nec albo distin-
guendus. Long. tot. 4°5 poll., culm. 0°43, ale 2:3,
caudze 20, tarsi 0:9.
Captain Suetiey described three new species of African
Barbets, as follows :—
Ornithologists’ Club. 133
STACTOLZMA WOODWARDI, sp. n.
Simile S. olivaceo, Shelley, sed paullo major, et plaga magna
sulphurea auriculari usque ad nucham producta distin-
guendum. long. tot. 6° poll., culm. 0°75, ale 3°5,
caude 2°3, tarsi 0 95.
Hab. Zulu Land.
TRICHOLEMA ANSORGII.
Simile 7. hirsuto, sed hypochondriis latius nigro maculatis,
minime albo fasciatis distinguendum. Long. tot. 6°3 poll.,
ale 3:5.
Hab. Uganda.
TRICHOLEMA GABONENSE, Sp. 0.
Simile 7. hirsuto, sed brunnescentius, et facie laterali haud
albo notata distinguendum. Long. tot. 7°3 poll., culm.
0°95, ale 3°6, caude 2°1, tarsi 0'9.
Hab. Gaboon to Cameroons.
Dr. Bowpier Suarez stated that a recent examination of
the type of Bradyornis woodwardi from Natal had convinced
him that it was only an example of Sylvia simplex (=S. hor-
tensis, auctt.) in greenish plumage. The specimen in question
had a somewhat abnormally shaped bill, which made it look
like a Bradyornis, and, moreover, the plumage did not
resemble that of any specimen of S. stmplex with which
it had been compared. The greenish plumage must be that
of the freshly moulted bird in its winter-quarters, and
therefore in a stage not seen in European examples.
Mr. Henry Sersoum described a new species of Eagle-Owl
from Sidemi, in the Ussuri country, E. Siberia. The type
specimen had been obtained by Kalinowski, and presented by
the Warsaw Museum to the British Museum, where it had
hitherto been identified with Budo blakistonit. Mr. Seebohm
proposed to call it
Buso DOERRIESI, Sp. Nn.
Similis B. blakistoni, sed plaga nuchali albé magna facile
distinguendus. Long. tot. 25 poll., ala 20°5, tarsi 3:2.
A second specimen had been procured by Mr. Doerries
134 Bulletin of the British
near Vladivostock, and five specimens were now known, all
of them agreeing in the possession of a white nape-spot. It
would seem also that B. doerriesi had a nearly white tail when
fully adult.
No. XXX. (Nov. 20th, 1895.)
Tue twenty-ninth meeting of the Club was held at the
Restaurant Frascati, 32 Oxford Street, on Wednesday, the
20th of November, 1895.
Chairman: P. L. Sctarer, F.R.S.
Members present :—K. Bivweti, Col. C. T. Bryenan,
Puitie Crow ey, E. A. 8. Exxuiot, E. W. De Winton,
Col. H. W. Fritpen, Jonn Gerrarp, J. E. Harrine,
W.H. Hupson, Major A. P. Loyp, J. G. Mituais, Dr. St.
Grorce Mivart, F.R.S., R. Nesoam, W. R. Ocitvie
Grant, H. J. Pearson, Frank Penrose, Evetyn Rawson,
Howarp Saunpers (T7reasurer), R. BowDLER SHARPE (Editor),
E. CavenpisH Taytor, Major Horace Terry, A. TREvoR-
Battyse, W. B. Tecermerer, C. A. Wricut, J. Youne.
Visitors: Dr. F. D. Drewrrr, H. Tasor Brooks, Admiral
A. H. Marxuam, Sir Herpert Maxwetu, Bart., M.P.,
H. Mount.
Mr. Scrater called attention to the fine specimen of the
Spotted Redshank (Totanus fuscus) now living in the Fish
House in the Zoological Society’s Gardens, and obtained
on October 17th, along with other waders, from Spalding
in Lincolnshire. It was the first specimen, so far as was
known, that had been received by the Zoological Society,
and Mr. Bartlett, in all his long experience, had never seen
a living specimen in captivity before.
Mr. Scrater also exhibited a portrait (lithograph) of
Prof. Giglioli, presented by the latter to the British Orni-
thologists’ Union.
Mr. Scuater stated that in view of the large amount of
Ornithologists’ Club. 135
work he had done in American Ornithology, the Authorities
of the Smithsonian Institution had kindly agreed to publish,
in the Bulletin of the U.S. National Museum, a complete
Bibliography of his published writings from 1844 to 1894.
inclusive. The MS. of this volume, which was already in
type, had been prepared under his superintendence by Mr. G.
A. Doubleday. The list contained the titles of 1239 publi-
cations, many of which, however, were short notes and
notices.
Mr. Howarp Saunpers gave a brief sketch of the pro-
ceedings at the International Congress recently held at Paris
to consider the legislation necessary for the protection of
birds useful to agriculture, to which he had been accredited
as the delegate of the British Government, together with
Sir Herbert Maxwell, Bart., M.P. Sir Herbert, who was
present as a guest, gave an interesting account of the diplo-
matic work of the Congress.
Professor Mrnzpirer, of Moscow, forwarded, on behalf of
Mr. Sushkin, the diagnosis of a new species of Goose, which
Mr. Sushkin proposed to call
ANSER NEGLECTUS, 0D. sp.
A. ab A. brachyrhyncho staturd majore, rostro longiore et
graciliore, secundariorum tectricibus atro-fuscis, tectri-
cibus carpalibus discoloribus: ab 4. segetum pedibus
zonaque rostri incarnatis distinguendus.
The full description of this species will appear in ‘ The
Ibis.’
Dr. J. von MaparAsz, of the Hungarian National Museum,
sent for exhibition some photographs of a nest of the
Chimney-Swallow (Hirundo rustica) built in a curious posi-
tion among the hanging branches of a vine.
Dr. W. T. Buanrorp, F.R.S., communicated a note on
the two Sarus Cranes of the Indian Region. He agreed
with Dr. Bowdler Sharpe that there were two distinct forms :
one found in the Indian Peninsula and the other in the
Burmese Provinces. The latter had been recognized by
136 Recently published Ornithological Works.
Dr. Sharpe as the true Grus antigone of Linnzus, but, in
Dr. Blanford’s opinion, this name had been founded on
Edwards’s description of the Greater Indian Crane (Nat. Hist.
Birds, i. p. 45, pl. 45), which was said to have “ the neck very
long, covered in the upper parts with white feathers, which
gradually become ash-coloured towards its bottom.” This,
Dr. Blanford contended, could only apply to the Indian bird,
and he therefore proposed the name of Grus (Antigone) sharpit
for the dark-coloured Burmese form, which had no white on
theneck. The characters of the two species had been clearly
given by Dr. Sharpe in the twenty-third volume of the
‘Catalogue of Birds,’ pp. 263, 264.
Mr. H. J. Pearson continued his narrative of his recent
expedition to Kolguev and Novaya Zemlya, and exhibited
specimens of the downy nestlings of Bewick’s Swan, the Bean
Goose, Common Eider, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin, and
Temminck’s Stint. He also brought for exhibition a beau-
tiful series of the eggs of Briinnich’s Guillemot.
An interesting discussion ensued on Mr. Pearson’s paper,
in which Admiral Markham, Mr. Howard Saunders, Mr.
Sclater, and others took part.
XI.—Notices of recent Ornithological Publications.
1. Andersen on Diomedea melanophrys in the Ferees.
[Diomedea melanophrys, boende paa Ferderne. Af Knud Andersen.
Vidensk. Medd. naturh. Kpbenhayn, 1894, pp. 241-264, pl. v.
Diomedea melanophrys in the Ferde Islands. By Knud Andersen.
Communicated by W. Eagle Clarke, as requested. Proc. Royal Phys.
Soc. of Edinburgh, vol. xiii. pp. 91-114, pls. ii. & iii. 1895. ]
In these papers full details are given respecting the Alba-
tross which was shot on Myggenes Holm, after consorting
with the Gannets there for more than 30 years. Mr. Harvie-
Brown has already given some account of this bird, and of
another individual of the same species killed in 80° N. lat.
(Zool. 1894, p. 337).
Recently published Ornithological Works. 137
2. Annals of Scottish Natural History. Nos. 15 & 16,
July & October, 1895.
In No. 15 Mr. William Evans furnishes some interesting
notes made during mid-winter in the Island of Bute, famed
for the mildness of its climate; where, despite the exceptional
conditions of last January, 91 species of birds were observed.
In No. 16 Mr. Lionel W. Hinxman contributes a “ Report
on the Movements and Occurrences of Birds in Scotland
during 1894’; Messrs. John Paterson and John Robertson
supply notes on 130 species of birds found in East Renfrew-
shire, 73 of which are believed to have nested ; and Mr. Peter
Adair gives an account of the nesting of the Wigeon (Mareca
penelope) in Selkirkshire: a considerable extension of its
nesting-range southward. As usual, there are many smaller
but valuable notes on Scottish ornithology.
3. ‘The Auk” July and October, 1895.
Messrs. William Brewster and Frank M. Chapman lead
off with an account of a visit to the island of Trinidad,
where they were hospitably entertained by a cacao-planter
in the high woods, and learned under his guidance more in
three weeks than they would otherwise have done in as many
months. The most important bird secured was Nyctibius
jamaicensis, of which a coloured plate, from a photograph
taken im life, is given. Passing over some papers of local
interest, we come to some remarks by Mr. Lynds Jones on
“ Bird-Migration in Iowa”; followed by a very interesting
account by Mr. Brewster of a remarkable winter-flight of
Pine Grosbeaks (Pinicola enucleator) in Massachusetts.
Mr. Brewster succeeded in tracing the course of this migra-
tion, and two maps show the distribution of the species
during the winter of 1892-93. Thisisa thoroughly scientific
paper. Dr. Edgar A. Mearns describes a new Heron from
the Colorado Desert as Ardea virescens anthonyi; Mr. C. C.
Trowbridge gives an account of the flights of various species
of Hawks in Connecticut; Major Charles Bendire con-
tributes a paper, based on the experiences of Mr. Chase
Littlejohn off the Alaskan Peninsula, on the Ancient
138 Recently published Ornithological Works.
Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) ; and Mr. Charles B.
Cory describes two new species, Hyetornis fieldi and Elainea
cherriei, from Santo Domingo. Mr. A. W. Anthony feels
reasonably sure that he saw an example of the Fork-tailed
Gull, Xema furcatum, off San Diego, California, so perhaps
Néboux’s statement that he obtained the type at Monterey
may be correct; especially as examples of this bird have
recently been procured by the ‘Albatross’ at the Cocos
Islands, well to the north of the Galapagos. Mr. Chapman
gives interesting proof of the wanderings of a Diomedea
exulans, captured and labelled about 800 miles east of New
Zealand, and again taken 12 days later off Juan Fernandez,
3400 miles away. Two more European Wigeons (Mareca
penelope) are recorded in Indiana by Mr. Ruthven Deane.
The October number begins with a paper. on Cistrelata
fisheri by Mr. Ridgway, illustrated by a coloured plate, and
this very rare bird is compared with C&. defilippiana.
Mr. Anthony makes two new subspecies: Colaptes chrysoides
brunnescens, from Cape St. Lucas and Arizona, and Passerella
ilica stephensi, from the mountains of Southern California.
Mr. Chas. W. Richmond describes three new species obtained
by Lieut. Wirt Robinson from the island of Margarita, off
Venezuela, namely Amazilia alicie, Doleromya pallida,
and Cardinalis robinsoni. Yet again new subspecies of
Californian birds, Callipepla gambeli deserticola and Speo-
tyto cunicularia obscura, are described by Mr. F. Stephens.
Mr. Anthony’s researches off San Diego have resulted in
the acquisition of a small series of Oceanodroma socorroensis,
a Petrel hitherto known only from the type taken at Socorro
Island by C. H. Townsend.
4. Berlepsch on a new Pheenicophaes and a new Spilornis.
[Descriptions of two new Species of the Genera Phanicophaes and
Spilornis, with a note on Oriolus consobrinus. By Hans, Graf v. Ber-
lepsch. Novitates Zool. ii. p. 70.]
Phenicophaes microrhinus is the Bornean form of P. ery-
thrognathus, and Spilornis salvadorii replaces S. pallidus
(of Borneo) in Nias. The supposed male of Oriolus conso-
brinus, Ramsay, from N.E. Borneo is described.
Recently published Ornithological Works. 139
5. Blanford’s ‘ Birds of British India,’
[The Fauna of British India, including Ceylonand Burma. Published
under the authority of the Secretary of State for India in Council.
Edited by W. T. Blanford. Birds: vol. iii, By W. T. Blanford, F.R.S.
8vo. Pp. i-xiv, 1-450. London: Taylor & Francis, 1895.]
The present volume of the Fauna of British India takes
up the subject where it was left by Mr. Oates (cf. ‘The
Ibis,’ 1892, p. 283). We have had to wait some years for
it, but, like all Mr. Blanford’s work, it is well and carefully
prepared. It contains the Eurylemi, Pici, Zygodactyli,
Anisodactyli, Macrochires, Coccyges, Psittaci, Striges, and
Accipitres. A fourth volume, of which “a considerable
portion is written,” will complete this most useful work,
which will, of course, for the future, form the groundwork
of all ornithological investigations in British India.
We are pleased to see that Mr. Blanford (see footnote
p. 164) supports our refusal to use “‘ Micropus” for the
Swifts instead of “ Cypselus,” and is otherwise generally
orthodox in his nomenclature.
6. Biittikofer on certain Paradise-birds.
[Einige Bemerkungen tiber neu angekommene Paradiesvégel. Von J.
Bittikofer. Notes Leyden Mus. xvi. p. 36.]
Mr. Buttikofer gives us remarks on some specimens of
Paradise-birds recently received by the Leyden Museum
from Goenong Tobi, in North-west New Guinea. These
consist of an adult male of Amblyornis inornata, an adult
male of the magnificent new form Pteridophora alberti, a
peculiarly coloured specimen of Craspedophora magnifica, and
four male examples of Parotia carole. Of the last two are
adult, and agree generally with Dr. Meyer’s description of this
remarkable bird, though certain discrepancies are pointed
out, and the two others are young. ‘The young plumage is
fully described.
7. Dubois on the Birds of Belgium.
[Faune des Vertébrés de la Belgique. Par Alphonse Dubois. Série
des Oiseaux. Tome ii, (1887-94). Royal 8vo. Bruxelles, 1894.]
We regret the unavoidable delay in noticing the second
140 Recently published Ornithological Works.
and concluding portion of Dr. Dubois’ large and com-
pendious work: the first volume of which was reviewed in
‘The Ibis’ for 1888. The systematic arrangement continues
with the Pigeons, the Gallinaceous birds (inclusive of the
Sand-Grouse), the Bustards, Plovers, Sandpipers, and Rails ;
then comes the Crane, followed by the Herons, Storks, &e. ;
next, the Anatide; then the Pelecanide ; succeeded by the
Laride, the Petrels, the Auks, Divers, and Grebes. This is, of
course, very old-fashioned. We are surprised to see that in
the notice of the earlier irruptions of Syrrhaptes paradoxus
no mention is made of its occurrences in England and in the
south-east of France in 1859. From the list of countries in
which Tetrao tetriz is found, Switzerland is accidentally
omitted ; but we do not wish to search for slips in a work of
such magnitude. In its 736 pages there is an enormous
amount of valuable information, and the whole book is a
monument of the author’s research; while the coloured
maps, illustrating the geographical distribution of each
species during the breeding-season and during the winter,
show signs of great pains having been taken. ‘The species
recorded for Belgium in the body of the work are 318 in
number; to which are added in the Appendix Msaétus
bonelli, Cypselus melba, Parus ceruleus var. pleskui, Melano-
corypha yeltoniensis, and Cursorius gallicus: raising the
total to 823 species and subspecies. We congratulate
Dr. Dubois upon the completion of this section of his great
work on the Belgian Fauna.
8. Dwight on the Ipswich Sparrow.
[The Ipswich Sparrow (Ammodramus princeps, Maynard) and its
Summer Home. By Jonathan Dwight, Jr., M.D. Memoirs of the
Nuttall Ornithological Club, No. ii. 4to. Cambridge, Mass., 1895. ]
Discovered among the sand-hills of Ipswich, Massachu-
setts, in 1868, no clue was obtained to the nesting-place of
this species until 1884, when an example of the bird was
obtained on Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Dr. Dwight visited
that desolate spot in 1894, obtaimed the eggs, and has
Recently published Ornithological Works. 141
described the bird, its customs, and its habitat in some
54 pages. There is a coloured frontispiece and a full
bibliography.
9. Gdathe’s ‘ Heligoland” (English translation.)
{Heligoland as an Ornithological Observatory : the Result of Fifty
Years’ Experience. By Heinrich Gitke. Translated by Rudolf Rosen-
stock, M.A. Oxon. Royal 8vo. Edinburgh, 1895: David Douglas. ]
Most ornithological books of the present day fall under
one of two heads. In the first class, seemingly, the writer
conceives it to be his mission to write a book, and judges
that one bearing upon birds will best serve his turn: these
are the books written in the author’s or publisher’s interests,
and their name is legion. The second class is a. very much
smaller one, written by men (not usually young) who are
willing slaves to our pet science, at which they have been
working lovingly for years, and whose hope and object it is
to add a modest stone to the edifice of knowledge. And
when we meet with one of the last, we feel under a
personal obligation to the author. Herr Gatke’s book
belongs to the second category.
The author of this volume is decidedly at his best when
giving us the fruits of his own experience, rather than
when theorizing; but there is enough of real information
to make this a book of reference. The best chapters are:—
i. A concise résumé of the phases of Migration in Heligo-
land. ii. “The Direction of the Migration Flight,” wherein,
as those who have studied the subject would expect, hesuggests
that most species have their own line of flight, more or less.
Herr Gitke in this chapter, and all through the book,
hardly seems to take into consideration the cyclonic nature of
most winds, but appears to treat them all as blowing in a direct
line: a theory not supported by a study of weather charts,
which show the same wind striking different places, from
different points, at the same time. Chap. v. (“ Meteoro-
logy of Migration”) is excellent throughout and full of
information. Chap. viii. (“ What guides Birds during their
Migration”) is more theoretical and less helpful. But,
142 Recently published Ornithological Works.
given the facts that the young birds in many (not all) cases
are the first to move in the autumn, it is difficult to suppose
that birds are guided, especially at night, by anything but
that sense of locality and direction with which we are so
familiar in the homing-pigeon, and which human races lose
in proportion to their civilization. We have, however, noticed
that the young birds in autumn are generally accompanied,
or even preceded, by a sprinkling of adults, which have
presumably lost their mates or failed to pair. In chap. x.,
relating to colour-changes in plumage without a moult, we
have perhaps the most valuable chapter in the book.
As to the calculated rates of flight, e. g., such as that of the
Bluethroat, 180 miles an hour (p. 66), and the Hooded Crow
108 (p. 68), they seem singularly inconclusive. If Herr
Giatke had telegraphed to Mr. Cordeaux that a certain Hooded
Crow—with a white patch on one wing or other recognizable
mark—had left Heligoland at a certain hour on a certain day,
and Mr. Cordeaux had been on the Lincolnshire shore to meet
that individual Crow three hours later, we should then have
something definite to go by. Migrating birds travel, as arule,
not in parties, but in streams. We have seen on the east
coast Crows, Jackdaws, Wood-Pigeons, and Larks coming
in from the sea in a continuous—though thin—stream,
high up, during a whole afternoon. Which part of it would
give “time”? However, criticism of details apart, this is
an extremely valuable book, and every patiently accumu-
lated storehouse of facts and observations like this helps us
materially towards an ultimate knowledge of the migration of
birds. The translation has been well executed. In preparing
an edition fcr English readers, however, the sponsor ( Pref., p. v)
would have done better in trying to bring the information
relating to England up to date by footnotes, as has been
mostly done with the nomenclature. As it is, we read that
the Barred Warbler “has not been met with in England up
to this date” (i.e. 1890, the date of the German edition),
whereas six specimens had then been obtained in Great
Britain ; that there are only two known species of Oriolus,
viz. O. galbula and O. kundoo (p. 227), whereas vol. i. of
Recently published Ornithological Works. 143
Brit. Mus, Cat. Birds, published in 1877, gives 33 species ;
that Fringilla hornemanni “is found as a breeding-species
in Northern Iceland” (p. 394), whereas L. linaria is the
breeding species there, L. hornemanni only occurring as a
rare winter visitor ; and that Colymbus adamsi “is an Ame-
rican species” (better circumpolar) “ said to have occurred
once or twice on the coast of England” (p. 572), whereas
several undoubted occurrences might have been cited.
10. Godman and Salvin’s ‘ Biologia Centrali- Americana,
[Biologia Centrali-Americana: or, Contributions to the Knowledge of
the Fauna and Flora of Mexico and Central America. Edited by F.
DuCane Godman and Osbert Salvin. (Zoology.) Parts CXXIII-CXXV.
4to. London: 1895. Published for the Editors by R. H. Porter, 18
Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W.]}
Parts CXxIll., Cxxiv., and cxxv. of this important work
have been issued since our last notice (‘The Ibis, 1895,
p. 394). They contain two portions of the second volume
of Aves (pp. 457-480), and carry on the subject through
the Motmots and Kingfishers to the commencement of the
Trogons. The term Prionornis is proposed in place of Prono-
rhynchus, which has been previously used in Crustacea.
11. Hamilton on the Feathers of the Moa.
[On the Feathers of a small Species of Moa (Megalapteryx) found in a
cave at the head of the Waikaia River, with a notice of a Moa-hunter’s
Camping-place on the Old Man Range. By A. Hamilton. Trans. N,
Zealand Inst. xxvii. p. 282.]
After mentioning previous instances of the discovery of
the feathers of Dinornis in New Zealand, Mr. Hamilton tells
us of the finding by a miner of a very complete specimen of
the dried leg of a small species of Moa in a cave in one of
the Wakaia gorges. The leg “still retains the dried skin and
muscle, and carries a quantity of double-shafted feathers.”
It agrees with “ Prof. Owen’s specimen assigned to Dinornis
didinus in having the metatarsus feathered.”” This interest-
ing specimen will be described by Dr. T. J. Parker of Otago.
Mr. Hamilton made an expedition into this district in 1894
144, Recently published Ornithological Works.
and examined the caves, whence he obtained a large number
of feathers of the same small Moa. He also discovered a
“ Moa-hunter’s Camp,’”’ and remarks :—
“There is absolute evidence in this case of the use of the Moa
as food. The quantity of bones lying by the ovens in which
they were cooked, and the comparative absence of any other
inducement (Wekas being the only possible prey) for hunters
to visit and camp on such an inhospitable spot, all point to
these being Moa-hunters’ encampments, to which blocks of
suitable stone have been brought from afar to serve as
knives for the feast. The caves and shelters in the huge
mass of mountains close at hand have furnished some of the
best preserved specimens of the Moa yet found, and were, no
doubt, a summer feeding-ground of the Moa, to which yearly
expeditions were made.”
12. Hamilton on the Birds of Macquarie Island.
[Notes on a Visit to Macquarie Island. By A. Hamilton. Trans. N.
Zealand Inst. xxvii. p. 559. |
Mr. Hamilton visited Macquarie Island, south of New
Zealand, in 1894, to study the plants and general natural
history, and gives us an interesting account of it. Several
pages are devoted to his notes on the birds of the island,
and a list of them is given. The only land-bird is a Parrot
(Cyanorhamphus erythrotis), now probably extinct. Four
Penguins visit the island for breeding purposes—the “ King-
Penguin” (Aptenodytes pennanti), the ‘ Royal Penguin”
(Eudyptes schlegeli), the ‘ Victoria Penguin” (E. filhol),
and a Rock-hopper (Hudyptes). Weka Rails have been
introduced, and have multiplied exceedingly.
13. Hartert on Birds from Fergusson Island.
[Some new and other rare Birds from Fergusson Island. By Ernst
Hartert. Novitates Zool. ii. p. 61.]
Six birds are described as of special interest, from a col-
lection made in Fergusson Island, of the D’Entrecasteaux
group, by Mr. A. Meek. Among these Cyclopsittacus virago,
Loriculus aurantiifrons meeki, and Ptilopus lewisii vicinus
Recently published Ornithological Works. 145
are new species or subspecies from Fergusson Island. Chal-
cophaps stephanie mortoni is a new subspecies from the
Solomon Islands.
14. Hartert on a new Prionochilus.
[A new Prionochilus from the Philippines and note on an Anthreptes.
By Ernst Hartert. Novitates Zool. ii. p. 64.]
Prionochilus inexpectatus is a new species discovered by
Mr. A. Everett during his recent expedition to the Philip-
pines, from which we regret to hear he has been obliged to
return through having met with a serious accident. Speci-
mens in the Tring Museum are from Luzon near Manila
and from Mindoro.
15. Hartert on a new Goura.
[On a supposed new Species and some Varieties of Gowra. By Ernst
Hartert. Novitates Zool. ii. p. 67.]
Goura cinerea is a small and curiously coloured species
based on a specimen found among a lot of Arfak trade-skins.
The Tring Museum has also specimens of Goura beccarii
from Humboldt Bay and German New Guinea.
16. Harteri’s Notes on Humming-birds.
[Notes on Humming-birds. By Ernst Hartert. Novitates Zool. ii.
p- 68. j
Mr. Hartert gives notes on Selasphorus flammula and other
species, and describes as a new subspecies Hriocnemis derbyi
longirostris from Bogota.
17. Hartert on Birds from the Natuna Islands.
[List of a second Coilection of Birds from the Natuna Islands. By
E. Hartert. Novitates Zool. ii. p. 466.]
A second * cojlection of birds from the Natuna Islands
has been received at the Tring Museum from Mr. Hose, who
sent his brother there with a staff of collectors from July to
* For a notice of the first collection see Ibis, 1895, p. 151.
SER. VII.— VOL. II. L
146 Recently published Ornithological Works.
October 1894. Examples of 93 species were obtained. Grau-
calus sumatrensis difficilis is a new subspecies from Balabac,
and Macropteryx comata major is another from the Philip-
pines, while there are several species additional to the former
list. Mr. Hartert now concludes that the Natuna avifauna
is more Bornean than—as he had previously supposed—
Malaccan.
18. Hudson’s ‘ British Birds’
[British Birds. By W. H. Hudson, C.M.Z.S. With a chapter on Strue-
ture and Classification, by Frank E, Beddard, F.R.S. London: Longmans,
1895. ]
The public appetite for books on British birds must for the
present, one would think, be nearly satiated, but every one
will appreciate a volume on any branch of natural history
from the facile pen of Mr. W. H. Hudson. The author
wisely confines his main attention to the “ appearance,
language, and life-habits of the species that reside perman-
ently or for a portion of each year” in these islands ; others
being mentioned, but not described at length. The nomencla-
ture and arrangement of the B.O.U. List are followed
throughout, and all scientific details are avoided. Mr. Hudson
has thus been able to compress his British Birds into a volume
of 360 pages, which is “intended for the general reader, and
especially for the young.”
The volume is illustrated by eight coloured plates, taken
from original drawings by Mr. Thorburn, and by 100 figures
of birds by Mr. G. B. Lodge introduced into the text.
Mr. Beddard has written an introductory chapter on the
structure and classification of birds, whicb puts those branches
of the subject very clearly and concisely before the reader.
19. Irby’s ‘ Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar?
[The Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar. By Lieut.-Col. L.
Howard L. Irby,-F.L.8., late Seventy-fourth Highlanders. Second
edition. Revised and enlarged. With an Appendix containing a List
of the Lepidoptera of the Neighbourhood. 4to. London, 1895, R. H.
Porter, 18 Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W. |
Col. Irby has favoured us with a copy of his new and
|
Recently published Ornithological Works. 147
revised edition of ‘The Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar,’
which we ought to have noticed before, as it was published
early last year, but it has been inadvertently passed over.
The new edition is larger in size, printed in better text,
and in every way a handsomer book than the former one.
It is, moreover, illustrated by some beautiful full-page plates
of birds drawn by Thorburn, and taken from living specimens
in Lord Lilford’s aviaries, which illustrate the following
species of birds—the Bearded Vulture, the Blue-winged
Magpie, the Black Vulture, the Golden Eagle, the White-
shouldered Eagle, the Booted Eagle, the Mediterranean Pere-
grine, and the Andalucian Bush-Quail. There are besides
some excellent lithographs of various sporting and _birds’-
nesting scenes, executed by Smit, and a quantity of
illustrations introduced into the text, mostly from photo-
graphs taken by Major W. Verner. Col. Irby is one of
our best authorities on the birds of the two districts comprised
in the present volume, so that we need hardly say that the
letterpress is in every respect up to the mark. Itis, in fact,
a pleasure to open a book so well got up, so excellently
illustrated, and so thoroughly ‘‘ up to date”? We have no
doubt that it will attain a large circulation, and trust that
before another 20 years are passed a third edition will be
called for.
20. Jentink on the Birds of Holland.
[Catalogue systématique de la Collection de feu Mr. J. P. Van Wicke-
voort Crommelin. Par F. A. Jentink. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. Pays-Bas,
tome xiv. (1894). ]
In 1892 (Ibis, 1892, p. 352) we recorded the death of
John Peter van Wickevoort Crommelin, of Haarlem, and
announced that he had bequeathed his unrivalled collection of
the birds of Holland to the Leyden Museum. The 14th
volume of the work above cited is devoted by Dr. Jentink to
a catalogue of this collection. There are 306 species included
in the list ; every specimen of each species, with its date and
locality, being separately indicated. This is a very useful
piece of work to the student of European ornithology.
12
4
148 Recently published Ornithological Works.
21. Lawrence’s ‘ Valley of Kashmir?
[The Valley of Kashmir. By Walter R. Lawrence, I.C.S., C.LE.
London, 1895, |]
He who would know anything about Kashmir cannot
do better than turn to this beautifully printed and well
illustrated monograph, which contains an excellent summary
of our knowledge of this distant portion of the British
Empire, by one who is specially qualified to treat of it.
The chapter on the Fauna of Kashmir contains a list of the
Birds with field-notes, arranged according to Dr. Bowdler
Sharpe’s classification, with the nomenclature of Mr. Oates,
so far as that goes: 208 species are included.
22. Meyer on.the Egg of a new Bower-bird.
[Ueber das Ei einer unbekannten Chlamydodera von Deutsch Neu
Guinea. Von A. B. Meyer. Abh. u. Ber. kénigl. zool. u. anthro. Mus.
Dresden, 1594-95, No. 10.]
The author describes and figures the beautiful egg of a
Bower-bird of the genus Chlamydodera which was found by
a collector, A. Grabauer, on a palm-leaf near Constantinhafen
in Kaiser-Wilhelm’s Land, New Guinea. He proposes
C. recondita as a name for the bird that laid the egg, but it
seems to us that it will be rather difficult for future oologists
to identify the layer of it!
23. Ornis, 1895. Parts 1-3.
[Ornis: Internationale Zeitschrift fiir die gesammte Ornithologie.
Herausgegeben von Prof. Dr. R. Blasius. viii. Jahrgang (1895), Hefte
1-3,]
We welcome the reappearance of our contemporary after
its cessation at the end of 1891. The resumed periodical
opens with a list, by Freiherr Besserer, of the birds of the
neighbourhood of Dieuze, in Lothringen, or, as more fami-
larly known to us, Lorraine. Dr. Rudolf Blasius follows
with the reports for 1891-1893 of the birds observed at the
German light-houses and light-ships ; and the same author
gives a list of the species recorded at the light-houses of
|
Recently published Ornithological Works. 149
Malta and Gozo in the years 1886-1894, the number being
288.
In Heft 3 are two papers on the Nutcracker during the
autumn and winter of 1893-94: the first by Ritter Tschusi
zu Schmidhoffen, and relating to Austria-Hungary, while
the second is by Dr. Blasius and treats of the occurrences of
the bird from Russia westward. The individuals obtained
appear to have belonged to the Siberian form which Dr.
Blasius calls Nucifraga caryocatactes leptorhynchus. Freiherr
von Berg contributes notes on 34 species of birds noticed in
Alsace-Lorraine in 1885-1892, and his paper is furnished
with a map showing the stations for observation. Dr. Blasius
gives an account of a visit to San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, with
the late M. Olphe-Galliard, when they examined the col-
lection of birds formed by Don Angel de Larinna; while
two short papers on a few birds observed in the Straits
of Gibraltar, and on 10 species met with at Reykjanes,
Iceland, conclude the Heft.
24. Parker on the Dinornithide.
[On the Cranial Osteology, Classification, and Phylogeny of the Dinor-
nithide. By T. Jeffery Parker, D.Sc, F.R.S. Trans. Zool. Soc. xiii.
p- 373.)
After the labours of Owen, Lydekker, and Hutton, it might
have been supposed that the subject of the Dinornithide
had been nearly exhausted. But this is by no means the
case. Lydekker and Hutton came to very different results
in their recent studies of this group, one admitting four
genera and 19 species, and the other seven genera and 26
species. Moreover, they were by no means in accord as
regards nomenclature. Prof. Parker again has occupied him-
self specially with the cranial osteology of this group. Now
those who have studied Huxley’s work on the class of birds
know how important an element is the skull in their classi-
fication, and how much better results it is likely to give
than the leg-bones. There can be no doubt, therefore, that
in devoting his principal attention to the comparatively
150 Recently published Ornithological Works.
neglected cranium Prof. Parker has done well, and those
who study his memoir cannot fail to be impressed with his
careful work and well-drawn conclusions, which result in
the proposal of the following classification of the subclass
Ratitze :—
Subclass RATITZS, Merrem.
Order I. STRUTHIONES, Newton.
Fam. STRUTHIONIDzZ. Genus Struthio.
Order H. RHEAs, Newton.
Fam. Ruretpm. Genus Rhea.
Order II. MEGISTANES, Newton.
Suborder 1, CaAsuARIFORMES, Fiirbringer.
Fam. 1. Casvartipm. Genus Casuarius.
» 2. Drommipm. Genus Dromeus.
Suborder 2. APTERYGIFORMES, Furbringer.
Fam. 1. DivorNITHID®.
Subfam. a Dinornithine. Genus Dinornis.
» 6. Anomalopterygine. Genera Pachyornis,
Mesopteryx, Anomalopteryx*.
» ¢ Emeine. Genus Lmeus,
Fam. 2. APTERYGIDE. Genus Apterye.
25. Prazdk on some of the Paride.
[Versuch einer Monographie der palearktischen Sumpfmeisen (Pecile,
Kaup). Von J. P. Prazék. Ornith. Jahrb. vi. Heft 1, pp. 8-59.
Hinige Notizen iiber die Kohl-, Hauben- und Blaumeisen. Op. cit.
Heft 3, 1895.]
Herr Prazak has taken the Tits under his special charge,
and, besides the two treatises cited above, has published a
series of articles on Parus ater and its near allies in the
‘Mittheilungen des ornithologischen Vereimes in Wien?’ for
1894. In the first of the above papers he leads us into a
perfect labyrinth of subspecies, and after trymg to follow
him through 59 pages, we find “to be continued.” In the
second paper the British and Persian Great Tits are sepa-
rated as subspecies—the former under the name Parus major
newtoni, and its Persian representative as P. m. blanfordi.
We wish our good friends joy of their name-fellows !
* And probably Megalapteryv.
—
Recently published Ornithological Works. 161
26. Reichenow on new African Birds.
[Neue atrikanische Vogelformen im Tring Museum. Von Anton
Reichenow. Novit. Zool. ii. p. 159.]
Two new species of a new genus of Timeliide are de-
scribed as Bathmocercus vulpinus and B. murinus. Both are
from the Aruwimi River, Congoland. The type of Bathmo-
cercus is B. rufus, Reichenow. ... < tom ofa aS ll
Rosmnr H. Reap. . 2.8 « 36 25
Amine. RID 6 (