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FORTHE PEOPLE
FOR EDVCATION
FOR SCIENCE
LIBRARY
OF
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM
OF
NATURAL HISTORY
THE IBIS,
A MAGAZINE OF GENERAL ORNITHOLOGY.
EDITED BY
PHILIP LUTLEY S C LATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S.,
FELLOW OF CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD;
SECRETARY TO THE ZOOLOGICAIi SOCIETY OF LONDON ;
FELLOW OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY ; HONORAEY MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY OF NATFEAL
SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA, OF THE LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY OF NEW YORK,
AND OF THE GERMAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' SOCIETY ; ETC.
VOL. HI. 1861.
Ibimus indomiti venerantes Ibida sacram,
Ibimus incolumes qua prior Ibis adest."
LONDON:
N. TEUBNER AND CO., PATERNOSTER ROW.
Paris.
Fr. Klincksieck,
11, Rue de Lille.
Leipzig.
F. A. BpvOCkhaus.
1861.
New York.
B. Westermann & Co.,
440, Broadway.
PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
iir
PREFACE.
For a third time the members of the British Ornitho-
logists' Union have the pleasing task of offering their
sincere thanks for the assistance they have received
from the public, as well as for the support rendered
to them by more intimate friends.
In conducting 'The Ibis,' the principal object has
been to combme the labours of the two schools of
Ornithologists, which, not many years ago, seemed to
possess so little in common. It is hoped that this
union has been promoted, if not effected, by blending
in one periodical the records of observation in the field
with those of study in the closet.
Fully confident that the favours hitherto accorded to
* The Ibis ' will be continued by the Ornithologists of
other lands, its Editor invites the active cooperation of
his fellow countrymen, and trusts that they will favour
him with frequent contributions to its pages.
11, Hanover Square,
Oct. 1st, 1861.
PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER
(Editor).
LIST OF MEMBERS
OP THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION.
1861.
EoBEET BiKKBECK, F.Z.S.; 65 Lombard Street, London.
Henky Maitrice Drtjmmond-Hay, Lieutenant- Colonel, Eoyal Perth
Rifles; Seggieden, Perthshii'e.
Thomas Campbell Eyton, F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.G.S., &c. ; Eyton HaU,
Salop.
Frederick DuCane Godman, F.Z.S.; 55 Lowndes Square, London.
Percy Sandox Godman, B.A., Corr. M.Z.S, ; Borregaard, Sarpsborg,
Norway.
John Henry Gurney, M.P., F.Z.S., &c. ; Catton Hall, Norfolk.
Eev. William Hexry Haavker, M.A., F.Z.S.; Green Hook, Horn-
dean, Hants.
Arthur Edward Kjn'ox, M.A., F.L.S. ; Trotton, Sussex.
Eight Hon. Thomas Lyttleton, Lord Lilford, F.Z.S. ; Lilford Hall,
Northants.
Edward Clotjgh Newcome ; FeltweU HaU, Norfolk.
Alfred Newton, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c., FeUow of Magdalene
College, Cambridge.
Edward Newton, M.A., Corr, M.Z.S., Assistant Colonial Secretary,
Maui'itius.
John "William Poavlett-Orde, late Captain 42nd (Eoyal Highland)
Eegiment ; Kilmorey, Ai'gyllshire.
OsBERT Salvin, M.A., F.Z.S. ; 11 Hanover Terrace, Eegent's Park,
London.
Philip Ltjtley Sclater, M.A., Ph.D., F.E.S., Sec.Z.S., &c., FeUow of
Corpus Christi College, Oxford ; 11 Hanover Square, London.
Alfred Forbes Sealy, M.A., F.C.P.S., &c. ; Madras.
Wilfred HrDDLESTON Simpson, M.A., F.Z.S.; 21 Gloucester Place,
Portman Square, London.
Eev. Edward Cavendish Taylor, M.A., F.Z.S. ; Oxford and Cam-
bridge Club, PaU Mall, London.
Egbert Fisher Tomes, Corr. M.Z.S. ; Welford HiU, Stratford-upon-
Avon, Warwickshire.
Eev. Henry Baker Tristram, M.A., F.L.S., Corr. M.Z.S., Master of
Greatham Hospital, Durham.
HONORARY MEMBERS
OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION.
Professor Spexcer F. Baikd, Assistant Secretary to the Smithsonian
Institution, Washington.
Doctor Eduard Baldamus, Pfarrer zu Osternienhurg bei Cothen,
Sekretar der deutschen Omithologen-Gesellschaft.
Edward Blyth, Curator to the Museum of the Royal Asiatic Society
of Bengal, Calcutta.
Doctor Jean Cabanis, Erster Gustos am Kdnigl. Museum der
Eriedrich-Wilhelm's Universitat zu Berlin.
John Cassln, Academy of Natiu'al Sciences, Philaclel_phia.
Doctor GxJSTAv Hartlaub, Bremen.
Leopold Edgar Layard, South African Museum, Capetoivn.
Professor J. Relnhardt, Kongelige Naturhistoriske Museum, i Kj'6-
henhavn.
Jules Verreaux, Rue St. Louis au Marais, no. 17, a Paris.
Alfred Russel Wallace, now travelling in the East Indies.
CONTENTS OF VOL. III. (1861.)
Number IX., Jamiary.
Page
I. List of the Birds hitherto observed in Greenland. By -''
Dr. J. Eeinhaebt, Professor at the Eoyal Museum of Copen-
hagen, For. Memb. Z.S.L., &c. &c 1
II. Note on Milvago carunculatus and its aUied species.
By Philip Lutley Sclater. (Plate I.) 19
III. Notes on the Ornithology of Hongkong, Macao, and
Canton, made during the latter end of February, March, April,
and the beginning of May, 1860. By Eobert Swinhoe, of
H.B.M.'s Consular Service 23
IV. Note on the Anatomy of Cephalopterus penduliger. By
T. C. Eyton, P.Z.S 57
y . On the Nesting of some Guatemalan Birds. By Eobeet
Owen, C.M.Z.S. "With Eemarks by Osbeet Salvin, M.A.,
F.Z.S. (Plate II.) 58
VI. On new or little-known Birds of North-Eastern Africa.
ByHofrathTHEODORYONHEUGLiN. (Part II.) (Plate III.) 69
VII. Notes on the Birds observed at Bodo during the
Spring and Summer of 1857. By Feedeeick and Peect
GODMAN 77
VIII. Particulars of Mr. J. Wollet's Discovery of the
Breeding of the Waxwing (Ampelis garruhis). By Aleeed
Newton, M.A., F.L.S. (Plate IV.) , ... 92
X CONTENTS.
Page
IX. Recent Ornithological Publications : —
1. English Publications :— Bree's ' Birds of Europe ' . . 106
2. French Publications : — Eevue de Zoologie : Des Murs
and Verreaux on the Birds of New Caledonia : Coinde on a
new Bombycilla 106
3. German, Dutch, Scandinavian, and Hussian Publica-
tions : — Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte : Lindermayer's Vogel
Griechenlands : Museum Heineanum : De Philippi's Eeise
durch die Andenwiiste Atacama : Schlegel and Westerman's
Touracos : Sundeval's Svenska Foglarna : Nordmann's Birds
of Finland and Lapland: v. Schrenck's Birds of Amoorland . 107
4. American Publications: — Le Moine's Ornithologie du
Canada Ill
X. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announce-
ments, &c. : —
Letters from Mr. Gould, Mr. J. W. P. Orde, and Mr. G. D.
Eowley : Mr. A. Newton on the Orti/x of St. Thomas : Mr. E.
Newton's Letters from the Mauritius : Mr. "Wallace's Collec-
tions and last Letters : Mr. Eodd on the occurrence oiAquila
ncevia in England : Birds of Norfolk Island : Note on Numida
vulturina : Mr. Layard's proposed Synopsis of South- African
Ornithology 1^2
Number X., April.
XL On new or little-known Birds of North- Eastern Africa.
By Hofrath Theodor von Heuglin. (Part III. The Bar-
bets, Capitonidce.) (Plate Y.) 121
XII. On some additional Species of Birds received in
Collections from Natal. By John Henry Gurnet, M.P.,
E.Z.S 128
XIII. Notes on a living specimen of a singular Grallatorial
Bird from New Caledonia. By Dr. G. Bennett, E.Z.S. . 136
XIV. Quesal-s hooting in Vera Paz. By Osbert Salvin,
M.A., F.Z.S.. 138
CONTENTS. XI
Page
XV. Notes on the Birds of the Falkland Islands. By
Capt. C. C. Abbott, late in commdind of Detachments in the
Falkland Islands 149
XVI. Narrative of a Shooting Excursion to the Mountains
of the Richmond Eiver, New South Wales, in quest of Prince
Albert's Lyre-bird. By A. A. Letcesteb 167
XVII. Notice of the occurrence of the American Meadow-
Starling {Sturnella ludoviciana) in England. By P. L.
SCLATER 176
XVIII. Ornithological Notes from Mauritius. ByEnwAED
Newton, M.A., C.M.Z.S. No. I. A Visit to Round Island. 180
XIX. On the American Barbets {Capitonidce) . By P. L.
Sclater. (Plate VI.) 182
XX. On the Possibility of taking an Ornithological Census.
By Alfred Newton, M.A., E.L.S 190
XXI. Recent Ornithological Publications: —
1. English Publications : — Tristram's ' Grreat Sahara :' Ben-
nett's ' Gratherings of a Naturalist :' Walker's Notes on Arctic
Zoology 196
2. German and Dutch Fuhlications : — Philippi's ' Desert of
Atacama :' Journal fiir Ornithologie : Badeker's ' Eggs of
European Birds :' Schlegel on Black Cockatoos and Paradise-
birds 199
3. Scandinavian and Russian Publications : — Victorin's
S. African ' Zoological Notes :' v. Schrenck's Birds of Amoor-
land 202
4. American Publications : — Cassin's Birds of St. Thomas :
Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York :
Lawrence's Notes on Cuban Birds, &c. : Le Moine's List of
the Birds of Quebec 208
XXII. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices,
&c. :—
Letters from Mr. J. Cavafy, Mr. Beaven Rake, Mr. A. R.
Wallace, and Mr. Blyth : English Singing-birds in Australia. 210
Xll CONTENTS.
Page
Number XI., July.
XXIII. Notes on Birds observed in Oudli and Kumaon.
By Capt. L. Howaed Iebt, 90th Eegt. (Plate VII.) . . 217
XXIV. Notes on the Birds observed about Talien Bay
(North China), from June 21st to July 25th, 1860. By
Egbert Swinhoe, of H.M.'s Consular Service 251
XXV. Letter from Mr. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of
Amoy and Foochow 262
XXVI . Note on the Calcutta * Adjutant ' {Leptoptilus
argala) . By Edward Bltth, Curator of the Asiatic Society's
Museum, Calcutta 268
XXVII. Ornithological Notes from the Mauritius. By
Edward Newtok, M.A., C.M.Z.S.— No. II. A Ten Days'
Sojourn at Savanne 270
XXVIII. Eemarks on the Geographical Distribution of
the Genus Turdus. By P. L. Sclater. (Plate VIII.) . . 277
XXIX. On the Ornithology of Ceram and Waigiou. By
Alfred E. AVallace. (Plate IX.) 283
XXX. On the Diversity in the Estimate of the European
Ornis, and its Causes. By Dr. J. H. Blasius 292
XXXI. Eecent Ornithological Publications : —
1. English Publications : — Eichardson's ' Polar Eegions ' :
Du Chaillu's ' Equatorial Africa.' 302
2. Frenclk Publications : — ' Eichesses Ornithologiques de
Midi de la Erance' : Salle's and Parzudaki's Sale-Catalogues. 304
3. Russian and Scandinavian FiMications : — v. Wright's
Birds of Finland : Eeiuhardt's Ornithological Papers . . . 305
XXXII. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices,
&C. :—
Letter from Mr. Beaven Eake : Extracts of Letters from
Mr. J. J. Monteiro and Mr. A. E. "Wallace : Note on the
Nomenclature of some Falkland-Island Bii'ds : A new
Cassowary 307
CONTENTS. XIU
Page
Number XII., October.
XXXIII. On a rare Species of Hawk, of the Grenus
Accipiter, from South America. By P, L. Sclatee.
(Plate X.) 313
XXXIV. On Birds collected and observed in the Interior of
British North America. By Capt. Blakiston, E.A. (Parti.) 314
XXXV. On a new Bird from Western Africa. By Dr.
G. Haetlaub, F.M.Z.S. (Plate XI.) 321
XXXVI. Notes on Ornithology taken between Takoo and
Peking, in the neighbourhood of the Peiho Eiver, Province of
Chelee, North China, from August to December, 1860 . . 323
XXXVII. Note on the Hypotriorchis castanonotus of Dr.
Heuglin. By P. L. Sclateb. (Plate XII.) 346
XXXVIII. Notes on the Ornithology of Timor. By
Alfred Eussel Wallace 347
XXXIX. A List of Species to be added to the Orni-
thology of Central America. By Osbert Salvin, M.A.,
F.Z.S 351
XL. On a new African Species of the Genus Zosterops.
By Hofrath Theodoe von Heuglin. (Plate XIII.) . , . 357
XLI. A Fortnight in the Dobrudscha. By W. H. Simpson,
M.A., P.Z.S 361
XLII. Abstract of Mr. J. Wollet's Eesearches in Iceland
respecting the Gare-fowl or Great Auk {Alca impennis,
Linn.). By Alfred Newton, M.A., F.L.S 374
XLIII. Eecent Ornithological Publications : —
1. English Publications : — Atkinson's ' British Birds and
Eggs.' 400
2. French Publications : — Morelet's ' Natural History of
the Azores.' 400
XIV CONTENTS.
Paga
3. German Publications : — Hartlaub's ' Ornithology of
Madagascar:' 'Museum Heineanum,' pt. iii. : Reichenbacli's
' Handbucli der Speciellen Ornifchologie :' Journal fur Orni-
thologie, 1861, pt. i 402
4. American Puhlieations : — Annals of the Lyceum of
Natural History of New York : Elliot's Monograph of Pitta :
Le Moine's Ornithologie du Canada 406
XLIV. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announce-
ments, &c. : —
Dr. Hochstetter's Restoration of some Species of Dinornis :
Extracts from Mr. Ely th' s Letters : Extracts from Mr. Swinhoe' s
Letters : Letter from Mr. Swinhoe to Prof. Schlegel : Extract
from a Letter of Mr. Tristram : Letter from Mr. Orde : Mr.
Ellman's Remarks on the Extinct Birds of New Zealand:
Departure from England of some Members of the B.O.U. . 407
Lidex 417
ERRATUM.
Page 69, for Plate IV. in two places read Plate III.
PLATES IN VOL. HI.
Page
I. Milvago carunculatus 22
II. Eggs of Guatemalan Birds 58
III. Tinnunculus alopex 69
IV. Eggs of Ampelis garnilus 92
V. Pogonorhynchus roUeti, P. leucocephalus, P. diadema-
tus, Trachyphonus squamiceps 121
VI. Tetragonops ramphastinus 184
VII. Falco babylonicus 217
VIII. Turdus fiilviventris 277
IX. Basilornis corythaix and B. celebensis 283
X. Accipiter pectoralis 313
XI. Pseudochelidon eiirystomina 322
XII. Hypotriorchis castanonotus 346
XIII. Zosterops poliogastra 357
THE IBIS,
No. IX. JANUARY 1861.
I. — List of the Birds hitherto observed in Greenland. By
Dr. J. Reinhardt, Professor at the Royal Museum of Copen-
hagen, Foreign Member Z. S. L., &c. &c.
The following list proves of itself how much our knowledge of
the Avifauna of Greenland has advanced during the last thirty
years ; but I may be permitted to prefix a few remarks on the
subject. In his celebrated ' Fauna Groenlandica/ Fabricius enu-
merates fifty-four birds; two of them, however, are only the
young ones of other species* ; and four (which he inserted with-
out having seen them, imagining that he recognized them in the
nai-ratives of the Eskimaux) are never met with in that country f-
They had better therefore be erased from the list. Thus the
actual number of Greenland birds with which ornithologists
are acquainted through the labours of Fabricius amounts only
to forty-eight. After the publication of the work of this most
excellent observer, the Avifauna of Greenland received no ma-
terial increase until 1818, when Captain (now General) Edward
Sabine added three species to it, in his well-known " Memoir
on the Birds of Greenland '' J. About the same time my late
* Valco fuscus and Anas glaucion.
t Parus bicolor, Mergus merganser, Larus cinerarius {ridibundus), and
Pelecanus cristatus.
X In the ' Transactions of the Linnean Society,' vol. xii. p. 527. The
species added by him are, Tringa canutus, Larus leucopterus (enumerated
as L. argentatus, var.), and Xema sabini. Uria bruennichii, described by
him as a new species, was already, as shown by Faber (Prodr. der Island.
VOL. III. B
2 Prof. J. Reinhardt on the Birds
father began to have birds collected in Greenland on a larger
scale for the Uoyal Museum of Copenhagen, which was then
under his care, and from this moment dates the great increase
in our knowledge of the Avifauna of that country. In 1824
he published a short paper — " Gronlands Fugle efter de nyeste
Erfaringer " * — in which four species were added ; and fourteen
years later, in the Introduction to his ' Ichthyologiske Bidrag
til den Gronlandske Fauna ^fj he added not less than twenty-
one, discovered in the meantime by the various collectors em-
ployed by the Royal Museum, and chiefly by Captain Holboll and
Dr. Vahl. In the following two or three years some more were
received, and thus, in 18i2, Holboll was enabled to enumerate,
in his ' Ornithologiske Bidrag ' J, eighty-eight species then ob-
served in Greenland, — or rather eighty-six, as two of the birds
included by him, Aquila ossifraga and Uria ringvia, have scarcely
any claim to be accounted distinct species. Since HolbolFs
memoir was written, even this considerable number has increased
very much, about thirty species more having been added. For
these additions science is indebted to various ornithologists, all
duly mentioned in my list ; but by far the greater number is
owing to the exertions of the late Carl Holboll and others of the
indefatigable collectors of the Royal Museum §.
In Dr. Walker's paper on the " Ornithology of the Voyage
of the ' Fox,^ " which lately appeared in this Magazine {' Ibis,^
Ornith. p. 42) and my father, mentioned in the 'Fauna Groenlandica '
vmder the name of Alca pica, and accordingly cannot be considered a
real addition to the list; and in the same way, Falco peregrinus, also added
by Sabine, seems to have been enumerated by Fabricius as F. rusticolus.
* In the ' Tidskrift for Naturvidenskaberne,' Kjobenhavn, 1824, vol. iii.
pp. 52-80.
t In the ' Vid. Sel. naturvid. og mathem. A.fh.' vii. pp. 85-228.
X In Kroyer's ' N^turhistoriske Tidskrift,' 1843, vol. iv. pp. 361-457.
A German translation of this paper has been published : " Oruithologischer
Beitrag zur Fauna Gronlands von Carl Holboll. Uebersetzt und mit einem
Anhange versehen von J. H. Paulsen." Leipzig, 1846.
§ Many of these additions were recorded in the author's " Notitser til
Gronlands Ornithologie," published in the ' Videnskabelige Meddelelser fra
den naturhistoriske Forening i Kjobenhavn f. A. 1853,' p. 69, of which
paper, a translation, by Dr. Gloger, appeared in Cabanis' ' Journal fiir Or-
nithologie,' 1854, p. 423.— Ed.
hitherto observed in Greenland. 3
1860, pp. 165-168), two more species are mentioned, not hitherto
recorded as being met with in Greenland. One of them, Tringa
minuta, I have not included in the following list, as I learn from
a private source that the specific name was substituted in error
for that of T. maritima. The other, Fuligula cristata, I have
admitted, though with much doubt, for the reason I have here-
after stated. I am also disposed to question the learned Doctor's
assertion that Motacilla alba breeds in Greenland, suggesting that
the eggs of Saxicola cenanthe were mistaken by him for those of
the former bird, since I am informed that the specimens brought
home by him exactly resemble those of the latter species.
A stricter examination of the great number of birds discovered
in Greenland after the time of Fabricius will, however, show how
highly creditable was the manner in which he investigated its
Avifauna; for though the whole number of species has been
more than doubled, by far the larger part of the additions is
made up of birds which can only be considered as more or less
accidental visitors to Greenland. The number of birds known to
breed in the country is, since Fabricius, only augmented by
eleven* ; and though probably some six or seven more may in
future be found to breed thereto even then the whole number
will not amount to more than half of all the species observed.
As might be expected from its geographical position, the
North-American character preponderates in the Avifauna of
Greenland. When from the 118 species hitherto observed there,
we deduct sixty-three which occur throughout the whole polar
zone, and accordingly must be considered not to bear on this ques-
tion (at least as far as they are constantly resident in Greenland),
— of the remaining fifty-five there are thirty-five North-American
species, nineteen European, and a single one (the Ptarmigan)
possibly peculiar to Greenland. A still more marked North-
American feature of the fauna results from an observation of
Holboll's, that Greenland receives only four of its regular birds
* Authus ludovicianus, Fringilla canescens, Zonotrichia leucophrys,
Tringa canutus, T. schinzii (Bp.), Calidris arenaria, Thalassidroma
leachii, Stercorarius pomarinus, S. buffoni, Larus leucopterus, and Xema
sabini.
f Gallinago media, Tringa cinclus, Numenius pheeopus, Podiceps cornu--
tus, Cygmis musicus, Beniicla leticopsis, and Anas acuta.
b2
4 Prof. J. Reinhardt on the Birds
of passage from Europe* ; and should even this number prove
to be too small, and some others (for instance, Gallinago media
and Anser albifrons) be added, there will still be a great pre-
ponderance of such birds migrating to Greenland from North
America. But, on the other hand, Greenland is marked as being
the most westerly, though regular, boundary of some strictly
European species, — not only the birds of passage already men-
tioned, but also others, such as Aquila albicilla.
Greenland is divided into two " Inspektorater ": the southern
(South Greenland) includes the settlements (" Kolonier ^^) of
Julianehaab, Frederikshaab, Fiskensesset, Godthaab, Sukker-
toppen, and Holsteenborg ; in the northern (North Greenland)
are the settlements Godhavn, Egedesminde, Christianshaab, Ja-
cobshavn, Ritenbenk, Omenak, and Upernivik.
The names of the species which breed in Greenland are printed in small
capitals ; those observed as yet in very few instances only, and the
accidental stragglers, are marked with an asterisk ; the domestic birds
are not numbered, but distinguished by a dagger.
1. Haliaetus albicilla (Linn.).
Very common : occurs in South Greenland all the year round ;
in North Greenland only in summer. Besides this, the late
Captain Holboll distinguished another larger Eagle with a longer
tail, Haliaetus ossiffagus. The existence of such a second species
I cannot decidedly deny; but all the Eagles which I have re-
ceived from Greenland appeared to me to be most certainly of
one species.
2. Falco candicans, Grael.
I am indeed inclined to believe that this species is a collective
one, and that there can be distinguished, besides the true F.
candicans, a F. islandicus ; but haying as yet succeeded only in
distinguishing them when in the plumage of the old bird, I
prefer not to separate them here. Both forms (be they varieties,
races, or species) occur in Greenland; but that one of them
(as it has been suggested) is confined to the northern, the
* Falco peregrinus, Saxicola ananthe, Numenius phaopus, and Cygnus
musicus.
hitherto observed in Greenland. 5
other to the southern part of that country, there is, I believe,
no reason to suppose.
3. Falco peregrinus, Linn.
Not so common as the former. I think there is no difference
between the Peregrine from Greenland and the European one ;
but I am not competent to express an opinion as to the distinction
between F. peregrinus and F. anatum.
4. Nyctea nivea (Thunb.).
Very common : in summer more numerous in the northern
than in the southern part of Greenland.
5. Otus brachyotus (Gmel.).
A scarce bird in Greenland.
6. ^Hirundo rufa, Bp.
Nearly thirty years ago a specimen was obtained at Fiskensesset
by the late botanist Dr. Vahl, and sent to the Royal Museum.
A second was shot at Nenortalik and procured for the Royal
Museum in 1856. As far as I am informed, these two speci-
mens are the only ones ever met with in Greenland.
7. ^Troglodytes palustris, Wils.
Only one specimen has been obtained (in May 1823, at Godt-
haab), and sent to the Royal Museum.
8. ^Regulus calendula (Linn.).
A very recent addition to the Avifauna of Greenland, a dried-
up specimen in the flesh having been sent to the Royal Museum
last year from Nenortalik. t
9. Saxicola (ENANThe (Linn.).
10. *Mniotilta coronata (Linn.).
I know of three instances in which this bird has been ob-
tained in South Greenland during the last twenty years. The
specimens are in the Royal Museum.
11. ^Mniotilta virens (Gmel.).
A specimen sent from Julianehaab in 1853 to the late Mr.
Steenberg, and presented by him to the Royal Museum, is the
only one which has come under my notice.
6 Prof. J. Reinhardt on the Bii-ds
12. ^Mniotilta striata (Gmel.).
The only specimen I have heard of is one sent in 1853 from
Godthaab to the late Mr. Steenberg, who kindly forwarded it to
me for determination.
13. ^Mniotilta parus (Wils.) ?
The only specimen ever obtained (a young bird shot October
16, 1845j at Frederikshaab, and presented to the Royal Mu-
seum by Holboll) is in so bad a state that I cannot be positive
that I am right in referring it to this species.
14. ^Mniotilta americana (Linn.).
A specimen in a very bad state, but quite recognizable, was
sent to the Royal Museum from South Greenland in 1857.
15. ^Mniotilta ruhricapilla (Wils.).
Twice obtained ; a specimen being procured more than twenty-
five years back at Godthaab, and another at Fiskensesset on the
31st of August, 1840. Both are in the Royal Museum.
)6. ^Trichas Philadelphia (Wils.).
A specimen was obtained at Fiskensesset in 1846, another at
Julianehaab in 1853. Both are in the Royal Museum.
17. ^Motacilla alba, Linn.
An adult female in summer dress, sent from South Greenland
to the Royal Museum in 1849, was, as far as I know, the only
specimen ever obtained in Greenland until Dr. Walker had the
good fortune to obtain another during his few days' stay at
Godhavn in August 1857.
18. Anthus ludovicianus (Gmel.).
19. "^Anthus pratensis (Linn.).
Dr. Paulsen, in Sleswick, received a single specimen from
Greenland in 1845. I never saw it myself.
20. ^Turdus iliacus, Linn.
A specimen was sent to Dr. Paulsen in 1845 ; another was
shot at Frederikshaab, October 20, 1845, and presented to the
Royal Museum by Captain Holboll.
21. ^Turdus minor, Gmel.
I know of one specimen only, obtained in June 1845 at
hitherto observed in Greenland, 7
Amaraglik, near Godthaab, and presented to the Royal Museum
by Holboll.
22. ^Tyrannula pusilla, Sw.
The late Mr. Steenberg received two specimens from Godthaab
in 1853 ; they were both submitted to me for examination, and
one of them was presented to the Royal Museum.
23. ^Tyrannus cooperi, Nutt.
A single specimen was shot the 29th of August, 1840, at
Nenortalik, and sent to the Royal Museum.
24. ^Vireosylva olivacea (Linn.).
The Royal Museum received a single specimen from Green-
land in 1844, without any further information ; but I have good
reason to believe that it had been obtained in South Greenland.
25. CoRVUs coRAX, Linn.
Holboll considers the Greenland Raven to form a particular
race, Corvus corax littoralis ; I confess that I cannot find any
material difference between Greenland and European specimens.
26. ^Sturnus vulgaris, Linn.
A female, sent by Holboll to the Royal Museum in 1851, is
the only specimen which has come under my notice as having
been observed in Greenland.
27. ^Agelaus perspicillatus (Licht,).
A female was obtained September 2nd, 1820, at Nenortalik.
In the Royal Museum.
28. Fringilla linaria, Linn.
Common and migratory.
29. Fringilla canescens (Gould).
The Linota hornemanni of Holboll. Constantly resident.
30. ZoNOTRiCHiA LEUCOPHRYS (Gmel.).
Not numerous; but certainly a breeding bird, although its
nest has not been found as yet.
31. Plectrophanes nivalis (Linn.).
32. Plectrophanes lapponicus (Linn.).
8 Prof. J. Reinhardt on the Birds
33. ^Loxia leucoptera (Gruel.).
An adult bird, probably a male, dried up in the flesh, was pro-
cured nearly thirty years ago at Julianehaab from an Eskiraaux,
who brought it with him from the east coast on a visit to that
settlement (Ichth. Bidr. p. 10). In later years another adult
male and three vouno; birds have been obtained in South Green-
land. The specimens are in the Royal Museum.
34. ^Otocorys alpestris (Linn.).
A single specimen was shot at Godthaab in October 1835, and
presented to the Royal Museum by Holboll.
Quoting this bird as " alpestris," I certainly do not wish to
suggest that it has been misguided to Greenland from " the far
east.'' There can be, I think, no doubt that it is an American
straggler ; but having no American specimens for comparison,
I compared the Greenland specimen with a male of the true 0.
alpestris shot in the neighbourhood of Dresden (Germany) and
a female from Denmark, and I cannot find any material differ-
ence either in colour or in size. I suppose, therefore, that the
American 0. cornuta, which Bonaparte himself calls a species " a
peine distincte de VO, alpestris," has been established without
sufficient reason.
35. ^Picus varius, Linn.
I know of two instances in which this Woodpecker has been
observed in Greenland. An adult female was found dead on the
ground near Julianehaab in July 1845 (and, indeed, birds like
Woodpeckers and Crossbills can hardly live more than a few
days in a land without trees, such as Greenland). Another
female was sent some two or three years ago from South Green-
land, but I do not know exactly from what settlement. Both
specimens are in the Royal Museum.
36. ^Colaptes auratus (Linn.).
My authority for this bird having been found in Greenland is
a German ornithologist, the Pastor Moschler, who mentions that
he has received a specimen from thence in 1852 (Cabanis'
Journ. f. Ornith. 1856, p. 335). Unfortunately Mr. Moschler
gives no particulars about this very curious occui'rence.
fCoLUMBA DOiMESTICA.
hitherto observed in Greenland. 9
fGALLUS GALLORUM.
37. Lagopus reinhardti, Biehm.
Besides this, Pastor Brehm distinguishes a second Greenland
Ptarmigan, Lagopus grcenlandicus (Vogelfang, p. 264, note),
which, I think, there is no reason to admit. It may even be con-
sidered questionable whether the L. reinhardti really differs from
the Tetrao lagopus, Auct.
38. Squaturola helvetica (Linn.).
Occurs in very limited numbers.
39. * Vanellus cristatus, Mey.
An adult male was obtained January 7th, 1820, near Fisken-
sesset, and sent to the Royal Museum. A second specimen was
received in 1847 from Julianehaab.
40. Charadrius virginicus, Bork.
It is a most exact observation of the late Prince Bonapavtef,
that the Plover found in Greenland is the American species, and
not the European Golden Plover, for which it has been mistaken
by nearly all former writers, myself not excepted. I have now
before me two specimens sent by HolboU himself to the Royal
Museum under the name of Charadrius pluvialis, and both prove
to be the Virginian Plover with grey axillaries. The Golden
Plover should consequently be erased from the list of Greenland
birds.
41. Charadrius hiaticula, Linn.
42. CiNCLUS iNTERPREs (Linn.).
43. ^Hcematopus ostralegus, Linn.
I have seen three specimens of this bird from Greenland; one
sent in 1847 from Julianehaab, another in 1851 from Godthaab
(both in the Royal Museum) ; the third I saw in a collection of
bird-skins sent last year from Nenortahk, and offered here for
sale.
44. ^Ardea cinerea, Linn.
The Common Heron was admitted in the ' Fauna Groeu-
landica^ upon the authority of the missionary Matthseus Stach,
who said that he had seen such a bird the 27th of August,
t Compt. Rend, xliii. p. lOlf).
10 Prof. J. Reinhai'dt on the Birds
1765t. Misunderstanding the words of Fabricius^ Holboll in
his memoir erased the bird (never since observed) from the Green-
land Avifauna. But in 1856 a young Heron was found dead near
NenortaHk, and sent to the Royal Museum ; and this occurrence
not only gives the species a claim to be enumerated here, but
makes it not unlikely that the old missionary may have been right.
45. Numenius phcEopus (Linn.).
I have in the last years seen five or six specimens, sent from all
parts of Greenland, and know that six others were formerly sent
to my late father in the years 1831-35. Therefore, though
Holboll doubts it, I should not be surprised if this Curlew in
future proved to breed in Greenland. Prince Bonaparte has
rather indicated than described J a Numenius melanorhynchus
from Greenland (and Iceland), which he supposes has formerly
been mistaken for the true N. phaeopus. Of course there can be
scarcely any doubt that his new species is the same bird, which
I still consider to be the European, and, with all due regard for
the high authority, I cannot give up this opinion.
46. ^Numenius hudsonicus, Lath.
I myself have never seen more than one specimen of this bird
from Greenland — a female sent from Godthaab by Holboll, and
described and figured by my father (Ichth. Bidr. p. 19. pi. 2) ;
but Holboll mentions that he obtained the bird twice, at Juliane-
haab and Fiskensesset ; and a fourth specimen (a very bad
one) was sent some thirty years back to the Royal Museum from
Jacobshavn, but seems not to have been preserved.
47. ^Numenius borealis, Lath.
The Royal Museum possesses two specimens of this little
Curlew, which indeed were not received directly from the
Museum's own collectors, but bought at second-hand here in
Copenhagen. I have, however, no dovibt about their Greenland
origin, and they are, I believe, the only specimens ever obtained
there. One of them was brought from Greenland in 1858, and
is said to have been shot at Julianehaab; about the other I
know no particulars.
t David Cranz, Fortsetzung der Historic von Gronlaud, p. 214. Barbv
und Leipzig, 1770. % Compt. Rend, xliii. p. 1021.
hitherto observed in Greenland. 1 1
48. ^Limosa cegocephala (Linn.).
Fabricius mentions that he had seen a single specimen (Fn.
Gr. p. 107) ; and after his time the bird is said to have been ob-
tained once more, nearly forty years back, at Godthaab; the
specimen was sent to the Royal Museum, but seems not to have
been preserved ; at least, I have not been able to find it.
49. Tringa canuta, Linn.
50. Tringa maritima, Briinn.
51. Tringa cinclus, Linn.
Probably this species breeds in Greenland ; but, as far as I
know, the nest has not yet been found.
52. Tringa schinzii, Bp.
53. * Tringa pectoi'alis, Bp.
The Royal Museum received a specimen of this bird in 1851,
the first, I think, ever captured in Greenland. Two more were
sent in 1859 fi"om Nenortalik.
54. * Totanus jiavipes, Lath.
Pastor Moschler relates that he received a single specimen
of this bird from " Greenland " in 1854 (Journ. f. Ornith. 1856,
p. 335). I never saw it myself.
55. Calidris arenaria (Linn.).
A scarce bird in Greenland; breeds on Disco Island.
56. Phalaropus fulicarius (Linn.).
57. Phalaropus hyperboreus (Linn.).
58. ^Macrorhamphus griseus (Gmel.).
There is, I believe, only one well-established instance of this
Snipe being observed in Greenland, namely at Fiskeneesset in
1854 (Ichth. Bidr. p. 20).
59. Gallinago media, Steph.
This Snipe has been observed so often in Greenland, that it
very likely may in future be found breeding there ; but as yet
no eggs have been sent from Greenland, as far as I know.
60. ^ Ortygometra crex (Linn.).
I am aware of one case only in which this bird has been mis-
12 Prof. J. Reinhardt on the Birds
guided to Greenland. The specimen (an adult female) was ob-
tained at Godthaab, and presented to the Royal Museum in 1851.
Accordingly I have been somewhat surprised to see that Mr,
Cassin supposes (Reports of Expl. &c. ix. p. 751) the bird to be
a constant summer visitor to Greenland^ while it really does not
even occur in Iceland as a regular visitor.
61. ^Ortygnmeti-a porzana (Linn.).
Besides one obtained the 28th of September, 1841, at Godt-
haab, and already mentioned by Holboll, another has been cap-
tured at Nenortalik, and sent to the Royal Museum in 1856.
62. ^ Orttjgometra Carolina (Linn.).
The specimen mentioned by my father (Ichth. Bidr. p. 20) to
have been obtained at Sukkertoppen, October 3, 1823, is the
only one ever observed in Greenland. Holboll, by a mistake,
quotes the bird as obtained in 1822.
63. Fulica americana, Gm.
In the year 1854, a Coot was shot by Mr. Olrik, the Governor
of North Greenland, in the harbour of Christianshaab, one of the
settlements in Disco Bay, and another was obtained at Godthaab
by Mr. Holboll in the same year. The first-mentioned example
was presented to Mr. John Barrow, and is now in that gentle-
man's collection. The other specimen, which I am told was very
much injured by the shot, does not seem to have been preserved.
64. Anser albifrons (Gm.).
fAxSER CINEREUS DOMESTICUS.
65. Anser hyperboreus, Pall.
Only a few young birds hitherto observed. Certainly does not
breed on that tract of the Greenland coast occupied by the Danish
settlements, and probably not at all in that land.
66. Bernicla brenta (Pall.).
On the whole coast occupied by our settlements, this Goose
appears only on the passage to and from its breeding-places in
the very high latitudes to the north of the 73rd degree.
67. Bernicla leucopsis (Bechst.).
According to Holboll, this species, in autumn, regularly visits
hitherto observed in Greenland. 13
the southern part of Greenland ('' Julianehaabs-Distrikt "), but
he doubts if it breeds anywhere in that land. These two state-
ments do not seem to agree quite well together, and, in fact, I
have been told that some few eggs of the Bernacle Goose have
been sent from Greenland of late years, but I cannot warrant the
truth of this information.
68. CygnusfertLS, Ray.
According to accounts received from theEskimaux, the Swan
formerly bred on several places near Godthaab, but was long ago
totally exterminated by persecution during the moulting-season
(Holboll, Ornith. Bidr. &c. p. 432) . In the last fifteen years this
bird has again made its appearance in Greenland ; some examples
were (according to Holboll) observed at Julianehaab in 1846; I
have myself seen two specimens, sent from South Greenland in
1852; and in June 1859 a beautiful Swan was shot at Ata-
mik, nearly ten (Danish) miles to the north of Godthaab. The
Swan may therefore in future again breed in Greenland, if left
undisturbed.
69. Anas boschas, Linn.
70. Anas acuta, Linn.
Accidental, but not very rare ; in North Greenland, as well as
in South Greenland.
71. ^Anas carolinensis, Gmel.
Four specimens have been obtained during the last twelve
years in South Greenland (Julianehaab and Godthaab), and sent
to the Royal Museum.
72. *Anas crecca, Linn.
According to the statements of ray father and Holboll, some
few specimens have been shot at different places.
73. ^Anas penelope, Linn.
For the first evidence of this Wigeon having been met with in
Greenland we are indebted to Holboll, who sent a young male
to the Royal Museum in 1851 ; besides this, I have seen two
other young birds, also obtained in South Greenland.
74. ^Fuligula marila (Linn.).
Two adult males and a female were sent from Nenortalik last
14 Prof. J. Reinhardt on the Birds
year, and were considered by me to be the very first specimens
of this Duck ever obtained in Greenland, until I learned from
' The Ibis ' (1860, p. 166) that Dr. Walker had already obtained
it during his short stay at Godhavn in the beginning of August
1857.
75. ^FuUgula cristata, Ray.
I insert this species upon the authority of Walker, who men-
tions it amongst the birds obtained at Godhavn during the
" Fox's " stay there in 1857 (' The Ibis,' /. c). The capture of
this Duck in North Greenland must be considered a very extra-
ordinary fact, as it does not inhabit North America, and as, in
Europe, Iceland is not even included in its geographical range.
76. Clangula islandica (Gmel.).
Breeds in South Greenland only (Godthaab and Nenortalik).
77. ^Clangula albeula (Linn.).
The adult female obtained nearly thirty years ago at Godt-
haab, and mentioned by my late father (Ichth. Bidr. p. 22), is
still the only specimen ever observed.
78. Clangula histrionica (Linn.).
79. Harelda glacialis (Linn.).
80. SOMATERIA MOLLISSIMA (Linn.).
81. SoMATERIA SPECTABILIS (Linn.).
82. ^(Edemia perspicillata (Linn.).
Only very few specimens obtained.
83. Mergus ^rrator, Linn.
84. CoLYMBUS glacialis, Linn.
An interesting variety of this Diver was received in 1859 from
Nenortalik, thoroughly silver-grey ; the white spots on the back
(of the regular plumage) are in this variety still perceivable in a
certain light as marks somewhat diflFerently shaded.
85. CoLYMBUS SEPTENTRIONALIS, Linn.
86. *Podiceps holbcellii, Rhdt.
Besides the two specimens (one of them in summer-, the other
in winter-plumage) upon which I established this new species
hitherto observed in Gi'eenland. 15
in 1853, I have since received a third from Greenland in 1855,
the examination of which has confirmed rae in considering the
bird a distinct species. It is not only its much larger size
which distinguishes the Greenland bird from its European rela-
tive, but also the very sensible difference in the shape of the
bill. In P. holboellii it is, comparatively to its length, not so
high at the base as in P. griseigena, and of course much more
gradually tapering towards the point. In my opinion P. hol-
boellii indeed differs more from P. griseigena than many other
North-American birds, now generally admitted as distinct, do
from the allied European species, as, for instance, Anas caro-
linensis from A. crecca, or Fuligula affinis from F. marila.
87. ^Podiceps cornutus (Gmel.).
Only a few young birds, obtained in the southern part of
Greenland.
88. Alca impennis, Linn.
The " Geirfugl " now being nearly extinct, it would be in vain
to hope to meet with it on the coast of Greenland; but even
formerly, when the bird was still numerous at its breeding-
places, it seems to have visited Greenland only in winter, and in
limited numbers, chiefly of young birds. In the present century,
a specimen is known to have been killed at Disco Island in 1821,
and one more may perhaps have been captured some years
earlier ; but the accounts of other instances in which the bird is
said to have been obtained in Greenland are hardly to be con-
fided in.
89. Alca torda, Linn.
90. Fratercula arctica (Linn.).
91. ^Fratercula glacialis, Leach.
All the Puffins which I have received from Greenland I con-
sider to be of the common species. As Mr. Cassin, however,
mentions (Rep. Expl. ix. p. 903) that he has seen specimens of
the F. glacialis from thence, I do not hesitate to include this
species also in the Greenland Avifauna ; but I think it must be
considered an accidental visitor.
16 Prof. J. Reiuhardt on the Birds
92. ^Fratercula cirrata (Pallas).
I insert this bird upon the authority of Pastor Moschler, who
mentions that he had received a specimen "from Greenland"
in 1846 (Journ. f. Ornith. 1856, p. 335).
93. Uria brue.vnichii, Sab.
9J^. Uria troile, Linn.
The Uria ringvia, Briinn. [U. troile leucophthalmos, Fab.) is
only a variety of the common U. troile, and very rare in Green-
land.
95. Uria grylle^ Linn.
96. Arctica alle (Linn.).
97. PuFFiNus major, Fab.
98. ^Puffinus anglorum, Ray.
99. Thalassidroma leachii (Temm.).
100. Procellaria glacialis, Linn.
In a former list (Vidensk. Meddel. 1853, p. 69 seq.) I ad-
mitted as a second species the P. minor of Mr. KJEerbolling.
A stricter examination has, however, convinced me that it has
been established without sufficient reason. The pretended dif-
ference in colour at least is not constant, if ever existing ; and
the small Fulmars are not at all (as it has been stated) confined
to North Greenland. The smallest I ever saw (smaller than
that of which the measurements are given by Mr. Kjserbolling)
was sent to the Royal Museum from South Greenland. On the
other hand, I have received examples from North Greenland
corresponding exactly in size with others from the Far Islands.
101. Stercorarius catarrhactes (Linn.).
102. Stercorarius pomarinus (Temm.).
103. Stercorarius parasiticus (Linn.).
104. Stercorarius buffonii (Boie).
105. Larus marinus, Linn.
106. Larus glaucus, Linn.
I have not succeeded in distinguishing a Larus arcticus or
L. glacialis from the true L. glaucus. It is quite true that some
hitherto observed in Greenland. 1 7
individuals are paler and much smaller than others ; but it ap-
pears to me that no certain limits are to be found between these
varieties or races.
107. Larus leucopteruSj Fab.
108. ? ^Larus chalcopterus, Licht.
Dr. Bruch (J. f. Oru. 1855, p. 282) seems to recognize this
species in a Gull which Holboll considers a variety of L. leuco-
pterus, and of which he has obtained three specimens only. I
myself never saw any of them.
109. ^Larus argentatus, Briinn,
I myself never saw more than one specimen of this species
obtained (viz. an adult bird in winter plumage, shot at Godt-
haab about ten years ago), and I have been told of only two or
three more sent from thence, and offered here for sale. It is
certainly a quite accidental and extremely rare bird in Green-
land. Therefore I have been somewhat surprised to learn from
Dr. Walker's paper that he had observed this Gull flying about
in the harbour of Frederikshaab. I suspect that, in the paper
quoted, Larus argentatus has been put down by mistake instead
of L. leucopterus (next to L. tridactylus, the commonest Gull in
Greenland), which is not mentioned by Dr. Walker, though it
probably did not fail in the said harbour.
110. ^Larus affinis, Rhdt., an sp. n.?
When I described this Gull in 1853 (/. c. p. 78), I expressly
observed that I did not hesitate to consider it as quite distinct
from Larus argentatus (the mantle being many shades darker and
the size smaller), but that, on the other hand, an immediate
comparison with Audubon's L. occidentalis (a species known to
me only by description) was necessary before deciding finally
upon its claims to be considered a new species, and that I should
even have referred it to the said Gull had it not been for the
very superior size of the latter, as given by Audubon (Orn. Biogr.
V. p. 320, and Syn B. N. Am. p. 328). I am still unable to solve
the question ; but I may be permitted to observe, that it at all
events appears to me a mistake, when the late Prince Bona-
parte, in his ' Conspectus ' (pt. 2, p. 218), refers my L. affinis to
VOL. III. C
18 Prof. J. Reinhardt on the Birds observed in Greenland.
L. argentatoides, Rich, (the only race of argentatus admitted by
him as American)^ this doubtful species hem^ paler even than the
L. argentatus proper, and consequently differing still more from
my L. affinis.
The specimen described in 1853, and still the only one which
1 have seen of my L. affinis, is in the Royal Museum.
111. RissA TRiDACTYLA (Linn.).
112. Pagophila eburnea (Gmel.).
113.? Pagophila brachytarsa (Holb,).
Holboll established this Gull (which I have never seen) upon
three specimens, obtained at different times, but unfortunately
lost even before the publication of his memoir on the Avifauna
of Greenland. Afterwards he seems to have failed in his endea-
vours to get more examples, and I doubt whether any collection
possesses an authentic or type specimen. This is much to be re-
gretted. Different authors also do not quite agree in the characters
which they ascribe to the supposed new species, and it seems to
require further investigation before it can be finally admitted.
Indeed, Holboll gives his Larus brachytarsus a tarsus 5 lines
shorter than that of P. eburnea, while Brehm, who identifies
Holboll^s Gull with his P. nivea, admits only a difference of
2 lines in the length of the tarsus (Vogelfang, p. 344). Again,
Bonaparte, who also adopts Brehm's name, and has examined a
specimen in the Paris Museum brought from Spitzbergen by
Gaimard, does not mention the length of the tarsus, but makes,
in direct opposition to Holboll, Bruch, and Brehm, the new spe-
cies larger than the true P. eburnea (Consp. ii. p. 230).
Lastly, it may be observed here, that it is a slight error of
Bruch (in which he has been followed by Bonaparte and Brehm)
to confine the Pagophila brachytarsa to North Greenland (Ca-
banis' Journ. 1854, p. 106; 1855, p. 287); indeed, Holboll
says positively that he obtained one of his three specimens at
Godthaab in South Greenland.
114, ^Rhodostethia rosea (Macgill.).
In my former lists this species is not admitted ; the reason it
is so here is, that I have been told by a trustworthy person that
Mr. P. L. Sclater on Milvago carunculatus. 19
Holboll formerly possessed an example, probably obtained in
Greenland during the latter years of his life.
115. Xema sabini, J. Sab.
Very i*are in the Danish settlements ; breeds only to the north
of Upernavik.
116. Sterna macroura, Naum.
117. ^Sula hassana (Linn.).
Accidental and rare.
118. Graculus carbo (Linn.),
Copenhagen, 31st July, 1860.
II. — Note on Milvago carunculatus and its allied species.
By Philip Lutley Sclater.
(Plate I.)
In my description of Accipiter collaris in last year's volume of
* The Ibis ' (p. 147 et seq.), I spoke of Milvago carunculatus as
another scarce Raptorial bird peculiar to New Granada, of which,
at the time I was writing, I believed but one specimen was
known to exist in scientific collections. M. O. Des Murs, having
noticed this allusion, has most kindly sent to me the original
description of Milvago carunculatus, as it was prepared for his
' Iconographie Ornithologique ' in 1845. That work having (un-
fortunately for science) been discontinued shortly afterwards,
M. Des Murs' article was never published, and merely a short
notice of this new species was subsequently given by him in the
' Revue Zoologique ' for 1853 (p. 154). I now have the pleasure
of giving M. Des Murs' full description, as follows : —
PoLVBORUs [Milvago, Phalcobanus) carunculatus, Des Murs.
Supra nigro-splendens ; remigibus primariis, secundariis et
tectricum alarium majorum apicibus albis; rectricibus in
toto nigris, albo late marginatis ; supracaudalibus albis :
subtus niger, albo regulariter flammato seu squamato;
abdomine inferiore, crisso, femoribus subcaudalibusque can-
didis : carunculis ceraque aurantiis ; pedibus flavis.
Cette belle espece de Polyborus a la plus grande ressemblance
et I'affinite la plus intime avec le P. montanus de d'Orbigny.
c2
20 Mr. P. L. Sclater on Milvago carunculatus
Ainsi, c'est, en-dessus, la meme coloration, le metne noir luisant
recouvrant la tete, le derriere et les cotes du cou, les epaules, le
dos, les scapulaires et les ailes ; c'est le meme blanc garnissant
I'extremite des grandes et des moyennes remiges ; comme lui,
il a les rectrices noires, bordees k leur extremite d'une large
bande blanche, et les couvertures caudales superieures, de meme
que celles inferieures et les cuisses egalement blanches ; comme
chez le P. montanus enfiu sa tete est garnie de plumes crepues
et comme frisees se retournant en avant, et formant une espece
de toupet sur tout le sommet de la tete depuis la base du bee
jusqu^a, la naissance de la nuque.
Mais ce qui parait Ten difFerencier specifiquement d'une
maniere particuliere, c'est la presence, a la base laterale de la
mandibule superieure, d'une espece de caroncule charnue, pro-
venant de la dilatation excessive, relativement a ses congeneres,
de la partie denudee de cette region, — ddatation tellement pro-
noncee qu'elle a meme resiste aux effets de la dessication de la
depouille de I'oiseau, en dehors de tout procede artificiel ; I'in-
dice de ce developpement caronculaire, chez cette espece, est
d'autant plus frappant qu'il se retrouve sur toute la surface du
menton, dont la peau, au lieu d'etre recouverte entierement d'un
duvet plumeux d'un noir-brunatre ainsi que cela a lieu chez le
P. montanus, est au contraire tout-a-fait nue et granuleuse,
n'offrant que quelques poils fins, epars.
Ce qui I'en distingue encore, sous le rapport de la coloration,
c'est, d'abord, la presence, a l'exti*emite de chacune des grandes
couvertures alaires, d'une large bande blanche; ce blanc, au
surplus, est plus accuse a chacune des remiges, chez cette espece,
que chez le P. montanus. C'est, ensuite, 1' aspect qu'ofFre tout le
dessous du corps : le P. montanus, depuis le menton jusqu'au
soramet de I'abdomen, est d'un noir intense uniforme ; le P. ca-
runculatus, au contraire, a toute cette partie largement flam-
mechee de blanc sur un fond noir, ou blanc ecaille de noir, —
chaque plume etant reellement blanche dans tout son milieu, et
regulierement eucadree de noir sur son contour ; de plus, cette
coloration, au lieu de s'arreter au haut de I'abdomen, descend
jusqu'entre les cuisses, et orne egalement les tlancs, qui sont
blancs chez le P. montanus.
and its allied species. 21
Nous ajouterons, que le bee est sensiblement plus long, et
d^une forme tout-k-fait distincte de celui du P. montanus : ce
dernier, dans la convexite de 1' arete de la mandibule superieure,
est comme ramasse, et conserve une hauteur assez prononcee;
le P. carunculatus, au contraire, a le bee tres-peu arque, sa con-
vexite, ou courbure, etant reduite a une inclinaison graduelle-
ment continue depuis la naissance de la mandibule jusqu'a sa
pointe ; ce bee, d^ailleurs, est beaucoup plus allonge que celui
du P. montanus.
Les ongles offrent egalement cette difference dans notre
espece, qu'ils sont d^un noir uniforme, tandis que ceux des deux
exemplaires de P. montanus rapportes par M. d^Orbigny au Mu-
seum d^Histoire Naturelle de Paris, les ont du couleur de corne
blanchatre, et ont, relativement, I'air d'etre tout-a-fait blancs.
La peau du lorum, la cire et la base du bee, de meme que le
mentou, et ses appendices caronculaires, sont d'un jaune orange ;
les tarses simplement jaunes.
Les dimensions sont les memes en general que celles du
P. montanus, dont les ailes sont de 02 centimetres plus larges ;
en voici le tableau comparatif : —
P. carunculatus. P. montanus.
Centim&tres. Centimetres.
Longueur totale 52 .... 57
„ des ailes 38 .... 41
„ de la queue 20 .... 23
„ des tarses 08^ .... O85
„ du bee a partir de la commissure 05 04
„ du bee a partir de la cire .... 03^ .... 02^
Ainsi, on le voit, le P. montanus est, en definitive, un peu plus
grand que le P. carunculatus ; mais celui-ci offre un bee beaucoup
plus developpe et de forme particuliere ; ce bee est de la meme
couleur dans les deux especes — d'un corne bleuatre dans la
premiere moitie de sa longueur, et blanchatre dans le reste;
I'iris est brun fonce. Les narines sont infiniment plus larges
chez notre espece.
Get oiseau est unique dans la collection de M. Th. Wilson, de
Philadelphie. C'est de Fobligeance de son frere, M. Edw. Wil-
son, de Liverpool, que nous en devons la communication. II
22 Mr. P. L. Sclater on Pvlilvago carunculatus.
vient de la Nouvelle-Granade. Ceux de M. d'Orbigny venaient
de la Bolivie. Ailes venant presque au niveau de la queue.
1845. 0. Des Murs.
To this I am enabled to add a few particulars under the fol-
lowing circumstances : — Shortly after the publication of the
article in last yearns ' Ibis/ I received a collection of birds, formed
by Mr. Fraser on Pichincha and in other elevated localities in
the neighbourhood of Quito, of which I have given a list in the
Proceedings of the Zoological Society for the past year (P. Z. S.
1860, p. 73). The Milvago, of which one example was in the
collection, I then observed, was evidently of the species named
by M. Des Murs carunculatus, and quite distinct from the
Bolivian M. megalopterus {montanus, D'Orb.), to which I had
previously referred similar examples collected by Mr. Fraser in
Ecuador*, though not without remarking on their apparent dif-
ference from the usual plumage of the latter species. The ex-
amples of this Milvago collected by Mr. Fraser have been placed
by Mr. J.H. Gurney in the Norwich Museum. They are all three
in adult plumage, as is also the fine example represented in the
accompanying illustration (Plate I.), for which I have to thank
Mr. Gurney. The present specimen, which is destined to adorn
the Museum of Bremen, was received by Mr. Gould with other
birds from the Rio Napo, on the eastern slope of the Andes of
Ecuador.
The synonymy of Milvago carunculatus will now stand as
follows : —
Phalcobanus carunculatus, Des Murs, Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1853,
p. 154.
Milvago megalopterus, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 555 (err.).
Milvago carunculatus, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1860, p. 81.
Its habitat must be extended to the higher Andean ranges of
the republic of Ecuador (alt. 14,000 feet), where Mr. Eraser's
examples were procured. I have already given Mr, Eraser's
remarks on the habits, colouring of the soft parts, &c., in full in
the ' Proceedings ' (/. c.) ; but I have to thank him for the follow-
ing additional note : —
* See P. Z. S. 1858, p. 555.
Ibis. 18 6!
-Jejansns, iei et ii'ili
MIL-VAGO GARLJNCULATUS .
Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Hongkong, ^c. 23
"The Spanish name should be spelt 'Curricinga/ nee Curri-
cunga.
" I was wrong in calling it ' the road to Guaqua Pichincha '; it
is merely the track or tracks made by the ' snow-carriers/ who
bring down that article daily, and supply the inhabitants of
Quito with the luxuiy they please to name ' ice.' It requires con-
siderable experience to follow these paths, in safety, through the
'paja ' or long grass with which the Paramo is clothed.
"All that I remember, beyond what is already published in
the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, is having noticed for
the first time a few pairs walking in the grass, amongst the cattle,
on the table-lands to the south of Quito, when en route for
Babahoyo in June 1859."
There appear to be, therefore, three nearly allied species of
Milvago, forming the subsection Phalcobcenus, and occupying
different areas in South America.
1. M. CARUNCULATUS. Pectore uigro, ttlbo guttato. Exmont.
Novse Granadse et reipubl. Equatorialis.
2. M. MEGALOPTERUS [Aquilci megalopteru, Meyen : Phal-
cobcenus montanus, Lafr. et d'Orb.). Pectore nigro, imrnaculato.
Ex mont. Peruvise et Bolivise.
3. M. ALBOGULARis, Gould (Darw. Zool. Beagle, pi. 1. p. 18).
Gutture et pectore albis. Ex Patagonia.
III. — Notes on the Ornithology of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton,
made during the latter end of February, March, April, and the
beginning of May, 1860. By Bobert Swinhoe, of H. B. M.^s
Consular Service.
Hongkong is set down as distant 280 miles by sea from Amoy,
and, being in latitude 22° 15', falls well within the tropics. We
ought therefore naturally to expect more interesting feathered
forms than appear in the subjoined list ; yet, if you exclude the
Micronisus gabar (which may also occasionally be found at
Amoy) and the large Ketvpa, no bird came within my observation
about Hongkong and its neighbouring main which does not
occur somewhere in the neighbourhood of Amoy.
At Macao I fell in with two species I had not seen before ;
24 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
only one of these I procured, which I have marked Larvivora
sp. ?.
Canton, with its fine old trees towering everywhere through-
out the town, and its well-wooded surrounding country, literally
swarms with birds, and I can safely assert that no place on this
coast equals it for the number and variety of its Avifauna. If
I had spent a few months there instead of a week or two,
I could have swelled my collection into colossal proportions.
Canton is distant about ninty-eight miles by river from Hong-
kong, and is in the same latitude as Calcutta.
1. Pandion haliaetus (Linn,). Osprey.
As we steamed out of Amoy, this bird was seen soaring over
the bay, and at the entrance to Swatow it was seen again,
seated on a fishing-stake. In Hongkong I have often watched the
Ospreys gradually ascending into the air in large sweeping circles,
when their rounded tails and peculiar upward inclination of the
wings at once distinguish them from the Kites which abound
in the harbour. Pigeons before alighting have this same pecu-
liarity of inclining the wings upwards; and Swifts {Cypselus
affinis, Gray) practise the same as they dart and gambol through
the air before roosting, uttering the while a quick succession of
sharp notes. When the Osprey is seen flying overland with slow
heavy flaps, he has a very Buteonine aspect.
1 was told that a large Sea-Eagle had been occasionally seen
at Hongkong, but, from his wariness and inaccessibility, no one
had succeeded in getting a shot at him. On one occasion, in
Amoy, I saw a very large bird of prey sitting in a tree, which I
took to be a Sea-Eagle. He was at least 200 yards off", yet took
alarm at my appearance.
2. Palco peregrinus, Linn. 1 Both observed near
3. TiNNUNCULUs ALAUDARius (Briss.). j Hougkoug.
4. BuTEO JAPONicus, Bp.* Japanese Buzzard.
A pair frequented the Happy Valley, Hongkong. I have
seen them early in the morning, pursuing each other with loud
screams.
* Perhaps rather paler than B. vulgaris, but hardly specifically distinct,
according to Mr. Blyth (J. A. S. B. xxx. p. 95).— P. L. S.
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 25
5. MiLVus GOViNDA, Sykcs*. Brahminy Kite.
Common.
6. MiCRONisus ?t. Small Blue Sparrow-Hawk.
We were watching some Swallows [H. gutturalis) sporting
over a pond, when suddealy a small short-winged Hawk ap-
peared among them, and would certainly have caught one had
not one of my comrades brought him down with a broken wing.
The little fellow was much excited, and fought hard with his bill
and claws for life. He was a much handsomer bird than M.
badius, though about the same size ; blue-grey above ; beneath
banded with dark undulating lines ; the flanks and belly deeply
washed with buiF ochre. The bill was blue-black ; the cere, iris,
and legs golden yellow, with black claws. The specimen was
accidentally lost, being served up at table by the Chinese servant
in mistake for a pigeon.
This same species is by no means uncommon in the neigh-
bourhood of Hongkong, and you often see them even over the
streets of Victoria, poising with almost motionless wing, while
the tail is continually opened and shut like a fan. The length of
tail and shortness of wing at once distinguish this bird from
the Wind-hover or Kestrel, which species, so common at Amoy,
seldom fell under my notice here. At Canton, several of these
small Hawks were nesting in a grove of pines. The nests were
small and cup- shaped, and placed high up, near the tree top. I
was unable to procure either the eggs or young, nor did I succeed
in securing a second specimen of the mature bird.
7. Athene ?J.
A small brown Owl, with transverse yellowish bars and spots.
This bird was brought to me alive by a Chinese at Canton, and
* Mr. Blyth (J. A. S. B. xxx. p. 95) seems to consider the Chinese Kite,
Milvus melanotis of the ' Fauna Japonica,' as distinct ; but Mr. Gurney in-
forms me that his Chinese specimens are not different from M. govinda of
India. — P. L. S.
t This is probably Micronisus soloensis (Horsf.). — P. L. S.
I This Athene seems to be Noctua cuculoides. Vigors (Gould's Cent,
pi. 4), already recognized by Blyth (Cat. Mas. As. Soc. p. 39) as occurring
in Chusan. — P. L. S.
26 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
is markedly smaller than birds similarly coloured received from
Foochow. The native name is Ning-long-chay. I find that
the bird procured, which I forward for Mr. Sclater's examination,
is a mature specimen ; and it therefore appears that either this
species has a second year's moult, when it loses all the yellowish
bands and markings, or that I have confounded two species
under one denomination.
I extract the notes in my journal made on the fresh mature
male above mentioned : — Bill greenish or dusky yellow. Iris clear
golden king's yellow. Legs chrome-yellow, with stiff bristles ;
claws pale yellowish at the base and brown towards the tips.
Crura of furculum only ossified for about one-half of their length,
and joined by a cartilaginous arch. Tibial tendons very rigid.
Testicles not large, somewhat kidney-shaped, and yellowish.
Proventriculus -§ in. across; gizzard round and flattened, flanked
on each side with a strong radiating muscle, about If in. in
diameter, and lined inside with a fixed rugose cuticle. Intestines
16 inches long : cseca situate about ] \ in. from anus ; right caecum
2f, left 3 in. in length, both enlarging at their ends into black,
semitransparent bulbs.
8. Otus brachyotus (Gm.). Cantonese, " Maou taou ying^'
(Cat's-head Hawk).
This tawny Owl, with black spots and well-defined facial disc,
was also brought alive to me in Canton. It is a species I have
never before met with in China. Length 14^ in. ; wing 18 in. from
curvature ; tail 6. Bill black, with a pale tip. Iris bright golden
yellow. Legs and feet covered with ochreous feathers, with the
ends of the toes naked and of a pale blackish flesh-colour; claws
sharp and blackish brown. Tibial tendons very rigid. Testicles
like two small white eggs, placed with their ends pointiug in dif-
ferent directions. Proventriculus 1 in. in length by ^ in breadth,
granulated, and contracting somewhat at the mouth of the gizzard,
which is roundish, about 1 in. in diameter, soft and flabby, lined
with a fixed network-furrowed cuticle. The stomach contained a
thick yellow juice and a few Jish-bones. Intestines 18| in. long :
caeca about 1 in. from anus ; left caecum 2^, right 2| in. in length,
the first bulging much more at the end than the second.
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton, 27
9. Ketupa ceylonensis (Gm.)*. Crab Owl.
This magnificent Horned Owl, so like Bubo maximus, but at
once distinguishable from that bird by the naked tarsi, is a con-
stant tenant of the dark rocky ravines of Hongkong. The Eu-
ropean cemetery in the Happy Valley is separated from the race-
course by a broad road, and bounded in the front by a high wall
with a central gateway. At the rear of this enclosure, which
abounds in graceful tombs and funereal trees, rises a high hill,
well-wooded, and cleft by a ravine tangled over by most luxu-
riant vegetation. In this lovely spot are found some of the
choicest ferns and plants for which Hongkong is justly cele-
brated. Happening to pass one day, after I had stood enjoying
the glorious view, I rambled up a narrow path, gun in hand. A
Bulbul flew past me, and then another ; and, as they perched
within gunshot on a bush, I fired at them, when, to my astonish-
ment, from under a gigantic black rock which rested on a
smaller one, thus forming a natural cave, out flew a great Owl,
and alighted on a branch close above me, with raised crest and
ruffled feathers, evidently much bewildered and startled by the
report of the gun. He was not, however, more astonished than
myself, and by the time I had recovered myself he had also re-
covered himself, and, seeing me standing near, made off to the
other side of the hill. I saw him settle on a tree, and thinking that
an Owl by day was an easy prey, I pursued. But his eyes were
too good ; I could not get near him. I thereupon returned to his
roost, and found, by the feathers and old casts, that the ledge
underneath the rock must have been long tenanted. But what
surprised me most was to find that the casts consisted chiefly of
morsels of crab-shells and claws, together with a few bones of
some small murine animals. Two days afterwards I again put the
Owl out of the same haunt, but somehow managed to miss him.
* Certainly this species, and not K.javanica, as supposed by Mr. Swinhoe.
Mr. Swinhoe speaks of the iris of Ketupa ceylonensis as " orange." I am
informed by Mr. J, H. Gm'ney, that, in a specimen which was in the Zoo-
logical Society's Gardens some years since, the irides were of a veiy bi-ight
clear and pm:e yellow, without any tint of orange. It would appear there-
fore that the colouring of the irides in this species varies as it does in
Bubo maximus, the very old individuals of which have much redder irides
than the young ones. — P. L. S.
28 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Oi-nithology
The shot alarmed him ; he never returned. Residents assure me
that this bird is of frequent occurrence there, and that at night-
time they may often be seen, seated on the tops of the houses
facing the harbour. From the casts and excrement being fre-
quently met with, I should certainly imagine that they were
pretty abundant.
On my return from Macao I was fortunate enough to procure
the specimen that I send herewith. It was in this wise. Mr.
Wilford (the botanist sent out by Sir WiUiam Hooker) was
out with me for a ramble in the neighbourhood of Jardine,
Matheson and Co.'s grounds, close to a ravine, where a lot
of small Chinese boys had gathered round us to see our sport.
They pointed to some Kites that were diving at one another
some distance over our heads, and for the amusement of the
small boys, I fired at them twice. The shot must have tickled
them, for they dropped the bone of contention, a putrid duck's
head. But the report of the discharges reverberating along the
ravine startled a dozing Ketupa, and out he came from his roost,
and settled on a rock a long way up the hill. He flew out so
quietly that we should probably not have observed him had it
not been for the Kites, who soon spied him, and kept hovering
over him, and flying down at him. Not enjoying their indig-
nities, and observing that all near was pretty safe, the Owl quietly
dropped under cover, as he evidently fancied, unobserved by us.
Upon this I rushed up the hill, and got a good position on a
large rock above the spot where he had sunk to rest, and left my
comrade and his noisy juvenile Celestials to follow. As these
clambered up the hill, they chatted and laughed, and made a
great noise. The Owl, finding them too near, bounced out, and
flapped as hard as he could up the ravine, past the rock on which
I was sitting, whence I got an easy shot at him, and tumbled
him over. The little boys soon scrambled after him, and drew
out the magnificent fellow. I was hitherto under the impression
that he was Buho maximus, which I have met with at Amoy ; but
imagine my joy, when, by the naked tarsus, I discovered a totally
distinct bird.
He measured 21| in. in length; wing from flexure 16 in.;
expanse about 3 feet 9 inches. Tail 7g in., somewhat graduated
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 39
and rounded, the outermost feathers being about 1 in. shorter
than the central; the 4th and 5th remiges nearly equal, and
longest in the wing. Eye about 1 in. in diameter; iris bright
orange-yellow ; skin round the eye broad, and purplish brown.
Bill pale dingy greenish yellow, blackish on the apical half of the
upper mandible, but not so at the tip. Inside of mouth pale fleshy
king's-yellow. Tongue broad, fleshy, and notched at the tip.
Legs of a dusky yellow, covered with small hexagonal scales, and
a few broad scutella at the end of the toes ; the soles rough, and
covered with pointed asperities ; outer toe reversible ; claws bluish
black, with pale yellowish bases, not much curved, and very blunt
from use. Ear oval, ^ in. in length, exposing the internal aperture
in the half farthest from the eye. Feathery horns not very large
or prominent.
The oesophagus starts from the glottis very wide, gradually
narrowing to -| in., then for \~ in. becoming only J- in. in width.
The proventriculus follows (length li in., largest diameter I) :
gizzard 1^ in. long, somewhat conical, thick and hard; inside
lining thick and yellow, with broad ruga; ; empty. Cseca situated
2^ in. from anus; right caecum 4f, left 3f in. in length, both
bulging at their extremities into large sacs. Intestine in toto
44 inches long.
10. Scops ?*. Cantonese, " /Se-cAee-yin^."
This pretty Horned Owl was brought to me alive at Canton,
and, fi'om the bareness of its breast and belly, had evidently been
caught in the nest. It was very tame, and used to aflbrd amuse-
ment to spectators by the odd way in which it lowered its head,
swinging to and fro with expanded wing and ruffled feathers,
while its disproportionately large dark eyes glared at the finger
pointed towards it, and the bill continually snapped. In the day-
time, when undisturbed, it remained in easy repose ; but at night
it flapped about in its place of confinement, and vainly sought
hard to force a passage through the bars.
In the spring of 1859, my friend Mr. Holt, at Foochow, sent
me two specimens of the same species from that place, but they
appeared somewhat larger in size than the present one.
* Probably Scops lempiji{}lorsi.), but rather dark in plumage. — P. L. S.
80 Mr. R, Swinhoe on the Ornithology
Length 8|-, wing 7, tail 3 « in. Bill pale flesh-grey, with a
pale yellowish rim to the mandibles. Eyes very large, about ^ in.
in diameter; iris golden burnt-sienna, but so narrow that this
colour is seldom visible, the immense pupil filling neai'ly all the
space between the lids. Skin round the eye madder-brown. Ear-
conch very large and oval, nearly f in. in length by about f in
width, the lunar-shaped orifice occupying about one-third of the
oval on the part distant from the eye ; colour of the conch-rim
yellowish, inside light blue-grey. Legs feathered to the end of
tarsus. Toes naked, light brownish flesh-colour j claws light
brownish grey, with blackish tips.
There were numerous eggs in the ovary ; oviduct folded zig-
zag, semitransparent, and about 4 inches in length, terminating
in a distinct cloaca. Proventriculus granulated, somewhat en-
larging towards the gizzard, which was flabby and oval, about
\ in. in length by 1| in breadth, lined inside with a fixed rugose
cuticle of a yellow colour. The cseca were long and bulging at
their ends, the left longer than the right ; but unfortunately I
have lost the measurements of these parts.
11. Caprimulgus ?
Probably the same species as that procured at Amoy. I did
not obtain a specimen. I saw a pair in March, gamboling
about the top of Monte Guya, in Macao, just after the sun had
set. Mr. Bowring informed me that in the fall of the year they
occurred abundantly in Hongkong, and might be seen in num-
bers every evening hawking after insects in the valley.
12. Caprimulgus ?
Our second species, with naked tarsus*. One was shot at
Stanley, Hongkong, which was shown to me.
13. Cypselus affinis, J. E. Gray.
I saw a small party of these one afternoon at Hongkong ; but
they do not appear to be permanent residents at any of the three
places, as at Amoy.
14. HiRUNDO GUTTURALIS, Scop.
A few arrived in February ; but in March they were to be
* This will probably be a Lyncornis. L. cerviniceps, Gould, is said to
be from China. — P. L. S.
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 31
found everywhere, and soon commenced building-operations. It
is the only and prevailing species. This bird has only one small
cgecum.
15. EuRYSTOMUs ORiENTALis (Linn.). Cantonese, "Z/eifA-X:o-
tsoeyJ"
I had the pleasure of meeting a pair of these birds at VVham-
poa (the anchorage of Canton). While wandering under a group
of lofty pines, I saw a bird sitting on a branch with head and
body erect, while the tail and abdomen, from the shortness of
its legs, seemed to lie along the branch. The red bill and bril-
liant green and blue plumage soon showed me what it was, as it
flitted with quick and smooth flight into the open. It was pre-
sently joined by its mate, and they kept flying about, now rest-
ing on a thick bough, now again on the wing, circling round
the clump of trees. They uttered occasionally a note not un-
like the " quack " of our Goatsucker, which bird it also often
resembled in flight, and in its habit of sitting for the most part
along a branch instead of across it. They were rather shy of
approach ; so I had to take them on the wing, and was fortunate
enough to secure the pair.
The male was larger than the female, and perhaps a little
more brilliant in tints. The gizzard was oval, 1^ in. long, Ig
broad, and 1 thick, slightly muscular, lined with a flesh-yellow
moveable cuticle much wrinkled with rugse, and containing
insects — chiefly beetles and large bugs. Intestines somewhat
fleshy, 19 in. long, and varying in thickness from | to ^ in.
Caeca 1^ in, from anus; left 2|, right 1 in. in length, both
bulging into black sacs at the apical third of their length.
16. Halcyon smyrnensis (Linn.). Turquoise Kingfisher.
Cantonese, " Fe-tsoey."
Common.
17. Alcedo bengalensis, Gmel. Cantonese, " Tow-gu-
long."
Common.
18. Ceryle RUDis (Linn.). C&ntonese, " Pun-tin-teo."
Common.
All abundant, and evi-
|:. dently spending the
summer in the
south.
32 Mr. R. Swiuhoe on the Ornithology
19. Orthotomus phyllokrapheus, Swinh.
Abundant everywhere.
20. Prinia sonitans.
21. Drymoica extensicauda.
22. cisticola tintinnabulans.
23. acrocephalus magnirostris.
24. lusciniopsis canturians.
This interesting species of Warbler I first met with in For-
mosa during March 1855, when I was much struck by the
resemblance of its habits to those of the White-throat [Curruca
cinerea) . I have since met with it at Amoy, but I think merely
as a straggler. At Shanghai it was abundant, as also at Hong-
kong and Macao. In the last two places nearly every hedge or
cluster of bushes had its L. canturians, creeping about unseen,
and trolling out its abrupt song. When approached from the
midst of its leafy retreat, it gives its alarm-note, consisting of a
harsh " charr"; and if hard-pressed, quietly slips out the other
side of the bush and flits to a further cover.
Bill wood-brown, with the edge of the upper mandible and
the whole of the lower pale flesh-colour ; inside of mouth chrome-
yellow. Iris hazel. Legs pale brownish flesh-colour; claws wood-
brown, paling on the soles.
25. LocusTELLA RUBEscENs, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiv. p. 582 (?).
A Grasshopper-Lark alighted on the deck of the "White
Cloud " on our way down the Canton River. It hopped into
the saloon close to my feet, and I had the full opportunity of
determining its specieo. It was evidently the same as that once
procured at Amoy. I tried to secure it, but there were too
many open windows in the saloon.
26. Phylloscopus fuscatus, Blyth.
This little fellow I often observed, and feel sure that some at
least nest near Canton.
27. Rbguloides proregulus (Pall.).
Very abundant in the fir-trees about Hongkong during Fe-
bruary and March.
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 33
28. Reguloides chloronotus, Hodgs.
I watched for some time several of the former and one of
this species of Reguloides pursuing a swarm of gnats in a small
pine-plantation at Hongkong. The two birds resembled each
other a good deal, and at a distance were not distinguishable ;
but as they were much busied with their occupation, I approached
within a few paces. In the midst of their pursuit they would
frequently give utterance to the melancholy protracted note
"sweet," somewhat sharply emitted. But the R. chloronotus at
times stopped, and, ruffling his feathers, struck up a little musical
ditty not unlike that of the Willow- Wren [Sylvia trochilus). I
could observe no difference in the common note of the two birds.
The abundance of food in this particular spot no doubt was the
cause of the large numbers of these birds to be found there;
for on ordinary occasions you rarely meet with more than one
of the R. proregulus at a time, or a pair of the R. chloronotus.
29. CoPSYCHUs SAULARis (Linn.). Cantonese, " C'/iMy-se-^i;G."
Common at Canton and Macao.
30. Pratincola ixdica, Blyth.
Common. Seen in Hongkong as late as March.
31. RUTICILLA AUROREA, Pall.
A few seen.
32. RuTiciLLA, sp. nov. ?
I mentioned in my " Ornithology of Amoy" the fact of a second
species of Ruticilla occurring at times in that place. In Hong-
kong I had the good fortune to meet with several of them. For
a few days in the lirst week of March they were pretty abundant
in the hills around the valley ; but after that they were not seen,
so that they were evidently on their migrations. I procm'ed two
pairs, which I forward for Mr. Sclater^s examination*.
In fresh examples the bill and legs were black in both sexes ;
the iris deep blackish brown. The inside of the mouth was
blackish flesh-colour in the male, and pale flesh-colour in the
female. The tongue was ciliated at the end.
'D^
* These specimens are scarcely distinguishable from Pratincola f err ea
(Hodgs.) of Upper India. I do not consider them ditferent. — P. L. S.
VOL. III. D
34 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the OrnitJiology
These birds were fond of perching on the tops of bushes, where
they would stand in very upright positions, often darting into the
air to seize an insect, or to take up some worm or beetle from
the ground. Their actions were all quick, and almost instanta-
neous. The tail was rarely moved, and then up and down slowly,
or occasionally thrown up with Robin-like motion. This simple
fact I think is sufficient to show that this species is not a typical
Redstart, though it assimilates to that genus in the red tail and
brown plumage of the female. The thick bill and grey plumage
of the male, however, would perhaps show its tendency to the
Saxicol(S. Its ordinary note is a subdued kind of rattling
noise ; but I have heard one, that stood still for several minutes
at a time, keep on emitting at intervals a loud sharp note ap-
proaching to the syllable "pew.''
33. Larvivora ? *
I send a wretched specimen of this bird, the only one I could
procure. I have never met with it anywhere but at Macao, where
it is not uncommon in wooded spots, hopping about on the ground
amongst the undergrowth, and hence very difficult to shoot.
When I first heard the note, I could scarcely believe it to be
that of a bird, so like was it to the single chirp of the grasshopper;
but, creeping on my hands and knees into the thicket, I got a
view of the little fellow hopping about, and looking much like a
Robin. He would sometimes shake his tail up and down ; at
others he would throw it up, expanding and closing it. When
two of them came together, the sibilant note was repeated more
hurriedly and loudly, and then much resembled the chirrup of a
shrew mouse.
Bill leaden brown, paler on the edges. Inside of mouth pale
flesh-yellow. Legs and claws pale flesh-colour. Iris deep brown.
34. Parus minor, Temm. Cantonese, '' Pak-pay sheiv-low."
Common everywhere ; but the individuals appear to be some-
what larger than those at Amoy, and are in most cases quite grey
on the back, a few only having a greenish-yellow tinge. I can
* This specimen appears to me to be a young bird of Erythacus
akaJiige (Temm.), Fauna Japon. j)!. 21 b ; and Mr. Gould is of the same
opinion. — P. L. S.
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 35
see no further difference to justify a separation ; but there seems
a strong tendency towards Parus cinereus of Java.
35. ZosTEROPS JAPONicus, Temm. Cantonese, "/S7zgor?^-5/^ee."
An abundant resident at Hongkong, where it may constantly
be seen, roaming from tree to tree along the roads in small parties.
Its well-blended tints of yellow and green, and the snow-white
ring that encircles its sharp black eyes, may be seen to advan-
tage by the observer that stands under the tree whereon these
sprightly little fellows are exploring the twigs and leaves for
small insects. On the 2nd of April I had the good fortune to
discover its nest at the end of a bough of a large-leaved tree. It
was attached to several leaf-stalks about 8 feet from the ground,
and might at first sight have been mistaken for some insect^s
nest. It consisted of a small cup, composed of delicate grasses,
spider's-web, and moss, and resembled much the nest of a
Humming-bird. This pretty little structure contained two clear
white eggs, one of which was slightly punctured. The nest and
eggs I enclose to Mr. Sclater.
36. MoTACiLLA BOARULA, Linn.
I frequently saw this bird, and from meeting individuals with
food in the mouth, I feel sure they breed in Hongkong. A male
and female, procured in summer plumage, I transmit for com-
parison with the European bird*.
37. MOTACILLA LUZONIENSIS, Scop.
This bird was pretty abundant in February ; and in March I
witnessed the assembling of immense flocks on the tops of the
houses, evidently preparing for migrating. A few weeks later
they had all gone.
38. MoTACiLLA OCULARIS, Swiuh.
A resident species. I enclose a male in complete summer
plumage for comparison with the Indian species of the Pied
Wagtail group. It greatly resembles M. lugubris, but the grey
back in summer is a sure distinction.
* These examples do not anpear to differ from the European M. hoarula.
—P. L. S.
d2
36 Mr. R. Swiuhoe on the Ornithology
39. BUDYTES FLAVAj LillU. ?
Several of these were feeding in some freshly- ploughed fields
at Macao. I could only secure one, and am still in great doubt
as to the exact species to which it belongs.
40. Anthus thermophilus, Hodgs.
Very abundant.
41. Anthus agilis, Sykes.
Numbers of this lively species are constantly to be met with
among the grass and underwood beneath the small pine-trees at
Hongkong. As you stroll through a plantation of these firs, the
little fellows spring up with a note " see " (strongly sibilant), and
with a curved flight alight on the branches above, on which
they walk up and down, often uttering their note and shaking
the tail. Each step you take puts up one at least, and as soon as
you have passed, they drop quietly on to the ground behind you,
and resume their pursuit of food.
42. Anthus richardi, Vieill.
A few spend the summer in the south.
43. Myiophoxus c.eruleus (Scop.).
In the solitudes of the rocky ravines at Hongkong this bird
may often be seen. It is very shy, and loves to stand for hours
in the cavernous retreats afforded by the large black rocks that
lie in massive confusion along the gullies or water-courses on
the hill-sides. If you wish to see the bird, you have only to go
to some solitary part of the valley, and, seating yourself on a
rock, keep quite still for a few minutes. You are sure soon to
see a Cavern-bird make his appearance on a rock near you. He
at once spies you, and, flying off to a safer distance, appears to
advantage on a neighbouring boulder. See ! he runs up it; and,
leaning his body forward on his long black legs, he keeps raising
and depressing his tail, at the same time opening and shutting
it in a shuffling manner. He then darts, with a single sharp
note approaching a scream, among the leaves of a bush, the deep
purple and blue of his plumage glistening in the sunlight. He
has seized a caterpillar, and returns with it in his bill to the rock,
whence he eyes the intruder on his solitude, while he beats and
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 37
devours his capture. He is then lost to view beneath the bushes
under which he has just flown to search for earth-grubs. You
watch on. Presently you see him emerge some distance up the
hill, and darting with a straight flight, and screaming along the
rocks, he disappears among them, where
" Speluncaeque tegunt, et saxea procubat umbra."
44. Geocichla, n. sp.
The only specimen of this bird met with was at Whampoa, on
the 18th of April, It was feeding on the ground, and on being
disturbed, flew up to a tree with undulating flight, looking much
like a Camjoephaga. The bill and legs were black ; iris dark
brown. General plumage smoke-grey, with a white belly and a
distinct white eyebrow. I send the bird for Mr. Sclater's in-
spection*.
Gizzard heart-shaped, |- in. long byy^ deep, somewhat muscu-
lar, with a moveable yellowish rugose epithelium, containing the
remains of insects. Caeca \ in. from the anus ; right one 2 iu. long,
left !^.
45. TuRDUs DAULiAS, Temm.
46. Turd us fallens, Pallas.
47. TuRDUs CHRYsoLAus, Temm.
48. TuRDUs CARDis, Tcmm.
These four Thrushes were seen in February and March, and
appeared to be merely passengers.
49. TuRDUs ?
A species of Iledwing, with grey-olive back in the male and
orange-tinted flanks. Abundant, especially in Camoens Garden,
Macao, where they were nesting. I have occasionally met with
them at Amoy; but, unfortunately, during my ramble in the
south I managed to procure only a female. I enclose the bird
for Mr. Sclater's inspection f-
* This bird is Tardus sibiricus, Gm., in nearly adult male plumage. —
P.L. S.
t Evidently the young of the preceding {Turdus cardis), in the stage
figured in the ' Fauna Japonica,' tab. 30. It agrees in structure com-
38 Mr. R. Svviuhoe on the Ornithology
50. TuRDUS MANDARiNUS, Bp. Cantonese, " Woo-ymj."
An abundant resident. Its sweet melody enlivens all the
gardens. The male and female greatly assimilate, and in this
respect differ much from the European Blackbird. Both sexes
have yellow bills in the summer ; but the plumage of the female
is browner than that of the male. It builds chiefly on the boughs
of the Banyan {Ficus nitida), making a nest scarcely distinguish-
able in aspect from that of the T. mei'ula.
51. Petrocossyphus manillensis (Bodd.).
Numerous about the rocky hills.
52. Garrulax perspicillatus (Gmel.). Cantonese, '' Sampa-
low."
Frequents clumps of bamboos, where it chatters and makes a
great noise, often bursting out into the loud notes " teo-teo,''
which appear to be the call from one to the other, and can be
heard at a long distance. It is a great enemy to the eggs and
young of small birds, and in habits approaches somewhat the
Jays.
53. Leucodioptron canorum (Linn.).
This is the ''Hwa-mei " or Song-Thrush of the Chinese. Mr.
Blyth tells me that the true Garrulax sinensis, Linn., is from the
Ten asserim Provinces. A. iew " Hwa-meis " may constantly be
heard singing among the bushes on the almost jjrecipitous sides
of the lofty hills of Hongkong.
54. Oriolus chinensis, Linn. {O.acrorhjnchus, Vig.) Can-
tonese, " Woncj-gang."
This Oriole occurred plenteously at Canton, and, from com-
parison of specimens, I find that both sexes vary considerably in
size, in the height of the culmen of the bill, and in the extent of
the yellow and black on the wings and tail, hence affording satis-
factory proof of the identity of the two speci.es, 0. sinensis and
0. acrorhynchus. I send specimens of both the supposed species
for comparison*.
pletely with a male Tardus curdis in Mr. Gould's collection. It will be
interesting to know if these birds really breed in this jjlumage. — P. L. S.
* Mr. Swinhoe's ten specimens all appear to be referable to one species —
without doubt the true O. chinensis. But it is still necessary to examine
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 39
55. Pycnonotus occipitalis, Temm. Cantonese, " Pak-
taou long J"
An abundant resident.
56. Pycnonotus chrysorrhoides (Lafr.).
These are of a more roving disposition than the foregoing, and
may often be met with in small parties on the hills, flying one
after another from bush to bush. They have a loud chattering
note, uttered while roving about ; but the male at times, seated
quietly on a branch, gives vent to a succession of sweet notes,
some of which are very rich and full. I observed numbers of
these Bulbuls, as well as the preceding, on the Tallow-tree {Stil-
lingia sebifera), feeding on its ripe berries.
57. Pycnonotus jocosus (Linn.).
This is evidently the same bird as that found in Bengal, and
is described as Twdus sinensis in Shaw's ' Zoology,' from a
Chinese drawing. It is not found in either Hongkong or Macao,
but is very abundant in the neighbourhood of Canton, where
numbers of them were to be seen in April, springing about over
the large red flowers of the gigantic leafless Bombax malaba-
ricum. They were at once to be distinguished by their peculiar
voices ; but their lofty curled and pointed crests gave them a very
marked appearance.
58. Tchitrea principalis (Temm.).
This bird I cannot help thinking is not T. principalis, but a
distinct species *. A female that I sent home on a former
occasion was pronounced by INIr. G. R. Gray to belong to the
Japanese species, but the females in all the species I have seen
assimilate in a most remarkable manner. The male I procured
in Hongkong I enclose. This is the fourth male I have seen,
all resembling one another, and difiering from the description in
the ' Fauna Japonica.' The male in that work is thus described : —
' Les plumes du ventre et les couvertures inferieures de ia queue
examples from the Philippines, as the bird described as 0. acrorhynchus
by Vigors (P.Z.S. 1831, p. 97) was from that locality.— P. L. S.
* I consider this to be the true T. principalis, but I have no Japanese
specimens for comparison. — P. L. S.
40 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
sont blanchatres, mais elles passent au noira,tre vers leiir base,
Toutes les autres parties de I'oiseau sont d'un noir de velours
profond k reflets bleuatres, et passant au noir-violet sur le dos
et les ailes" — whereas the back of our bird is of a burnished
pink- purple.
Iris dark blackish brown. Eye-skin and bill fine cobalt-blue,
the latter with black tip. Legs violet-blue, with blackish claws.
Gizzard roundish and somewhat flattened, | in, in diameter, with
a fixed rugose cuticle ; containing remains of diptera and coleo-
ptera. Intestine 6| in. in length ; right csecum | in. from anus,
the left yj) higher, both about ~ in. long and adnate, of an oval
shape.
It is a grand sight to see this bird sitting upright on a
branch, with its two tail-streamers hanging down, and quivering
with the slightest breeze ; but to see it spring on wing, and
mark the whirling motion of the two long feathers, now coming
together, now separating widely, and spinning in different direc-
tions as the bird skirmishes in the air, is truly a magnificent
sight. They seldom dart out far on the wing, but keep a good
deal within the limits of a large tree's branches. I have watched
a pair of females engaged in the capture of insects. They stood
very upright on the branch, with the tail almost horizontal, and
leaping a little way into the air, would catch the fly and skip
with it to another branch, seldom returning to the one they
started from.
The yearling has the bill and legs brownish, the blue of the
eye-skin being more or less sullied. I am told that white
varieties occur near Canton.
59. Hemichelidon latirostris (Raffles)*.
Very common.
60. Hemichelidon perruginea, Hodgson t-
I only saw this once. I enclose the specimen for Mr. Sclater's
examination.
* This seems to be Musicapa cinereo-alba (Temm.) of the ' Fauna Ja-
ponica.' — P. L, S.
t Agrees well with Indian examples of this bird in Mr. Gould's col-
lection.— P. L. S.
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 41
61. Xanthopygia NARCissiNA (Tcmm.). Cantonese, "Tsoey
fa c/iag."
Common about Canton. They often fly down to the ground
or skim along its surface in the pursuit of an insect. In the
various evolutions of flight, the bright golden colour of the
rump and throat shows to advantage. I procured a female for
the first time, and was surprised to find how much it difi"ers
from the male.
As the male only is figured by Temminck, I here give a sketch
of the female : —
Bill, upper mandible black, lower bluish grey. Legs pale violet-
grey. Iris dark. Inside of mouth pale yellowish flesh-colour.
Upper parts obscure olive-green, with a blackish olive patch on
each cheek. Wings and tail hair-brown, the former margined
with paler. Some white feathers occur on the shoulder ; and the
rump-feathers have whitish bases. Throat and indistinct eye-
streak orange-yellow. Breast dingy olive-yellow. The remain-
ing under-parts washed with ochreous.
Length 5 in., expanse 7|, wing 2|, tail 2.
62. NiLTAVA CYANOMEL/EXA, Temm. Cantonese, " Moeg fa
tsoey."
A few of these occurred in Hongkong in April, but in Canton
for the first fortnight in that month they were remarkably abun-
dant near the city walls. Almost every mound or grave-stone
had its Blue Bird standing erect, on the look-out for the passing
insect. I was much struck with the appearance of a brown bird,
of similar habits and seen in similar positions. This I found to
be the female of the blue, — the one I shot having an almost
uniform olive-brown plumage. But a single blue feather on the
crown of the head convinced me of the identity of the birds,
before I had the opportunity of determining the sexes by dis-
section.
As the male only has been described in the ' Fauna Japonica,'
I here extract from my journal the desci'iption of the female : —
Bill blackish brown. Legs greyish brown. Iris dark brown.
Inside of mouth yellowish flesh-colour. Upper parts olive-
brown ; rump redder ; tail fringed with reddish brown. Wings
42 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
brown, margined with reddish olive. Throat buff. Breast and
axillae olive, tinted with buff. Belly and vent white, touched
with the same colour.
Length 6 in., wing 3|, expanse 9, tail 2\.
Testicles in the male small and black. Gizzard roundish, f in.
in diameter, lined inside with a moveable rugose cuticle of an
ochreous colour, and containing for the most part small beetles,
most of which were unbroken. Intestines thick and fi-agile,
with no cseca.
63. Campephaga ?
This bird is occasionally seen at Amoy. I first met with it
at Macao on the 21st of March, where its loud notes, repeated
at intervals, attracted my attention. It was singing in a bush,
but on being disturbed flew up to the branch of a tree, whence
it continued to pour forth its notes. At Canton it was not un-
common . The immature bird is indistinctly barred on the under
parts, the tints are much lighter, and a broad white bar occurs
across the wing, visible when the bird flies. In this last charac-
teristic of the immature dress this species approaches the Peri-
crocoti, which in most cases have a white under-wing band.
Mr. Blyth ignores the name which I have applied to it. I
must therefore leave the identification of the species to Mr.
Sclater; and I think it is very probable that it will prove
new*.
64 Pericrocotus cinereus (Lafr.).
This bird visited Hongkong in small flocks during the first
week in April, when I was enabled to procure a nice series of
males. A little later in the same month I saw a small party of
them at Canton ; but I am convinced that they were migrating,
and merely passing over.
65. Pericrocotus cantonensis, n. sp.
A smaller species than the preceding, and evidently resident at
Canton. I send a male and female for Mr. Sclater to examine
* This bird is a close ally of Volvocivora luguhris (Sund.) of India and
V.fimbriata (Temm.) of Java, which, I suspect, is distinct from the Indian
bird. The single specimen sent appears to agree best with the description
of V. melanoptera {Campephaga melanoptera, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xv. p. 307),
from Arracan.
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 43
and describe, and merely confine myself to the notes in my
journal. •
Length 7| in. ; wing 2\, tail 3f, expanse 9f . Bill and legs
black. Inside of mouth flesh-colour. Eyes hazel. Gizzard
roundish, musculai", and much flattened, lined with an adherent
rugose cuticle of a brownish-yellow colour ; containing remains
of caterpillars. Testicles white, and elongo-ovate, ^ in. long ;
the left one longer than the right. Intestine rather thin ; caeca
^ in. from the anus, about y^ in. long*.
66. DiCRURUs MACROCERCus, Vieill.
This bird occurs, but not abundantly. Formosa is the only
place where I have seen it in any abundance.
Q7. Lanius schach, Gm. (Sparrow King.) Cantonese,
'' Ma chow wong."
Very numerous everywhere. The bird in the south is smaller,
and less rufous on the rump, than that at Amoy, and I dare say
goes on decreasing in size towards the Straits, whence I have
seen very diminutive varieties.
68. Lanius lucionensis, Linn.
Passing over, I observed two one morning at Hongkong.
69. CoRvus pectoralis, Gould.
Common. The black species which occurs at Swatow and
Foochow, and which ]Mr. Blyth tells me is C. sinensis of Gould,
I did not see once at Canton.
70. Pica sericea, Gould.
Common everywhere.
71. Urocissa sinensis (Linn.).
These handsome birds are often to be seen about the woods
at Hongkong. You see a long-tailed form flying over the low
trees with a direct flight, executed by short constant flaps, like
that of a Magpie, the tail being held in nearly the same hori-
zontal line as the body. The fii'st disappears, into a thick leafy
* This is certainly distinct from P. cinereus; but I rather doubt Mr.
Swinhoe's male bird being in full plumage. The female shows a distinct
yellowish bar on the wing. This ought to be red in the male by analog)'^,
but is white. I should like to examine further specimens before describing
it.— P.L. S.
44 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
tree, and is followed by a second, then a third and fourth, and
sometimes more. Presently one shows himself on an exposed
branch above, stretching out his red-billed head and whisking
impatiently his two white-tipped tail-streamers. He sees you
watching him, and at once sets up a cry of " pink-jnnk-pink,"
followed by a loud chatter, in which his comrades join, and you
catch glimpses of violet and blue as they hasten from one tree
to another in a contrary direction, until the distant sound of the
"pink-jnnk " note tells your ear that the Redlegs are far through
the woods.
72. AcRiDOTHEREs CRisTATELLUs (Liuu.). Cautonesc, "Lent
ko."
Very common. I dissected a female. Gizzard oval, about
1 in. long, I broad, and | deep ; somewhat muscular, containing
chiefly coleoptera ; the inside was lined with a moveable cuticle,
longitudinally as well as transversely furrowed. Cseca : left /^^in.,
right j^ in. in length. Around the intestines occurred several
tape-worms {Ttenia) , the longest 1^ inch, and about g in. broad ;
whitish, and of nearly the same width to the end of the tail. The
head was leech-like, and kept changing its form by its expansive
and retractile power, at one time looking like a ball, then
lengthening into a spatula, — then, the lip being drawn back,
resembling a thistle-head. These curious little creatures lived
some hours in water.
73. Gracupica nigbicollis (Paykull).
Somewhat rarer here than at Amoy.
74. Temenuchus turdiformis (Wagler). Cantonese, "Fooerj
gang.''
I first observed it in April, when large flocks of them arrived
at Canton, and were to be seen on almost every tree. Is it
found in summer also in Pegu ? It is abundant at Amoy in
summer, but its migrations do not extend so far northward as
Foochow. ,
75. Temenuchus sericeus (Lath.).
76. Temenuchus cineraceus (Temm.).
I observed flocks of both these on the main opposite Hong-
kong during February.
of Hungkong, Macao, and Canton. 45
77. COCCOTHRAUSTES MELANURUS (Gmcl.).
Very abundant about Canton ; evidently breeds there in great
numbers.
78. MuxiA MALACCA (Linn.).
Flocks of these were observed at Macao and Whampoa.
79. MuNiA MINIMA (Lath.). Cantonese, " Wo-kook."
Very abundant. Most of the court-yards throughout the city
of Canton have this bird nesting in their trees. The little
fellows whisk about their pointed tails most vigorously, and utter
their call-trill when you draw near their nesting site. The nest
is a round domed construction of grasses and roots, not unlike
that of a Wren, and generally contains three white eggs.
80. MuNIA RUBRONIGRA (HodgS.).
I almost doubt whether this is a Chinese bird, as I have never
yet met with it in a wild state. It is occasionally to be seen in
cages, but I think comes from the Straits.
81. Muni A oryzivora (Linn.).
Wild at Hongkong during the early spring.
82. LiGURiNUs siNicus (Linn.). Cantonese, " Kum sheong
shee."
Abundant.
83. Passer montanus (Linn.).
Found everywhere.
Several other Finches were ofifered for sale in the Canton
bird-shops, all of which the dealers said came from Northern
China ; and this is not improbable, when we consider that such
birds as Loxia recurvirostra, Frintjilla montifringilla, and Passer
russatus were among the number. They are brought down in
numbers for sale by the Tien-tsin junks, that make half-yearly
passages southwards. At all events, as I have never seen these
birds in the open country, it is needless to swell my list with
their names.
84. Emberiza fucata. Pall. 1
o- T^ m All more or less common,
8o. Lmberiza personata, lemm. ^ i t i- i i
I and, I think, resident.
86. Euspiza aureola (Pall.). j
46 Mr. R. Swinhoe un the Ornithology
87. EuspiZA suLPHURATA (Tcmm.).
Seen once at Hongkong.
88. Melophus lath ami (Gray). The Macao Sparrow of
Shawns 'Zoology.'
In excessive numbers about Hongkong and Macao. The
males are at least two years in completing their mature dress.
89. Alauda ccelivox, Swinh.
Common in all open country that abounds in corn or pasture
land ; specially abundant near Macao.
90. Picus MAJOR? Cantonese, " Shu-kai'^ (Tree-fowl).
This male specimen, which looks very like the European spe-
cies, was brought to me alive at Canton. On a previous occa-
sion I received a pair from Mr. Holt at Foochow. The one now
enclosed to Mr. Sclater measured, when fresh, 9f in. ; wing 5|,
tail 3 1, expanse of wing 14^. Bill along culmen 1| in., from
point to commissure 1^; of a deep lead-colour, lighter on the
gonys and at the base. Inside of mouth flesh-coloured. Legs
and claws deep leaden. Irides brownish carmine*.
Testicles over iin. long, oval, and pure white; left one rather
longer. Gizzard heart-shaped, not muscular, -^-^ in. long ; epithe-
lium fixed, with close longitudinal rugae ; containing remains of
beetles and minute pieces of rotten wood. Intestines 10 in. long,
rather thick, with no «8eca.
91. CucuLUS TENUiROSTRis, Gray. Cantonese, " Pun-Zow-
shooeij."
Very common and noisy in the city of Canton.
92. EuDYNAMYs ORiENTALis (Liuu.). Coxiione^e," To-keun."
A figure occurs in Shaw's 'Zoology,' 1815, vol.ix. pt.l. p. 103,
under the term "Cuculus mindanensis," which is undoubtedly
the female of the Canton bird ; but it is marked " male," and
* This specimen agrees well with the bird figured by Mr. Gould in his
' Birds of Asia' as Picus cabanisi. According to M. Malherbe, however,
this species is not his P. cabanisi, but P. gouldi. See Monogr. Picid.
pi. 17. p. 62 ; but the distinctions between P. cabanisi, P. mandarinus, and
P. gouldi, as there given, seem rather fine. We certainly doubt the fact
of three species so nearly allied occurring in one country.— P. L. S.
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 47
its locality given as the Philippines, Cape, and Coromandel
coast.
The loud notes of this bird first drew my attention to it in
the city of Canton. I was told that this noise-producer was
called the " Summer Bird^' among the European residents, from
its arriving at the commencement of the hot season. Its note
maybe syllabled "co'-o'-a/i," pronounced loudly and with stress,
which it keeps on repeating, the loudness and vigour increasing
every time, until the sound suddenly stops. On hearing the
call, you have only to look to some well-exposed tree or branch,
and you are almost sure to see the bird ; but it seems to prefer
the leafless top branches of the gigantic Bombax malabaricum,
where its large black form is plainly visible, bending forwai'd
and stretching its neck while the startling notes are emitted.
If approached too near, the bird flies off with a straight flight, —
looking, however, in form much like a Drongo Shrike. One
that I was watching flew off to another large tree in which
there was a MagnaPs nest, and close to the nest a brown bird
much like himself in form. The brown bird turned out to be
the female, and set up a chattering noise on the arrival of her
mate. She very probably had dropped, or had come to drop, an
egg into the nest ; for the Magnal {Gracupica nigricollis) soon
returned to the tree, and seeing strangers so near his abode,
charged them. The Magnal, however, was defeated and driven
off, and the Cuckoos remained victorious. I was fortunate
enough to procure a pair, which I enclose ; but the bird was by
no means uncommon, for I have heard no less than three males
calling within ear-shot of one another.
Male. — Length 15^ in. ; wing 7| ; tail 7^, with ten feathers.
Eill pale bluish grey, becoming pale yellowish towards the tip.
Inside of mouth flesh-colour. Iris clear carmine. Legs lead-
colour, greyish at the joints and on the soles. Whole plumage
greenish black.
Female. — Length 15 in. ; wing 7\, tail 7\, expanse 19^. Bill
pale greenish ochre, varied with brown. Inside of mouth flesh-
colour. Iris reddish brown. Legs leaden blue ; soles yellowish
grey ; claws brownish grey. Tail a good deal worn and jagged
at the ends and sides of the feathers, proving to a certain degree
48 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
that it is to the round domed nests of the Magnals {Gracupica
nigricollis and Acridoiheres cristatellus) that this bird chiefly
resorts to deposit her eggs.
Tongue fleshy, sagittate, horn-edged and rounded at the tip ;
basal half papillose, more conspicuously at the edge. Ear-conch
moderate, nearly circular, with a lunate recess on the part furthest
from the eye, — the inner edge of the ear and the outer angle of
the eye being within the same plane. The eggs in the female
were well developed, and some ready to drop ; the oviduct was
large, measuring in length o\ in., and in diameter | in., formed
of a thick white elastic membrane, folded zigzag, and enlarging
into a distinct cloaca.
The male had white oval testicles, about \ in. long. Proven-
triculus granulated, and narrowing as it joins the gizzard, which
is somewhat ovato-circular, 1| in. long, well flattened, flabby, and
capable of much extension : its interior cuticle moveable, nearly
smooth, and of a pinkish colour, containing wild figs. Intestine
17 in. long, varying in thickness from f to |. Cseca given off
2 inches from the anus, the one |, the other 1 in. in length, very
thin, and of uniform size throughout.
93. Centropus ? {C. lignator, nobis.)
This small specie», in mature plumage, I first met with in
Kelung, Formosa. One was afterwards shot at Amoy, in imma-
ture plumage ; and in Hongkong I again fell in with the imma-
ture bird. Its " hoo-hoo," with the sounds " kd-toch, katoch,"
that immediately succeed, may often be heard on the bush-clad
hill-sides of Hongkong. I enclose all three specimens for Mr.
Sclater's inspection, as it strikes me the species is probably
new*.
Here is a note on the one procured at Hongkong : — Bill
pale yellowish brown, with a tinge of pink; culmen blackish
brown. Inside of mouth pale flesh-colour. Iris ochreous, and
eyelid pale ochreous. Naked skin round the eye bluish. Legs
a violet lead-colour, with yellowish soles and edges to scutes.
Proved to be a female on dissection. Gizzard lined with a move-
* This small Centropus seems not different from C affinis, Horsf., of
Java, Malacca, and India. — P. \j. S.
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 49
able cuticle, containing several large hairy caterpillars of a spe-
cies of brown moth.
94, Centropus sinensis (Steph.).
This large and handsome species, so common in Foochow, is
also abundant in the south ; and one seldom visits the Happy
Valley without being struck by its strange " hoo-hoo" resound-
ing from the hills around. It is, however, a difficult bird to get
a view of, being timid, and crouching in cover when approached.
Like the foregoing small species, it is upwards of three years
attaining to mature plumage, — during that time scarcely two
specimens being found with the same markings. I procured a
fine female in a wood on the other side of the island, near the
village of Little Hongkong, on the 3rd of April. The eggs were
largely developed, and evidently within a few days of being laid.
Proven triculus If in. long, narrowing immediately before the
gizzard, which is circular, somewhat flattened, flabby, and thin-
skinned, lined with a thin, smooth, separable cuticle, and con-
taining the remains of grasshoppers chiefly. Intestines 32 inches
long ; right caecum 4 in., left 3|, both bulging at their extremi-
ties. Oviduct long, and folded zigzag, being formed of a broad
white elastic membrane terminating at the anus.
Besides the ordinary note, this bird sometimes utters a loud
chuckle somewhat like the sound produced by pouring water
from a bottle.
95. TURTUR ORIENTALIS (Lath.).
On the way down to Hongkong, a party of friends left the
steamer for an afternoon^s shooting at Swatow, and among the
birds brought back was one of this species. I afterwards saw a
pair early in March on the main near Hongkong.
96. TuRTUR CHiNENsis (Scop.). Cautonesc, " Pfl?i-/:«OM."
The prevailing species. T. humilis did not occur, which is
strange, considering how abundant it is from Hongkong to
Shanghai during the summer months.
97. Phasianus torquatus (Gmel.).
Found in the neighbourhood, and sometimes on the island of
Hongkong itself.
E
60 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
98. Francolinus perlatus (Gmel.).
This bird is numerous in Hongkong, inhabiting the patches of
bushes and fern that so frequently occur in nooks and depressions
on the hill -sides, whence it is very difficult to flush it, even with
a good dog. If you mark a bird down, you are by no means sure
of putting it up again. It is a solitary bird, and does not
associate in coveys. In the early mornings of April, and during
the greater part of the day, if cloudy, you may hear them cry-
ing to each other on the hills around that enclose the Happy
Valley. One male starts the song " ke-kai, ke-kai, ka-karr,"
another on an adjoining hill defiantly repeats the notes ; a third,
still further, is heard, and even a fourth, until the notes are lost
as it were in a distant echo. The first bird then commences
again, adding greater emphasis to the last note, and the other
birds take up the song in succession as before. AVhen heard
near, these notes sound harsh to the ear; but at a distance they
have a pleasant, wild effect as they sweep over the sides of
the towering hills. The flesh of this Francolin is white and
insipid.
99. CoTURNix DACTYLisoNANS, Tcmm.
Common ; but, I think, merely as a winter visitant when corn
takes the place of rice in the fields. Numbers are captured and
brought to market in baskets ; the best males being first selected,
and confined separately in straw bags, for pugilistic purposes. For
the table, they sell at 45, or 5^. the dozen ; but the warlike indi-
viduals fetch \s. or 25. apiece.
100. CoTURNix cHiNENSis (Linn.).
This diminutive and prettily-marked species is found in the
neighbourhood of Canton, to which city it is carried singly or in
pairs, and offered for sale in cages. It is by no means common,
and is much esteemed as a cage-bird.
101. TURNIX JOUDERA, HodgS. ?
This a good deal resembles the bird figured in Gray's ' Genera
of Birds ' with the above name, but is rather larger. You find it
occasionally in the Hongkong markets mixed up with Quails,
from which it is distinguished by Europeans by the name
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 51
" Button/' or " Button-Quail." I have seen it occasionally in the
possession of natives at Amoy.
102. Squatarola helvetica (Gmel.).
Occurred during February, but not afterwards. One kept in
an aviary at Amoy appears to have undergone no change in
plumage as late as the end of May. Is this merely attributable
to the effect of confinement on the bird's constitution ; or is this
race in any way separable from the European one ?
103. Charadrius virginicus, Bork. Cantonese, " Mapaw-
chuy."
A common bird near Canton ; passes the summer there. The
females do not appear to undergo so complete a moult as the
males.
104. .^GIALITES CANTIANUS (Lath.).
Common during February. The majority migrate northwards.
105. JilGIALITES PUSILLUS (Horsf.).
Common about Hongkong in the rice-fields. Many stay to
breed.
106. iEoiALITES GEOFFROYII (Wagl.).
A large species : shot once at Amoy. One was shown to me
that had been procured from a flock on the main opposite Hong-
kong.
107. Ardea cinerea, Linn,
Frequently seen.
108. Herodias egretta ? Cantonese, ''Pah haw" (White
Crane).
These birds are found in the neighbourhood of Canton, and
are brought alive to market, where they may often be seen stand-
ing at some shop-door, the primary quills twisted together into
a knot, and the eyes blindfolded by a feather passed through
the underlid of each eye and tied over the head. They are
called by Europeans " White Cranes." I procured a pair, which
I send for Mr. Sclater's inspection*.
* They seem to be H. intermedia (Wagler). See, for synonyms, Blyth's
Catalogue, p. 279.— P. L. S.
E 2
52 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithologij
Tip of bUl Naked
Length. Wing. TaU. Bill, to eye-angle, tibia. Tarsus. Mid-toe: its claw,
in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in. in.
Male 37A 15 6 4^ 5^ 5 6f 4| f
Female. ..35 13^ 3| 4 4| 3| 5^ 3t ^
Bill blackish brown ; base of culmen and gonys brownish yellow,
gradually yielding to the bright chrome of the cere, which tends
to greenish in the region of the eye. Iris king's-yellow. The
tibia of the male is madder-brown on the highest part ; but this
colour, as it descends, soon yields to the blackish brown which
prevails throughout the remainder of the legs and claws.
In the female the yellow on the face is paler, and the tibia
pale flesh-brown with a green tinge, which extends as far as the
upper portion of the tarsus.
109. Herodias garzetta (Linn.).
Common.
no. BuPHUs coROMANBUs (Bodd.).
Common.
111. BuTORiDEs JAVANICA (Hoi'sf.). Cautonesc, " Shuy
haou haw"
Met with near Canton. A male specimen in fine plumage was
brought to me by a Chinese. Its bill was black, with an ochreous
gonys; lore yellowish green. Iris clear yellow. Legs yellowish
sea-green on the upper surface, bright orange-ochre on the soles
and under surface ; claws dark brown.
112. Ardeola prasinosceles, Swinh.
Of frequent occurrence. A male was brought to me at Canton,
and I enclose it for Mr. Sclater's inspection, and for that gentle-
man to pronounce if he does not really think it distinct from A.
leucoptera and A. speciosa^. The bill of this specimen was beau-
tifully tinted with yellow and blue. Legs a fleshy yellowish,
yellower and tinted with greenish on the toes ; claws brownish.
* I consider it to be A. speciosa (Horsf.). Mr. Blytli observes, in re-
ference to this species, in a letter to Mr. Gurney, " It is curious that the
Squacco Heron of Africa (chiefly), the A. leucoptera of India, and the A.
speciosa of China, the Philippines, and Java, are so similar in winter dress
as hardly (even if at all, with absolute certainty) to be distinguishable, yet in
summer garb their colouring is most strikingly different."
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 53
The gizzard was of moderate size, and shaped like a bottle, con-
taining the remains of small Crustacea. The testicles were
oblongo-ovate, and measured, one 1 inch, the other \ inch in long
diameter. Curled in the intestines was a worm-like Ascaris, l\ in.
long; and from off the skin under the feathers I picked a tick
(Ixodes), about -^ in. in diameter, with very thin red-brown feet
and white, berry-like body.
113. Ardetta cinnamomea (Gmel.). CsLntonese," Fawhaw."
Common.
114. Ardetta sinensis (Gmel.). Cantonese, " Wong gaw-
haw."
Common.
115. Nycticorax GRisEus (Linn.). Cantonese, "ilfoo/i-sAo'o
haw."
This is the sacred bird of the great Honam Temple, Canton.
The court-yard in front of this temple contains some venerable
banyans, as well as a few towering cotton-trees [Bombax mala-
baricum). On the higher branches of the former the small flat
wicker-nests of the Night-Heron may be seen in all directions,
some only a foot or so from others ; and the croaking and flap-
ping and fighting that goes on overhead bears some distant re-
semblance to the crowded deck of an emigrant steamer on first
encountering a turbid sea. The granite slabs that form the pave-
ment beneath these trees are so bedaubed with the droppings of
old and young, that permission to scrape them clean daily might
prove a fine speculation for the guano-collector. The birds, from
the protection afforded them, were remarkably tame, and we
could stand beneath the trees and watch them without their
evincing the slightest fear. This was in April. Some might be
seen sitting on their nests, with their long legs bent under them,
the weight of their bodies resting for the most part on the tarsal
joint ; others standing on single leg close by, with shortened
neck, the beak and head occasionally moving partially round as
on a pivot ; others flapped to and fro, ruffling up their head-gear,
and occasionally sparring together. In their various movements,
the dark-green-black of the head and back, with the thin snow-
white occipital streamers flowing and quivering over the latter.
54 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
gave a quaint^ though not ungainly, look to the birds. From
some of the nests we heard a subdued chattering like the cry of
young, and it was to feed these hungry mouths that the parents
were constantly leaving the trees to seek for food at all times of
the day, while others were returning with supplies. As the sun
set, however, they became more active. While I sat watching
them from a neighbouring roof-top in the evening, numbers of
them emerged from the leafy darkness, and one by one settled
on the stark bare outstanding arms of the cotton-tree. After
resting for a little time like gaunt spectres on the tree top, off
they went, one after the other, with a " kwa" — seldom more than
two in the same direction. As darkness set in, many returned,
and the noise and hubbub from the trees rose to a fearful pitch.
Until night hid them from my view, 1 could see the old birds
going and coming, and hear the clamour of the young. What kind
of nocturnal slumbers the priests enjoyed in the temple below, I
never took the trouble to inquire, though I have little doubt that
from constant use the noise of these croakers has become quite
essential to their good night's rest.
Though these birds moved about very much during the day,
yet it strikes me that twilight is the most active time with them,
and that in most instances the departures during the day were to
seek food for the newly-hatched young, which would require
feeding oftener at first, and perhaps with more choice food.
I sent my man up one of the trees, whence he brought down
three nests, two of which contained eggs, and the third, two young
birds and one egg. Judging from their size, one of these little
birds must have been born at least three days before the other;
and on opening the egg I found a live chick inside, which would
have required at least two days before it could have ventured out.
The varying stages of the embryos in the other six eggs con-
firmed this idea. I should say the differences between them
could not have been more than six days, and certainly not less
than three; so that the Night- Heron must commence sitting on
the first egg laid, and while engaged in its incubation, keep on
laying, at fixed intervals, the other two, which form the comple-
ment.
In the smaller chick procured the eye was just opened, and of
of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton. 55
no determined colour. The bill and lore were of a yellowish
llesh-colour^ very pale, and tinged with blue. The legs of a
similar colour, with pale claws. The head and back were covered
with a long blackish down, and the rest of the body with more
or less whitish down, somewhat resembling sheep's wool. The
black down on the head was drawn out into long white tufts,
which stood out from the head like a crown of thick threads.
In the larger chick, the eye was of a pale sea-green ; the lore
and bill were tinged with yellowish green. The long down of the
head had opened out into filamentous ends. The legs were bluish
sea-green above, and sienna- yellow beneath. The bare skin of the
round projecting belly was sea-green, as also the dorsal skin. The
colour of the down was light purplish grey, tipped with white
on the crown, and giving place to white on the flanks and belly.
The cry it uttered was a weak imitation of the old bird's croak.
The immature plumage of the yearling appears to undergo little
change until the second winter, or until the bird is over two
years old. One of the nests taken was covered by a bird in this
first plumage, and the eggs were found to be narrower and of a
darker blue than those of the mature bird. An individual in
immature plumage was brought to me by a native, and the de-
velopment of the testicles was proof positive that the bird in this
plumage bred. It would be curious to inquire whether those in
the mature plumage pair with those in the immature. I have
certainly seen them together, but never ascertained whether two
such owned the same nest.
Immature bird, 6 . — Iris reddish yellow or bui-nt sienna. Lore
pale yellowish green, bluish towards the bill. Upper mandible
and apical third of lower black ; gonys, basal two-thirds of lower,
and a line just above the edge of the upper mandible for two-
thirds towards the base light yellowish green. Legs yellowish
green, with pale brown claws.
Mature bird, ? . — Lore bluish grey, with a slight tinge of
yellow ; bill black. Legs bright sienna-yellow, with a mixture of
ochre ; claws brownish black. Iris dark crimson.
A number of Ascarides were found in and about the intes-
tines of this individual. They were of a yellowish flesh-colour,
pointed at both ends, the longest measuring 3^ inches.
56 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Hongkong, &c.
Besides the colony of Night-Herons at Honam^ there is
another at the Old Man's Home, where a large pond is enclosed
by a hedge of tall bushes and shrubs^ and beyond this is a high
wall all round. Among these bushes the Night-Herons muster in
countless nuraberSj placing their nests on every suitable branch,
though often only a few feet from the ground. They are held
sacred by the priests in the adjoining temple^ and no one is
allowed to kill or disturb them.
116. ScoLOPAX RUSTicoLA, Linn.
Abundant during winter.
117. Gallinago uniclava, Hodgs.
Perhaps commoner than the succeeding species in winter, but
in summer nearly all retire. Among a number of Snipes shot in
May, only one of this species occurred.
118. Gallinago stenura (Temm.). Cantonese, " -S^a-c/my."
Great numbers stay and breed in the neighbourhood of
Canton.
119. Gallinula chloropus (Linn.).
Abounds in some places.
120. Gallicrex cristata (Lath.). Cantonese, " Can-turn"
A male specimen procured at Canton, which I forward for
Mr. Sclater's examination *. Some years ago I procured one at
Foochow.
Length 14^ in., wing 8f, tail 3|. Bill 2^m., to angle 1|;
bare tibia 1-^, tarsus 3 ; mid-toe 3g, its claw f . Bill greenish yel-
low, gradually yielding to vermilion as it approaches the basal
crest, which mounts high on the forehead, and is bounded by a
flesh-coloured line. Legs lead-colour, with a yellowish tinge,
especially on the tarsus; claws brown. Tail consisting of ten
feathers.
Gizzard oval, shaped like two shallow cups placed mouth to
mouth, very muscular. If in. long, lined inside with a thick,
broadly furrowed, moveable cuticle, and containing small shells,
mussels. Helices, &c., many of which were in a pulverized state.
Intestines 27 in. long : caeca situate 2| in. from anus ; right one
* It is certainly Gallicrex cristata. — P. L. S.
On the Anatomy of Cephalopterus penduliger. 57
2\ in. long, and bulging at the end ; left one 2f in., and of uni-
form size throughout.
121. PoRZANA PHCENicuRA (Penn.).
In a cage for sale at the city-gate. I was informed that it was
caught in the neighbourhood of Canton.
122. PoRZANA ERYTHROTHORAX (Tcmm.) : Faun. Japon.
pi. 78. p. 121. Cantonese, "Long kai."
The pretty female of this species that I forward home was
procured at Canton.
Length 8 in., wing 4}, expanse 1. Tail consisting of ten soft
feathers nearly 2 in. long. Bill : along culmen ^, along edge of
under mandible 1 in. ; of a leaden blue colour, blackish on the
roof ; the angle of the mouth reddish. Eye-rim vermilion ; iris
bright indian red. Tibia naked for |- in., tarsus Ifin.; mid-toe
1|- in., its claw ^. Legs bright madder-pink ; soles pale dingy
yellow, with sharp claws.
Tibial tendons rigid. Gizzard roundish, about ^ in. in dia-
meter, flattened, and somewhat muscular, lined with a moveable
greenish cuticle set with broad rugse. Cseca situate 1-^ in. from
anus ; left ^ long, right |, both of uniform size throughout.
It would be needless to add here a list of the marine Scolopa-
cid(B, AnseridcE, &c., because it is pretty certain that all these
migratory sea-birds that are found at Amoy are also found at
Hongkong, and thei'efore reference can easily be made to my
Amoy list, if the reader should wish for a notice of them. I
may, however, add to the list of Ducks the Shoveller,
Rhynchaspis clypeata (Linn.),
which was brought in great abundance to the Hongkong market
amongst other Ducks.
IV. — Note on the Anatomy of Cephalopterus penduliger.
By T. C. Eyton, F.Z.S.
I RECEIVED only the body of this bird, taken out of one of the
specimens sent home by Mr. Eraser, and described, in the 'Pro-
ceedings' of the Zoological Society, by Mr. Sclater (1860, p. Q7).
The greater portion of the intestines was gone.
58 Mr. R. Owen on the Nesting
The tongue was pointed, horny at the tip, arrow-shaped ; the
epiglottis fringed with bristles, their points directed backwards ;
the trachea 0*4 (inch) in diameter in its upper poi'tion for one
inch, thence gradually dilated into an oblong bulb, which be-
comes 0"7 (inch) in diameter at its widest part near the centre.
Immediately below the bulb the trachea is contracted to a
width of 0*3 (inch), but again gradually increases in size to the
bronchia, which are very large and increase in size to the sixth
ring, afterwards rapidly decreasing. The sixth ring is very
broad in comparison with the other bronchial rings attached
to it. There are two large oval glands, one on the outer side
and one on the inner side, between the branches of the bi'onchia.
The trachea is furnished with the usual sterno-tracheal muscles,
a few fibres decending from them to the sixth ring. The
oesophagus is large in diameter, and swells out into a capacious
crop, which was much damaged in the present specimen. It is
contracted below the crop, but again becomes enlarged to the
proventriculus, which is shghtly thickened, smooth internally,
and lined at its lower extremity by the epithelium.
The stomach, which was filled with hard seeds about the size of
a small hazel-nut, is slightly muscular, 2 inches long by 1| inch
in diameter; the epithelium is slightly hardened, and corrugated
longitudinally. The liver is bilobed.
V. — On the Nesting of some Guatemalan Birds. By Egbert
Owen, C.M.Z.S. With Remarks by Osbert Salvin, M.A.,
F.Z.S.
(Plate II.)
When I left Guatemala in April last, Mr Owen kindly under-
took to procure for me what eggs he could of the birds found
about San Geronimo. By the mail of September I received a
box containing the result of his labours, together with the notes
relating to their capture. The collection altogether comprises
102 specimens, the number of species being 23. Of these I had
previously obtained six. Five of these have been already figured
in this Journal, vol. i. pi. 5 ; and the sixth is the egg of Sialia
ivilsoni, the well-known Blue Bird of North America. Amongst
. 3.
Ibis, 1861 FIE.
1.
EGGS OF GUATEMALAN BIRDS.
"W C. Hewitsan, del et lith,1860
Printed try Hxdbna^iAel ^Walton.
of some Guatemalan Birds. 59
the remaining 1 7 we have a most valuable addition to our know-
ledge of neotropical birds in the egg of the Quezal [Pharomacrus
paradiseus), as well as in those oi Eumomota superciliaris, Pachy-
rhamplms aglaice, Geococcyx affinis, Urubitinga anthracina, and
Asturina nitida, which, together with Mimus gracilis, Polioptila
albiloris, Icterus gularis, I. mentalis, Centurus santacruzi, and
CEdicnemus vocifer, I believe to be now described for the first time.
The value of these eggs is very much enhanced by the exceedingly
careful way in which they have been collected. In every case but
one, that of Eumomota super ciliaris, where no mistake could
have been made, one of the parent birds was procured. Each
egg was written on in ink, and the bird ticketed with a cor-
responding number. The nests, too, which I shall describe below,
have in many cases been sent. To the name of each species I
have added a short description and the measurements of the
egg. The rest of the paper is from Mr. Ovven^s pen. — O.S.
As any one who has travelled in this country will know, the
drawbacks a collector has to contend with are not a few. Let
these be my excuse for the smallness of my collection, which, I
can assure my readers, is the result of some pretty hard work,
and much exposure to a scorching sun. What disappointments
the would-be naturalist has to suffer ! Nests found, but the
wary birds not at home when called upon. Long and fruitless
vigils to be kept, gun in hand, behind some bush, — safe, as
one flatters oneself, from observation, and all the while a help-
less victim to swarms of delighted mosquitoes, which vie with
each other in their endeavours to improve the opportunity of
tasting a little European blood. Then it would appear that the
powers of the unseen work to one^s confusion. The other day
I lost a very fine specimen of the ' Kolol ' ) Tinamus robicstus ?)
from a "bruja" having cast upon it the evil eye. Such at least
was its end according to the belief of a ''carbonero" who was
bringing it to me from the mountain. He was coming along
cheerfully enough with the bird under his arm, when he met a
female of the " bruja" family; there was no time to cover it up
before the mischief was done, and the victim struggling to
death, all the while uttering most unusual cries.
60 Mr. R. Owen on the Nesting
The first showers of the rainy season appear to be the signal
for nesting to begin ; but a few species seem to anticipate this,
and commence operations with the rains which fall in April.
1. TuRDus GRAYii. " Cien-sonte." San Geronimo. Bird and
several eggs.
The nest of this Thrush is described in * The Ibis/ vol. i. p. 6,
and the egg figured on pi. 5.
The nest of the " Cien-sonte " is usually to be found in the
hedge-rows and stunted bushes. The bird though common, is
very shy.
2. MiMUS GRACILIS. " Cien-sonte mejicano." San Geronimo,
May 30, 1860. Bird and several eggs.
General colour of the egg (Plate II. fig. 2) pale greenish grey,
blotched with spots of red-brown and two shades of faint lilac.
Axis 1*05 in., diam. '7.
I see in my note-book that at this date (May 30) the breed-
ing-time of this species is very advanced, it being among the
earliest to begin building. Most of the nests I have taken were
in the Nopales or cochineal-plantations, the nests being placed in
the cactus. They are also to be found in the hedge-rows and
bushes of the plain, usually in somewhat exposed places, about
5 or 6 feet from the ground. I have unfortunately neglected
to send the nest, which is peculiar in having its rim or edge
crowned with a circle of long thorns. The complement of eggs
is three, and frequently two or three eggs of the " Tordito "
{Molothrus ceneus). In one instance I found in the same nest
two eggs of the Mock-bird and five of the " Tordito.^'
The " Cien-sonte mejicano " is a shy bird, and does not easily
fall a victim to the bird-catcher, by whom it is much persecuted
for its unrivalled powers of song. I have known as much as
six and even ten dollars refused for a good songster.
3. SiALiA wiLSONi. " Azulejo." Bird and four eggs.
The eggs of this bird are too well known to need description.
Four eggs, without nest, which was destroyed, from the high
coarse grass which grows in the uncultivated parts of the cane-
field.
of some Guatemalan Birds. 61
4. PoLioPTiLA ALBiLORis. Choacus, May 15, 18G0. Female
bird, nest, and four eggs.
The nest is composed outwardly of dried stalks of grass and
roots, with a coating of cobweb and other adhesive materials.
The interior lining consists of the feathery parts of seeds, horse-
hair, and fine grass, the whole forming a very neat, compact
structure, measuring If inch across the inside, and 1^ inch in
depth.
The eggs (Plate 11. fig. 3) are white, spotted with red, prin-
cipally of two shades, the spots increasing in number towards the
obtuse end. They measure, axis "6, diam, '45 in.
The nest was procured from Choacus, near the Rio Montagua,
the same locality whence the male specimen was obtained from
which the description in P.Z.S. 1860, p. 298, was taken.
Female bird, nest, and four eggs advanced in incubation.
The nest was taken in the " monte bajo " (low brushwood) grow-
ing almost under the eaves of one of the ranchos.
5. CoTYLE SERRiPENNis. " Golondrina." San Geronimo, May
20, 1860. Bird, nest, and five eggs.
The nest is composed of grass and fine roots, the inside being
strewn with pieces of dead flag.
The eggs are white, and measure, axis "7, diam. *5 in.
The nest was dug out of the white sandy soil of a barranco in
the Convent garden. The cave ran horizontally, and was about
2 feet in length, terminating in a chamber of just sufficient di-
mensions to allow the bird to turn round.
6. Progne dominicensis. Female bird and four eggs.
The eggs are white, and measure, axis, '85, diam. '63 in.
Mr. Owen has sent no note with these eggs.
7. MoLOTHRUs jEneus. " Tovdito." San Geronimo, June 2,
1860. Several eggs.
The eggs are pale greenish white, and measure, axis 1 inch,
diam. To.
A few eggs of the " Tordito," taken from the nests of the
" Chorcha " [Icterus] and the " Cien-sonte mejicano" {Mimus gra-
cilis). The Indians here all identify these eggs as those of the
" Tordito." However, personally, I have never surprised the bird
63 Mr. R. Owen on the Nesting
on the nest of any other species. At the same time I may add
that I have never seen it either building or occupied in any other
domestic , occupation whatever, which somewhat confirms the
statement aforesaid. The eggs are found most commonly in the
nests of the "Chorcha" and the " Cien-sonte mejicano," and occa-
sionally in that of the largest species of " Chatillo " [Pitangus
derbianus).
8. Icterus gularis. " Chorcha.^' San Geronimo, June 8,
1860. Hen bird and one e.^^.
The egg is a pale grey, blotched and streaked with very dark
brown. It measures, axis 1 in., diam. "7.
Mr. Owen describes the method of taking the nests of these
Icteri in the note attached to the next species.
9. Icterus mentalis. " Chorcha." San Geronimo, May 5,
1860. Several birds' nests and eggs.
The materials used by this bird for its nest — and doubtless
the same applies to the foregoing species — vary considerably -,
the structure, however, is the same in all. It is a compact and
firmly woven nest, attached at the top to the ends of a bough,
its length varying from 1 to 2 feet. In some, the materials
used are fine dried creepers and twigs, with here and there a
leaf; in others, fibrous roots and the stringy centres of the
Maguey leaves ; while others are formed exclusively of a species
of Tillandsia. All are spherical at the bottom, and have a long
loophole at the top for the entrance.
The eggs (Plate II. fig. 5) are like the last — a pale grey, spotted
and streaked with very dark brown ; on some there are marks of
faint lilac. They measure, axis, 1*05 in., diam. -7.
The " Chorcha " generally nests in colonies of four or five ; I
have never found more together : but it not unfrequently
selects a completely isolated spot for its graceful, pendent nest.
The breeding-place is mostly chosen on the banks of rivers or
upon some tributary stream, over which the nest swings securely
in the breeze. At first I experienced some difficulty in taking
these nests, as they hang from the extreme points of the boughs,
and, being rarely less than 18 feet from the ground, are inac-
cessible to the climber. The only way to obtain them is to
of some Guatemalan Birds. 63
provide oneself with a long light cord with a running noose at
the end, and a few wild canes lashed together, so as to make two
rods of the required length. At the extremity of one a bush-
knife must be tied firmly, so that when the rod is held up with
the knife uppermost, it points to the ground, the edge facing
the cane at a small angle. By means of the other rod the noose
is slipped over the nest a little below the aperture through which
the bird passes, and the other end left hanging down. When
the bird returns to the nest the string is drawn tight, and
nothing remains but to cut the twig by which the nest hangs,
with the knife, first twisting the other rod into the top of the
nest, so as to lower it gradually when free. The number of
eggs laid by one bird is two. There are, however, often eggs of
the " Tordito " in the nest.
10. Cyanocitta melanocyanea. " Charra." San Gero-
nimo, April 29, 1860. Bird and several eggs.
The nest and egg of this species are described in ' The Ibis,'
vol. i. p. 21, and the egg figured on pi. 5.
The nest is invariably found in low thick bushes, about 6 feet
from the ground.
11. PiTANGus DERBiANus. " P echo amarUla." San Gero-
nimo, April 10, 1860. Bird, two nests, and several eggs.
The nest and eggs of this bird are described in ' The Ibis,'
vol. i. p. 120, and the egg figured on pi. 5.
Among the eggs sent, there is considerable variation in size
and colouring. Three correspond with the figure ; the rest are
much more distinctly spotted, with smaller and darker spots.
One of the nests I send has two openings j one, however,
seems to be the rule : they are usually built at the ends of
boughs, at various elevations from the ground, but always ex-
ceeding 8 feet. A favourite haunt is the Banana groves, where
their nests may be found firmly wedged in among the golden
clusters of the Banana fruit.
12. Tyrannus melancholicus. " Pecho amarilla.'' San
Geronimo, May 10, 1860. Hen bird, two nests, and several eggs.
The nest and egg of this species are also described in * The
Ibis,' vol. i. p. 121, and the egg figured on pi. 5.
The nest of this bird is built upon the tops of low bushes or
64 Mr. R. Owen on the Nesting
hedges, 7 or 8 feet from the ground, the site chosen being free
from overhanging branches.
13. Myiozetetes texensis. San Geronimo, May 5, 1860. Male
and female bird, nest, and several eggs.
The nest and eggs of this species also are described in ' The
Ibis,^ vol. i. p. 123, and the egg figured on pi. 5.
14. Pachyrhamphus aglai^. Choacus, May 15, 1860.
Female bird, nest, and two eggs.
The nest is composed of tendrils, strips of bark, and grass,
the interior and exterior being of the same materials, which are
woven so as to form a hanging nest open at the top, 2 inches
deep inside, and 2| inches in diameter.
The egg (Plate II. fig. 4) is white, beautifully marked with
pencillings of a pinkish red and occasional spots of the same
colour. These markings are much blended and concentrated at
the larger end. It measures, axis '95, diam. '6 in.
These eggs were in an advanced stage of incubation. The
nest was built between, and hanging from, the forked branch of
a sapling at the foot of the mountain. The bird was very tame.
15. Antrostomus ?*, Night Hawk. Mountain of Santa
Barbara, April 20, 1860. Hen bird with two eggs.
The eggs are white, and measure, axis 1*05 in., diam. '8. I do
not quite understand these eggs being white, except by supposing
them to be accidentally so. In other respects, i. e. in form and
texture, they agree with the eggs of other species of Caprimulgida.
These eggs, two in number, were found on the ground, at the
foot of a large pine-tree. There was no nest.
16. EuMOMOTA suPERCiLiARis. " Torovoz." San Geronimo,
May 21, 1860. Several eggs.
The nest is described below.
The egg is glossy white, and measures, axis 1 in., diam. '8.
The form of the egg is quite that of a Merops.
This appears to be the height of the breeding-season with the
" Torovoces.^' They are in full song, if their croaking note may
be so termed, and are as noisy and busy now as they are mute
* The species is nearly allied to (perhaps identical with) A, vociferus. —
P. L. S.
of some Guatemalan Birds. 65
and toi-pid during the rest of the year. I do not know of any-
sound that will convey a better idea of the note than that pro-
duced by the laboured respiration occurring after each time the
air is exhausted in the lungs by the spasms of the hooping-cough.
The nest of the 'Torovoz^ is subterranean, and is usually found
in the banks of rivers, or of water-courses which empty into
them. The excavation is horizontal, and at a distance from the
surface, varying with the depth of the barranco or bank in which
it is situated. The size of the orifice is sufficient to allow the bare
arm to be introduced, the shape being round and regular for 3,
or at most 9 feet, where the shaft terminates in a circular chamber
about 8 inches in diameter and 5 inches high. In this chamber the
eggs, usually four in number, are deposited upon the bare soil.
The banks of the river which winds through the plain of San
Geronimo are full of excavations made by this bird, — that is to
say, in such places where the soil is light and the bank chops
down perpendicularly. It is a simple matter to hit upon those
which are inhabited, as the entrance to the abandoned ones will
be found perfectly smooth, whereas the mouth of those which
contain eggs or young is ploughed up in two parallel furrows
made by the old bird when passing in and out. The ' Torovoz '
is exceedingly tame, and, when startled from its nest, will,
perched upon a bough a few yards distant, watch the demolition
of its habitation with a degree of attention and fancied security
more easily imagined than described.
I am now never able to induce my " darky " Chus to plunge
his arms into the holes to seek the eggs ; so I have either to do it
myself, or to dig right up to the far end. At first he was ' muy
valiente •' but it chanced one day, whilst hanging on to a root
halfway down the bank of a river, with one arm buried in a
* cueva/ that the tips of his fingers suddenly came in contact with
the damp abdomen of a callow * Torovoz.' " Carraraba, Don
Roberto \" screamed the poor fellow, looking as white as he
could through his African skin, "me pico la culebra V There-
upon he fell-to in good earnest, invoking the saints to save him,
running over a long list of them, many of whose names I had
never heard before. Not until after much digging (we had
already cut a good piece of the bank down to enable him to reach
VOL. HI. r
66 Mr. 0. Salvin uv, the Nesting
the nest), and a fair sight of the supposed reptile, would he be
comforted, and then, with fervent maledictions on the genus in
general, and this species in particular, he shouldered his gun and
walked on in silence.
17. Pharomacrus paradiseus. " Quezal." Mountains of
Santa Cruz, June 11, 1860. Female bird and two eggs.
The egg (Plate II. fig. 1) is a bluish green, without spots or
markings, its form being like that of the egg of any other Fissi-
rostral species. It measures, axis l'4iu., diam. 1*15 in.
These eggs and the bird were exhibited at a Meeting of the
Zoological Society, November 13, 1860.
In an expedition to the mountain of Santa Cruz, one of our
hunters told me that he knew of a Quezal's nest about a league
from Chilasco, a place in the same range, and offered to shoot
for me the female and bring me the eggs if I would send my
servant to help him. This I accordingly did, and my man re-
turned with the hen and two eggs. They stated that they found
the nest in a hollow of a decayed forest-tree, about 26 feet from
the gi'ound. There was but one orifice, not more than suffi-
ciently large to allow the bird to enter, and the whole interior
cavity was barely large enough to admit of the bird turning
round. Inside there were no signs of a nest, beyond a layer of
small particles of decayed wood upon which the eggs were de-
posited. The mountaineers all say that the bird avails itself of
the deserted hole of a Woodpecker for its nesting-place, probably
founding the supposition on the evident inaptness of the bird's
beak for boring into trees. — R. 0.
I think that this satisfactory account at once sets at rest the
disputed points regarding the breeding of the Quezal. My own
belief is, and always has been, that the male bird never incubates
the eggs, but leaves that duty entirely to the female. The origin
of the story of the nest being placed in a hole passing through
the tree has evidently arisen from the inability of supposing any
other form of nest in the hollow of a tree which could dispose of
the tail of the male bird. Imagination came to the rescue, and
suggested the one hole for the bird to enter, and the other for it
to pass out. That the story took its origin in Guatemala I have
of some Guatemalan Birds. 67
no doubt ; I have frequently had described to me such a nest, but
never by one who had seen it. — 0. S.
18. Geococcyx affinis. "Siguamonte" ov^Guardacamino."
San Geronimo, April 3, 1860. Bird and four eggs.
The egg is pure white with a smooth surface ; it measures,
axis 1*45 in., diam. 1'05 in.
This is a very common bird at San Geronimo. It builds its
nest in the forks of trees, generally about 12 feet from the
ground. The nest is a loose unfinished-looking structure, con-
sisting of a few dried twigs lined with stalks of grass.
19. Centurus SANTACRUZii. *' Carpentero." San Geronimo,
June 2, 1860. Bird and four eggs.
The eggs are pure white, but somewhat stained with spots of
foreign matter; they measure, axis 1 in., diam. "75.
These eggs were taken in one of the high trees w^hich are
scattered all over the plain of San Geronimo. They were quite
fresh.
20. PoLYBORUs THARUS. " Quebranta-hueso^ San Gero-
nimo, April 2, 1860. Two birds and four eggs.
The egg, which is well known in North American collections,
has a light-red ground colour, but is spotted and blotched all
over with several shades of a darker red. It measures, axis
2*15 in., diam. 1*6 in.
One nest which I took was built on the very crown of a high
tree in the plain of San Geronimo. It was made of small
branches twisted together, and had a slight lining of coarse
grass. It was shallow, and formed a mass of considerable size.
I had some trouble in getting the eggs : the position of the nest
and the thick branchless trunk of the tree were difficulties which
the Indian whose services I had engaged pronounced insur-
mountable. All my proposed expedients for facilitating his
ascent were knocked on the head by that everlasting " Quien
sabe. Patron V and it was only on the following conditions that
my dusky friend allowed himself to be tied to one end of a
lasso, the other end being thrown over the lowest branch and
hauled through the air until he got into fair climbing. I was
to pay him well if he went up and came down again safely ; but
r2
G8 Mr. 0. Salvin on the Nesting of some Guatemalan Birds.
if on the other hand he made his descent head foremost and
died from the effects of the fall, I was to marry his widow and
be a kind father to his children. Thus promising, in the blind-
est compliance, all obstacles were at once removed.
21. Urubitinga ANTHRACiNA. " GavHan.'' San Geronimo,
April 29, 1860. Bird and one egg.
The egg is white, with an inner surface of sea-green, as in all
eggs of the Buteonidce. The outer surface is beautifully mai'ked
with blotches of lilac and spots of three shades of red. It mea-
sures, axis 2*15 in., diam. 1*7 in.
Taken, at San Geronimo, from a high tree at the foot of the
mountain-range which bounds the plain.
22. AsTURTNA NiTiDA. " GavHan." San Geronimo, April 3,
1860. Three birds and three eggs.
These eggs are all white, without natural colouring. The
inner coating of the shell is sea-green. They strengthen the
close connexion which exists between Asturina and Astur.
The nest of this Hawk is usually found in the high trees
which are scattered over the plain, and not unfrequently within-
a few yards of the Indian ranches. Two eggs seem to be the
complement laid by one bird.
23. (Edicnemus bistriatus*. " A/caraban." Plain of San
Geronimo, May 5, 1860. Bird and one egg.
The egg is precisely like that of CE. crepitans, being of a
pale ochreous brown spotted all over with several shades of dark
brown. It measures, axis 2*3 in., diam. 1*45 in.
I have only been able to obtain one egg of this bird. Their
nesting-time must have been long past, judging from the size of
the young birds which may be seen in the plain. The egg was
stale, but the old birds still frequented the spot where it was
found. The egg was deposited on the bare ground, the place
chosen being slightly hollowed out, and at the foot of a straggling
shrub which afforded a slight shade.
* This Qidicnemus proves to be (E. bisiriatus (Wagl ) : CE. vocifer,
L'lleim. Ma». de Zool. 1837, pi. 84.— Ed.
Ibis. 1860, PI. m.
xJ. JermeD.s,litli .
M & N.HajJidirt^riap^"
TINNUITCULUS ALOPEX
Dr. Heuglin on some Birds of North-Eastern Africa. GD
EXPLANATION OF PLATE IL
Fig. L Egg of Pharomacrus paradiseus (p. 60).
Fig. 2. Egg of Mimus gracilis (p. 60).
Fig. 3. Egg of Polioptila albiloris (p. 61).
Fig. 4. Egg of Pachyrhampkus aglaia (p. 64).
Fig. 5. Egg of Icterus mentalis (p. 62).
VI. — On new or little-known Birds of North-Eastern Africa.
By Hofrath Theodor von Heuglin. (Part II.)
[Continued from vol. ii. p. 414.]
(Plate IV.)
III. TiNNUNCULUS ALOPEx, Heuglin. (Plate IV.) {Falco
alopex, Heugl. Uebers. der Vogel N.O. Afr. no. 51.)
T. ferrugineus, subalaribus paulo pallidioribus, totus nigro stri-
atus : caudffi fasciis xviii-xx jequalibus, transversis, nigri-
cantibus : remigibus fusco-nigris rufescente variegatis et
basin versus interne albis : long, tota (foem. adultse) 1*1,
alse 10'6, caudse 7*0, tarsi 1-9 poll, et lin. Gall.
Hab. In prov. Galabat et locis vicinis.
The general colour of tbis bird is fox-red, witb well-defined
blackisb spots along the shafts of the feathers. The tail is some-
what darker superiorly, with from eighteen to twenty narrow
inconspicuous cross-bands on the shafts of the rectrices. The
last of these cross-bands is not conspicuously broader and better
defined than the next to it, and there is no lighter edge at the
extremity of the tail. The lower coverts of the wings are scarcely
lighter than the body, and each feather has a dark spot on the
shaft ; the inner barbs of the primaries and secondaries are
whitish at the roots. The soft parts are greenish yellow ; the
bill and claws are bluish, the base of the lower bill yellowish, the
iris brown.
I discovered this bird, which is easily distinguished from all the
other species of Tinnunculus, during my sporting excursions into
the countries on the Upper Nile. With regard to its proportions,
it is intermediate between F. tinnunculus and F. rupicoloides, but
is more slender and has the wings longer than either of them.
70 Dr. Heusrlin on new or little-known Birds
'O
The bill is longer and not so strong : the toes and tarsi are some-
what longer; the latter are shielded upwards to half their height.
The species is to be recognized at a distance by its red colour,
by the ferruginous lower coverts of the wings, and by the abs-
ence of grey on the head and of any broad band on the tail.
As far as I know, it is confined to very narrow limits, as I have
only found it on the western frontier of the provinces of Wochni,
Galabat, and Goara, and in the prairies of Eastern Sennaar,
near Atbara, where it inhabits steep, isolated, volcanic, rocky
mountains, sometimes in company with F. tinnunculus. It ap-
pears to nest in clefts of the rocks in preference to high trees,
and hunts for its prey, which consists chiefly of grasshoppers,
Mantides, and Truchsalides, in the morning and evening. Like
F. erythrojms and F. cesalon, it devours its prey (holding it in
its claws) as it flies, after having previously picked off" the legs.
I have never found birds or mammals in its stomach, but some-
times large beetles (Copris and Ateuchus). Whenever the prairie
takes fire at the time of the drought, this Kestrel hurries to the
spot, often from a distance of several miles, and there joins the
great flocks of other insectivorous birds which assemble to hunt
after orthopterous and lepidopterous insects, snakes, and other
animals that are attempting to escape from the flames. It is
difficult to describe the impression made by so strange a spec-
tacle. A sea of flame, fluctuating and roaring like thundei',
spreads rapidly as lightning through the dry and high grass,
and is overshadowed by a black smoke, which eclipses the day-
light and reflects the shooting flashes of fire. Amid this
uproar of the elements, the Bee-eater {Merops nuhicus, Gm.),
the Parasitic Kite {Milvus parasiticus), the diffiei'ent species of
Circus and Tinnunculus are franticly chasing and pursuing their
prey, sometimes plunging into the midst of the smoke, and for
the moment disappearing in it. It often happens that one
of them singes its wings or tail. This infernal scene is followed
by a flock of Storks [Sphenorhynchus ahdimii) , which, melancholy
and grave, stride over the burnt and still glowing prairie, seizing
the half-roasted grasshoppers with the never-missing thrust of
their bills, or robbing of their prey the unfortunate Plovers
{ChettusicB) which happen to come into too close proximity.
of North-Eastern Africa. 7\
I have never found Tinmmculas alopex in the interior of Abys-
sinia, in the prairies of Kordofan, or on the Blue and White
Niles, but it probably occurs in the southern parts of the Pen-
insula of Sennaar (near Djebel Rora and Djebel Gul) and in
Taka. It is not more shy than the species most closely allied to
it, and its voice is also the same. I add a more detailed de-
scription.
The ground-colour is fox-red, with the exception of the throat,
which is dirty yellowish olive : there is a blackish spot before the
eye, produced downwards into a sort of beard, and deep-coloured
stripes on the shafts of the feathers of the upper part of the
body, of the breast, belly, and of the sides; these stripes are
brownish on the lower coverts of the tail and on the longest of
the upper coverts. Wing-feathers brownish-black, with trans-
verse, sometimes continuous, ferruginous spots on the inner
barbs, which become gradually lighter and nearly white at the
bases. The secondaries and tertiaries have a dirty yellowish-
olive margin at the extremities, and the transverse spots extend
also to the outer web, being interrupted by the shaft. The
scapularies have the spots on the shafts broader and rounded at
one end, and some of them have indistinct, dark, transverse
marks, probably the remnants of an earlier stage of plumage.
The tail is dark ferruginous superiorly, with the shafts some-
what darker ; it is lighter inferiorly, with from eighteen to twenty
narrow cross-bands, interrupted by the shafts, and gradually
becoming broader and more deeply coloured at the extremity.
The broad terminal band, however, which is found in most of the
other species, and the light coloration of the extremity, are en-
tirely absent.
The lower coverts of the wings show the same coloration as
the upper parts of the body, whilst they are light olive and
black-spocted in F. tinnunculus, rupicola, &c., and uniform yel-
lowish white in F. rupicoloides.
The male is distinguished by a rather more intense coloration,
the female by its somewhat larger size. The wings extend nearly
to the end of the tail.
I know nothing of the earlier plumage, the propagation, &c.
of this Kestrel. 1 have found it from the month of December
to May, always in the same localities.
72 Dr. HeuKlin on new or little-known Birds
*o
Typical specimens have been sent to the collections of Berlin,
Frankfort, Stuttgardt, Vienna, and to that of Pastor Brehm. The
other species of Tinnunculus observed by me in North-Eastcrn
Africa are the following : —
1. Tinnunculus cenchris (Naum.).
Very common during the spring in Lower Egypt, especially
round Alexandria, breeding in the walls of the citadel. I shot
it in the month of May near Cairo, and met with single speci-
mens on the Nile, through the whole of Egypt and Nubia. We
shot one specimen in the month of April (1853) in Galabat, on
the western frontier of Abyssinia, lliippell appears to have
found it also in Eastern and Central Abyssinia.
2. Tinnunculus alaudarius, Briss. (7*. rufescens, Sw. ?)
This is a stationary bird in Egypt, Arabia, and Nubia, and
single specimens occur in Abyssinia, Kordofan, Sennaar, &c.
It breeds as early as the month of March, in numerous pairs,
near the Pyramids, in the tombs of Sagara, &c.
3. Tinnunculus rupicola, Daud.
I have not found it ; but Riippell says that it is frequent in
the whole of North-Eastern Africa (Syst. Uebers. p. 11. no. 33).
4. Tinnunculus vespertinus (Linn.).
Often seen in numerous flocks, in every sort of plumage, in
autumn and spring in Lower Egypt, near ditches, fences, and
bushes. Single specimens occur in Upper Egypt, Nubia, and
Sennaar. It does not regularly make its appearance, and some-
times several years pass without a single specimen being met
with.
IV. Melierax metabates, sp. nov.
71/. Melieraci polyzono affinis sed paulo minor, et differt pedibus
et rostro robustioribus, illis flavis ; colore terg?ei obscuriore;
plumis axillaribus dorso concoloribus, pogoniis externis
rectricis primse sexties aut septies fasciatis : rectricum late-
ralium apicibus albis multo angustioribus ; regionibus
mystacali, ophthalmica et parotica vertice concoloribus :
long, tota (maris adulti) vix 15'0, rostri a fronte 1'25, ab
angulo oris 1'3, alt. rostri 8*5, alse ]2"0, caudse 7'5, digiti
medii cum ungue 2*4, hall, cum ungue 1 '7, tarsi 3*2 poll, et
lin. Gall. : ceromate et ix'idibus pallide flavis.
Hah. In reg. Nili albi sup.
of North- Eastern Africa. 73
One of the natives killed a specimen of Melierax in the year
1853-1854, on the upper Bahr el Abiad, between 6° and 7°
N.lat. His attention had been directed to the bii'd by its habits
being very different from those of M. polyzonus. Although its
general form was extremely similar to that of the species named,
and to that of M. musicus, a more accurate comparison appeared
to be necessary, and considerable differences were soon disco-
vered. Not venturing, however, to found a new species on my
sole authority, I have sent the unique specimen to Dr. Hartlaub
of Bremen, who declares it certainly to be a good and new
species, and I therefore hasten to make it known.
Comparing this bird with M. polyzonus and M. musicus, we
observe that the head and ocular region are of the same colour,
whilst the latter is black in the two other species ; the transverse
streaks on the belly and on the upper and lower coverts of the
tail are broader and more intense ; the upper and inner (not
lower) surfaces of the fore-arm are not variegated with white ;
there are more numerous and more intensely coloured transverse
bands on the tail ; the pure white extremities of the rectrices are
less broad ; there are four or five white, somewhat greyish-
dotted cross-bands on the third rectrix, besides the white spot on
the extremity. The hind-toe with nail is more than 2 lines
longer than in M. polyzonus, male. The lateral upper coverts of
the tail are not white as in F. musicus, but transversely striated
as in M. polyzonus. The tarsus is 2 inches long, from the end
of the feathers to the base of the toes.
I am not able to give any details concerning the habits and
distribution of this species. Perhaps it is not rare on the Bahr
el Abiad, but generally confounded with M. polyzonus.
Melierax polyzonus (a species very distinct from M. mu-
sicus) lives in North-Eastern Africa, from 17° or 16° N. lat.
southwards, in the southern parts of Nubia, in Kordofan, Taka,
Sennaar, Abyssinia, and in the Somali country. It is by no
means a rare bird (except in the higher mountainous parts),
not shy, and easily tamed. I found an apparently new nest in
February 1857, in the Bajada Desert, on a high, thickly-leaved
Mimosa. It was necessary to make a great noise in order to
induce the bird to leave the nest, and we had then no time to
74 Dr. Heii2;liu on neiv or little-known Birds
'O
examine it. The natives assured me that the bird frequently
breeds on palms round Chartum.
The other species of Asturina found in North-Eastern Africa
are: —
1. ASTUR PALUMBARIUS, L.
" Single, in Egypt/^ Riipp. Probably in winter only.
2. AsTUR MELANOLEUCUs, Smith. Fazogloa, Paul von Wiir-
temb.
3. MiCRONisus MONOGRAMMicus (Tcmm.).
Rare, in dense bushes in Western Abyssinia (Galabat), in
Fazogloa, and along the Bahr el Abiad. This species is very shy,
appears to migrate, and to breed in the month of May. The
iris is very large and brown.
4. MiCRONisus GABAR (Daud.). Var. nilotica, Sundev.
The most northern point of its occurrence on the Nile is,
according to my observations, m Middle Nubia, in the provinces
of Dar-Mahas and Dar-Sukot. It is very frequent in Southern
Nubia, somewhat rarer in Kordofan, Abyssinia, Sennaar, on the
Bahr el Abiad and Bahr el Azrak. Lichtenstein, as long ago
as in his ' Doubletten-Verzeichniss,' pointed out the differences
between the eastern and western varieties : — " Specimina e Nubia
et Africa australi Nisum magnitudine superant : mas 14", foem.
15^" longa. Senegalensia autem multo minora : mas 10", foem.
ll'Monga; sed vix specie diversa." Conf. Sundev. Oefvers. 1850,
p. 132.
5. MiCRONisus NIGER (Vieill.).
Always met with singly in Western Abyssinia, Sennaar, and
Kordofan. The most northern point at which I have found this
species is Dabbeh, on the frontier between Dar-Dongola and
Dar-Schaikieh. I doubt not that it is a good species, different
from the preceding. Iris and feet pale yellow.
6. AcciPiTER SPHENURUS (Riipp.).
Rare in Kolla (Western Abyssinia) and on the Blue Nile ; pro-
bably in Southern Kordofan. The bird described* by Strickland
as a variety of this species probably belongs to A. minullus. A
* Proc. Zool. Soc. 1850, p. 215.
of North-Easteini Africa. 7o
young bird, similar to Strickland's specimen (which came from
Kordofan), shot by myself near Chartum in a Mimosa-forest,
has been accurately compared with an old Abyssinian specimen
of A. minullus, without any specific difference having been
discovered.
7. AcciPiTER MINULLUS (Daud.).
Rare, in thick bushes on the Blue Nile, in Western Abyssinia,
on the Mareb. East-African specimens appear to form a very
constant variety.
8. AcciPiTER PERSPiciLLARis (Rupp.) (probably identical with
A. exilis, Temm.).
Rare in iVbyssina and on the Blue Nile.
9. AcciPiTER UNDULIVENTRIS (Riipp.).
Single specimens occur in the valleys of Simen, in Abyssinia
(Rupp.).
10. AcciPiTER Nisus (Linn.).
Frequent in Egypt during the winter, occasionally in Arabia,
and along the Nile southwards to Kordofan and Sennaar.
V. BuTEO MINOR, sp. nov. (?).
B. Buteoni tachardo simillimus, sed differt rostro longiore et
graciliore, pedibus longioribus : tibiarum partibus f aut A
(in B. tachardo adulto |) nudis : remigum tertia (in B.
tachardo quarta) longissima : dorso et tectricibus alarum
chalybeo-nitentibus : long, tota (foemin. adult.) 15^, rostri
ab angulo oris 1*4, rostri a fronte 1"0, tarsi 2'8, caud?e 7*0,
alje 12.
Hab. In Africa Bor. Orient, regione pluviosa.
A species of Buteo, closely allied to B. tachardus, is found
singly in the regions situated within the rainy zone of North-
Eastern Africa. I have called it Buteo minor. The bill is longer
and more slender than in B. tachardus ; the tarsi are several lines
longer, one-fourth or one-fifth of their length being covered
with feathers ; the third primary is the longest. The colours
are subject to variations, as in B. tachardus and B. vulgar-is ; but
the whole back and the covers of the wings in B. minor are di-
stinguished by a very strong metallic violet-like splendour. It
does not appear as if there were any other constant difierence in
the coloration of the three species named.
76 Dr. Heaglin on some Birds of North-Eastern Africa.
I cannot decide the question whether B.tachardus from Smyrna
and from Southern Russia ought to be referred to the present
species, nor do I know whether B. minor is a stationary bird in
the Sudan.
The following are the other known species of the genus in
North-Eastern Africa : —
1, 2. BuTEO ANCEPs and B. eximius, Brehm (' Naumannia/
1854), are known to me only from the names. They are found
on the Blue Nile.
3. BuTEO RUFiPENNis, Suudcv. and Strickl.* has been erro-
neously taken by myself for a species of Circus, and described
and figured as Falco mulleri, nob. (' Naumannia/ iii. 1849),
Sundevall has correctly classed it as a Poliornis, Kaup. It is
frequently found in the months from June to November round
Chartum, on the Bahr el Abiad, and in Kordofan ; its habits
approach to those of Circus pallidus, but it is also frequently
found sitting on trees.
4. BuTEO RUFiNUS, Riipp., is, without doubt, identical with
Buteo ferox, Gm., andButa'cfus leucurus, Naumann. I have found
this beautiful bird from October to March, generally in pairs, along
the Nile, in Upper Egypt and Nubia, and still more frequently
in Eastern Sennaai-, and in the forests of the North-Western
Kolla. The iris is dark brown ; bill bluish ; base of the mandible
lead-grey ; angle of the mouth, cere and feet yellowish. Imma-
ture specimens have the ground-colour of the tail light brownish-
grey, with ferruginous shades. The wings extend to a distance
of 8 inches from the end of the tail. The total length of the
male is about 20 inches ; that of the female 22 or 23 inches.
5. BuTEO AUGUR, Rupp.
This is a beautiful bird, representing B.jacal of Southern
Africa. It is frequently found southwards from Mareb, in
Eastern and Central Abyssinia.
6. BuTEO VULGARIS, Bcchst.
Occasionally seen during the winter in Egypt. According to
Riippell, " Everywhere in N. E. Africa."
[To be continued.]
* Proc. Zool. Soc. 1850, p. 214, pi. xxii.
Messrs. F. and I*. Godnian on Birds observed at Bodo. 77
VII. — Notes on the Birds observed at Bodo during the spring and
summer o/18.57. By Frederick and Percy Godman.
In 1857, being anxious to make an ornithological tour, we
determined to visit Norway, and fixed upon Bodo as our head-
quarters, in consequence of the success which had attended the
Rev. H. B. Tristram in finding the Great Snipe breeding in
that locality.
The village of Bodo (for, though the capital of the province of
Nordland, and consequently the residence of the Amtmand,
judge, and magistrates, it cannot be called a town) contains
about 300 inhabitants, and is situated on the west coast of
Norway, in latitude 67" North, longitude 14° East, The trade,
which is unimportant, consists chiefly in the export of dried cod-
fish to Spain, Portugal, and the ports of the Mediterranean.
The fish are caught during the winter off" the Loffoden Isles,
about seventy or eighty miles distant, brought to Bodo, and
<3ried during the summer on rocks in the neighbourhood.
Immediately behind the village extends a large marsh, trian-
gular in shape, with the Salten Fjord on the south and east, the
sea on the west, and a range of mountains on the north, whicli
gradually increase in height as they recede from the plain. The
marsh is for the most part covered with grass and bog-plants,
with small shrubs of Sallow and Dwarf Birch, which latter are
more abundant towards the edges under the mountains.
About five miles to the north-east of Bodo are situated two
large lakes in the mountains, supplied by the melting of the
snow from the neighbouring Fjelds.
We stayed at Bodo till the end of July, working all the sur-
rounding country for eggs and birds, and making several short
excursions to the interior. We then proceeded northwards to
Alten, and crossing the mountains thence to Haparanda, at the
head of the Gulf of Bothnia, paid the late Mr. Wolley a hurried
visit at his quarters at Muonioniska. From Haparanda we went
to Stockholm, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Nijnei-Novgorod, and
were then obliged to return in haste to England.
Circumstances prevented our starting together — Percy arriving
April 27th ; Frederick, May 26th. Nothing was done in oology
before the end of May, and to the few notes made previous to
78 Messrs. F. and P. Godman on the Birds observed at Bod'6
this time we have thought it better to affix the date and initials,
showing by whom the observations were made. . All observations
subsequent to this date were made together.
1. White-tailed Eagle. Falco alhicilla.
The first day after my arrival, as I was walking across the
marsh, a White-tailed Eagle soared by, high over my head, and,
passing the village, flew towards the sea. While talking that
evening to a Norwegian sailor who could understand a few
words of English, I was told that a pair generally nested on an
island called Hgert o (Heart Island), close to Bodo. I accord-
ingly hired a boat for the following day, and starting directly after
breakfast, soon reached the island. A fisherman and his family
were living on it, and from them I learned that the birds bred
there regularly, but that the young had already been hatched.
Guided by the fisherman and his son, I walked along the shore
to the clifi" where the nest occupied at the time was situated.
The clifi' was a sheer precipice, about 90 to 100 feet high. The
nest was on a ledge of the rock, about 20 feet from the top, and
from the place where we stood looked merely like a few sticks
left there accidentally. Further on we were able to climb the
rock, when we reached a spot which overhung the nest in such a
way, that, though impossible to see into it, we yet could hear the
cry of the young birds. We stayed some time, but, having no
ropes, were obliged to give up all hopes of being able to reach the
nest. During the time we were there the old birds kept flying
from rock to rock, and occasionally came quite near where we
were lying, uttering all the time a harsh cry. As soon as we left
the vicinity of the nest, I saw one of the old birds fly back and
settle on it. The same day I saw three White-tailed Eagles on
this island, two of which evidently belonged to the nest ; the
third appeared to be an immature bird, the tail-feathers being of
a dark-brown colour. About a week after my visit, one of the
young birds, with its leg cut ofi", and too much decayed to pre-
serve, was brought to me by the fisherman. He had pushed it
out of the nest with a stick and killed it, in order to get the pre-
mium (about half-a-crown) given by the Norwegian government
for every eagle killed. — P. G.
during the Spring and Summer 0/ 1857. 79
This species was not uncommon along the neighbouring coast.
During an excursion to an adjacent fjord we saw seven in one
day, one of which was devouring a fish, and was so intently
engaged, that it took no notice of our boat, though we passed
close by the rock on which it was sitting.
2. The Osprey. Falco halia'etus.
One example only of this bird came under our notice when we
were rowing up Kop Elo from the Ofoden Fjord towards Kop
Vaud, about twenty miles north of Bodo. It flew directly over
our heads, and we had a capital view of it.
3. The Peregrine Falcon. Falco peregrinus.
This Falcon I saw for the first time on the 7th of May. On
the 16th of the same month I was watching a pair of Ravens,
which I knew had a nest in a cliff on the side of the valley oppo-
site to which I was lying, when I heard them making a great
noise at the other end. I soon saw the cause of it : a pair of
Peregrine Falcons had approached too near the nest, and were
being chased by the Ravens. The Falcons were ultimately driven
away. — P. G.
No other example came under our notice.
4. The Merlin. Falco asalon.
Whilst watching the raven^s-nest mentioned in the last para-
graph, a Merlin settled on a stone a short distance from me, and
remained there some time arranging its feathers. — P. G.
We subsequently saw one other bird of this species near the
same locality.
5. The Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus.
One specimen only of this bird came under our notice, which
had a nest in an inaccessible cliff on the edge of the marsh.
6. The Rough-legged Buzzard {Falco lagopus) we saw but
seldom near Bodo. During an excursion northward we found
a nest, situated on the top of a Scotch-fir tree; it contained
young. Our attention was attracted to it by the cries of the
old birds, which kept flying round us as long as we were near
the spot.
80 Messrs. F. and P. Godman on the Birds observed at Bodo
7. The Short-eared Owl. Striw brachyotus.
On May 13th, some distance up the Salten Fjord, I first saw
one of these Owls, as it flew up from amongst some stunted
birch-shrubs. There was a great deal of snow on the ground at
the time.— P. G.
There was a pair in the marsh at the back of Bodo, which we
felt convinced were breeding there ; but though we spent many
evenings in watching one of them hunting, and saw it take food
to the othei', we were unable to discover the uest.
8. The Hawk Owl [Strix funerea) appeared to be not un-
common about Kop Vaud. In one day's walk through these
forests we came across three different broods of young, some of
which we shot. We saw a great quantity of Lemmings in this
quarter, which may have been the reason of this Owl being so
common that season. We also saw the Hawk Owl, though rarely,
in the neighbourhood of Bodo. It appears not to be at all
inconvenienced by the light, as all we saw were flying about in
broad daylight.
9. The Pied Flycatcher [Muscicapa luctuosa) we first saw
May 27th, some way up the mountains to the north of Bodo.
A few days after we found their nest close to the spot where we
had before observed them. It was situated in a hole of a leaning
rotten birch-tree, but was not quite finished. On visiting it
again a short time after, we discovered the nest had been de-
stroyed by a mouse. The species was not common.
10. The Dipper [Cinclus aquaticus) came under our notice
in a few localities, being seen occasionally throughout the
summer.
11. The Missel Thrush. Turdus viscivorus.
We found a nest and eggs of this bird at Kop Vaud, July 6th.
The only one observed.
12. The Fieldfare. Turdus pilaris.
A plentiful bird about Bodo, breeding there in tolerable num-
bers. We discovered two large colonies, from which we took
many eggs. The nests were usually placed from 10 to 15 feet
from the ground. The first colony we discovered May 20th.
during the Sprinff and Summer 0/ 1857. 81
On the 27th we took two nests, but as the greater number of
them did not contain their full complement of eggs, we left
them. On returning three or four days after, we found that
the magpies and crows had forestalled us. This colony was
situated among some willow and birch trees, on a hill in the
marsh. The other colony, which we discovered some days later,
was up the mountains. Besides these two colonies, we took
several nests situated by themselves, and far aw^ay from what
were apparently their head-quaiters. The latter we were careful
to identify. Our attention was attracted to the second colony
by the noise made by the old birds.
13. The Redwing. Tardus iliacus.
This bird also breeds in the neighbourhood. The first nest
we found May 28th ; it was situated in a Juniper bush, almost
on the ground. We saw the bird on this, as on every other
nest of this species that we took. It was not unusual to find a
pair breeding in the midst of a colony of Fieldfares ; the dif-
ference, however, between the two nests made it easy to distin-
guish at first sight to which species it belonged, that of the
Fieldfare being larger, and composed of coarser materials. The
Redwing is not nearly so shy as the Fieldfare when near its
nest, often requiring to be touched before it would quit it. It
does not seem to build so far from the ground as the last-men-
tioned species.
14. The Blackbird. Turdus merula.
We saw but two examples of this bird during our stay at
Bodo, both of them on June 30th, when we also found a nest.
15. The Ring Ouzel. Turdus torquatus.
Birds of this species were scattered over all the mountains in
the neighbourhood, and were there when we first arrived. We
found one nest, situated on the ground, and containing four
eggs. This species was far more shy than either Fieldfare or
Redwini
»g-
16. The Hedge-Sparrow. Accentor modularis.
One pair only of these birds came under our notice. We
found their nest on June 21st.
VOL. III. G
82 Messrs. F. and P, Godman o?i the Birds observed at Bodo
17. The Blue-throated Warbler. Sylvia suecica.
This bird seemed quite to take the place of our Robin in
these latitudes : in almost evei'y farm-yard, and near every houscj
a pair were to be found. They had one remarkable note that
particularly attracted our attention. The bird would sit on the
top of a bush, every now and then flying up in the air, and
utter a note that is best described by saying it was much
such a sound as is produced by striking a metal triangle. We
first saw the bird May 28th, after which time they were plen-
tiful throughout the lower districts. We found only one nest,
owing probably to the excessively wet weather that prevailed
during our stay. This was situated in the bank of a ditch, and
well concealed.
18. The Whinchat {Saxicola rubetra) appeared first May
30th j and after this time a few were always to be seen in the
marsh at the back of the town.
19. The Wheatear. Saxicola cenanthe.
Very common all over the mountains in the neighbourhood,
as elsewhere in Norway. It first appeared May 16th.
20. The Sedge Warbler [Sylvia phraffmitis) we first saw
June 16th. Its haunts seem restricted to some of the warmest
and most sheltered valleys. It is far from abundant.
21. The Willow Wren {Sylvia trochilus) was common after
May 30th, the date of its arrival.
22. The Melodious Willow Warbler. Sylvia hippolais.
One specimen of this bird was shot by us ; it was the only
one that came under our observation during our stay. Its loud
and clear note attracted our attention to the spot where it was.
23. The Marsh Titmouse. Parus palustris.
One example only of this bird was noticed by us, on June 30th.
24. The White Wagtail. Motacilla alba.
Common everywhere, and very tame. In habits and note,
the exact counterpart of our English bird.
25. The Grey-headed Wagtail {Motacilla flava) we first
saw May 28th, when three or four flew over our heads. It was
during the Spring and Summer of 1857. 83
nowhere very common, though we often came across a pair in
the vicinity of buildings.
26. The Tree Pipit. Anthus arhoreus.
We killed one individual of this species June 2nd, the first
day we observed it. After this date their note was constantly to
be heard in the marsh.
27. The Meadow Pipit [Anthus pratensis) was common in
the marsh at Bodo, being there at the end of April.
28. The Rock Pipit [Anthus aquaticus) we also found in
tolerable abundance on the sea-shore.
29. The Sky-Lark. Alauda arvensis.
Abundant in the marsh, and arrived before us. We found a
nest May 2oth.
30. The Snow Bunting. Emberiza nivalis.
The snow had so far melted when first I arrived, that clear
patches were here and there to be seen. A flock of Snow Bunt-
ings and INIealy Redpolls were sure to be feeding in every bare
place. They were extremely tame — probably from the cold, and
not from hunger, as some specimens that I shot proved that they
found no difficulty in procuring food, being in very good con-
dition. Some were in full summer plumage, others had not
yet thrown ofi" the dusky coat they usually wear in England.
As the snow melted these birds became less common, and at
last left the place altogether. — P. G.
31. The Lapland Bunting. Emberiza calcarata.
Only one individual of this species (a male in summer plu-
mage) was noticed at Bodo, May 11th. This was in company
with a flock of Snow Buntings and Mealy Redpolls. It was
there only two days, so far as I could ascertain. — P. G.
Whilst traversing the Fjeld between the Norwegian coast and
the Gulf of Bothnia, we saw several pairs that were doubtless
breeding there.
32. The Black-headed Bunting [Emberiza schoeniclus) , of
which we found several nests, was by no means rare. We re-
marked that there appeai'cd to be two sizes of this Bunting. Of
g2
84 Messrs. P. and P. Godman on the Birds observed at Bodo
the larger one^ which was about the size of our Black-headed
Bunting, we only saw one or two examples, and unfortunately
failed to get any. The other was a somewhat smaller though
similarly marked bird and tolerably abundant. Of this latter
we found one nest, and procured birds.
33. The Yellow Bunting. Emberiza citrinella.
Two pairs only seen.
34. The Brambling, Fringilla montifrinyUla.
This bird, which we found extremely local in the country that
we explored, arrived on May 13th. There were two places, both
on the side of a mountain running N.W. and S.E., with a lake
at its foot, where they were not uncommon, and in these two
localities we found several nests. The birds were extremely
tame : in one instance we touched the hen with a gun before
she left the nest. They often would not fly away till one
of us was halfway up the tree where the nest was situated ;
but when once off, they left the place altogether, uttering
a note of distress. Every nest we found was in a birch-tree, and
generally from 15 to 20 feet from the ground. In no instance
did the Chaffinch come under our notice.
35. The House Sparrows Fringilla domestica.
A few pairs about the village of Bodo.
36. The Mealy Redpoll. Fringilla borealis.
Flocks of these birds were to be seen on the small patches of
ground that were free from snow when we first arrived. During
the latter part of June and beginning of July we found several
of their nests. They were very neatly made, and situated gene-
rally in a stunted birch or willow tree. The structure was of
fibres and roots lined with the cotton-grass, Eriophorum angus-
tifolium.
37. The Twite. Fringilla montium.
This bird we saw throughout the summer on an island a short
distance from Bodo. We often watched them, but could never
discover a nest, though we have little doubt that they were
breeding there. We shot a female, in which the eggs in the
ovary were considerably enlarged.
during the Spring and Summer of 1857. 85
38. The Starling. Sturnus vulgaris.
Common about the houses.
39. The Raven. Corvus corax.
A pair of these birds had young on May 16th, in a cliff in the
neighbourhood. — P. G.
40. The Hooded Crow. Corvus comix.
Some of these birds were always to be seen on the sea-shore
and among the buildings of the village. There were several
nests on the islands close to Bodo, but we only took one. I
found a nest ready for eggs April 23rd. — P. G.
41. The Magpie {Corvus pica) was by far the commonest
bird in the neighbourhood. A nest might not unfrequently be
seen on the top of a ladder, or a lot of poles, leaning against a
house. We took some eggs from a nest which was not more
than 3 feet from the ground.
42. The Three-toed Woodpecker. Picus tridactylus.
We shot one specimen near Kop Vaud, in immature plumage.
The top of the head was yellow.
43. The Cuckoo [Cuculus canorus) was first seen and heard
May 28th, and afterwards was always to be heard among the
bushes on the hills skirting the marsh.
44. The Swallow {Hit-undo rustica) arrived June 1st. There
were but few about the year we were there, probably owing to
the weather, as we were told that in general they came in large
flocks.
45. The Capercaillie. Tetrao urogallus.
A hen bird flew up from under our feet whilst walking in the
forests near Kop Vaud. We looked for the nest, but could not
find it.
46. The Black Grouse {Tetrao tetrix) was sparingly scat-
tered about the mountains near Bodo. The stunted juniper
seemed to be their favourite resort.
47. The Willow Grouse. Tetrao saliceti.
Common early in the season among the willow and birch
trees in the valleys on the edge of the marsh, but as the sum-
86 Messrs. F. and P. Godman on the Birds observed at Bodo
mer advanced they retired to the plateaux on the top of the
mountains to breed. We found one nest under a juniper bush
containing nine eggs. The old bird was so tame that we were
obliged to push her off the nest. We afterwards came across
three or four broods of young, some of which we caught.
48. The Golden Plover {Charadrius pluvialis) first appeared
May 1st, when I saw a small flock on the sea-shore in almost
full summer plumage. It snowed the whole of the next day, and
I saw none for ten days. After this date they were extremely
plentiful in the marsh for a short time, when they again disap-
peared. Throughout the summer a few birds were occasionally
to be seen. They probably bred on some of the neighbouring
mountains.
49. The Dottrel. Charadrius morinellus.
This bird made its appearance in flocks far later than the
last-mentioned, May 25th being the earliest date we observed
them. They stayed about a week, and then all left again.
They were so tame, that, whilst walking one night, I was obliged
to frighten them out of the road.
50. The Ringed Plover [Charadrius Idaticula) was first seen '
on May 19th, and after this was always to be heard on the
eastern shore of the marsh.
51. The Turnstone. Strepsilas collaris.
On June 3rd, whilst rowing amongst some islands, we first
noticed this bird. We afterwards found five nests, being in every
instance attracted to the islands on which they were situated by
the cries and motions of the old birds, which they began long
before we neared the place. All the nests were cunningly placed,
showing no preference for any particular locality. One was on
a ledge of a rock ; another on the open sand, close to an Oyster-
catcher's ; two were in the grass ; and the fifth under a ledge of
rock, well concealed by weeds and grass.
53. The Oyster-catcher. Hcematopus ostralegus.
In great abundance along the coast and on the islands; they
were there when we arrived.
53. The Curlew [Numenius arcuatus) was to be seen in the
during the Spring and Summer q/" 1857. 87
marsh throughout the summer^ doubtless breeding in the vicinity,
though we never found a nest.
54. The Whimbrel {Numenius phaopus), after the 16th of
May, was quite as abundant as the last-mentioned species. We
found one nest only, June 24th, in which were both young and
eggs.
55. The Redshank [Totanus calidris) arrived also May 16th.
We took several nests. On June 13th, whilst exploring some
islands off Bodo, we saw a bird that might have been either the
Green or the Wood Sandpiper ; but we were not so fortunate as
Mr. Tristram in finding the former breeding near Bodo, though
we searched every likely-looking locality.
56. The Common Sandpiper [Totanus hypoleucus) we first
saw May 20th. It was plentiful round the mountain lakes.
57. The Woodcock; Scolopax rusticola.
We saw three birds late in the evening fly over our heads,
when we were some distance up on the mountains. They were
uttering the cry (something like the croaking of a frog) which they
generally use during the breeding-season.
58. The Great Snipe. Scolopax major.
On walking across the open part of the marsh, on the 26th
of May, we flushed the first Great Snipe. This bird had evidently
only just arrived, and did not fly more than a few yards before it
settled again. Whenever else we observed this species, it was
amongst the brushwood on the borders of the marsh. A few
days after, as we were returning from a long ramble in the
mountains, on pushing our way over some swampy ground
covered with birch-wood and dwarf-willow on the edge of the
marsh, our attention was attracted by an unknown note of a bird
on the ground, somewhat resembling the smack of the tongue
repeated several times in succession. At first we thought it
must be some animal ; but, on remaining still for a few seconds,
we saw several Great Snipes walking about and feeding within a
few yards of us. We watched them for some time, but they did
not appear to take the smallest notice of us.
About the 10th of June we began to search for their nests ;
88 Messrs. F. and P. Godmaii on the Birds observed at Bod'6
and though we could always find several birds, we did not
succeed in finding any nests before June 24th, nearly a month
after the birds arrived. About this time we found several places
evidently scraped out by a bii'd as if for a nest, and as they
were in a part of the marsh in which we observed no other bird
except the Great Snipe which was likely to do this, although we
were there almost daily for six weeks, and as they were invariably
in exactly similar places to those in which we subsequently
discovered the nests of the Great Snipe, we can attribute them to
no other bird. Although we carefully looked at these scrapings
several times subsequently, we never found any eggs in them ;
but on one occasion we took a nest with four eggs about 6 yards
from one of these places.
The first nest we found contained four eggs, and was placed
on the edge of a small hillock, quite open, though there were
dwarf birch-trees growing all round, aad one on the very hillock
on which the nest was situated. It consisted of nothing more
than a hole scraped in the moss, in which the eggs were de-
posited ; there were neither grass nor leaves in it. After a
minute examination of it, and cai*efully marking the place, we
went aw^ay to fetch our guns, the rain descending in such
torrents that we were not carrying them that day. On our
return in half an hour, the bird was again on the nest. We put
it up and shot it. It proved to be a female. The eggs were
very slightly incubated. The next day (June 25th) we found
another nest within 200 yards of the former, containing only
two eggs, and as we thought the bird would be sure to lay
more, we marked the place and left it. It was situated on a
small hillock, and much in the same sort of place as the former.
We found another nest on the 27th of the same month. The
bird fluttered off' and ran away, dragging its wings on the
ground, and making a sort of drumming noise. After taking
four eggs from this nest, we returned to look at that found on
the 25th, w^iich contained two eggs. We walked directly to the
spot, and what v.as our horror at seeing nothing in the place but
some apparently disturbed moss ! Our first impression was that
the eggs had been destroyed by the Magpies or Crows that were
constantly hunting for such food, or perhaps taken and eaten by
during the Spring and Surnmer of 1857. 89
one of the many boys who wandered about the marsh tending
cattle; but on our beginning to express our fears, the bird,
doubtless frightened by our voices, flew up, leaving a hole in the
moss through which we could see there were still only two eggs
as before. Not doubting, however, that the bird would yet lay
more, we again left it, and returned in a couple of days. On
approaching the spot, we observed the nest was again covered
with moss. This time we remained for a minute before the bird
flew off, and on stooping down to examine it more closely, we
could distinctly see the bird's back through the moss. Not
liking this close inspection, it flew up, and we took the eggs,
which proved to be only within a day or two of hatching. The
bird had evidently, after it was comfortably seated on its nest,
torn up, with its long beak, the moss within its reach, and
drawn it over its back till it was completely covered in the way
described : there was not the least appearance of any hole through
which the bird could have crept into its nest. This circum-
stance of the nest being covered is the more curious, as out of
six we found, it was the only one thus carefully concealed.
There were probably as many as ten or fifteen pairs of these birds
in the marsh, which usually kept pretty close together, and were
generally to be found in one particular spot. Could this have
been a congregation of male birds, the mates of which were
breeding in the vicinity ?
Mr. Wolley obtained a nest with four eggs from this locality
the same year, but unfortunately the eggs were much broken.
We saw the bird occasionally on swamps in the mountains,
but it would have been a hopeless task to have searched for its
nest there, though we have little doubt it breeds in other
localities in the neighbourhood.
The do\\Ti of a young bird of Scolopax major which we prepared
and brought home is not nearly so dark as that of S. gallinago.
59. The Common Snipe. Scolopax gallinago.
During a heavy snow-storm on May 5th, my attention was
attracted by a note sounding like " ekke" repeated several times,
and evidently proceeding from a bird on the ground. On shoot-
ing it, I found it to be a Common Snipe. I frequently heard
90 Messrs. F. and P. Godmau on the Birds observed at Bodo
it uttering the same noise afterwards, and always on the ground.
— P.G.
We took one nest on May 26th.
60. The Jack Snipe. Scolopax gallinula.
While looking for Great Snipe on a very wet day in July, a
Jack Snipe flew up from under our feet. We both saw the bird,
and were convinced it belonged to this species ; but though we
searched the same locality subsequently very closely, we could not
again find it.
61. Temminck's Stint. Tririga temminckii.
A flock of this Stint passed Bodo, staying a few days, from
which we obtained some specimens on May 15th.
62. The Dunlin [Tringa variabilis) was first noticed May
16th, and after this date was common in the marsh.
I thought I saw a Sanderliug on the same day. — P. G.
63. The Purple Sandpiper. Tringa maritima.
I shot some examples May 4th. — P. G.
The bird was to be seen on the islands in the neighbourhood
throughout the summer.
64. The Landrail. Gallinula crex.
The note of this bird was constantly to be heard in the grass-
lands bordering on the marsh. We killed one bird June 16th,
the first day we heard it.
65. The White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons.
On our first arrival we frequently saw small flocks of from
seven to ten White-fronted Geese feeding in the pools and creeks
of the marsh. These, however, all took their departure towards
the end of May. On the neighbouring islands we found another
species breeding, and obtained four eggs, which unfortunately we
were not able to identify. The birds on these islands were strictly
px'eserved for the sake of the eggs, and the eider-down collected on
them ; and we were not allowed to shoot, nor could we obtain
permission to leave the eggs and watch the bird on to the nest.
66. The Common Shieldrake. Anas tadorna.
On May 19th we saw a pair a short distance from Bodo, and
during the Spring and Summer of 1857. 91
subsequently found them breeding on some islands called Hel-
ligvser, about eight miles out to sea.
67. The Wild Duck. Anas boschas.
But few seen : one nest taken.
68. The Teal. Anas crecca.
Some always in the marsh on our first arrival, but after the
beginning of May they disappeared. We saw them at Helligvser,
and the people who collected eggs told us they bred there.
69. The Wigeon. Anaspenelope.
Also seen at Helligvser, where we were informed they stayed
during the summer.
70. The Eider Duck. Anas mollissima.
The commonest Duck about Bodo, where they are preserved
for the sake of the down collected from their nests. We found
some pairs breeding on a marsh by a freshwater lake, about
seven miles from the seashore.
71. The Common Scoter. Anas nigra.
We saw some on the Salten Fjord soon after our arrival, but
during the summer none came under our notice.
72. The Tufted Duck. Anas fuligula.
Two pairs seen on Kop Elo.
73. The Long-tailed Duck. Anas glacialis.
Very common on the sea when we first arrived. During July
we saw a large flock of males only on the Kop Elo.
74. The Golden-eye Duck. Anas clangula.
Two pairs only of these Ducks came under our notice, which
were on a lake sLx miles from Bodo.
75. The Bed-breasted Merganser. Mergus sevj-ator.
Common in the vicinity of Bodo, breeding on the islands.
We took several nests. It was there on our arrival.
76. The Goosander. Mergits merganser.
A flock of five were seen flying over one of the islands.
77. The Black-throated Diver. Colymbus ardicm.
But few came under our notice. We took one nest on a small
island close to the shore of an inland lake.
92 Mr. A, Newton on Mr. J. WoUey^s Discovery
78. The Red-throated Diver. Colymbus septentrionalis.
Almost every lake had its pair of these birds, and we collected
many eggs.
79. The Guillemot. Uria troile.
We observed one example only.
80. The Black Guillemot [Uria grylle) was everywhere to
be seen along the coast ; the eggs are considered a delicacy by
the natives. This bird winters in these latitudes.
81. The Common Cormorant [Carbo cormoranus) abounded
on all the islands; and we found them breeding indiscriminately
with the following species,
82. The Shag. Carbo cristatus.
83. The Arctic Tern. Sterna arctica.
We shot some specimens of this bird, which breeds the whole
way up the west coast of Norway.
84. The Common Gull. Larus canus.
85. The Lesser Black-backed Gull. Larus fuscus.
86. The Herring Gull. Larus argentatus.
87. The Greater Black-backed Gull. Larus marinus.
There were large numbers of these four species on all the
neighbouring islands.
88. Richardson's Skua. Lestris rickardsonii.
First seen May 16th ; afterwards abundant, breeding on
many of the islands. A pair were also frequently observed on a
small marsh near the lake where Eider Duck and Gulls were
breeding. Among the many specimens that we preserved, we
noticed that the variety of plumage was in no way dependent on
the sexes of the birds.
VIII. — Particulars of My. J. Wolley's Discovery of the Breeding
of the Waxwing (Ampelis garrulus, Linn.). By Alfred
Newton, M.A., F.L.S.
(Plate IV.)
It is well known to many of the supporters of ' The Ibis ' that
it had been the intention of the late Mr. John Wolley to con-
Ibis. 1861 PI IV.
'f'M>
EGGS OF AMPZLIS GARRULA.
W CHewitson, Je. etlitK.lS&O
Pn-nted Vj HuJJmandel StWalfxm
of the Breeding of the Waxwing. 93
tribute to its pages the particulars of his discovery of the breed-
ing of the Waxwing (Ampelis garrulus, Linn,), and that in the
spring of 1859 he had selected from his extensive series some
specimens of its eggs, which he handed over to Mr. Hewitson, —
that gentleman having kindly consented to execute a plate in
illustration of the paper. Mr. Wolley's failing health prevented
him from carrying out his design, and I have therefore thought
it incumbent upon me, as the inheritor of his collection and
papers, to supply the deficiency as far as I am able. I shall in
a great measure tell the story in his own words, believing that
in so doing I shall not only lessen the chance of erroi", but that
thereby I shall best consult the wishes of my readers.
It is unnecessary to repeat here the fabulous accounts given
by former writers respecting the nidification of this bird. The
very plain statement communicated by i\Ir. Wolley to the Zoo-
logical Society, on the evening of the 24th of March, 1857, is
sufficient to set them at rest for ever*. But still I may re-
mark, that from the days of Linnaeus (who said of it, " nidus in
rupium antrisf), downwards, nearly all the conjectures pub-
lished seem to have been wide of the mark. In years gone by,
one of the hardiest of our Arctic explorers, Sir John Richardson,
had failed to ascertain anything connected with its breeding in
the Fur-countries of the North-WestJ, and, more recently, the
intrepid Siberian traveller. Dr. A. von MiddendorfF, was equally
unsuccessful in the North-East §. Yet it may be safely said
that there was no bird whose egg was so longed for by the oolo-
gists of the whole world. Various were the plans they bethought
them of for attaining this desideratissimum. Many tried to keep
* Proceedings of the Zoological Society, 185/, p. 55. A notice of this
paper is inserted in the Athenffium newspaper for April 4, 1857, no. 1536,
p. 441, and also in Wiegmann's Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte, 1858, ii.
p. 24 ; an abstract of it is printed in the Literary Gazette for April 4,
1857, no. 2098, p. 334 ; and it is published almost entire in the Annals and
Magazine of Natural History, 2nd ser. vol. xx., p. 308, and in the Zoologist
for 1857, p. 5754. In the "Memoir" of Mr. Wolley, printed in ' The Ibis,'
1860, p. 181, the date is erroneously given "March 26th."
t Systema Naturae, ed. 13 {curd Gmel.), vol. i. pt. 2. p. 838.
X Fauna Boreali-Americana, ii. p. 238.
§ Sibirische Reise, II. ii. p. 157.
94 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Discovery
pairs of living birds^ in the hope of inducing them to breed in
confinement. One enthusiastic egg-collector. Baron R. von
Konig-Warthausen, we are told, even went to the trouble of
caging a whole flock*. It is true that here and there an oolo-
gist might be found, with whom the " wish was father to the
thought," and who accordingly deluded himself into the belief
that in some unusually large specimen of the egg of the allied
species {Ampelis cedrorum), or in some queerly-coloured mon-
strosity of a bird perhaps not at all connected, he recognized a
genuine production of Ampelis garrulus; but such instances
were certainly exceptional, and there can be little doubt that,
prior to 1856, no one with any pretension to the title of natu-
ralist had ever set eyes on a real egg or nest of the "VVaxwing,
and that this privilege was reserved for one who of all men
eminently merited it. It is due, however, to Scandinavian na-
turalists to say, that several of them who had travelled in Lap-
land had expressed themselves confident that the bird did some-
times breed in that country; and though the reports of its
nesting, which some of them brought home, have been shown
by Mr. Wolley's discovery to have been probably incorrect, t yet
it was, I think, reliance on the general fidelity of those gentle-
men in matters of this kind which kept alive my friend's hopes
of one day finding the long-sought treasure ; but hopes they
were of a kind so remote, that when they were fulfilled he was
justified in speaking of the discovery as " unexpected."
The first intimation I received from Mr. Wolley that the dis-
covery was accomplished was contained in a letter written by
him on his way up the Baltic, and dated 2nd Sept. 1856. He
says, " Let me tell you now, whilst I think of it, that I have
some reason for believing that the Waxwing makes its nest in
good-sized fir-trees in the month of June. I give you this hint
in case I should not live to give you more certain information ;
* Dr. E. Baldamus in ' Naumannia,' 1858, p. 131.
t Compare J. W.Zetterstedt, Resa gen. Svv. oeli Norr. Lappm. i. p. 272.
' Tidskrift f6r Jagare,' W. von Wright, p. 289 ; C. U. Ekstrom, p. 706 ;
G. A. Bergenstrale and J. Holmstedt, p. 726 ; A. Wigart, p. 1087. L. Lloyd,
Scand. Advent, ii. p. 312. H. D. J. Wallengren, in 'Naumannia,' 1854,
p. 123. S. Nilsson, Skand. Faun. Foglarna, ed. 3. i. p. 242.
of the Breeding of the Waxwing. 95
but you remember that I am not to return home without a
Waxwing's nest in my hand." He had, in fact, a few days be-
fore, when at Stockhohn, received from his faithful Ludwig a
letter telling him of the discovery, in which Ludwig had him-
self assisted, and respecting the truth of which he said, his
" Master must be quite sure — without doubt/' Mr. Wolley,
howevei", forbore to allow his own or my expectations to be
raised too highly, and in spite of his receiving confirmatory evi-
dence on his arrival at Haparanda and on his way up the river,
it was not until he had reached Muoniovara, and had satisfied
himself by repeated investigation of the whole story, that he
trusted himself to write to me positively. His letter, dated
" Muoniovara, 14 Sept. 1856,^' after describing his own doings
and those of the friends I had made the preceding year, telling
me of the expected scarcity of food, and giving the general re-
sults of the nesting season, goes on to say : —
" I have still to tell you of Ludwig's expedition with Piko
Heiki to Sardio, on the Kittila River. It was early in June,
and he had to wade over Pallas-tunturi up to his middle in
snow. Arrived at Sardio, he found the lads there all at home,
deep in dirt and laziness. He soon extracted from them the in-
formation that a pair of birds had been seen about, which they
took to be Tuka rastas ; and Ludwig himself had seen such a
bird, and this bird^s egg was entered in my list. * * * Ludwig
immediately started off" into the forest, and sure enough he saw
a bird which he thought was Sidensvans ; but he was not quite
sure, for the end of its tail looked white in the sun instead of
yellow as in your picture *: but the next day, or in the evening,
it was cloudy, and Ludwig saw the yellow ; and now he had no
longer any doubt. He said he would give all the lads day-
money, and they must all search, even if it were for a week, till
they found the nest. They sought all that night and the next
day till about midday, [when] a lad called out that he had
found the nest ; and there it was, with two eggs, about nine
feet high, on the branch of a Spruce. * * * After five days
* This picture was one of several coloured sketches of diiFerent birds
sent to Mr. Wolley b)- Mr. Hewitson and myself, to assist him in making
known his wants to the natives.
96 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Discovery
Ludwig snared the old bird — a beautiful cock ; and you may fancy
with what pleasure I took it in my hand, and saw that there were
no doubts remaining. Indeed, I had before been pretty con-
fident about it : Ludwig had written that I might be quite
satisfied that it was the right bird. Martin Pekka had the pic-
ture with him at Sodankyla, and as soon as he came back Ludwig
compared the bird with it, and made certainty doubly sure. The
other picture went to Gellivara. * * * I do not expect Wax-
wings in that quarter. You can fancy how eagerly I waited for
Ludwig to produce the eggs. With a trembling hand he
brought them out : but first the nest, beautifully preserved ; it is
made principally of black 'tree-hair' (lichen), with dried Spruce
twigs outside, partially lined with a little sheep's- grass and one
or two feathers, — a large deep nest. The eggs — beautiful ! —
magnificent ! ! — just the character of the American bird. An
indescribable glow of colour about them ! Ludwig had made
for them such a box, that even if a horse trod upon it it would
not break. He tells me he happened to say that they were
most like ' Sawi-rastas' (Common Thrush), and any one wishing
to cheat should try that. The report seems to have spread,
without the name of its originator being given ; for in a week or
two after, the notorious Sallanki Johan brought a Korwa-rastas
(Waxwing), ' shot from the nest,' with its eggs, — the eggs being,
as Ludwig at once saw, Common Thrush's. The next incident
was the arrival of Johau's brother, the still more notorious Niku,
but this time with a couple of young birds scarcely able to fly,
which he had caught, as he said, out of a brood of five, by Pal-
las-tunturi. One of these Ludwig has stuiFed, and a rare little
beauty it is ; the other was much knocked about, and Ludwig
made nothing of it. Then a little girl, just ten days ago,
brought three eggs from the other side of Nalima (about twenty-
five miles from here), which she said were taken on a certain
day in July, and were ' KukhainenJ They were undoubted Wax-
wing, but are very badly blown by her as they were just hatch-
ing. At midsummer, Sardio Michel brought in a small batch
of Sidensvans, with the birds (four in number) to each nest.
So now I have a series, though but a very short one, of this 7-ara
avis in terris — this forerunner of famine, and of infinite value
of the Breeding of the Waxwing. 97
when one thinks of the uncertainty of getting it again. At the
same time I should tell you the Sardio lads found a nest which
they believed to have been a last yearns Korwa-rastas. On this
river no one has seen the bird of late years, and very few know
it at all. One old fellow, Nalio Aaron, says he saw one north
of Nalima in 1853, and another in 1854. Martin Pekka showed
the picture to many people in the Sodankyla and Kittila districts,
but he could not make out that the bird was at all known, and
in all his journey, when he kept a good look-out, he did not
see one ; so that even this year it seems to have come very
sparingly and locally — ^just in the district north, east, and south
of Pallas-tunturi. In 1853 I told you of a boy, Sieppi's Johan,
who described a nest of birds he had found some years ago,
which, from my interpreter's version, I thought might be that
of the Waxwing, This boy, on being shown a skin, said he had
never before seen the bird.
" It is a relief to think that I am not bound to go to Russia
next spi'ing unless I like it, as I before felt that I was. I almost
think I may leave the unbounded riches of the Nova Zembla
coasts and of the north of Siberia — their Steller's Duck, Curlew
Sandpiper, Little Stint, Knot, Sanderling, Grey Plover, Grey
Phalarope — to younger adventurers.
^ -^ ■^ ■^ ■^ ■^
" Almost every day (and it is now the sixth since that of my
arrival here) Ludwig has 'told me the whole story of the Siden-
svans' nest, and I am never tired of hearing it : — How the season
was very backward; how, in their expedition, he and Piko
Heiki were getting very much out of spirits at the little success
they met with. How he saw this bird in the sunshine. How,
when at last the nest was found, he could scarcely beheve his
eyes ; how he went to it again and again, each time convinced
when at the spot, but believing it all a dream as soon as he was
at a distance. The rising and falling of the crest of the bird, its
curious song or voice — all he is eager to tell over and over again;
and I have the fullest version, with all the ' I said,^ ' Heiki said,'
' Michel said,' ' Ole said,' &c. These Sardio lads, as you have
heard me say formerly, have a good knowledge of the small bii'ds
of their neighbourhood, but they are none of them sure whether
A'OL. III. * H
98 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley^s Discovery
they have ever seen Sidensvaus before. As I have also told
you, it seemed to be known to a very few wood's-men on that
side of the country under the name of ' Korwa-rastas' or 'Korwa-
lintu' (Ear-bird). It had occasionally attracted their attention^,
as having feathers on its head standing up like squirrel's ears.
It was not till the second year of my stay here that I ascertained
this with certainty. The first summer I believed it to be
' Harrhi,' a bird coming in bad seasons, and properly the Com-
mon Jay ; but it seems that this name is also really sometimes
given to Sidensvans, and therefore, as well as for other reasons,
I am inclined to believe that the bird is only here very occa-
sionally. * * * *
* * * " The young Waxwing I should wish our old friend
Yarrell to describe, for I think it would give him pleasure. He
might exhibit a nest and eggs at the same time with a pair of
the birds in breeding-plumage to the Zoological Society; but,
for special reasons, I should wish the Waxwing not to be talked
about till the spring."
Mr. Yarrell' s death having prevented Mr. Wolley's wish from
being carried out, the announcement of the discovery was com-
municated to the Zoological Society, in the short though very
comprehensive paper I have before alluded to, at their meeting
on the 24th March, 1857, the specimens being exhibited by my
brother Edward. They consisted of two nests — one of which (the
original of the figure in the ' Illustrated Proceedings ^*) was
afterwards deposited, with an egg, in the British Museum, while
the other was presented (also with an egg) to the museum at
Norwich, the authorities of which had for some time past taken a
warm interest in Mr. Wolley's researches, — a pair of birds in their
breeding-plumage, the nestling before mentioned (all three of which
are now at Norwich), and some seven or eight examples of the
egg. Of these latter, the two figured in the plate in the ' Pro-
ceedings ' were subsequently sold at Mv. Stevens's rooms, and
purchased by Sir William Milner, in whose collection they still
remain. A third, sold at the same time, became the property of
Mr. Henry Walter ; and specimens were given to Mr. Wilmot,
Mr. W. H. Simpson, and myself.
* Illust. Proc. Zool. Soc. 185/, Aves, pi. cxxii.
of the Breeding of the Waxiving. 99
In all, Mr. AYolley obtained twenty-nine eggs of the Waxwing
in 1856, Later on in the autumn, an intelligent Lapp informed
him that he remembered having seen a bird some twenty years
before, and once or twice since had seen or heard another, but
that was perhaps ten years previously. On the other hand, in
1856 he had seen them some half-dozen times, and found a nest,
from which, however, the young ones flew. This nest he sub-
sequently brought very carefully, with the branch on which it was
built, to Mr. Wolley, by whom it was sent the following year, by
the hands of Dr. Edwin Nylander, to the museum of the Univer-
sity of Helsingfors. The Lapp added that in the spring he had
observed of the birds that " they flew up in the air, and came
and sat in the same spot whence they had flown — he thought
in play ; but perhaps they were catching insects,^' as Mr. AVolley
himself suggested.
In 1857, it seems that the Waxwing was still more rarely
distributed in Lapland than it had been the preceding year.
Mr. Wolley was of course exceedingly desirous of taking a nest
with his own hands, and for this purpose devoted to the search
much of his time befoi'e crossing the district hitherto unex-
plored by him between the Muonio valley and the head-waters
of the Tana. In this object he was only partially successful.
He writes, " For myself, I could not, in spite of every exertion,
get a living Waxwing within range of my pair of eyes. I took
a nest which had been deserted a day or two before, and from
which something had thrown the eggs, one after another, upon
the ground as fast as they were laid ; of course, broken to bits.
It was close to the house at Sardio. In vain I wandered through
the woods, and scarcely shut my eyes at night. Many people
were on the look-out ; but, after the nest of three eggs I told you
of from Jerisjarvi, the only arrival has been a perfect nest of five
eggs found by Piko Heiki, whom I desired to give up everything
else, and work all the mountain-district for Waxwing." The
nest thus taken by Mr. Wolley, and which I intend to retain in
my possession, as being the only one taken by him, bears date
"16th June, 1857." It was built in a Spruce, and agrees in
most respects with those previously seen and described by him.
The eight eggs just mentioned were the only ones obtained by
h2
100 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. WoUey's Discover^/
him that year; for, though another nest with five eggs was
taken for him by one of his most trusty collectors on an island,
Ajos-saari, in the Gulf of Bothnia, near Kemi-suu (the mouth of
the Kemi River), the finder was induced to part with it to a
Russian traveller for three silver rubles, " the doctor having
represented that Mr. Wolley had already as many as he wanted,^*
a statement certainly not in accordance with the facts ; for Mr.
Wolley had, in giving him a nest, promised that, if he had them
to spare the next year, he would transmit specimens of the eggs
to the museum at Helsingfors. This same person, whose zeal
might have been commendable had it been qualified by either
gratitude or good faith, previously informed Mr. Wolley that a
naturalist in the Finnish capital had for some time offered a
reward of fifty rubles (about £9) for a nest of the Waxwing,
and suggested that the Sardio lads were entitled to the prize :
whereupon Mr. Wolley immediately divided that sum (in addi-
tion to the some hundred dollars they had already received)
among all who were engaged in the glorious affair of the 7th of
June, 1856, and at the same time wrote to the University of
Helsingfors to say that he could not allow its authorities to pay
for his discovery. A brief notice of the booty acquired by Dr.
E. Nylanderwill be found in the Appendix to the last edition of
Professor Nilsson^s excellent work*, communicated to him by
Professor Alexander von Nordmann, who also furnished a more
detailed account to the ' Journal fiir Ornithologie ' for the fol-
lowing year, illustrated with figures from the specimens thus
obtained f.
The summer of 1858, when Mr. Wolley was with me in
Iceland, w^as " a great year for Waxwings." Not far from a
hundred and fifty nests were found by persons in his employ-
ment in Lapland, and some of them close to Muoniovara. It
seems, as nearly as I have been able to ascertain, that no less
than six hundred and sixty-six eggs were collected ; and more
than twenty more w^ere obtained by Herr Keitel of Berlin, who
happened, without I beheve any expectation of the luck that
was in store for him, to be that year on the Muonio River. A
* Skand. Faun. Foglania, ed. 3, i. p. 5/1.
t Journal fur Ornithologie, 1858, p. 307; 1859, pi. 1.
of the Breeding of the Waxwing. 101
detailed account of Herr Keitel's success appeared some months
after iu the ' Naumannia*/ from the pen of its editor, and the
specimens of the eggs figured in that magazine were obtained
through him. It is unnecessary for me to go into details re-
specting the magnificent series of eggs which Mr. Wolley was
thus enabled to add to his cabinet. The nests were built mostly
in Spruce and Scotch-fir trees {Pinus abies and P. sylvestris) —
chiefly, I think, the former. The usual complement of eggs is
certainly five ; but six not uncommonly, and seven and four occa-
sionally, were found. The second week of June seems to be the
general time for the birds to have eggs ; but there are some
which must have been laid in the last days of May, and others
(perhaps second broods) a month laterf. Of the different varieties
into which the egg runs, the accompanying illustration (PI. IV.),
iu which Mr. Hev>'itsou^s able pencil has represented the half-dozen
examples I before mentioned as selected by Mr. Wolley, will give
a far better idea than anything I can say. I may, however, state
that those depicted in figures 1 and 4 are considerably above the
average size, and are characterized by a bolder style of blotching
than usual. Fig. 2 is perhaps the most typical in appearance,
and, except in size, almost exactly resembles an ordinary Cedar-
bird's. Fig. 3 displays a somewhat rare variety, in which linear
markings, such as are seen in the eggs of many of the Emberizince
and Icterirue, more or less prevail. Fig. 5 represents a not unusual
form with a dull-olive ground-colour, resembling in this respect
curiously enough the egg of an Australian bird of the same
family, PachycephalapectoralisX, of which there is a specimen now
in Mr. 0. Salvin's collection. The example drawn in fig. 6 stands,
to the best of my belief, for the variety to which Mr. Wolley in
his paper before mentioned applied the term " salmon -colour,"
which appellation has been demurred to by other naturalists.
The matter I think is explained by the fact, which I know from
my own intimacy with him, that Mr. Wolle/s sight did not fully
* « Naumannia,' 1858, p. 498. pi. 1. figs. 5-8.
t The American species would seem sometimes to breed much later in
the season. Dr. Brewer told me at Boston, August 31st, 1857, that on the
preceding day he had seen a Cedar-bird's nest, with eggs still uuhatched.
I Gould, Birds of Australia, ii. pi. 67.
102 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Discovery
appreciate the colour red, or clearly determine when red did or
did not enter into the composition of another hue. I have now
before me a sketch made by him of one of the eggs obtained the
first year, in which he has painted the ground of a bright
pinky-orange — decidedly salmon-colour ; but I have been unable
to detect the original of this drawing in any of the eggs of that
year, all of which I believe I have at some time or another seen ;
and of the vast series now in my possession there is not a single
specimen which, in my opinion, at all approaches " salmon-
colour.^' I therefore, knowing how careful he always was in the
choice of his words, can only attribute his making use of that
term to this slight defect in his vision ; and that this defect
existed I had proof more than once ; and, indeed, on one occasion
he told me he had satisfied himself of this tendency to "colour-
blindness " where anything like red was concerned. The original
of fig. 6 is certainly of a warmer tint than is usually found ; but
my series is not without several examples of it, I also possess
some specimens of a pale and very beautiful variety, almost
destitute of dark spots, but with large blotches of tender lilac.
Excepting in the case of the American allied species, and the
Australian bird before mentioned, I know of no eggs which can
be said to bear any close resemblance to those of the Waxwing.
This same year (1858) saw an Englishman, however, accomplish
what Mr. Wolley only partially succeeded in doing. The in-
teresting account of an independent discovery of the breeding of
the Waxwing, with which the kindness of Mr. H. E. Dresser has
furnished me, wilb I am sure, be read with pleasure, and I leave
that gentleman to narrate his exploit in his own language : —
" In 1858 I was a short time in Uleaborg, while on my way
from Stockholm via Tornea to St. Petersburg, and having a
Httle time on my hands, I spent it in company with Mr. John
Granberg of Uleaborg, collecting in the neighbourhood of the
town. We intended to pass a day or two amongst the small
islands near the harbour, and determined to visit one called
Sandou, about four Sw^edish (twenty-seven English) miles from
Uleaborg.
" We (that is, Granberg, a student by name Heikel, and myself)
left the town on the evening of the 3rd of July, in a little boat.
of the Breeding of the Waxwing. 103
and sailed to Warjakka, an island outside the harbour, where we
provisioned for our trip. We then started for Sandou ; but,
there being but little wind, did not arrive off the island until
about two o'clock in the morning. We grounded at some
distance outside, and all three stripped for a swim, to find some
deeper water ; but, not being able to get the boat much nearer,
we made her fast and carried our traps on shore, getting almost
devoured by mosquitoes in so doing. We had heard that there
was a rough log-hut somewhere on the island, built by the Karlo
peasants, who come annually to take away the marsh-grass, and
accordingly set off in search of it. We were crossing a small open
place when we started a bird, which Granberg, who was on first,
said was a Waxwing {Ampelis garrulus), and having my gun
loaded with dust-shot, I followed it up and succeeded in shooting
it. It proved to be an adult female, and had evidently been in-
cubating. We searched all the bushes and trees near, in hopes
of finding a nest, but without any success ; and as the mosquitoes
were very troublesome, we determined to find the hut, take a nap,
and continue the search afterwards. We soon did find it, and
after smoking out the mosquitoes and stopping up the smoke-
hole, turned in on some marsh-grass, and did not awake until
pretty late in the day. After breakfast we separated to explore
the island ; and Heikel and myself, meeting soon after on the
opposite side, went on in company, but had no success, only
finding a few small birds. * * *
" We had quite given up all hopes of finding the Waxwing's
nest, when, as I was crossing a little barren to join Heikel, I
saw, in a small pine-tree close to where he was standing, a nest
with several young ones in it sitting bolt upright, just as Grebes
sit. Going nearer, I instantly knew them to be Waxwings.
We threw off our game-bags, and, while he stood below, I
climbed up to the nest, which was in the fork between the main
stem and the first branch, and not above nine or ten feet from the
ground. The moment I touched it, the young ones (five in
number) flew out. I jumped down, made a cut at the largest
with my cap, and secured him; but Heikel did not get one.
Directly the young one which I had caught began to cry out,
several Waxwings flew from the neighbouring thicket, all how-
104 Mr. A. Newton o?i Mr. J. Wolley's Discovery
ever keeping out of gunshot except two, which came close round
me, and both of which I shot. I then sat down and imitated, as
well as I could, the call of the old birds. I was soon rewarded
for my trouble by a young one coming out of a Blueberry bush
close by and calling lustily. Heikel and I gave chase, and
secured him. Granberg, who had heard my two shots, then
coming up, we commenced a diligent search for the other three
young ones, but had to give it up as hopeless, owing to the
thickness of the under-scrub. I then climbed up again and
took the nest away carefully, so as to preserve the shape, and ta
my great delight found one egg in it. We hunted for several
hours in the higher part of the island for another nest ; but,
although we saw about nine old birds, we did not succeed in
finding another nest. We did not shoot any more, hoping to
find nests there at some future period.
" We returned to Uleaborg the same evening, when I skinned
my birds. We ought to have made an equal division of the
spoil, but neither Granberg nor Heikel would hear of any division ;
consequently! have still two old birds and two young ones, besides
the nest and egg, in my possession. I regret to say I did not
look to see what the young birds had been fed upon ; but when I
took the nest, I found one or two of last year's dried cranberries
in it.
" I arranged with Mr. Granberg for him to go to Sandon in
1859 (for we had kept it secret in the town as to where we had
found the nest) to see if he could find another nest ; but he
wrote to me that, the autumn after we had been there, the chief
portion of the forest in Sandon had been consumed by fire, and
that it was therefore useless to go there. ^'
I myself had the pleasure of inspecting Mr. Dresser's speci-
mens in 1859 at Mr. Leadbeater's, and I believe I am hardly
divulging any confidence when I say they have formed the sub-
ject of a beautiful picture, executed under Mr. Gould's superin-
tendence, which I trust will before long be rendered more acces-
sible to the public.
In 1859 the Waxwing bred, but in no great numbers, in the
Muonioniska and Kittila districts. Though much soi;ght for, not
more than forty-six eggs were obtained by Mr. Wollcy's collectors.
of the Breeding of the Waxwing. 105
During the past summer it seems to have been rather more
numerous. I am told of fifty-two eggs having been collected for
me by the agents of my late friend, whom I keep in my own
employment, but these specimens have not hitherto arrived.
Early in the present year, Mons, C. F. Dubois described and
figured the egg of the Waxwing in the ' Revue et Magasin de
Zoologie *,' but without stating whether his example had been
obtained from Mr. Wolley, or derived through another source.
M. Dubois states that its egg " ressemble beaucoup a celui du
Coccothraustes vulgaris et du Lanius ruficeps ; il peut facilement
etre confondu avec les ceufs de ces derniers.^' In this latter
assertion I do not agree with him. Out of the several hundred
specimens which form the series I possess, there is not one, I
think, which could be taken for that of either the Hawfinch or
the Woodchat Shrike, though I freely admit there is a likeness
to the eggs of bothf.
Thus much have I to record of the particulars of this dis-
covery, which, I think, had been looked forward to by collectors
all over the world as by far the most interesting that could be
made. It is indeed somewhat surprising that the nidification of
a Passerine bird generally known throughout the greater part
of three quarters of the globe, and which had been sought
for even in its most inhospitable regions once and again by the
most venturesome of voyagers, should so long have remained
enveloped in mystery. But I also think that few of his brethren
in science will grudge the original finder the honour he merits ;
and writing these words as I do on the first anniversary of the
day which saw his removal from amongst us, I do not hesitate to
declare my belief that no one of the many earnest fellow-workers
with whom it is my privilege to be associated better deserved a
* Revue et Magasin de Zoologie, Fevrier 1860, p. 64. pi. 2. fig. 4 (mis-
called on plate " Bombycilla cajrulea ").
t Since the above was in type, I have seen No. 1, for 1860, of the
' Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou,' which
contains an interesting notice by Prof. Alex. v. Nordmann of the Birds
of Finland, as observed by his son Arthur. It is therein mentioned
(page 21) that the Helsingfors Museum contains five nests, with eggs, of
the Waxwing, and that " Studiosus Malmgren " had brought its young
from Kajana.
106 Recent Ornithological Publications.
distinction than did John Wolley that which this one discovery
will always associate with his name.
Elvedeu, 20th November, 1860.
IX. — Recent Ornithological Publications.
1. English Publications.
The 30th number of Mr. Bree's work is just issued, and com-
pletes the second-volume of ' The Birds of Europe not observed
in the British Isles/
2. French Publications.
We have received the ' Revue et Magasin de Zoologie ' up to
No. 10 for 1860. Dr. Sacc's article " sur les Poules de Nankin
dites de Cochinchine " (p. 339 et seq.) contains more economical
than zoological information concerning this exaggerated variety
of the Domestic Fowl, which seems to have originated in the
warmer portions of the interior of China. Like the Chinese
Sheep, its great value consists inits extreme prolificness. In
1858, Dr. Sacc informs us, the number of eggs laid by five
pairs of Cochinchinas amounted to no less than 732, or 146
for each hen ! In their essay " on the Birds of New Caledonia,"
in Nos. 9 and 10, MM. Jules Verreaux and Des Murs have
made an important contribution to our knowledge of geogra-
phical distribution, and have also introduced us to the acquaint-
ance of several novel and interesting forms. Their article is
founded on materials furnished by a collection of the natural
products of this new French coloujr, made under the superin-
tendence of M. Saisset, commander of the French naval forces
in the Pacific, which has been deposited in the " Exposition des
produits des colonies," now on view in the Palais de I'ludustrie
in the Champs Elysees at Paris. The series of birds there exhi-
bited, taken in connexion with the species indicated by previous
authorities on the subject*, give us the number of 76 species
now ascertained as belonging to the Avifauna of New Caledonia;
of which no less than 45 are, as far as is hitherto known, pecu-
* Sclater in ' Ibis,' 1859, p. 27, and G. R. Gray in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859,
p. 160.
Recent Ornithological Publications. 107
liar to that island. The most noticeable types are Nymphicus
[Psittacidce), Phcenorhina {Columbida) , and Rhinochetus* {Ar-
deidce). The last of these (which MM. Verreaux and Des Murs
now describe for the first time) is certainly very curious, .and ap-
pears to be quite distinct from any known form. Although, as it
is remarked, only 18 species of New Caledonian birds are iden-
tical with those of Australia, we may observe that there is much
of the Australian character in the presence of such genera as
Trichoglossus, Pachycejihala, Artamus, Campephaga, Acanthiza,
Glycfjphila, &c., and that we cannot therefore regard this
island as belonging to a zoological region distinct from the main-
land of Australia. With regard to Gazzola typica, we have al-
ready shown that this bird is found in Celebesf, and there is no
doubt that the habitat " New Caledonia " attributed to it in the
Paris Museum is erroneous, as is well known to be the case with
many other localities commonly assigned to objects brought back
by the French exploring expeditions J.
M. J. P. Coinde, who has already, as he reminds us, distin-
guished himself by describing as new a '' Bomhy cilia" from
*' Mexico and Yucatan," which we believe to be probably nothing
more than Ampelis cedrorum, now gives us (p. 396) a "notice
sur la Faune ornithologique de I'ile de Saint Paul," in the
Northern Pacific. Among the nine species of birds, chiefly
marine, here enumerated, is a supposed undescribed Gull — Larus
warnecki, allied to Larus tridactylus, but possessing a hind-toe !
3. German, Dutch, Scandinavian, and Russian
Publications.
The first number of the 'Archiv fiir Naturgeschichte ' for
1860 contains an ornithological paper by Dr. K. A. Philippi,
the well-known Professor of Zoology and Botany at Santiago, in
which he describes as new, two Ducks — Anas iopareia (scribe
ioparia), allied to A. specularis and A. oxyura, and Erismatura
vittata, and gives some remarks upon the synonymy of a spe-
cies of C/u-ysomitris found in Chili.
* Nee Rhynochefos ; the derivation being, piv nasiis, and oxeros canalis.
t See ' Ibis/ vol. i. p. 113. + Confer Wallace in ' Ibis,' 1860, p. 1.98.
lOS Recent Oi-nitholo(jical Publications.
Dr. Linderoiayer's ' Vogel Griechenlands* ' is a useful sum-
mary of the observations of this well-kuown naturalist upon the
birds of the country in which he has so long resided, separately
reprinted from the third Yearly Report of the Natural-History
Union of Passau. It contains notices of 345 species of birds
considered as belonging to the fauna of Greece. Falco arcadius,
described originally in the ' Isis ' of 1843 (a name which has
met with much bad treatment from naturalists), Dr. Lindermayer
still maintains to be that of a good species, quite distinct from
F. eleonora and F. concolor, the latter bird having been once only
obtained by him in Greece, though Temminck says it is 'common '
there. No fresh examples of this rare Falcon have been obtained
since it was first described ; but the younger Brehm is stated
to have obtained specimens of it in Kordofan, so that it is, per-
haps, a scarce occasional migrant to Europe. Dr. Lindermayer
says nothing of Corvus monedula, var. collaris, which is, to say
the least of it, a very noticeable climatal form of C. monedula,
but considers MotaciUa melanocephala (which is a regular summer-
visitant) as a good species. Larus cachinnans of Pallas (" a very
common resident in Greece, breeding in numbers in the lagunes
and desert islets ") is probably the bird referred to, in a previous
Number of this Journalf, as a variety of Larus argentatus.
We are indebted to the courtesy of Herr Ferdinand Heine for
an early copy of the first portion of the third part of the list of his
extensive ornithological collection, called ' Museum Heineanum %,'
It contains an enumeration of the Humming-birds [Trochilidie)
in the Heinean collection, numbering 183 species. Notes are
likewise given concerning the other known species of each genus,
among which we observe a fine new form from Veragua, desig-
nated Panterpe insignis, of which we have had the pleasure of
inspecting the types in the Berlin Museum. The careful elabo-
* Die Vogel Grieclienlands. Ein Beitrag zur Fr uua dieses Landes von
Dr. Ritter A. Lindermayer in Athen. Passau, 1860, 1 vol. 8vo, 188 pp.
t ' Ibis,' 1860, p. 355.
X Museum Heineanum. Verzeichniss der ornithologischen Sararalung
des Oberamtmanns Ferdinand Heine, von Dr. Jean Cabanis und Ferdinand
Heine, Stud. Phil., iii. Theil, die Schrillvogel enthaltend. Hulberstadt,
1860.
Recent Ornithological Publications. 109
ration of synonyms will render this volume most valuable for
reference, and useful to the student of this attractive but difficult
family of birds.
We have seen Dr. A. de Philippics ' Reise durch die Anden-
wiiste Atacama' (Halle, 1860, 4to), and will give a further
notice of it in our next Number.
The Royal Zoological Society of Amsterdam have presented
us with a copy of their magnificent work* upon the Touracos
{Musojjhagidce) of Africa — a monograph carefully elaborated by
MM. Schlegel and Westerman, and which leaves little wanting,
either in the way of illustration or descripaon, so far as our
knowledge of this beautiful family of birds has been at present
advanced. The recognized species of the group are 1 7 in number,
which are divisible into two very distinct sections, according to
the form and covering of the nostrils. Every species is splen-
didly and accurately figured of the size of life. The letter-press
is in the national language of Holland, which, however much we
may lament, we cannot reasonably complain of in a national work
like the present ; but a Latin synopsis is also given, in which the
species ai'e distinguished by full and accurate diagnoses. Alto-
gether we must express our highest approbation of this work,
which we consider as the very Prince of Monographs.
We have received, through Professor SundevaPs kindness,
the 6th, 7th, and 8th numbers of ' Svenska Foglarna,^ a well-
executed popular work on the Birds of Sweden, with the text
written by this talented naturalist. We have already noticed
the previous parts of this book {' Ibis' 1859, p. 324).
The first part of the Bulletin of the Imperial Society of Natu-
ralists of Moscow for the present year contains a general article by
* Die Toerako's afgebeeld en beschreven door H. Schlegel onder
medewerking vaa G. F. Westerman. Ofgedragen aan Z. M. den Koning.
Uitgegeven door het Koninklijk Zoologisch Genootschap Natura Artis
Magistra. Amsterdam, 1860, 1 vol. fol., 26 pp., 17 col. plates.
110 Recent Ornithological Publications.
Arthur von Nordmann upon the Birds of Finland and Lapland*.
During the absence of this young naturaHst upon one of the
Russian expeditions to theAmoor^the hst of birds has been revised
and edited, with some additional remarks, by his father, Alexander
von Nordmann. The whole forms a concise review of the ornitho-
logy of this country, and an acceptable contribution to our
knowledge of geographical distribution. The previous authori-
ties consulted by the writers are the following. We repeat the
list, as several of them are not well known in this country, and
give also a translation of H, von Nordmann's accompanying re-
marks on some of them : —
1. P. U. Sadelin. Fauna Finnica. Aboje, 1810 et 1819.
[An antiquated list, and hardly of any value.]
2. A. Th. V. Middendorf. Bericht iiber die ornithologischen
Ergebnisse einer Reise in Lappland, 1840. In the 11th vol. of
^Beitragen zur Kenntniss des russischen Eeiches.'
3. T. Blasius. Reise im Europaischen Russland. Braun-
schweig, 1844.
4. M. V. Wright. Helsingfors Traktens Foglar. In the
' Notizen der Societas pro Fauna et Flora Feunica.' 1848.
5. W. Lilljeborg. Bericht iiber eine Reise in Russland und
Norwegen (in Swedish). Kon. Svensk. Vetensk. Handl. 1850.
[Very good.]
6. W. Lilljeborg. Beitrag zur Ornithologie des nordlichen
Russland und Norwegen. In ' Naumannia,' 1852, pt. ii.
7. L. Schrader. Beobachtungen iiber die Vogel Lapplands,
mitgetheilt von Pastor W. Passler. Cabanis^ Journal f. Orn.
1853, pts. 4 & 5. [No other ornithologist has passed so long
a time (eight years) in Lapland as Schrader; his contributions
are of more importance than all that has been previously written
upon the Avifauna of Lapland.]
8. J. V. Wright. Kuopio Traktens Fogelfauna.
9. M. V. Wright. Auteckningar un der en resa fran Kuopio
till Avasaka 1856, &c. In 'Bidrag till Finlands Naturkanne-
dom' for 1857, part ii.
* Uebersiclit der bis jetzt in Finnland und Lappland vorgekommenen
Vogelaiten, von Arthur von Nordmann. Durchgesehen und mitgetheilt
von Alexander von Nordmann. Bull. Acad. Imp. Nat. Moscou, 1860, p. 1.
Recent Ornithological Publications. Ill
10. S. Nilsson. Skandinavisk Fauna, Foglarna, 1858.
11. M. V. Wright. Finlands Foglar. Helsingfors, 1859
[Just published] .
Carpodacus erythrinus, the younger von Nordmann tells us, is
now common in Southern Finland, although, as his father states,
that was not the case thirty years ago. It nests every year in
the Botanical Gardens (at Helsingfors), in the tops of the Maple
and the Carangana sibirica. The nest consists of thin twigs
loosely put together. The eggs are white, with a few blackish-
red spots at the large end. The bird arrives in Helsingfors in
the middle of May, and in 1857 had fledged young on the 25th
of June. After having once heard the loud flute-like voice of
this bird, there will be no difficulty in recognizing it a second
time, as it conceals itself in the tree-tops. It has a finch-like
call-cry resembling that of Fringilla chloris.
The Anser albifrons, said (p. 43) to breed in Lapland, must be
intended for Anser erythropus sive minutus^.
Of the second part of the Report of the Russian exploring
expedition in Amoorland, containing the Birds f, we have lately
seen copies, and we hope to be able to give a notice of this im-
portant work at some length in our next Number.
4. American Publications.
M. Le Moine's little book J "on the Ornithology of Canada"
appears to have been written with the laudable wish to stimulate
his fellow-countrymen to show more energy in the cause of
Natural History, in which, as in material prosperity, their repub-
lican neighbours seem to have left them far behind.
* See 'Ibis,' 1860, p. 404.
t Reisen imd Forschungen im Amurlande in den Jahren 1851-56, im
Auftrage der Kaiserl. Academie der Wissenschaften zu St. Petersbiirg ;
ausgefiihrt und in Verbindung mit mehreren Gelehrten herausgegeben von
Dr. Leojjold von Schrenck. Band i. Zweite Lieferung, Vogel des Amur-
landes. Mit 7 colorirten Tafeln. St. Petersburg, 1860.
X Ornithologie du Canada. Quelqiies groupes d'apres la nomenclature
du Smithsonian Institution de Washington. Par J. M. Lemoine. Quebec,
1860, I part, 96 pp., 12mo.
112 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c.
X. — Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c.
We have received the following letters : —
To the Editor of ' The Ibis.'
26 Charlotte Street, Bedford Square, W.C.
Sir, — In reference to the remark in ' The Ibis/ vol. i. p. 404,
" we are pretty sure that if the Chiff-chaff occurs at all in the
Scandinavian peninsula, it is only in the extreme south/' I beg
to send you a copy of a note I made respecting this species on
my return to London, after visiting Norway in the summer of
1856 :~
" The ChifF-chafF [Phylloscopus rufus) was not so abundant in
Norway as the common Willow-Wren (P. /roc/ii/ws), neither does
it frequent the higher lands, at least I did not either hear or see
it there. I did, however, hear it sing; and my companion,
Mr. Wolf, shot one near the celebrated waterfalls at Trondheim.
The legs of this specimen were dark olive-brown, the nails and
toes the same ; the soles and back of the tarsi yellowish ; bill
olive-brown ; under mandible and gonys yellowish ; eye nearly
black." Yours, &c., John Gould.
[Obs. We are much indebted to Mr. Gould for thus informing
us with respect to the range of the Chiff-chaff in Norway, which
certainly seems to be more northerly than we had supposed ;
but our remarks, as regards Hei'r Schrader's assertion, are but
little affected thereby, as Trondheim is still within the limits of
the southern portion of the peninsula. — ' The Ibis ' Reviewer.']
To the Editor of ' The Ibis.'
October 24, 1860.
Sir, — I beg leave to forward to you such particulars as I have
been able to obtain regarding a curious locality chosen for
breeding by a pair of Golden Eagles [Aquila chrrjsaetos) in
Perthshire during the past season. The nest was built in a
large Scotch-fir tree — one of a wood on the southern bank of
Glen Lyon, on the other side of the river, but not more than
350 yards distance from Meggernie Castle, the present residence
of Ronald Steuart Menzies of Culdares. Four eggs were laid, by
Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements , 6^c. 113
the hen bird, and two of them hatched. A bird which I saw last
month was one of the produce : I should judge it, by its size, to
have been a female. I do not remember any parallel instance of
such disregard of the proximity of human habitations by these
birds being noted in any work oil ornithology. The nest was of
the Eagles^ own construction, and not a deserted nest of another
bird, as I should rather have expected.
Yours, &c., J. W. P. Orde.
To the Editor of ' The Ibis.'
5 Peel Terrace, Brighton, Nov. 10, 1860.
Sir, — I send you one or two ornithological notes for the past
year, which has been most disastrous for birds. In vain we have
looked for the countless streams which usually pass down to the
sea at the period of the autumn migration.
It is the same with the Sussex bird-catchers : their success is
unusually small. In the spring, the rain prevented many birds
from breeding. I witnessed the efforts of a pair of Pious viridis
to do so. Once they were driven out by Starlings ; twice, after
cutting deep holes with great labour, the wet obtained an en-
trance and filled the chamber ; at last they gave up in despair.
The like fate was that of many other birds.
In the Isle of Wight I saw a young Cuckoo ( Cuculus canorus)
killed, September 18th ; it had not obtained all its tail-feathers.
Near Southampton a fine cock Pastor roseus was obtained
this summer. Some Starlings were feeding in a cherry-tree, and
a man fired into the flock to protect his fruit, when he picked
up this bird among the dead.
A Sylvia iithys was caught alive at the back of my house on
October 2Gth, and two more have been since shot on the sea-
shore ; in fact, specimens are obtained every year here.
The Serine Finch {Fringilla serinus ?) has been taken near
Brighton; and I am quite convinced that this bird ought to be,
and soon will be, included in our list of British birds, as I am
told of three other instances of F. sei'inus having been caught
by Brighton men, and cast aside from ignorance of its value, — it
having been hitherto supposed to be a mule of some kind, escaped
from confinement.
VOL. ITT. I
114 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c.
If attention be directed to the Serine Finch, others will pro-
bably be observed and recorded.
Hardly a Fringilla carduelis has been procured this autumn ;
and several of the bird-catchers here have expressed to me their
strong belief, founded on long practical experience, that within
a few years the Goldfinch will become, in this part of England,
a scarce bird. Multitudes of hens have been netted and slain
annually, in a ruthless manner ; and consequently the numbers
have been diminished to a very great degree.
Yours, &c., George Dawson Rowley.
To the Editor of ' The Ibis.'
Elveden, December 1st, 1860.
Sib, — I have received a letter from Professor Reinhardt, dated
Oct. 9th, 1860, in which he refers to a communication of mine
to 'The Ibis' for 1860 (p. 307), and I beg leave to extract from
it what he says on the subject of a species of Quail found in the
island of St. Thomas : —
" From the last Number of ' The Ibis ' I see that you are in-
formed of the occurrence of an Ortyx [sonninii] in St. Thomas,
and that you are inclined to suppose it to be imported from the
mainland of South America, in the same way that Ortyx virgini-
anus has been introduced from the United States. It is cer-
tainly a curious fact that the former bird is confined to St.
Thomas, and not to be found in St. Croix ; but, on the other
hand, the St. Thomas bird does not seem quite to agree with the
nearest-allied Ortyx from the Spanish Main, the bill being de-
cidedly stronger, and the throat brownish red, spotted along the
middle with black — not uniform red. So far I find no difficulty,
but much in every attempt to refer the West Indian bird to any
of the well-known species. As far as I can judge at this moment,
I am inclined to suppose : —
" (1.) That the true Ortyx sonninii, Temm. PI. Col. 75, is not
the Ortyx sonninii of Gould, which differs from the bird figured
by Temminck in having the red throat separated from the breast
by a black- and white-spotted band, of which there is no trace in
Temminck's figure.
" (2.) That the Ortyx sonninii, Gould (not Temminck), is also
an inhabitant of the Spanish Main, whence I have a specimen.
Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c. 115
" (3.) That the Ortyx from the Virgin Islands may very
hkely prove to be 0. affinis of Vigors, a species not admitted
by Gould.
" The species then would stand thus : —
" 1. Ortyx sonninii, Temm. ; no band of spots separating the
throat from the breast.
" 2. Ortyx ? {sonninii, Gould) ; a small collar of spots
between the throat and breast.
" 3. Ortyx affinis. Vigors ; a collar as in the preceding species,
and some black- and white-spotted feathers along the middle of
the throat.
" The true Ortyx sonninii, Temm., I never saw ; of the
Venezuelan bird (Gould's 0. sonninii) I possess one example only;
but of the West Indian bird I have compared several specimens.
My opinion on the subject is not at all fixed ; but if Temminck's
figure is only tolerably correct, I cannot understand how it can
be the same bird as that represented by Gould."
Unfortunately Mr. Riise has returned to St. Thomas, taking
with him the only example which he submitted to my inspection ;
the matter must therefore remain for the present undecided ; but
I have thought it due to Professor Keinhardt to give his remarks
publicity, hoping that other ornithologists may assist in deter-
mining the point. The description of Mr. Vigors's O. affinis
appears to be in the Proc. Com. Sc. and Corr. Z. S. 1830, p. 3.
The locality of this supposed species is not given by Mr. Vigors.
I may add that by accident I omitted to mention Hcematopus
palliatus as included in Mr. Riise's collection, to which my
former letter referred.
Yours, &c., Alfred Newton.
Since the publication of our last Number, another small col-
lection of birds has been sent home from the Mauritius bv Mr.
Edward Newton. In addition to the species already enumerated
('Ibis,-" ii. p. 201), it contains examples of the following: —
Palceornis eques. Peculiar to the island.
Acindotheres tristis. Introduced from India.
Munia punctularia (?). Introduced from Malacca (?).
M. oryzivora. Introduced from Java.
1 2
116 Letters, Extracts fmra Correspondence, Announcements, S^c.
Phedina horhonica. Peculiar to the island.
Geopelia striata. Introduced from the East Indies.
Coturnix argoonda. Introduced from India.
Si/noecus sinensis. Introduced from Asia.
Gallinula (?). Probably aboriginal, and possibly peculiar.
Porphyrio mndagascariensis. Probably aboriginal.
Pliaetonfluvirostris. Widely distributed over the Tropical seas.
Puffinus assimilis. The southern representative of P. ohscurus,
and perhaps hardly distinct from it.
The Gallinula, of which one specimen only is included in the
collection, is regarded by Mr. E. Newton as distinct from the
common G. cliloropus, to which species Dr. Hartlaub (Journ. f.
Ornith. I860, p. 173) refers the Water-hen found in Madagascar,
Bourbon, and Mauritius, and to which species it undoubtedly
has a very great general resemblance. The chief points of dif-
ference are in the colour of the legs and of the under tail-coverts,
which in Mr. E. Newton^s bird are bright yellmv and buff xe-
spectively : but, in the absence of more specimens, it would not
be desirable at present to characterize Mr. E. Newton's example
as of a new species ; though, if it be, as he thinks, not identical
with G. chloropus, it will probably prove to be so. In a later
communication, that gentleman mentions that the call-note of
the Mauritian bird differs decidedly from that of the European;
and it will be remembered that the same peculiarity has been
noticed {' Ibis,^ i. p. 260) with respect to the American species
[G. galeata).
The following are extracts from Mr. E. Newton's letters : —
"Sept. 2, 1860.
I hope, about the middle of the month, to get down to Sa-
vaune, where I have no doubt I shall be able to get a good many
more birds, and very likely some fresh species of land-birds, as
1 fancy the country there is quite different from anything about
here [Port Louis] . S is really off to ]\Iadagascar as soon
as he can get a ship to take him. I wish to goodness I could
go with him ! and he is just the fellow to suit me. The trip,
however, will be rather expensive — ^£150 for a couple of months,
which is about the time he means to be away, i. e. if he is
allowed to go up to the capital. He has promised to collect ;
Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c. 117
and I think he will be as good as his word; but he does not
know much about it. I have furnished him with the necessary
materiel, and I hope he will be able to hire a man who can skin,
and whose expenses I have agreed to pay. It would have been
useless to have taken down a negro from this place, as they
might probably keep him, which would be a bore. Altogether
it is not without risk ; and it is quite on the cards that he (S )
may not be allowed to go up the country, or if he is, that he may
be detained some time : the Queen is very anxious to have some
white blood introduced among her subjects; and Englishmen
are liable to be kept for that purpose. There is a brig-of-war
just starting to visit some of the 'Dependencies^ of this place.
There is a man going with her whom I hope to induce to make
some skins ; but it is very doubtful if he will. He can skin very
well, but does it more for the sake of what is commonly called
'keeping curiosities ' than anything else : it is a great pity one
cannot get people to think as oneself does on this subject. I
have heard nothing from the Seychelles, but I still expect to get
a few things thence.'^
" Oct. 22, 1860.
" S — — has returned from Madagascar : he was not able to
get to the capital. They wrote to him from there that it was
the same as Tamatave, and, therefore, if he had seen Tamatave
he had seen the capital. The Queen also was the same as the
governor of Tamatave ; if therefore he had seen the governor
of Tamatave, he had seen the Queen of Madagascar. He was
three weeks at Tamatave, but was never allowed to go further
than ten miles into the interior : the country was most rich in
everything, and he was delighted with it. He only brought
back two birds and the head of another: one, a Coua or Centrapus :
the second, a Porphyrio — the same as the skin I sent from here :
the head, I expect, is that of Scopus umhretta ; and S tells me
it is tolerably common, and goes by the name of ' Faisan.^ He
found a man at Tamatave, a half-Hova, who was educated in
France, and who is willing to undertake a large expedition into
the interior in search of specimens of natural history. His
pretensions, however, are large, as he declares that he should
require .^2000 to do it well, and this to be paid beforehaud.
118 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, 8^'c.
His time of collecting would extend from November to March
or April. This is, of course, out of the question at present ; but
in a few days I am going to send him cS^lOO, to see what he can
get me for that : I do not expect much ; but, ' nothing venture,
nothing have/ "
"Nov. 2, 1860.
" I am not despairing yet about Dodoes bones ; I saw some
that were found in a cavern last week. The finder. Dr. Ayres,
assures me that they are those of the Rodriguez bird, and not
the Mauritian Dodo : he intends to give them to the British
Museum. We are to have a regular search in the cavern the
first opportunity. What is curious, is that with them he found
Deers' teeth, as well as Reptiles^, and some other Bird's bones,
which latter were so brittle he could not preserve them."
In our next Number we hope to be able to give some notes of
Mr. E. Newton's, relating to his short sojourn at Savanne.
Mr. Wallace's collections from Amboyna and Ceram have
arrived in England. The greatest novelty in them is a beautiful
new Basilornis with an erect crest, making the second of the
genus. Other species of interest are Lorius domicella, Eos rubra,
Trichophorus flavicaudus, and Tamjsiptera dea (?).
Mr. Wallace's latest letters, dated from Ceram, in June last,
speak of the probability of his return to England being not long
delayed. He had been much disappointed with the results of
an expedition to the northern part of the island, and was then
intending to go to Mysol, which was expected to prove a good
locality.
Mr. Edward Hearle Bodd informs us that a good male spe-
cimen of the Spotted Eagle [Aquila ncevia), with the elliptical
spots on the wing-coverts, and scapularies well marked, was shot
on the 4th of December, in the parish of Northhill in the eastern
part of Cornwall. The occurrence is also mentioned in the
' Times ' of December 12th. This bird has only once, we believe,
occurred previously in the British Islands, namely, in Ireland, in
1845, as recorded in the first Supplement to Yarrell's British
Birds (p. 11) and other publications.
Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c. 119
An article ' On Norfolk Island/ by Dr. C. T. Downing (in
the lately published second part of the third volume of the
Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania),
contains the following paragraphs relating to the birds now
found there. Among them may be recognized some of the spe-
cies indicated by Herr von Pelzeln in his paper on the ornitho-
logy of this island, of which we gave a resume in our last Number
('Ibis,' 1860, p. 421). But there is Kttle doubt that Herr von
Pelzeln's list does not embrace all the species of birds found in
the island; for Dr. Downing mentions three kinds of Parrots as
occurring there, and Herr von Pelzeln only gives one — the
Nestor. It would be very desirable that a complete investiga-
tion should be made of the Faunas of this and similar isolated
spots of the world's surface, and their peculiar species registered,
before the advancing tide of human civilization shall have com-
pletely extirpated them, as has been already the case in some
well-known instances.
" A greater number and variety of the feathered tribes inhabit
this lonely group, or visit it during the breeding-season. The
Guinea-fowl (?) was observed by the early navigators, but has
now become quite extinct. There are three kinds of Parrot
on Norfolk Island : — the small crimson and blue Lory — Psit-
tacus pennantii ; one green with a red ring round the base of
the beak ; and another. These birds are easily entrapped. A
dingy-plumaged Kingfisher, bold and fierce, is very common,
and passes under the name of ' The Norfolker.' The domestic
Pigeon has been naturalized, and breeds abundantly among the
cliffs. Its numbers would be troublesome but for the ravages of
the wild Cats. A large and handsome species of Pigeon, called
the 'Wood Queest,' with bronzed head and breast, is met with
occasionally round the base of Mount Pitt, but has hitherto
resisted all efforts at domestication. In addition, there is a
variety of the Blackbird (so called) or Robin, with a white head
and scarlet breast, Guava birds, White-eyes, and Fautails. These
last-named small birds are met with in the gullies, and are so
tame as to perch upon the finger or a stick, if held towards
them. One specimen of the Avocet, the Recui'virostra ruhri-
collis, was shot upon the island about a year and a half since,
120 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c.
and sent up to this Society by Dr. Hueston, as well as a male
and female Spoonbill, the head and feet of which are now laid
upon the table."
" Ocean birds in great abundance surround the shore. For-
merly, their head-quarters were at Mount Pitt ; but since Nor-
folk Island has been inhabited they have removed to the smaller
isles, Nepean swarms with Gannets and Mutton Birds, while
Boatswain or Tropic-birds, and Sea-Swallows, inhabit the rocks
to the north."
The typical and only known specimen, in European collec-
tions of the Vulturine Guinea-fowl {Numida vulturina, Hard-
wicke; Gould, Icon. Av., pi. 8) has lately been purchased from
the United Service Institution by the Trustees of the British
Museum. With reference to the true locality of this bird (com-
monly said to be West Africa), we are informed by Mr. E.
Layard that he obtained living examples of it at Bojana-bay, on
the north-west side of Madagascar, where it is the domesticated
species. Hartlaub however, we may remark, gives Numida cris-
tata as the only known species in Madagascar*. The latter,
Mr. Layard informs us, he obtained alive at Zanzibar, 'where it
is the species.'
We have the pleasure of announcing that Mr. Edgar N.
Layard, now resident in Cape Town as Curator of the South-
African Museum, is preparing for communication to this Journal
a series of articles upon the Birds of Africa south of the Tropic
of Capricorn. Mr. Layard hopes to be able to give a short
diagnosis of each species, with full details as to localities, range,
nidification, &c. We propose to keep the different articles in
type, and, on the completion of the series, to issue the whole
(together with corrections and additions) in one volume, which
may in this shape, we hope, form a useful Synopsis of South-
African Ornithology. Those who desire to obtain copies of the
Synopsis, or to assist Mr. Layard in his undertaking, are re-
quested kindly to communicate with him (at the Museum, Cape
Town), or with the Editor of 'The Ibis.'
* Syst. Orn. W. Afr., p. 200, and " Syst. Ueb. Vog. Madagasc." in Cab.
Jouru. 1860, p. 163.
THE IBIS.
No. X. APRIL 1861.
XI. — On new or little-known Birds of North-Eastern Africa.
By Hofrath Theodor von Heuglin. (Part III. The Barbets,
Capitonidce^ .)
[Continued from p. T&.'\
(Plate V.)
The range of the birds belonging to the family of Barbets
(Capitonidce) in North-Eastern Africa is confined to the tropical
provinces which are subject to a periodical rainy season. North-
wards of the boundary of the tropical rains not a single species is
found, though the genera Pogonorhijnchus, BarbatuJa, and Tra-
chyphonus are abundant in the low countries of the White and
Blue Nile. The species which I have observed, generally prefer
the plains and low grounds to the mountains, and especially
* The full synonymy of the African Barbets, and a list of all the known
species, are given by M. Jules Verreaux, in an article in the Zoological
Society's ' Proceedings' for 1859 (p, 393). Dr. Hartlaub informs us, how-
ever, that the Megalcema leucotis of Sundeval, from S. Africa, is not the
same as Laimodon unidentatus, as is there stated, but a good and distinct
species, and that the Southern Megalaima bilineata, Sundeval, although
closely allied to, is not identical with the Western Barbatula leucoltema,
Verreaux. Dr. Hartlaub acknowledges Trachyphonus squamiceps, Henglin,
as here described, to be quite distinct from T. margaritatus. It also ajipears
that M. Verreaux's Laimodon albiventris, of which a description and good
figure are given in the paper above referred to, has been previously named
by Dr. Petei-s (Bericht Akad. Berlin, 1854, p. 134) Pogonias melanopterus,
and is from Mozambique, and not from Western Africa. — Ed.
VOL. III. K
122 Dr. Heuglin on new or little-known Birds
*&
frequent woodland districts. In tlie lower 'Deka'* appear
P. saltii, P. vieillotii, and P. undatits. I have also myself observed
a species of Barbatula in the Dallager valley in Abyssinia, at an
elevation of from 5000 to 6000 feet above the level of the sea ;
its appearance there, however, is very unusual.
With the exception of the Traclujphoni, the CapitonidcB are
not shy birds, though quiet and solitary, and always keeping to
the high trees and bushes. The Trachyphoni are frequently
seen in the plains, and although also shy, are of a much more
lively and wandering nature than the Pogonorhynchi and Barba-
tul(B. The note of the Trachyphoni is loud and very melodious ;
they run (though in a different manner from Woodpeckers) up
and down the trunks of trees, feeding upon insects, berries, and
fruits, as they hop from branch to branch. Their flight is short,
but rapid ; their course consisting of a series of numerous undu-
lations. I never saw any of the species of this group on the
ground. I am not acquainted with the mode of propagation of
these birds, except that Trachyphonus margaritatus builds in holes
of trees, and lays white eggs, usually from four to six in number.
In the months of October and November I have often seen half-
fledged young ones of this species clustering together, in the
peculiar way that may be observed in some of the European
genera [Parus, for instance), and sitting on the smooth side of
the small branches, chirping as they await their parents. With
raw flesh and hard and soft-boiled eggs I have kept some of
them a long time in confinement.
The Capitonidce of N.E. Africa are not exactly migratory,
though they appear at the time when the Sycamores {Ficus
sycomorus) are ripe in countries where they are not generally
met with.
I now give an account of the species known to me, and add
descriptions and figures of some new ones.
* The * Deka' in Abyssinia is the term which inchides the mountainous
country from an elevation of GOOO feet upwards to the Snow-region. The
vegetation of the ' Deka ' is distinguished from that of the low-lying
' Kolla' by its evergreen foliage. The Kolla is the region of Bamboos and
different sorts of forest-trees, whose leaves fall in the early spring, and are
replaced at the beginning of the rainy season.
of North-E astern Africa. 123
Genus Pogonorhynchus *, Van der Hoeven.
1. P. ROLLETi. Pogonias rolleti, De Filippi, Rev. Zool. 1853,
p. 290.
Not rare on the banks of the Bahr el Abiad, in 10° N.L. ;
found on high trees near the rivers, and in the wooded districts
of the Steppes to the south. This species, which I have
known since 1851, was accidentally omitted in my " Systematic
List of the Birds of N.E. Africaf."
2. P. BIDENTATUS (Shaw).
According to Dr. Riippell, common in Schoa. Rare on the
Upper Bahr el Abiad.
3. P. LEUCOCEPHALUS. Pogouias leucocephaluSf De Filippi,
Rev. Zool. 1855, p. 291.
Rather common on the banks of the Bahr el Abiad, south-
wards from the confluence of the Sobat and the Bahr el Ghazal.
4. P. sALTii (Stanley).
Not rare in Abyssinia, except in the coast-region and high
mountains, and also found in Sennaar and Kordofan, and along
the northern course of the Bahr el Abiad.
5. P. viEiLLOTi (Leach).
The most common species in Kordofan, Abyssinia, and Sen-
naar. The most northern limit of its range is between 14° and
15° north latitude.
6. P. UNDATUS (Riipp.).
Not very rare in Abyssinia and Sennaar.
7. P. BiFRENATUs (Hcmpr. & Ehrenb.). Pogonias melam^-
cephalus, Riipp.
Dr. Riippell, in his ^ System atische Uebersicht der Vogel
Nord-Ost-Afrikas,' declares this little species to be frequent in
Sennaar and Kordofan ; but this assertion is certainly not cor-
rect. The only country in N.E. Africa where I have found
this bird at all numerous is Eastern Abyssinia, especially in the
valleys of Morat and Moreb and the Habab territory. Nearly
* Handb. d. Zool. (1833) ii. p. 446.
t Sitzungsb. d. Kais. Acad. Wien, vol. xix. p. 255.
k2
124 Dr. Heuglin on new or little- known Birds
related, but much larger, is SundevaPs Megalcema leucotis, from
Lower Caffraria (Ofvers. 1850, p. 109).
8. P. DiADEMATUs, HcugUn. Poffunias diadematus, Heugl.
Syst. Uebers. p. 47. no. 479.
Only found iu the wide Steppes of the Kitsch-Negroes, be-
tween 7° and 8° N.L. on the western bank of the Bahr el Abiad.
It is common on high trees, especially on the colossal Syca-
mores. This species resembles the nearly-related, but larger,
and also more or less highly-coloured P. unidentatus (Licht.)
from Kafferland, and P. duchallui, Cass. [Barbatula formosa,
Verr.), from W. Africa.
Genus Barbatula, Lesson.
1. B. pusiLLA, Bp. Bucco barbatula, Temm.
. In a collection of birds made on the Blue Nile, which I pre-
sented to the Royal Natural History Cabinet at Stuttgard, I
first found an apparent male of this species. It substantially
agrees with the diagnosis given by Hartlaub (Syst. Orn. W.
Afrik. p. 173), though slightly differing in dimensions, which in
my examples are as follows : — Long, tota circ. 4*0, rostri a
fronte 0-48, tarsi 06, alse 2*0, caudse 1*3 poll, et lin. Gall.
2. B. CHRYSOCOMA (Tcmm.). Bucco chrysocomus, Temm.
PI. Col. 536. fig. 2.
I found specimens of this humble little bird concealed in
thick foliage along the streams of Central and West Abyssinia,
as well as on the Bahr el Abiad, and also more rarely on the
main stream of the Nile between Khartoum and Berber. It may
be abundant, but from its habits is very difficult to find.
Genus Trachyphonus, Ranzani.
1. T. margaritatus (RUpp.). Bucco margaritatus, Riipp.
Atlas, t. 20.
Common in the Bajuda-Steppes along the banks of the Nile,
south of Berber (17° N.L.), in Kordofan, Sennaar, Abyssinia,
Taka, and in the Abyssinian Avail and Somali coast-lands. Ap-
parently confined to E.Africa, but very widely difi'used. The male
is somewhat larger than the female. Iris violet.
of North-Eastern Africa. 125
2. T. SQUAiMiCEPs, Heugl. T. squamiceps, Heugl. Syst. Uebers.
d. Vog. N.-O. Afrika, no. 482. p. 47.
Rare in the Steppes of the Kitsch-Negroes, on the western
shore of the Bahr el Abiad. It may be the same as T. marga-
ritatus, but I have never met with this species in Kordofan.
I now add descriptions of the newly-discovered species, which
are represented in the accompanying Plate.
1. POGONORHYNCHUS ROLLETI. (Plate V. fig. 1.)
Coracino-niger, tergi macula, et hypochondriis pure albis, his
ex parte nigro-striolatis : remigibus fuliginoso-nigricantibus,
subtus, interne et basin versus pallidioribus, externe cora-
cino-limbatis : subalaribus cinereis, flexuram versus cora-
cinis : abdomine medio et crisso intense cinnabarinis :
orbitis nudis, violaceis : rostro valido, pallide virescente, basi
cserulesceute, maxilla bidentata, simpliciter sulcata, man-
dibula non plicata : vibrissis rigidiusculis nigris : iride
brunnea : pedibus plumbeo-fuscis : long, tota 10'3, rostri a
fronte 1*4, ab angulo oris 1*5, alee 4'15, caudse 3'15 poll,
et lin. Gall.
This species is distinguishable from P. duhius (of Senegambia)
by important characters, such as the absence of red on the head,
and a different formation of the bill. The whole bird is nearly
entirely of a shining blue-black, with the exception of a large
white spot on the back, and the sides of the belly, which show
a few fine black markings, and some flame-coloured streaks to-
wards the breast. The middle and lower part of the belly is of
a lively cinnabar-red on a white ground; the wings are smoky
grey on the inner web, the feathers getting gradually lighter
towards the base. The under wing-coverts are likewise smoky
grey, becoming towai'ds the wing-margins bluish black. The
upper beak has on each side a single deep furrow, within which
the bristles are placed : the latter are about half the length of
the beak ; the colour of the beak is light greenish yellow, bluish
towards the base. The feet and nails ai-e greyish brown.
The sexes are coloured alike, but the female is a trifle smaller
in dimensions. This species is rather numerous on the Upper
White Nile, particularly on the Sycamore trees, the fruit of
which supplies a favourite food for all the species of Capitonida,
126 Dr. Heuglin on new or little-hnown Birds
2. POGOXORHYNCHUS LEUCOCEPHALUS. (Plate V. fig. 2.)
Capite, pectore, uropygio, et tectricibus caudse superioribus et
inferioribus albis : interscapulio, alis, ventre et remigibus
alai'um macula apicali triangular! alba notatis : scapula-
ribus et ventre longitudinaliter albo-striolatis, interscapulio
fere immaculato : remigibus interne et basin versus distincte
albido-marginatis : subalaribus cinereo-umbrinis, albido
flammulatis : rostro vibrissis rigidiusculis albis circum-
dato : orbitis nudis^ griseo-violaceis : iride brunnea : rostro
et pedibus plumbeo-nigricantibus : long, tota 6"6, rostri a
fronte 0*10, ab ang. oris 0'12, alee 3-4, caudse 2*2, tarsi 0*9
poll, et lin. Gall,
In this beautifully coloured and aberrant species, the head,
throat, bi'east, belly, under and upper tail-coverts, as well as
the chin, are white, with a slight tinge of yellow ; a band of
bright brimstone-yellow passes from the forehead over the eye,
which, however, the bird quickly loses after death. The rest of
the bird is shining umber-brown, the wing-coverts being pointed
with well-marked triangular white spots, and the scapularies and
belly streaked with white lines along the shafts. The wing-
feathers are greyish brown, with a white edging on the under-
side near their bases ; the tail-feathers are rather darker than the
wings ; the under wing-coverts are brownish grey, partly streaked
with white. The irides are umber-brown, the naked space round
the eye violet-grey. The beak and feet are blue-black.
P. leucocephalus is as common as the preceding species, and
is found in the same districts, particularly on the high trees with
thick foliage. In its stomach we found berries, insects, and figs.
With the fruit of the latter the face often becomes stained yellow.
3. POGONORHYNCHUS DIADEMATUS. (Plate V. fig. 3.)
Tergeeo et regione parotica nigris ; vertice et fronte nitide scar-
latinis ; loris nigris ; superciliis, per colli latera decur-
rentibus, autice nitide sulphureis, et nucham versus albis :
nucha media et scapularibus externe albo limbatis : auche-
nio, interscapulio et tectricibus alarum minoribus maculis
longitudinalibus flavissimis ; tectricibus alarum majoribus
extus flavescente limbatis : uropygio et tectricibus caudse
superioribus fere totis vivideflavis : remigibus et rectricibus
fuscis flavido-margiuatis, his interne, basin versus, albo-
limbatis : gastrjeo albido, medio flavescente tincto : sub-
of North-Eastern Africa. 127
alaribus albidis : iride umbrina : rostro et pedibus plumbeo-
nigricantibus : long, tota 4-10, rostri a fronte 07, alee 3-9,
caudse 1*9, tarsi 0*7'3 poll, et lin. Gall.
This variegated bird is the smallest of the species of Pogono-
rhynchus in N.E. Africa. The forehead and top of the head are
bright scarlet, the face round the ears, neck, and wing-coverts
shining black. A band over the eye and along the head brim-
stone-yellow in front and pure white behind. The middle of the
neck is spotted with white. The rest of the upper surface is not
of so bright a black as the neck. The scapularies generally on
the outside are broadly bordered with white ; the back of the
neck and upper wing-coverts are spotted with yellow ; the wings
and tail are bordered on the outside with pale yellow ; the lower
back and upper tail-coverts are deeply tinged with greenish
yellow, so that the dark ground-colour is hardly perceptible.
The wing-feathers below are edged with white, more broadly
towards their bases : the lower side is brighter than the upper,
as is likewise the case with the tail ; the under surface is whitish,
tinged with yellow about the breast and belly. In young birds
the under tail-coverts along the shafts are shaded with greyish
black.
While both the preceding species are spread from 10° N.L.
southwards along the explored course of the White Nile, P. dia-
dematus appears to have a more westerly range. The numerous
examples that have passed through our hands wxre all collected
westward of the Bahr el Abiad in the districts of Gog, Djak,
Djar, &c., between 7° and 8° N.L., and on the river Bahr el
Ghazal. The food of this species consists of insects, berries, and
fruits.
P. diadematus has, like P. hifrenatus, a loud and lively note,
deep and melodious.
4. Trachyphonus squamiceps. (Plate V. fig. 4.)
T. margaritato affinis, sed differt, statura multo miuore, facie
et vertice flavo-rufescentibus ; tectricibus caudse superi-
oribus vivide flavis ; capite (mento excepto) collo et pectore
chalybseo guttatis : nucha albida, nigricante variegata : iride
brunnea : rostro cinerascente-carneo : pedibus plumbeis.
This little species much resembles in size, structure, and
128 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional species uf Birds
colouring Trachyphonus margaritatus, but is distinguishable by
its plumage, particularly of the head, in which the elastic horn-
like structure of the feathers is still more developed. The face is
fiery yellow, and, with the exception of the chin, on the point of
each feather is a shining steel-black metallic spot. The roots of
the entire pileus and the centre of the throat are of the same
colour ; the neck is whitish, having in general before the point
of each feather a broad black speck. The scapularies and
wings are speckled with white on a smoky-brown ground ; but
these specks are not quite at the edge of the feathers, as in
T. margaritatus ; they exist on the wings and greater wing-
coverts, but are never found on the inner barbs ; the wings are
spotted with bright yellow ; the back and tail-coverts are greyish
green, with indistinct smoky-grey marks and small lanceolate
spots. The under wing-coverts are whitish towards the roots,
like the inner surface of the remiges. The under-side is bright
greenish yellow, with little lanceolate black points to each feather ;
the lower tail-coverts deep red. The tail is exactly like that of
T. margaritatus, only the spots here are yellow. Also in this new
species the cross-band which T. margaiitatus has on its breast is
missina;.
Length 6 in. ; beak from gape 10 lin. ; wings 2 in. 8 lin. ;
tail 2 in. 10 lin. ; tarsus 106 lin.
The breeding and food of this bird are the same as those of
P. diadematus. In its habits it is as sociable as T. marqaritatus.
XII. — On some additional Species of Birds received in Collections
from Natal. By John Henry Gurney, M.P., F.Z.S.
I BEG leave to communicate for insertion in * The Ibis ' a short
additional list of Natal birds, numbered consecutively to those
published in my last paper on this subject {' Ibis,^ 1860,
pp. 203-221).
The birds and the notes included in the present list were
received by me from Mr. Thomas Ayres, of D'Urban, except
where I have specified the contrary. The specimens not sent
by Mr. Ayres have been selected from two collections received
from Natal by Mr. S. Stevens, of Bloomsbury Street, London.
from the colony of Natal. 129
One of these was trausmitted to Mr. Stevens by Mr. Gueinzius,
the other by Mr. HilUard.
128. Aquila bellicosa (Daud.). Martial Eagle.
Male. This Eagle was received from Mr. Gueinzius with the
following ticket attached to it : — " Iris pale brownish (pale-ale
colour) ; cere and toes lead-colour. Shot with a young goat in
his talons.^^
129. SpizAiETUS coRONATUs (Linn.). Crowned Eagle.
Female. Immature. Eye greyish brown ; bill black. This
noble bird was shot in a very dense bush : it had killed a
monkey considerably larger than itself, and when discovered
did not appear at all shy, but on being disturbed merely flew
up on to the branches of a tree just above the monkey it had
killed, and there remained.
Another Crowned Eagle subsequently visited our neighbour-
hood, which from its size must also have been a female. This
bird carried ofi" wdth ease one of my largest Cochin fowls, and
attempted to take away a small pig ; but failing in the effort,
proceeded to kill it on the spot, and would have done so in a
few minutes, had not the cries of the pig brought a lad to its
assistance, who with difficulty frightened the Eagle away.
[This species is well figured in plates 40 and 41 of the
volume " Aves" of Sir A. Smith's ' Illustrations of the Zoology
of South Africa;' but plate no. 40, which is there stated to
represent an adult bird, does, in fact, give the figure of an
immature specimen, while plate no. 41, which is described as
representing an immature bird, is, in reality, a correct deli-
neation of the adult plumage. The sexes, which differ greatly
in size, are alike in plumage, both when immature and when
adult. The change from the earlier to the later state of
plumage is accompanied by a contemporaneous change of colour
in the iris, which passes from a pale brown to a clear yellow.
I am able to speak with certainty as to these changes, having
carefully observed them in two specimens in confinement. One
of these was a male bird from Senegal, which is still living in my
own collection ; the other a female from Sierra Leone, which died
recently in the gardens of the Zoological Society of London.
130 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional species of Birds
The latter specimen was presented to the Zoological Society
by an officer who had been quartered at Sierra Leone, and by
whom this Eagle had been captured in a singular manner,
which it may be worth while here to mention : —
This gentleman, whilst in a canoe upon one of the rivers (by
which the colony is intersected), observed this bird struggling
on the surface of the water, and succeeded in approaching it
sufficiently close to throw a blanket over it, and thus to secure
it. The breast and bill of the Eagle bore traces of the blood and
hair of some animal which it appeared to have recently captured,
and to have endeavoured unsuccessfully to carry across the river,
falling itself into the water in its attempt to retain its booty.
The circumstance of the specimen procured by Mr. Ayres having
killed a monkey " larger than itself " tends to give increased
probability to the idea of such having been the cause which led
to the capture of the living example in the manner just related.
—J. H. G.]
130. CiRCAiiiTUs FASCIOLATUS, G. R. Gray, in Mus. Brit.
Banded Harrier-Eagle.
[Sent to Mr. Stevens by Mr. Gueinzius : ticket attached as
follows : — " 2 • Iris pale yellow. Stuffed full with flying ants
(Termites).— Octoher, 1858.^'
The typical specimen of this bird in the British Museum
(which was also sent from Natal) and the present example are
the only two individuals of this species which have come under
my notice. Both these specimens agree closely with each other,
and the species appears to me to be a well-defined and good one,
although (as stated in ' The Ibis,^ vol. ii. p. 414, foot-note) it is
very nearly allied to the Circaetus zonurus, which Dr. Heuglin
has so well described and figured (see ' Ibis,^ 1860, pi. 15).
The Circaetus fasciolatus is, however, readily distinguished
from Circaetus zonurus by the greater length of its tail, and by
the five dark bands with which the tail is transversely marked,
as well as by the anterior part of the inside of the wing adjacent
to the carpal joint being transversely marked with brownish-
grey bars, instead of being white as in Circaetus zonurus.
I may take this opportunity of mentioning that, of the two
from the colony of Natal. 131
specimens of Circa'dtus zonurus fioux Bissao, preserved in the
Norwich Museum, and referred to in the foot-note ah-cady
quoted, one agrees very accurately with Dr. HeugUu's plate;
but the other, though apparently not specifically distinct, differs
in colour, — the throat and chest being white, the abdomen and
thighs whitish brown, with no appearance of transverse bars,
and the tail also of a pale dingy brown, showing no trace of the
transverse bar across the middle, but only of that across the
lower part. The plumage in this specimen is much faded and
worn, apparently by the action of the sun and air.
The Norwich Museum also contains two other Circaeti from
Bissao, which a])pear to me to be examples of Circa'etus ijaUicus,
though they differ from any other specimens of that species
which I have seen in having the whole of the under parts of a
rusty-brown colour, resembling, in that respect, some of the im-
mature specimens of Circa'dtus thoracicus. — J. II. G.]
131. Falco pehegkinus, Linn. Peregrine Falcon.
[Sent to Mr. Stevens by Mr. Gueinzius : no ticket attached;
but a{)parently a female bird in nearly adult plumage. This is
the only specimen of the true Peregrine Falcon which has come
into my hands from any locality south of the Equator. — J, II. G.]
132. Falco minor, Bp. Rev. de Zool. 1850, p. 484. South
African Peregrinoid Falcon.
[This specimen was also sent to Mr. Stevens by Mr. Gueinzius.
The following ticket was attached to it : — " $ . Irides dark."
The plumage of this specimen bears considerable resemblance
to that of the Falco melauoijeays, Gould, of Australia, especially
in the narrowness of the spaces between the transverse abdo-
minal bars. Its size is about that of the male Peregrine. As
this Falcon is but little known to naturalists, I may, perhaps,
be permitted to refer the readers of ' The Ibis ' to some interest-
ing remarks respecting it, and especially as to the differences
between this species and the small Falcon of North Africa
[Falco tunetanus of Aldrovandus, F. peregrinoides of Temmiuck,
PI. Col. 479, and F. burharus of Mr. Salvin, in ' The Ibis,' 1859,
pi. 6), which are contained in pp. 29 and 30 of the ' Traitc de
Fauconnerie' by Professor Schlegel, who has there called this
bird Falco communis minor. — J. H. G.]
132 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional species of Birds
133. Merops savignii, Swains, ex LeVaill. Savigny's Bee-
eater.
Male. Eye bright crimson ; legs and feet dark brown ; bill
black. Its stomach was full of a small kind of wasp. These birds
take their food on the wing, and their flight somewhat resembles
that of the Swallows ; they frequently alight on the trees and
bushes to rest ; during flight they utter a harsh grating note.
I believe they only inhabit the coast-lands, and are migratory,
appearing only in the summer months.
134. BucoRAX ABYSSiNicus (Gmclin). Abyssinian Honi-
biU.
Eye very light brown ; legs, feet, and bill black ; skin of the
neck and round the eye bright red. In the stomach of the male
were snakes, beetles and other insects. These birds are grega-
rious, and to be found here all the year round, but are not very
plentiful, generally three or four, sometimes more together. They
are very fond of hunting for their food on ground from which
the grass has been burnt ; with their strong bills they peck up
the hard ground, and turn over lumps in search of insects,
making the dust fly again ; having found an insect or other food,
they take it up, and giving their head a toss, the bill pointing
upward, appear to let the food roll down their throat. They
also kill large snakes in the following manner*. On discovering
a snake, three or four of the birds advance sideways towards it,
with their wings stretched out, and with their quills flap at and
irritate the snake till he seizes them by the wing-feathers, when
they immediately all close round and give him violent pecks
with their long and sharp bills, quickly withdi*awing again
when the snake leaves his hold. This they repeat till the snake
is dead. If the reptile advances on them, they place both wings
in front of them, completely covering their heads and most
vulnerable parts. Their call, which consists of but one note
repeated, a deep and sonorous coo-coo, may be heard at a great
* The manner in which the Abyssinian Hornbill attacks the large
snakes was first communicated to me by Mr. Ay res in 1858, and appeared
in the ' Zoologist' for that year. Mr. A5res having confirmed the state-
ment in his present paper, I have thought it worth while here to include
it, although not now published for the first time. — J. H. G.
from the colony of Natal. 133
distance ; I have myself heard it, under favourable circumstances,
at a distance of nearly two miles. The call of the female is ex-
actly the same coo-coo, only pitched one note higher than that
of the male. The male invariably calls first, the female imme-
diately answers, and they continue this for perhaps five or ten
minutes, every now and then, as they are feeding. Their flight
is heavy, and when disturbed, although very shy, they seldom fly
more than half a mile before they alight again. At a distance
they would be easily mistaken for turkeys, their body being deep
and rather compressed, similarly to those birds, with the wings
carried well on the back. The little pouch on the throat they
are able to fill with air at pleasure — the male bird now sent
doing this before he died.
I think their principal range of country is on the coast, and
from twenty to thirty miles inland. They roost on trees at
night, but always feed on the ground.
[Neither of the specimens sent by Mr. Ayres exhibited the
full development of the remarkable elevation on the upper part
of the bill which distinguishes the old males of this species. —
J. H. G.]
135. BucERos BUCCINATOR, Temm. Trumpeter Hornbill.
136. Toccus coRONATUs (Bodd.). Crowned Hornbill.
[This species and the preceding one were both sent to Mr.
Stevens by Mr. Gueinzius. The latter was ticketed, " $ . Irides
yellow."— J. H. G.]
137. Chera progne (Bodd.). Progne Widow-bird.
Male. Eye nearly black. These beautiful birds are very
plentiful in the inland parts of the colony and in the Free
State and Trans- Vaal, but are seldom found within eight or ten
miles of the coast. They are gregarious, there being perhaps one
or two males to twenty or thirty females. In the months of
December and January (the breeding season) the males assume
their gaudy plumage (when their flight is in consequence heavy,
but still, with or across the wind, they are able to sustain it a
considerable distance), again shedding their tails in March.
The females are brown, as are also the males, excepting in the
months previously mentioned, the only distinguishing mark
134 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional species of Birds
then being the red patch on the wing. They build in the reeds
and long grass; their food consists entirely of grass seeds, and
I have heard they do considerable damage to the Boers' crops of
wheat and oats in the interior.
138. CuRSORius CHALCOPTERUS (Temm.). Bronze-winged
Courser.
Male. Eye dark brown; legs pale. The stomach of this
specimen was perfectly empty. Of the habits of this bird I
know nothing, this being the only one I have seen. It is ex-
cessively rare in this part of the country, though I believe plen-
tiful in the interior.
139. Tringoides hypoleucus (Linn.). British Common
Sandpiper.
[Sent to Mr. Stevens by Mr. Hilliard.— J. H. G.]
140. Gallinago major (Gmelin.). British Great Snipe.
Male. Eye very dark ; legs very light slate-colour ; bill
brown. I know but little of the habits of these birds ; but they
are migratory, appearing here in September and October, and
leaving again in January or February. They are generally
dispersed over the country, preferring the swamps on the flats
to the hilly streams. They are usually found singly, but some-
times, when plentiful, may be put up in flights.
141. Platalea TENUiROSTRis, Tcmm. Slender-billed Spoon-
bill.
Male and female. The eye of a light bluish grey ; legs dark
pink ; bill bluish pink ; skin round the eye red. The stomachs
of these birds were crammed with shrimps. Of their habits I
know but little ; they are gregarious, and are frequently to be
found with the White Ibis and other waders. They are extremely
shy ; I have not had an opportunity of seeing them feed.
They generally fly in lines, or form the letter V.
142. PcECiLONETTA ERYTHRORHYNCHA (Gmcl.). Red-billed
Marbled Duck.
143. Thalassornis LEUCONOTUS (Smith). Fasciated Duck.
from the colony of Natal. 135
144. Pelecanus mitratus, Licht. Mitred Pelican.
[This species and the two preceding were sent to Mr. Stevens
by Mr. Gueinzius. — J. H. G.]
145. Pelecanus rufescens (Gmel.). Pink-backed Pelican.
Male. Bill pale ; tip of the bill bright orange ; pouch, legs
and feet greenish yellow. These birds frequent the bay and the
mouths of the rivers on the coast ; their food, I believe, consists
entirely of fish. They appear to feed in the evening and early in
the morning, basking in the sun during the day. They are gre-
garious, and may be seen in flights of from three to thirty, which
occasionally come inland. In such cases, although I have seen
them wheeling round and round close to the ground, I have not
seem them alight, but have watched them until out of sight.
In their flight they generally form the letter V, similarly to the
Geese, &c. They are to be found here all the year round more
or less, frequenting the most retired parts of the bay, and are
exceedingly shy and wary. The bird now sent, when shot, was
only pinioned, and falling into the water, gave me a long chase.
It swam with such swiftness, that by the time I got into my
boat it had three hundred yards' start. There being a strong
head wind blowing at the time, I had the greatest difficulty in
overtaking it, and rowed more than a mile before I was near
enough to give the bird a second shot, which put an end to its
existence. These Pelicans soar to an immense height, wheeling
round and round, especially when coming from a distance.
They appear to examine the waters well before they alight, and
settle far out of gunshot of any cover there may be.
I may, in conclusion, here insert the following additional
note, which I have received from Mr, Ayres, on
AsTUR melanoleucus (Smith). Black and White Goshawk.
" A few days since, I shot a very fine immature specimen of
Astur melanoleucus, which had carried away successively three of
my full-grown hens, of the ordinary size, seven ducklings about
one-third grown, four or five good-sized chickens, and one gos-
ling as large as a full-grown fowl. Yet so cunning was this
bird, that it committed all this havoc before I could get a single
136 Dr. G. Bennett on a Grallatorial Bird
chance of killing it. It would suddenly appear from amongst
the trees, close to the ground^ and seizing its victim, retire to
the bush, where the sportsman stands but a very poor chance of
seeing the bird before being seen by it.
XTII. — Notes on a living specimen of a singular Grallatorial Bird
from New Caledonia. By Dr. George Bennett, F.Z.S.*
I REACHED Sydney on the 12th of November, having left
Southampton on the 20th of September. A few days after my
arrival, I observed a bird in the aviary at the Botanic Gardens
here, which appears to me to be new. This living specimen
and another, now set up in the Sydney Museum, were received
as presents from M. Des Planches, Surgeon of H.I. M.S.
" Sibylle,'^ who brought them from New Caledonia. This bird
is said to be plentiful there near the sea-coast, and is named by
the natives Kagu. It has a large and handsome crest, which is
always carried depressed, and which we could only get it to
elevate by frightening it on placing a Hawk in the same com-
partment with it. Upon this being done, after running about,
the bird elevated its crest ; but I could not observe that it
spread it out to any extent, although, on examining the stuffed
specimen, the crest appears capable of being spread out as well as
of being simply raised, as may be seen in the drawing sent here-
with. The second drawing represents the crest in repose. The
head and crest are of a light greyish colour, the longer feathers
of the crest being of a lighter tint. The back, neck, and wing-
coverts are of a dark penciled grey with brown markings, the
latter varying according to age, and the long pinion feathers
when spread are elegantly barred with reddish brown. On being
chased the bird runs with great rapidity, never attempting to fly.
On being caught it uttered a loud screaming noise, and it was
only on such an occasion that it was ever heard to utter any
sound. The form of the bird, together with the peculiar beak
and Rail-like feet, are well displayed in the sketches, which have
been kindly made for me by Mr. G. Krefft, the Assistant Curator
* From a letter acldressecl by Dr. Bennett to the Editor, dated Sydney,
November 21st, 1860.
from New Caledonia. 137
of the Sydney Museum. The bill, legs, and feet in the living
specimen were of a reddish orange colour; in the stuffed specimen,
in its recent state, they were of a bright scarlet colour, evidently
varying from age or other causes. The irides are brown. The
bird appears to be very hardy, and, as I have been informed, is
not rare in its native country. Should it prove to be an acqui-
sition, no doubt specimens could be procured and sent to the
Zoological Gardens in the Regent's Park. It feeds upon insects,
mice, birds, and raw meat, which it usually devours entire ; it is
very ravenous for food, and often evinces some degree of pugnacity
when meddled with. It runs with great rapidity, compressing
the body and elongating the head and neck in a manner seen
to obtain among the Rails. In the same compartment in the
aviary is a living specimen of the New Zealand Rail, the Weha
of the natives [Ocydromus australis, Sparrm.). The actions of
these two birds are similar; and there is also a marked resem-
blance between them in the structure of the toes. They are
both fond of digging in the earth for worms and searching
about the grass for insects, snails, &c. ; but the New Caledonian
bird, when not disturbed, has a more stately walk than the Rails,
and in that respect approaches the Herons or Cranes. It
appears to me to form a link between the Gruida or Cranes and
the Rallida or Rails, which, however, will be more easily de-
cided when an opportunity occurs of examining its anatomy,
and more especially its osteological structure. No doubt before
long we shall be able to procure specimens for this purpose, -^hen
I will communicate with you again on the subject*.
* This bird is the Rhinochetus jubafus, Verr. et Des Murs, described
and figured in the ' Revue et Magasin de Zoologie ' for last year (1860),
p. 440. pi. 21, from a single example preserved in the "Exposition des
produits des Colonies " at Paris. It has been referred by the describers
(MM. J. Verreaux and Des Murs) to the Herons [Ardeidas), but is cer-
tainly a strange and very interesting form, probably, as Dr. Bennett has
suggested, connecting the Rails with the Herons. As no details have been
given concerning its habits, Dr. Bennett's account of them is of great
interest, and we sincerely trust that he may be able to cany out his inten-
tion of sending living examples to England. At present the specimen in
Paris is the only one known, so that skins and skeletons of this bird would
be also much valued in this country. — Ed.
VOL. III. L
138 Mr. 0, Salvin's Qaesal-shooting in Vera Paz.
XIV. — Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz.
By OsBERT Salvin, M.A., F.Z.S.
As the greater part of this account of the mode of collecting
Quesals {Pharomacrus paradiseus), as pursued by the Coban
hunters, was written at the time in the form of a diary, I have
thought it best to preserve it in the same shape throughout.
March 1. — Rain all day and every day is what one must ex-
pect to encounter on visiting Coban. Such was the weather in
November, and now, the month of March brings no signs of the
dry season, when in Guatemala people have almost forgotten what
rain is. When travelling from place to place, the fates have in
general been propitious, and on coming here they did not desert
me. Two fine days enabled me to reach Coban from San Geronimo
with a dry skin, but the next day the usual driving, misty rain
greeted us on rising, and morning after morning brings no
change for the better. Luckily, I have found plenty of indoors
work in arranging and labelling the collections made during my
absence. Moreover, Coban has this advantage. A mere hint
at what branch of natural history one has a leaning towards is
sufficient to bring in specimens in an almost unbroken stream.
Boy follows boy, till one hardly knows which way to turn to stow
away the spoils in the shape of birds, snakes, lizards, toads,
frogs, &c., and no small amount of time is occupied in paying
these young rascals (for they all try to cheat) for their captures.
Like everything else, my work appears to have an end. The
birds are finished and packed, novelties are no longer brought
in. The period of my stay being limited, idleness cannot be
long endured, and I am determined, rain or no rain, to be off to
the mountain-forests in search of Quesals, to see and shoot which
has been a day-dream for me ever since I set foot in Central
America. Having secured the services of Cipriano Prado, the
most successful Quesal-hunter in Coban, and at the same time
a bird-collector of no mean ability, and also of Filipe Sierra,
another hunter of Coban, we are beginning to prepare for the
journey. It is necessary to take provisions, and we are accord-
ingly laying in a stock of salt meat, 'pixtones' (round maize cakes
i of an inch thick), ' tamalis ' (maize puddings), and ' topopoxti '
Mr. 0. Salvin^s Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz. 139
(thin maize cakes not unlike oat-cake), all of which have to be
started the day previous to our own departure, on the backs of
five Indians. Our proposed hunting-ground is distant three
days' journey from Cohan, two of which lie along a road passable
for mules. We therefore reckon on catching up our cargoes on
the second day, and then proceeding on together. The road we
intend to take is that between Cohan and Cajabon, which we
follow as far as San Agustin Lanquin, and leaving our animals
there to be sent back to Cohan, make for the ridge of mountains
to the northward, and follow them in a westerly direction towards
Coban.
March 6. — The road over the Mico mountain near Yzabal, so
graphically described by Stevens, is a tritie to that which we
have just passed, — slippery clay, mud and stones combining to
make progress difficult, and falling easy. In fact, it was just
about as bad a road as one could pass mounted. Cipriano in
descending a hill was stretched on his back. Though he com-
plains a good deal of himself, his gun, I think, will prove to be
the worst sufferer, as an old crack in the stock has opened and
we have been obliged to tie it together with string, after the
fashion of Gordon Cumming's riile. Mv mule was down on her
knees several times, but we both managed to rise togetlier. Filipe
fared no better. To-night we are to sleep under a rancho or
' ermita,^ that is to say, a roof upon poles sheltering three crosses.
Few of these roadside huts have any walls. Small as our lodging
is, it affords shelter to some twenty-five souls; for besides ourselves,
and an Indian to carry the hammocks and a change of clothes,
some twenty Indians are congregated here for the night, some
bound for Coban, some in the opposite direction, but all carrying
their cargoes of onions, maize, &c., for sale or exchange. In my
hammock I swing clear of everything except the smoke from the
wood fire, the least objectionable of evils attendant upon a night
spent in an Indian rancho. My blankets I had sewn into bags
before leaving Coban, so that I am well provided against cold,
which in the mountains is sometimes severe. This plan of sleep-
ing in a bag is well adapted for a hammock, where covering below
as well as above is necessary, as this desirable end is not so easily
or so effectually arrived at by means of the ordinary blanket.
l2
140 Mr. 0. Salvin^s Quesal-shooting in Ve)'a Paz.
March 7. — Soon after starting I shot a fine specimen of
Accipiter erythrocnemis, and shortly afterwards one out of a pair
of Ictinia plumbea. This last species seems to be particularly
partial to patches of pine trees, which grow at intervals all
through the Alta Vera Paz. The road was no improvement
upon that of yesterday, and though we had not far to go, it was
late in the afternoon when we reached Lanquin. Finding that
Fray Domingo Lopez, the Padre Cura of Cajabon, was in the
village, we went to the convent and there put up.
March 8. — As it is necessary to take a ' practico ' or guide
with us to the mountains, I had purposed spending a day in
Lanquin to find one, and also two Indians, as two of those hired
at Coban have to return with the mules and saddles. A guide is
absolutely necessary, as my companions have never explored these
districts; and a knowledge of those parts most frequented by the
Quesals, as well as of the springs of water, is indispensable to the
success of the expedition. Moreover we might lose ourselves
in these forests for days, and the consequences would be serious.
Most places have their ' lion,' and Lanquin is not an exception to
the rule ; the ' lion ' in this case being a cave, out of which the
river of Lanquin emerges. This stream helps to swell the river
of Cajabon, and finally flows into the Polochic. The interior of
the cave is said to be beautifully festooned with stalactites. It
becoming known that we have resolved on an inspection of it, a
number of Indians, boys and men, follow us from the village, and
these, with two I have hired to carry pine for torches, swell our
party to some twenty individuals. Each takes his bundle of
chips, and all having fired their torches, we go in. These caves
are always curious and interesting to see ; but the half-naked
Indians, each with his lighted torch, scrambling about the rocks
.in all directions and shouting to the echoes, enhance the
strangeness of the scene. After winding in and out and climb-
ing up and down among slippery stones, now stooping to pass
a narrow opening, now gazing upwards into vacant blackness
or downwards into similar obscurity, we reach the point where
the river flows at the bottom of the cavern, not in an unbroken
stream, but among large masses of rock, over which we scram-
ble. Having satisfied curiosity, and the torches beginning to
Mr. 0. Salvin's Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz. 141
dwindle, I sound a retreat, as, had we been left in darkness,
no amount of groping would bring us out. This cave would
appear to be of great length ; the river that flows from it
forms no mean stream. On leaving the cave I begin to collect
ferns, many species of which are growing about the rocks and
surrounding trees*. Whilst thus engaged, a shower of fruit
from a neighbouring tree calls my attention, and looking up, I
spy a 'Mico leon^ [Cei'coleptes caudivolvulus) regaling himself
on a well-loaded bough. I immediately send a boy back for my
gun, which I have left at the mouth of the cave, intending to
return. Mico leon however makes off, but Cipriano and Filipe
are soon on his track. The latter fires a shot, and I another,
when the animal falls into the water and swims to the other side.
Not being able to climb the bank, two Indians strip off their only
garment, swim the river, despatch Mico leon, and bring him over
between them. These Indians swim well and rapidly, striking
out first with one arm and then the other, throwing each out of
the water at every stroke.
March 9. — A downpour of rain, misty, drizzling, continuous.
However, Cipriano and I pay a visit to the cave, but the forest
being too wet to shoot, and rain falling, I collect ferns and land-
shells under the shelter of the overhanging rock. On returning
to the convent I am for the rest of the day beset with Indians,
men and boys, women and girls, bringing lizards, snakes, &c.,
showing the same excellent collecting qualities as the Coban
Indians.
March 10. — Still raining in the same incessant way,— not
a thunderstorm and clear sky afterwards, as during the rainy
season in the neighbourhood of Guatemala. At Coban and the
Alta Vera Paz, it seems to rain at any hour and at any season.
March 11. — Still in Lanquin, but the weather decidedly im-
proving. During the afternoon we go out to shoot. Observing
on a pine-tree about a dozen nests of Ocyalus wagleri, with which
the old birds are busy, I send for an axe and have the tree cut
down, but find neither eggs nor young in the nests. The birds
* The collection I made during this expedition, as well as all that I
obtained in other places, I have submitted to Sir W. Hooker, who has most
kindly named the whole for me. Amongst the species are several novelties.
142 Mr. 0. Salvin^s Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz.
were only preparing: to breed. Besides this colony I see little
of interest — a few Toucans (Ramphastos carinatics) and other
common birds.
March 12. — Off to the mountains at last, with a fine day and
a fair prospect of success. The road after crossing the river strikes
ofiP to the northward — a mountain track winding among the hills.
Soon after entering the forest a river crosses the path — a foaming
torrent — a fall into which gives no hope of escape. A felled tree,
one of the largest of the forest, forms the bridge, over M'hich,
slippery with moss and foam, we have to pass. For ourselves it
is nothing ; but I must say I tremble for the Indians, each of
whom carries his 75 lbs. of cargo. In the worst and most
slippery part the foot-hold is somewhat improved by the tree
being notched with a ' machete,' but still it is as dangerous a
pass as I ever crossed. After half an hour's delay we reach the
other bank. One ' mozo' only turned faint-hearted, and another
carried his pack across. From the river the path becomes very
precipitous, and we continue to climb till we reach the foot of a
]-ock, where we find a deserted rancho and take possession. A
fire having been made to heat the pixtones,we dine, and afterwards
start for the forest close by to look for Quesals. On entering,
the path takes the unpleasant form of a succession of felled trees,
which are slippery from recent rains, and render progress slow.
My companions are ahead, and I am just balancing myself along
the last trunk, when Filipe comes running back to say that they
have heard a Quesal. Of course, being especially anxious to
watch, as well as to shoot one of these birds myself, I imme-
diately hurry to the spot. I sit down upon my wide-awake in
most approved style close to Cipriano, who is calling the bird,
and wait, all eyes and ears, for the result. I have not to wait
long. A distant clattering note indicates that the bird is on the
wing. He settles — a splendid male — on a bough of. a tree not
seventy yards from where we are hidden. Cipriano wants to
creep up to within shot, but I keep him back, wishing to risk
the chance of losing a specimen rather than miss such an oppor-
tunity of seeing the bird in its living state and of watching its
movements. It sits almost motionless on its perch, the body
remaining in the same position, the head only moving slowly
Mr. 0. Salvin^s Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz. 143
from side to side. The tail does not hang quite perpendicularly,
the angle between the true tail and the vertical being perhaps as
much as 15 or 20 degrees. The tail is occasionally jerked open
and closed again, and now §ind then slightly raised, causing the
long tail-coverts to vibrate gracefully. I have not seen all. A
ripe fruit catches the Quesal's eye, and he darts from his perch,
hovers for a moment, plucks the berry, and returns to his former
position. This is done with a degree of elegance that defies
description. The remark has often been made by persons
looking at stuffed Humming-birds, " What lovely little things
these must look in life, when they are flying about !" But they
do not. Place a Humming-bird twenty yards from you, and
what do you see of its colours, except in the most favourable
position and light ? This is not the case with the Quesal.
The rich metallic green of the head, back, and tail-coverts
reflects its colour in every position, whilst the deep scarlet of
the breast and the white of the tail show vividly at a distance,
and contrast with the principal colour of the body. The living
Quesal strikes the eye by its colour at once. It stands un-
equalled for splendour among birds of the New World, and is
hardly surpassed among those of the Old. Such are my reflec-
tions, when a low whistle from Cipriano calls the bird nearer,
and a moment afterwards it is in my hand — the first Quesal I
have seen and shot.
This same evening we hear the cries of another pair of Quesals,
but they refuse to listen to the voice of the charmer. A long
chase after a pair of Pauhil (Crax globicera), which results in an
ineff"ectual shot, now brings the day to a close, and, the path
being neither very clear nor good, I think it best to return.
On my way back I shoot a specimen of Sclerurus mexicanus, a
bird I have never seen before. Its habits much resemble those
of a Wren. I never saw either this individual, or others met with
subsequently, climbing like a Dendrocolaptes, but usually hopping
about the brushwood, and frequently on the ground, scratching
among the dead leaves. The cry of the Sclerurus is shrill and
may be heard at some distance.
There is one bird in these forests which I became acquainted
with, but was unable to procure. Nor could I obtain a more
144 Mr. 0. Salvin's Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz.
satisfactory account of its ajipearance than that it was coflfee-
coloured; and abont the size of a small Thrush. Its song, which
I heard frequently, is most peculiar, and comprises some of the
highest notes I ever heard from any bird. It is clear and
melodious, without having any great variation. The name
commonly applied to it is the ' ruisefior' or Nightingale. I
think it probable that the bird may be one of the numerous
Wrens found in the country.
The cries of the Quesal are various. They consist principally
of a low double note, " whe-oo, tvhe-oo," which the bird repeats,
whistling it softly at first, and then gradually swelling it into a
loud but not unmelodious cry. This is often succeeded by a
long note, which begins low, and after swelling dies away as it
began. Both these notes can be easily imitated by the human
voice. The bird's other cries are harsh and discordant. They
are best imitated by doubling a pliant leaf over the first fingers,
which must be held about two inches apart. The two edges of
the leaf being then placed in the mouth and the breath drawn
in, the required sound is produced. Cipriano was an adept at
imitating these cries, but I failed in producing them for want
of practice. When searching for Quesals the hunter whistles
as he walks along, here and there sitting down and repeating
the other notes. As soon as he hears a bird answering at a
distance he stops, and imitates the bird^s cries until it has
approached near enough to enable him either to shoot it from
where he stands, or to creep up to within shot. The female
generally flies up first and perches on a tree near the hunter,
who takes no notice of her, but continues calling till the male,
who usually quickly follows the female, appears. Should the
male not show himself, the hunter will sometimes shoot the
female. Thus it is that so large a proportion of males are shot.
The flight of the Quesal is rapid and straight; the long tail-
feathers, which never seem to be in his way, stream after him.
The bird is never found except in forests composed of the
highest trees, the lower branches of which [i. e. those at about
two-thirds of the height of the tree from the ground) seem to
be its favourite resort. Its food consists principally of fruit, but
occasionally a caterpillar may be found in its stomach. The
Mr. 0. Salvin's Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz. 145
colouring of the soft parts is as follows : — Iris very dark hazel.
Eyelid black. Bill yellow, with an olive tinge at the base, ex-
tending over the nostril along one-third of the upper and two-
thirds of the under mandible. Legs and toes olive; soles of
the feet more yellow. Claws horny olive.
The following morning, March 13, we make an early start
for the same forests, intending to take a wide circuit and return
to our camp under the rock the same evening. Five Quesals
and a Pava [Penelope purpurascens) are the result of our day's
work.
March 14. — Having accomplished the great object of my
expedition, viz. to see a Quesal myself, I find my time too
valuable to bestow more attention on them, when so many other
objects of interest lie within my reach. I accordingly leave
Cipriano and Filipe to hunt up birds, whilst I confine my
attention to the ferns, shells, &c. I have never visited these
forests of Vera Paz before, and my impression is that they are
almost the best worth seeing of anything in Guatemala. The
forests of the coasts are rich in all the beauties which have been
the theme of so many travellers, but they have their disadvan-
tages. The excessive heat is always a drawback ; and if garra-
patas abound, one's enjoyment is gone. In these mountain-forests
it is otherwise ; no garrapatas, no mosquitos, and a climate that
in the dry season might challenge any in the world. Most
parts are ' montaha Umpia ' (forest free from brushwood), and
one may ramble where one pleases, without being stopped by
dense thickets. What strikes the eye most is the number of
ferns, not only of plants, but species. Every tree is clasped and
every stone clothed with them. Besides, there are many arbo-
rescent species, and others of terrestrial habit. Palms of low
growth and various form also are a marked characteristic of the
forest. Few sounds are heard ; the low murmur of insects con-
trasts strangely with the din of the coast forests. Birds are not
often met with. An occasional Creeper {Dendrocolaptes) may be
seen or its cry heard ; the peculiar thrilling notes of the Ruisenor,
the distant call of a Trogon, the cooing of a Pigeon, the melan-
choly wailing of the Pava [Penelope purpurascens), or the noisier
call of the Colola [Tinamus), include nearly all the sounds one
146 Mr. O. Salvin's Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz.
hears from the feathered tribes. Should, however, a troop of
Monos {Mycetes palliatus ?) be within hearing, every echo of the
forest is awakened with their discordant bellowings, which it is
no exaggeration to say may be heard at the distance of a league.
March 15, — After some delay we start westward again, as,
from what we can gather from the Indians, it seems evident
that we have reached the limits of the Quesals in this direction,
and the country between us and Co ban seems to offer the best
prospect of success. The only mishap that overtakes us is the
leakage of my large bottle full of reptiles. On examination the
cork proves imperfect — a defect easily remedied, had not the
Indian who carried it got it into his head that the rum having
snakes in it would produce festernig sores wherever it touched
him ! After a great deal of arguing on the subject, I induce
one of the guides to take charge of the maligned bottle. That
night we reach a large 'ermita,' where we sleep, and secure
another guide for the next day to conduct us to the district of
Rashchay, said to abound with Quesals.
March 16.^ — On going out I perceive a pair of Ictinia plumbea
preparing to build in a pine-tree close to the rancho we have
been sleeping in. As there is no chance of procuring the
eggs, I secure the birds for my collection. On entering the
forest, a fine male Trogon massena falls to Cipriano's gun. This,
thi-ee Quesals, and a few other birds, form the day's bag. A
rancho half in ruins in a small clearing in the forest gives us
shelter to-night. We prop up one corner, which has a deplorable
tendency to droop for want of its coi-ner post, and patch up the
most open places in the roof with the extra stock of 'suyacales'
(mats made of reeds to cover an Indian's pack) we have brought
from Lanquin. Filipe's hammock gives way on the first trial
and lets him down with a run ; mine seems inclined to remain
where it is.
March 17. — A heavy rain tests our last night's repairs, and
it requires no small amount of managing to place ourselves and
our baggage out of the drops that fall in many places from the
roof. The day clears up at 10 o'clock, and I send Cipriano
and Filipe in diflferent directions with a guide apiece to shoot
Quesals, whilst I and the third guide search for other things.
Mr. 0. Salvin's Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz. 147
My bag to-day consists of a Swift {Chahira vauxi). two speci-
mens of a beautiful Tanager [Pyranga eryf/iTomelcEna), and a
large addition to my collection of ferns. Cipriano and Filipe
bring in seven Quesals between them, and one of the guides a
single specimen of Vireolanius pulchellus.
March 18. — As my time is limited, I have decided to remain in
this spot, which seems likely to be productive, as long as I can,
and then return straight to Coban. All to-day Cipriano and
Filipe have been out ; I have been chiefly occupied in skinning
the specimens which resulted from yesterday's excursion. I
have taken no small amount of pains to secure good examples
for my own collection, as I wish my Trogon-drawer to look as
well as possible. To-day Cipriano and I have had a long chase
after some Parrots, one of which we have at last secured*. It
cost us many a fruitless shot, as the trees in which we find
them are of great height, and a bird at the top of one of them
is almost out of gun-shot. We had just secured this bird
when a distant noise warned us of approaching heavy rain, and
we had just time to reach our camp when a thunderstorm came
on — a I'eal tropical storm. It is astonishing to notice the noise
rain makes in the forest when striking the leaves of the trees.
An approaching storm may be heard many minutes before the
rain comes up,
March 19. — All last night rain fell in torrents, accompanied
by thunder and lightning. Rills of water we had stepped across
yesterday are now small rivers, and the whole night long we
could hear the crash of falling trees. My companions were
seriously alarmed lest we should be swept away, I did not
share their anxiety, as the limits to which watercourses rise are
easily traced, and I knew that we were safe. The downfall of
our rancho was a danger much more imminent. To-day we
have a long journey before us, and I order an early break-up of
the camp. On the road we shoot several Quesals, and I add
matei'ially to my collection of ferns. The day is far advanced
when I find that our guide has missed his way, and knows no
* This bird proved to be an undescribed species. It now stands as
Pionus hcematotis, Scl. et Salv., and a drawing of it will be found in the
second volume of this Journal, plate lo.
148 Mr. O.Salvin's Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz.
more about the road or where he is than one of us. During
the day I had not paid much attention to the course we were
taking, except to know that we were going nearly in the right
direction. My pocket compass now conies into requisition, and
starting on the principle that a path must lead somewhere, we
strike the most likely-looking route, which in time brings us to
an uninhabited rancho in a clearing of Indian corn. In this
we establish ourselves for the night.
March 20. — As no one seems to have a very clear idea of the
road, I, compass in hand, undertake the direction of aflfairs.
Three hours' walk brings us into a part of the country known
to Cipriano, and we presently strike a road which takes us over
a high range of hills which we were skirting all yesterday.
While ascending, I observe several Swallow-tailed Kites [Ela-
noides furcatus) soaring above me. This bird has wonderful
powers of flight : no eagle or vulture could sail more easily or
gracefully in the air. Like Ictinia plumbea, I believe that this
species breeds in the patches of pine trees which are found here
and there throughout the forest. I gather this belief from
common report. A little Indian village, by name Kohak, is our
resting-place to-night. Here we are all billeted upon some
Indians inhabiting a large long rancho with a family at each
end. The inmates seem to have a decided turn for music, and
we have not long established ourselves when Cipriano pitches
upon a guitar and Filipe on a harp. They are now hard at
work, accompanied by an Indian playing on a kind of drum,
knocking out Indian tunes as fast as they can remember them.
I have made myself comfortable for the night in my hammock,
and am endeavouring to fancy myself in the act of being soothed
to sleep by the dulcet strains that assail my ears. A long day's
work is likely to be more effectual.
March 31. — Nine leagues yet to walk before we reach Coban.
I give out that I mean to finish our journey to-day ; the rest say
no. Mountain fare has left me in capital training, and I feel
confident of doing it if I can only get the Indians along. To
lighten their loads I hire another Indian, so that they have no
excuse for lagging. Four leagues brings us to the Lanquin
road, and we eat the last of our 'toppoxti' at a place called
Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds of the Falkland Islands. 149
Kakiton. Here I cheer the Indians with some of their favourite
drink, ' chicha,' which is neither more nor less than fermented
hquor before it is distilled. I then walk on and reach Coban at
half-past five o'clock. My companions and the Indians arrive
at eight o'clock, and thus bring my last expedition in Guatemala
to a conclusion.
XV. — Notes on the Birds . of the Falkland Islands. By Captain
C. C. Abbott, late in command of Detachments in the Falk-
land Islands.
These notes are the result of personal observations made during
a residence of three years, from February 1858 to October 1860,
at Stanley, the seat of government of the Falkland Islands,
whilst I was in command of the detachments of troops stationed
there. During this period I made frequent excursions into the
interior of the island, both north and south, and lost no oppor-
tunity of collecting specimens myself, and of obtaining informa-
tion relating to the birds and other objects of natural history
by every means in my power. I also sent home a large number
of skins and eggs, which have now found their way into the
different Museums of Europe.
1. Cathartes aura (Linn.)*. (Turkey Buzzard.)
Turkey Buzzards are very common in East Falkland, remain-
ing the whole year round and breeding. They lay their eggs,
two in number (but sometimes three), under a high bank
amongst bushes, or on the top of a dead balsam log, without
constructing any sort of nest. The time of their laying is
about the first week in November. I have remarked that the
young birds of the first year have the bare space on the head
and neck of a bluish colour, as also the feet. In the mature
bird these are both pink. These birds go in pairs the whole
year round, though of course any dead carcase will bring many
of them together.
* The scientific names here given are those adopted by Mr. Sclater in
his " Catalogue of the Birds of the Falkland Islands " (Proc. Zool. Soc.
1860, p. 382, and 1861, Feb. 12th). The English names, added in paren-
theses, are those employed by the colonists for the species known to them.
150 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds
2. MiLVAGO AUSTRALis (Gmcl.). (Jolinn)' Rook.)
This is one of the commonest birds in East Falkland. One
or two of their nests are sure to be found near a Penguin-
rookery. During an expedition which I made to the North
Camp, in December 1860, I found at least fifteen nests along
the cliffs of the north shore. All these had two young ones in
them covered with down of a light-yellow colour. The nest is
generally composed of the dead fibres of the Tussac-grass, and
frequently has some sheep's wool in it. The eggs are laid in
the first week in November, and are generally two, sometimes
three, in number. In a nest that I once robbed of three eggs,
on going to it again about a week later, I was surprised to find
two more laid, one of which was a very light-coloured one.
Mr. Darwin has well described the bold habits of this bird,
though he appears to be in error in supposing that they only
breed on the adjoining islets. I once had my cap knocked off
by this bird while taking its eggs, and had it not been for a
friendly piece of Tussac growing near, I should have fallen into
the sea from the perpendicular cliff where the nest was situated.
Another curious incident occurred to me with reference to this
bird at Hope Place. On going to take the eggs out of a nest
situated on a dead Tussac-root, I heard a rustling at my feet,
and on looking down I saw a Loggerhead Duck {Micropterus
cinereus) vacating her nest. This had evidently been formed
out of the fallen particles of the previous year's nest of the
Milvago leucurus. The Duck left five eggs and a young one in
her nest, which seemed to me at the time to have been placed
in a most singular situation ; but I afterwards recollected that
the Loggerhead had chosen her position first (laying in Sep-
tember), and could not have known at the time that she was
likely to have such dangerous neighbours. The Milvago, although
bold in some respects, is in others a great coward, and will
never attack any other bird except the latter be wounded. I
have seen the Black Oyster- catcher drive it away from its eggs.
On one occasion I shot one of these birds for a specimen, and,
while it was lying on the ground wounded, another came down
and would have killed and eaten it before my eyes had I not
interfered. The young birds of this species never get their full
of the Falkland Islands. 151
plumage till the second year : their beak and feet, which in the
old birds are yellow, are of a slaty colour, and their feathers
are also of a more sombre hue, and have no white about them.
3. BUTEO ERYTHRONOTUS (King).
It is not generally known that only the female of this bird
has the deep-red back, whence Captain King chose his name
for the species. The back of the male, which is considerably
smaller than the female, is of a slaty blue. The young birds
are of a mottled brown, with arrow-headed marks on the upper
part of the breast.
This Buzzard, which is common in East Falkland, lays two
(though sometimes three) eggs. The nest, which is generally
situated on a cliff near the shore, or high rocks in the camp,
is composed of the dry sticks of the two Falkland-Island bushes,
with generally a piece of dry grass on the top, and the nests
appear to be built up higher every year. A singular nest,
which I saw at Salvador Bay, was built in the open camp, on a
small bush, and was, I should think, 5 feet high from the ground.
The eggs are laid about the beginning of October, although I
have taken a single egg in September. In those parts of the
island where there are many wild rabbits these birds are much
more plentiful than elsewhere, rabbits being their principal food.
4. BuTEO POLiosoMA (Q. & G.) : B. varius, Gould.
I have three times taken the nest of this bird, the young of
which has been described as a new species by Mr. Gould. As
neither the male nor the female, when adult, have any white on
their breasts, and in this respect differ completely from Buteo
erythronotus, there cannot be a doubt of its being a good species.
This Buzzard also builds invariably on the sea-shore, laying two,
and occasionally three eggs. Its nest is composed of sticks, and
the time of laying is the beginning of October. I once had
considerable difficulty in I'obbing the nest of this bird. I found
a nest at Eagle Point, and not expecting to have any trouble in
procuring the eggs, I shot the old bird. When I came to climb
the cliff, I found the nest was situated in a precipitous place
completely overhanging the sea, and about ten feet below me, so
that, having no means of reaching it, I was obliged to return to
152 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds
camp minus my eggs. On my return next day with an old tin
pot, some string, and two ramrods belonging to my friends, I
was glad to find the eggs still there, not having been eaten by
the Johnny Rooks, as I had rather expected. I tied the three
ramrods together and attached to them the tin pot. Thus I was
able to reach the eggs ; but, unfortunately, after one or two
attempts to fish them up, the bottom ramrod became disengaged
and stuck in the nest, leaving me without any means of obtain-
ing them. Being determined not to be beaten, I started off
next time from the camp (three miles from the nest) with a
large boathook, a tin pot, and a lasso, and this time, having a
friend to assist me (for although I could lower the boathook
into the nest, I could not see, from the position I was in, when
I had an egg in the pot), I got all the three eggs, one after the
other, and returned at last, pleased with my success.
5. Circus cinereus, Vieill.
I have never found the nest of this bird in East Falkland, but
that they breed there is certain, as they occur the whole year
round : they are, however, far from plentiful. I fancy they may
breed on the contiguous islands. I have observed young birds
of this species follow me out rabbit-hunting, and I have seen
them swoop at a rabbit, but I never saw them kill one. One of
these Harriers was shot near Stanley whilst endeavouring to
carry away a fowl. They are bold for their size, and very swift
in the air. The plumage of the young birds is of a mottled
brown.
6. Otus brachyotus (Gmel.) (Owl.)
This is a scarce bird in East Falkland. It breeds in the
long grass, as I have been informed, but I never found a nest.
At Port Louis this species conies about near the houses at night
in quest of mice, but I have never seen them near the town of
Stanley.
7. TuRDUs FALKLANDicus, Quoy et Gaim. (Common Thrush.)
This bird is generally found among the rocks of the moun-
tains, though sometimes frequenting the gardens in Stanley ni
search of grubs. I have found a Thrush's nest as early as the
19th of September. This was in a valley near Port Louis. The
of the Falkland Islands. 153
nest, which was neatly formed, was composed of dry grass, and
contained two eggs. I have also found the nest of this bird
amongst the rocks. I do not believe that it ever lays more
than two eggs.
8. CiSTOTHORUs PLATENSis (Gm,). (Wren.)
How singular it is that this little bird should exist in such a
place as the Falklands, where, if disturbed on a windy day, its
power of flight is so weak that it is carried away by the wind !
Whenever I wanted a specimen of this bird, I always followed it
and knocked it down with my cap as it was creeping through
the grass like a mouse. I have never been able to find its nest.
This Wren must have a game scent, as my dog has sometimes
pointed to it when after Snipe.
9. Anthus correndera, Vieill. (Titlark.)
I suppose that this bird leaves East Falkland about the end
of April, after having finished breeding ; at any rate I have never
in all my wanderings seen one of them later than this period of
the year. They return to the vicinity of Stanley about Sep-
tember, and breed in the beginning of October, laying three
eggs in an open cup-shaped nest at the root of the long grass.
10. Sturnella militaris (Gm.). (Red-breasted Starling.)
This Starling, which is very common in East Falkland, begins
to breed in the first week in October. The nest is built amongst
long grass or rushes. It is rather deep, but open at the top, and
not domed over, and generally contains three eggs. This bird
sits on a bush and sings very sweetly on a summer's morning.
11. Phrygilus melanoderus (Q. et G.). (Sparrow.)
This bird, which is called ' The Sparrow ' in East Falkland
Island, is plentiful everywhere, summer and winter. It breeds
in the latter end of September and beginning of October, laying-
three eggs in a nest situated under the shelter of a tuft of grass.
In the winter the plumage of the male loses all its rich colour
and assimilates to that of the female. Of the second so-called
species of this genus, Phrygilus xanthogrommus, I know nothing,
and I do not believe it different from the former.
VOL. III. M
154 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds
12. Chrysomitris magellanicus (Gm.).
One of these little birds was killed in a garden near Stanley,
out of a flock of five, in August 1860. The example is now in
Mr. Sclater's collection. This is the only instance I know of its
occurrence in East Falkland, but it is said to be very common
in Keppel Island.
13. CiNCLODES ANTARCTICUS (Gam.).
This bird is not found except on the coast, and the only place
I have ever met with it is in Kidney Cove, on the island called
Kidney Island. Here it is veiy abundant, and breeds among
the Tussac, but I have never seen the eggs or obtained the
nest. I do not believe that there is any second species of this
genus found in East Falkland, although Mr. Darwin states that
Cinclodes patachonicus is "common*" there. Nor have I ever
seen or heard of any such bird as the Scytalopus magellanicus,
also mentioned by Mr. Darwin.
14. MuscisAxicoLA MACLOViANA (Gam.). (Wheatear.)
This bird, which is not very common in East Falkland, is
generally found near the shore. It is very much like a Wheat-
ear [Saxicola) in its habits. During the breeding season it
resorts to the stone-runs, or watercourses, where it breeds, no
doubt, though I have never found its nest.
15. Chionis alba, Forst. (Kelp Pigeon.)
Of this curious bird one or two are generally to be found on
the rocks of the south shore, but it is more plentiful near the
Penguins' rookeries. Limpets and shell-fish seem to be its prin-
cipal food, as far as my experience goes. In this respect its
habits are very much like those of the Oyster-catcher. The
sealers inform me that it breeds on New Island, near the
Penguins, and lays white eggs. As I have seen these birds
here all the year round, and never found their nests, I conclude
that those that stay here during our summer are young birds.
16. Attagis malouinus (Bodd.).
I shot an Attagis, probably of this species, on the beach at
Mare Harbour, in the beginning of October 1859. It was the
only one I ever saw.
* Zool. Voy. Beagle, iii. p. 66.
of the Falkland Islands. 155
17. HoPLOPTERUS CAYANUS (Lath.). Philomachus cayanus,
Darwin, Zool. Voy. Beagle, iii. p. 127.
I obtained a single specimen of this Plover in 1860, and sent
it to England. It was shot near Stanley; and another was seen
a short time afterwards.
18. EuDROMiAS URViLLii (Gam.). (Dotterel.)
It may safely be said that this is a migratory bird in East
Falkland. The Dotterels first appear in the beginning of Sep-
tember, when the dry peat-banks in all parts of the island are
covered with them. Their breast-plumage is then of a beautiful
red. They lay the first week in October (as appears from my
note-book), placing their eggs, which are two in number, on the
dry moss, without making any nest. The eggs are so nearly
the colour of the surrounding ground that one almost treads on
them before seeing them. I have sometimes, however, found
their eggs placed under the shelter of a bush. After the breed-
ing season the bright colour on the breast of these birds fades
away. In the month of February they commence to gather in
flocks along the coast, and by the end of April disappear en-
tirely, and do not return until the end of August or beginning
of September of the following year. I have observed that these
birds always leave their eggs when any one approaches and
walk away, calling all the time. Of an afternoon, however, I
have disturbed them ofi" their nests : they appear then to sit
more closely.
19. ^GiALiTES FALKLANDicus (Lath.). (Double-ringed
Plover.)
This Plover is a spring visitor, arriving about the beginning
of September, and breeding shortly afterwards, although I have
also found a nest with fresh eggs in it in October. The eggs,
three in number, are generally laid on a bank at a short distance
from the beach, without any nest, being merely deposited iu a
hole.
20. HiEMATOPus ATER, Vicill. (Black Oyster-catcher.)
The Black Oyster-catcher remains in East Falkland the whole
year round, laying its eggs (two in number) in the beginning
of Novembei', just one month later than our other Oyster-
M 2
1 56 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds
catcher {HcE-matopus hucopus). A hole, formed in the shingle
just above high-water mark, generally on a point running out,
is its favourite nesting-place.
21. HiEMATOPUS LEUCOPUS, Garnot. (Black and White
Oyster-catcher.)
This Oyster-catcher is also common along the sea-coast, lay-
ing its eggs in the beginning of October, sometimes on the sea-
shore, but more frequently a little way inland, on a dry, sandy,
soil. The eggs are two in number, as with the other species ;
and there is no attempt at a- nest.
22. LiMOSA HUDSONiCA (Lath.). (Godwit or Jack-Snipe.)
Flocks of this bird were seen at Mare Harbour in the month
of May 1860. I shot two of them at Port Louis on the 20th
of that month. Both of these birds had the red-barred breast,
and this would therefore appear to be their winter-plumage, as
those shot in the summer are white on the breast. I have never
observed these Godwits during the winter months, and, when
they have been here in summer, I have never seen or heard of
their eggs being fouud. They are wary, and difl&cult to obtain
by gunshot.
23. NUMENIUS BREVIROSTRIS (Licht.).
This Curlew is a straggler from the coast, of which a speci-
men has been once obtained by Captain Pack. I have never met
with it.
24. Gallinago magellanicus (King). (Snipe.)
This Snipe generally appears in East Falkland about the
middle of August, and lays very soon after arriving ; for I have
had my dog point at them on the nest on the 1st of September,
and I have taken two eggs on that day. In the nests of this
bird I have never seen more than two eggs, although I have
frequently found them, and I believe two is the complement. In
March they mostly take their departure, although a few stragglers
remain all the year round. They make their nests under a tuft
of grass, of which material also the nest itself is composed.
25. Tringa bonapartii, Schlegel. (Sandpiper.)
This little Sandpiper appears in the summer, and breeds in
of the Falkland Islands. ' 157
East Falkland. I have seen the young ones, though I have
never found the nest.
26. Nycticorax gardeni (Jard.). (Night-Heron.)
When I was at Hope Place, in December 1859, 1 went to see
a breeding-place or rookery of these Herons. The places selected
for laying were the tufts of grass near a freshwater pond, the
whole of one side of which was covered with them. In some of
the nests, which were composed of a few coarse sticks, were young
ones half-grown ; in othei's, eggs (three in number), some hard
sat upon, and some fresh. There could not have been less than
a hundred pairs at this spot, and, as they seemed never to have
been disturbed, they were very tame. Whether this bird re-
mains with us during the winter I cannot say, never having
been in the neighbourhoods which they frequent during that
period of the year.
27. Platalea ajaja, Linn.
A specimen of the Spoonbill was shot in a pond near Kidney
Cove in July 1860. The bird was in poor condition. I also
found the remnants of another specimen in Whalebone Bay in
the same year.
28. FULICA CHLOROPOIDES, King?
A Coot, probably of this species, was shot in Stanley Harbour
and brought to me in the latter part of 1859.
29. Chloephaga magellanica (Gm.). (Upland Goose.)
This Goose is found abundantly everywhere in East Falkland.
At Cow Bay, where the grass is short and sweet. Rabbits, Up-
land Geese, and Jackass Penguins are so plentiful that the place
is called " the Farm-yard." The Upland Goose is easily domes-
ticated, and very readily takes to eating corn. It breeds all over
the country, as well as on the adjoining islets, and on this point
Mr. Darwin seems to have made a mistake, unless the disap-
pearance of the Fox from East Falkland has caused a change in
its habits in this respect.
These Geese sometimes lay in the long grass, and at other
times in the bushes on the banks of streams. The nest is rudely
formed of grass till the laying is completed, when the bottom is
lined with down. This is one way of telling whether the eggs
158 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds
are sat upon or not. Owing to the gander generally stationing
himself about one hundred yards from where the female is sit-
ting, I used to think it was easy to find the nest ; but I have
sometimes walked about for nearly an hour before I could come
upon the female, who never moves until she is almost trodden
upon. A curious peculiarity of this bird is that, when they leave
their nest, after laying, they cover it up with straw, and when
they leave it after the eggs are sat upon, they cover it up with
down. No doubt, in the latter case, this is done to keep the
warmth in the eggs, and in the former to prevent their destruc-
tion by birds of prey. This peculiarity of covering up the eggs
seems to be common to all the geese and ducks of the Falkland
Islands.
The Upland Goose lays generally in the first week in October.
Sometimes I have found seven, sometimes eight eggs in a nest,
the latter number being, I think, the maximum. The young
birds nearly acquire their adult plumage the first year, and are
only distinguishable by the mottled colour of their feet and
their plumage being less bright. In the second year the young
birds moult their wing-feathers, and are then found together in
large flocks near the sea-coast, where, on being disturbed, they
immediately run down to the salt water, being unable to fly in
this condition.
30. Chloephaga rubidiceps, Sclater. (Brent Goose.)
This bird, which is called in East Falkland the " Brent Goose,"
is not so common as the other varieties, except in some places in
the North Camp, where I have seen very large numbers, pro-
bably a hundred, but always in pairs. The male is easily di-
stinguished from the female by his larger size. The usual nest-
ing-place of this bird is among dry bushes, — the male bird, while
the female is sitting, usually being found on the edge of the
nearest water (generally salt), which, however, is frequently not
in sight of the nest. The eggs are generally five (sometimes,
but rarely, six) in number. The young birds of the first year
assimilate in plumage to the adults, except that the speculum of
the wing is of a dull black instead of a glossy green. The time
of laying of this Goose is the first week in October.
of the Falkland Islands. 159
31. Chloephaga poliocephala, G.R.Gray.
This can hardly be called a Falkland-Island bird, although
Mr. Gould has included it in his list given in the ' Proceedings
of the Zoological Society *.^ During the three years I have
been in East Falkland I have never seen but three, and these
were met with singly, at different times, amongst flocks of the
Upland Goose (C magellanica). Probably these birds were
stragglers from the coast of Patagonia, where the species is said
to be very common.
32. Bernicla ANTARCTICA (Gm.). (Kelp Goose.)
A very common bird along the coast. Its breeding-time is
the same as that of the Upland Goose, and, as the nest is placed
a few yards from the shore and quite exposed, I have frequently
seen the female sitting from a distance. The male bird is gene-
rally also stationed very close by, as is the case with the Upland
Goose. The interior of the nest of this bird is covered with
down, taken from the female only, as I have ascertained by
the colour. The eggs are generally six or seven in number,
and are carefully covered over with down when the bird is away
at feed.
33. Cygnus nigrtcollis (Gm.). (Black-necked Swan.)
This Swan is found all the year round in East Falkland, but
is rather scarce and very wild. In 1859 a number appeared
in the River Murrel, and most of them moulted there. A pair
of them which were caught did not survive long in captivity.
The Black-necked Swan seems to breed principally on the ad-
jacent islands, as I have never heard of more than one nest
being found on the mainland. This was on the edge of a pond
at Mare Harbour.
34. Cygnus coscgroba (Mol.). (White Swan.)
Mare Harbour is the only part of East Falkland where I have
even seen or heard of this bird. At this spot there is generally
a flock of eight or ten to be found. I have never seen the nest ;
but on the 1st of May, 1860, three young ones about a month
old were observed, which, no doubt, had been bred on some of
the adjacent islands.
* Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 96.
160 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds
35. Mareca chiloensis (King). (Wigeon.)
This is one of the wildest and scarcest birds in East Falkland.
I have never found its nest; but it must breed late in the
season, for young ones were seen in a pond near Port Louis in
January. On being disturbed, the mother took them to the
salt water, and the next day they had disappeared. On the 7th
of April, I shot some Wigeons on the north shore with imperfect
wing-feathers : were these young birds, or were they moulting ?
36. PCECILONETTA BAHAMENSIS (Linn.).
A straggler from the mainland, of which one specimen has
been obtained by Capt. Pack.
37. Dafila urophasianus (Vig.) ? (Pintail.)
The Pintail Duck occurs rather sparingly in the interior of
the island on the freshwater ponds, where it is resident all the
year round. This Duck never utters any sound or note, either
when rising or flying in the air — a singular exception to the
general custom of the Duck-tribe.
38. Anas cristata (Gm,). (Grey Duck.)
This Duck is very common everywhere, and although some-
times seen in freshwater ponds, generally frequents the vicinity
of salt water. The old birds are always found in pairs in the
same spot ; they live upon shell-fish, and have cei'tain boundaries
of water along the coast, upon which they will not allow others
of their species to encroach. They breed inland among the
grass, and on the edges of ponds, laying five eggs in a beautifully
made nest covered with down. The time of laying is the begin-
ning of October, and frequently a month later. The crest on
the back of the head of the male is larger than that of the
female, but their plumage is otherwise similar.
39. QuERQUEDULA CRECcoiDES. (Teal.)
This Teal is more plentiful in the interior than in the neigh-
bourhood of civilization. It is found in large flocks in some of
the freshwater streams. I have taken the nest of this bird as
early as the 18th of September, and I have been told that they
lay in August. The nest is more difficult to find than that of
any other bird that I know of. It is placed in the dry grass in
of Hie Falkland Islands. 161
some out-of-the-way valley that no one frequents ; and this is
the more remarkable^ as the birds, when found in a stream or
pond, are very tame. The complement of eggs is five.
40. QuERQUEDULA VEiisicoLOR (Vieill.). (Pampas Duck.)
This bird is not common in East Falkland, occurring in but
few places, but where found is generally seen in numbers. I
have never been successful in finding a nest of this Duck, though
I have had the young birds brought to me, and have no doubt
that it breeds in the island.
41. QuERQUEDULA CYANOPTERA (Vieill.). (Ked Teal.)
I am quite sure that a person might go out in East Falkland
for a month, and not shoot — and even, perhaps, not see — a Red
Teal, though at Mare Harbour I once, with a Gaucho, killed
seven in one day. The bird is generally very wild, and far
from common. I have never found its nest, but I have no doubt
it breeds in the island, having seen it in pairs in the summer
months.
42. MiCROPTERUS ciNEREUs (Gm.). (Loggerhead Duck.)
This Duck, which is called the ' Loggerhead ' in the Falkland
Islands, frequents the salt water. The harbour of Stanley is full
of them, as well as every other part of the coast. Like the Grey
Duck, each pair has a certain district, where they take up their
quarters, diving for shell-fish and whatever the tide throws up,
and driving away any other of their species that may come
within their bounds. Looking for the Loggerhead's eggs, which
are esteemed a great delicacy, is a great amusement to all the
boys in Stanley. The way they are found is this : — wherever a
male bird is seen by himself on the water during the breeding-
season, the female will be found sitting somewhere in a line per-
pendicular to the shore opposite to him, and generally not very
far off. My dog once found seven nests, all with the bird on,
in a small grass valley a short way from the beach at Mare
Harbour, pointing to them as steadily as he would to a Snipe.
On being disturbed, it is quite amusing to see the old bird
fluttering away towards the water ; for it is quite unable to fly.
This Duck lays from the end of September to the end of
November, making its nest either in the long grass or bush of
162 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds
some kind. Seven is the usual number of eggs, though sometimes
eight and nine are found. When the bird leaves the nest, she
covers it up in the same manner with grass or down (according
to whether she has finished laying or not) as I have stated is
the case with the Upland Goose.
43. MiCROPTERUS PATACHONicus, King. (Flying Logger-
head.)
The Flying Loggerhead is not uncommon in the Falkland
Islands. It breeds in the same places as the Common Logger-
head, but rather frequents the freshwater ponds near the sea, and
is a difficult bird to approach from its wariness. I never shot
but one example of it ; and this I had not an opportunity of
comparing with the non-flying species. I observed, however,
that it was a much smaller and lighter bird, and that the wings
were more developed, although still small for the size of the
body. I have seen the Flying Loggerhead take long flights. I
once found a nest of this Duck with seven eggs in it. They
were hard set. The bird flew out of the nest on my approach,
high up in the air. The eggs were of the same size and colour
as those of the common species.
44. PoDicEPs CALiPAREUs, Lcss. (White Grebe.)
This Grebe is found only in the interior of East-Falkland
Island, on the small inland ponds. It never flies on being shot
at ; and I have never seen it on the wing, though it must take
long flights, as I have seen seven or eight of them in a pond
one day, and next day they had all disappeared. I know
nothing of their breeding, not having found a nest. I have,
however, shot the young birds in their immature plumage.
45. PoDiCEPS ROLLANDi, Q. ct G. (Black-crcstcd Grebe.)
This Grebe is rather common, being found in both fresh and
salt water, though more frequent on the freshwater streams. I
have often hunted for their nests, but have never been successful
in finding one. At Port Louis, in January 1859, 1 found a pair
of Grebes in Fish Creek, and, wanting specimens, I fired at one,
which I only succeeded in wounding. It went on to some stones,
and on my approach took to the water. As it did so, two small
dark objects fell from its back into the water and floated ashore. I
of the Falkland Islands. 163
found them to be young ones, both of which had been killed by
my fii'st shot. I had not observed them previously, or I certainly
should not have fired.
46. PODICEPS ?
I obtained, and sent to England, two specimens of a larger
species of Grebe than either of the two former, in 1859. They
were shot, I believe, near Fitzroy River, in East-Falkland Island.
47. Aptenodytes pennantii. Gray. (King Penguin.)
The King Penguin is an occasional visitor to the Falkland
Islands, its true habitat being further south. I have never
known it breed there ; but specimens of it are frequently met with
amongst the flocks of the Gentoo Penguin {Pygosceles wagleri),
with which it always seems to associate.
48. Spheniscus MAGELLANicus (Forst.). (Jackass Penguin.)
I have already described the habits of this bird, which is a
constant resident in East Falkland, under the name Aptenodi/tes
demersa (see ^Ibis,' 1860, p. 336).
49. Pygosceles wagleri, Sclater. (Gentoo Penguin.)
I have also spoken of this Penguin in last year's * Ibis * (1860,
p. 337), as Eudijptes papua.
50. EuDYPTES CHRYsoLOPHUs, Brandt. (Maccaroni Penguin.)
This Penguin, which I likewise mentioned in my previous
communication to ' The Ibis,' is always found in the rookeries of
the Rock-hopper [Eudyptes nigrivestis), but is by no means
common.
51. Eudyptes diadematus, Gould, P. Z. S. 1860, p. 419.
This new species of Penguin, which has been named by Mr.
Gould Eudyptes diadematus, I singled out of a flock of Rock-
hoppers in the beginning of September 1858, at Eagle Point
Rookery. This was the only specimen I ever found of the kind.
Capt. Smyley, an old resident in the Falklands, told me it was
common in New Georgia, and called by the sailors the ' Tufted
Penguin.' It has the largest crest of all the Penguins I have seen.
52. Eudyptes nigrivestis, Gould, P. Z. S. 1860, p. 418.
(Rock-hopper.)
In the second volume of 'The Ibis' for 1860, p. 337, I
164 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds
described the habits of this Penguin under the name Aptenodytes
chrysocome. It now appears, however, that the Rock-hopper of
the Falklands is a new species, which has been named by Mr.
Gould, from specimens sent home by me, Eudj/ptes nigrivestis.
53. EUDYPTES CHRYSOCOME (Forst.).
I obtained a single Penguin (which Mr. Gould recognizes as
being the true E. chrysocome) out of the Rock-hopper rookery in
the North Camp in December 1859. It was the only example
I ever met with of this variety.
54. EuDYPTES ANTARCTICUS (Forst.).
A specimen of a Penguin, which appears to be Eudypfes
antarcticus, was brought to me one day, having been found in a
bay by itself. It was evidently a stranger. On showing this
bird also to Capt. Smyley, he informed me that it was a com-
mon species on the islands further south, viz. Staten Laud and
New Georgia. The example in question is now in Mr. Gould^s
collection.
55. Pelecanoides berardi (Q. et G.).
This bird is not common, the only place I have seen it being
Berkeley Soilud. It is said to breed there, in holes along the
shores of the adjacent islands.
56. Thalassidroma nereis (Q. et G.).
I picked up a Petrel (dead) in March 1858, which proved to be
of this species.
57. Thalassidroma ?
A nearly black species of Petrel, much resembling the
Common Storm-Petrel {Thalassidroma wilsoni), also occurs in
the Falkland Islands, and, I believe, breeds there. It is said to
be always found on Long Island, in Berkeley Sound, and I have
likewise seen several specimens picked up dead on the shores of
East Falkland.
58. Procellaria gigantea. (Stinkard.)
This large Petrel is common along the shores of East Falkland,
being generally seen on the wing, though I have occasionally
observed them settled on the water. It breeds on many of the
adjacent islets, and I have had many of their eggs brought to me.
of the Falkland Islands. 165
59. DiOMEDEA MELANOPHRYS, Temm. : Gouldj B, Austr. vii
pi. 43. (Molly-mawk.)
This Albatros is very seldom seen in East Falkland, but
breeds in large numbers in the adjacent islands. The nests are
described as being raised of mud to nearly a foot high from the
ground, and are placed together in large communities. The eggs
are two in number, and the birds very difficult to disturb from
their nests, suffering the eggs, which are collected in large
numbers and brought to Stanley for sale, to be almost taken
from under them before moving. The eggs have been described
by Mr. Gould from my specimens*.
60. Lestris ANTARCTICA (Lcss.). (Skua Gull.)
This Skua is a summer visitant, breeding in the beginning of
December in communities, which are generally stationed near a
Penguin rookery. They are always flying backwards and
forwards, on the look-out to seize the Penguins' eggs. They
make a kind of rude nest of a few sticks, and lay three eggs.
In robbing these birds'-nests I always held a stick over my head,
for they pounce upon one from so many directions at once, that
it is necessary to guard one's eyes. The young birds are covered
with a down of a yellowish colour.
61. Larus dominicanus. (Saddle-backed Gull.)
This Gull is a common resident, though I am inclined to
think that many of them leave in the winter. In the beginning
of December they commence breeding in large flocks, laying two
eggs near the beach, or on a small island, without much attempt at
a nest. The plumage of the young bird is grey, and continues
so until the second year. In September these birds appear in
large numbers, many of them immature. During the winter I
have observed few, and these all old birds.
62. Larus scoresbii, Trail. (Red-billed Gull.)
This Gull breeds in December, frequently laying its two eggs
in the communities of Larus dominicanus, but it has also separate
breeding-places. The egg is exactly like that of Larus domini-
canus, only smaller. The young birds have a dark hood, which
* Proc. Zool. Soc. 185!), p. f)8.
166 Capt. C. C. Abbott on the Birds of the Falkland Islands.
led me at one time to think that they belonged to different
species.
63. Larus roseiventris (Gould). (Pink-breasted Gull.)
This Gull is migratory, arriving in East-Falkland Harbour
about July 25th, almost to a day, though occasional stragglers
occur all the year round. It breeds in the beginning of December
in separate communities on a point of the coast or adjacent
island. The nests are placed very thickly together, and each
contains two, or sometimes three eggs.
I was once inclined to think the white-headed bird in the
plumage originally described by Mr. Gould as Gavia roseiventris
was of a different species, but I have now altered my opinion,
and consider it to be merely the young of the Pink-breasted
Gull in the first year's plumage.
On the 24th of May I shot a Pink-breasted Gull, with a white
head clouded with dusky, at Port Louis. The plumage of this
bird was very perfect. On the 7th of July, however, I shot one
of the same species ; the body plumage was perfect, but the head
feathers were in a state of transition from white to black. Most
of the black feathers being in the quill, and the specimen being
imperfect, I did not preserve it.
64. Sterna cassinii, Sclater. (Tern.)
The Tern arrives in East Falkland at the end of July, very
shortly after the Pink-breasted Gull. It breeds in communities
on the sea-lbeach, but also occasionally inland, in pairs, laying two
(sometimes three) eggs in each nest. It disappears about the end
of March.
65. Phalacrocorax carunculatus (Gm.). (King-Shag.)
This Shag is common along the coast of the Falkland Islands
all the year round. It breeds in the rookeries of the Rock-
hopper Penguin [Eudyptes nigrivestis) , as I have already men-
tioned in this Journal (Ibis, 1860, p. 338), The Cormorants'
nests are not placed together, but here and there, all over tlie
rookery, amongst the Penguins'. They are composed of sea-weed
and mud, and are raised about 4 or 5 inches from the ground.
The eggs are three in number, of a dirty white, with a strong tinge
of green inside, and are deposited in the middle of November,
Mr. A. A. Leycester on Prince Albert's Lyre-hird. 167
a few days after the Rock-hoppers'. The young Shags attain
their plumage about the same time as the young Rock-hoppers,
that is, about the beginning of April. Then they all leave the
breeding-ground, and the rookeiy is deserted until the next
season.
66. PnALACROcoRAX MAGELLANicus (Gm.). (Common Shag.)
This Shag is very common along the coasts of the Falklands
all the year round. It breeds on the cliffs in communities,
making its nests, of mud and sea-weed, on the ledges of the rocks,
and laying three eggs, which do not differ from those of the
King-Shag in appearance.
It appears to me probable that the thick limy coating which
covers the eggs of this group of birds is given them in order to
strengthen the shell. Shags, when disturbed from their nests,
frequently, even with this additional protection, break their eggs
with their feet, as I have myself witnessed on more occasions
than one.
The young of the Common Shag of the first year are uniform
dark, nearly black in colouring ; whereas the young of the King-
Shag attain their adult plumage the first year, before leaving the
Penguins^ rookeries.
XVI. — Narrative of an Excursion to the Mountains of the Rich-
mond River, New South Wales, in quest of Prince Albert's
Lyre-bird. By Augustus A. Leycester*.
In order to ascertain the habits and economy of Menura alberti
more correctly than I had hitherto done, towards the end of the
month of April 1859, I made preparations for a shooting-cam-
paign in the brushy mountains of the Richmond River. I first
installed into my service two of my old favourite aborigines, Billy
and Davy. The former was quite a young man, and had not
yet taken to himself a wife ; the latter was about thirty years of
age, and, being of noble family, indulged in the right of two
wives, one of whom had two children, and the other none. We
* Communicated to the Editor by John Gould, Esq., F.R.S., for insertion
in ' The Ibis.'
168 Mr. A. A. Leycester's Excursion
agreed to take with us the unencumbered wife (whose name was
" Polly '') to wait upon us in camp, to fetch wood and water, and
to provide fish and vegetables for our repasts. With these
articles she supplied us abundantly ; and though we seldom re-
turned to camp till sunset, she generally had the fish and yams
roasted, the tea made, and a sufficient supply of wood and water
provided for the night ; and, being of a merry disposition, was
usually found on our arrival singing some aboriginal song and
beating time on two of her husband's boomerangs as she sat at
the same time watching the pots.
The morning of Wednesday, the 20th of April, was appointed
for a start from my hut — a spot called by the blacks Durrigan,
situated on the bank of Leycester's Creek, a tributary of the
Richmond. I was aroused at grey dawn by the tinkling of my
horse-bell, and by Davy knocking at the door and calling out at
the top of his voice. Having, as he thought, impressed on my
mind with his jargon the necessity of making haste, he put the
horses in the yard, and came in for his breakfast with his two
' gins ' and Billy. This being accomplished, I saddled Flour-boy,
and packed Charcoal (our two horses) with about 2 cwt. of
sundries, in the shape of tea, sugai', flour, tobacco, ammunition,
blankets, a tent, and my apparatus for preserving skins, and
other articles. Davy packed his wnfe at the same time with his
own property, consisting of various "notions" too numerous to
mention. Which of the two had the greatest load, my pack-
horse or his ' gin,' would be difficult to say, but the latter bore it
all cheerfully, and carried it without a word till the end of the
day. Davy and Billy, taking each a double-bai'relled gun, a
dirk-knife, and a tomahawk, started first to kill game on the
road, in order to have a supply of meat for dinner and supper,
as we did not take any with us. Polly followed next with her
load. Having passed over ten miles of a very rough country,
about mid-day we halted to get some dinner on a beautiful little
streamlet covered over with a canopy of the choicest Creepers,
which dipped in festoons into the rushing stream below. The
rivulet meandered down the Durrigan Valley, its murmurs
blending with the cooing of Doves, the screeching of Parrots,
the croaking of Frogs, and the shrill cry of the Cicada. This
in quest of Princf Albert's Lyre-bird. 169
was one of Nature's wildest bowers. Here Polly cast off her
load (knowing it to be a mid-day camping ground) and com-
menced kindling a tire in her own way, disdaining any help.
Billy and Davy soon came up, and set to work picking three
Brush-turkeys {Talcgalla lathami) which they had shot on the
way and preparing them for the spit. I employed myself in
unpacking the horses and giving them water at the brook,
having first to cut a road to it through the vines with my
tomahawk. The horses having drunk stood by and looked on
at us, there being no grass or anything they could eat. On
turning round to see if the fire was in good order for roasting,
I found Polly (the gin) had got a large Carpet-snake about
nine feet long, curled up and in process of being cooked on a
small fire she had made for herself. This snake she had killed
on the road, and had packed it away in her " dillybag " without
saying a word to any one, considering it her own private property.
She had taken several large lumps out of the inside of the reptile,
which was full of fat, and had laid them aside for the purpose
of beautifying her delicate person. This operation she performed
after dinner, heating the fat on the embers, and mixing it up in
her hands with some powdered charcoal and a little saliva. With
this composition she polished herself all over from head to foot,
having first divested herself of her garments. These consisted
merely of a short kilt made of the tails of opossums and squirrels,
which formed a neat fringe ; and when the polish (which was equal
to any of Day and Martin's best) was finished, she looked quite
charming. But to return to the dinner : Polly went to work
at the snake and despatched several coils of it, together with a
lump of " damper " and a quart of tea, which satisfied her. She
then began at her polish, which being completed, she smoked
her pipe and fell asleep. Billy and Davy, having put away a
turkey each, together with damper and tea, smoked their pipes
and went to sleep also.
It took me much longer to prepare and despatch my dinner,
being rather more particular in my arrangements, and having to
go to the stream to wash my turkey after having drawn and
picked it — an operation considered by the blacks a wilful waste
of the savoury parts of any game. The natives never make use
VOL. III. N
170 Mr. A. A. Leycester^s Excursion
of water for culinary purposes of any kind ; nor do they em-
ploy it in their toilet, but use instead the aforesaid mixture of
charcoal and grease. This is generally the work of the evening,
when they assist one another in polishing. When this is com-
pleted they shine like a glass, and consider themselves dressed for
their "opera/^ which consists of music, dancing, singing, and
acting of various kinds.
Having finished dinner, I ring the horse-bell as a signal to be
moving. The blacks jump up and shoulder their guns, and
start off with the dog in search of game. Polly packs herself
and starts, not waiting for me, and anxious to get her journey
over, I saddle and pack the horses and follow, first looking
round the camp to see if any knives, pipes, or tomahawks are
left behind. I start the pack-horse first : he knows the way
and gives me no trouble, but does his best to get over the rugged
road, knowing that plenty of grass is before him at the next
camp. The road being very rocky and precipitous renders it
impossible to go faster than a walk. About half an hour after
leaving camp, I overtook the gin having a "spell" halfway up
a steep ridge. Here I was also obliged to take a spell, and give
the horses wind. After a few minutes we started again, and in
about half an hour reached the top of the ridge, which was
pretty high. Through a glade in the brush we saw at a distance
Bald Hill, where our next camp was to be.
This spot was an old camping- ground of mine (called by the
blacks "Byangully"), and replete with every comfort a bush-
camp in Australia can afford — that of grass, water, and game in
abundance and of the best kind. It was a small prairie* on
a bold hill, surrounded by a dense brush, twenty miles distant
from the open country we had left behind. Whilst looking at
our home that was to be for the night (distant about six miles),
we suddenly heard a great shouting in a deep ravine about a
mile below us. Polly thereupon became much frightened, and
said the Tabbo blacks had come, and that they would murder
her (Billy and Davy being at war with her tribe for stealing a
young gin from them about two moons since). More shout-
ing and two shots were heard, and then a general shout and
* A grassy hill bare of trees is so called in Australia.
in quest of Prince Albert's Lyre-bird. 171
two more shots. Polly upon this threw down her load, and
commenced howling and beating her head with a stone till the
blood ran down her face. More shots were fired, and then a
single shout, upon which Polly brightened up, and said that
that was Davy^s shout, and that he had succeeded in driving his
enemies off. We next heard a wail for the dead, and Polly
struck up a song. I advised her to take up her pack and come
on, but she took no notice of me, and continued howling. How-
ever, when I rode on, she followed, singing all the time, and so
continued for about two miles, when she suddenly screamed out,
and, throwing down her pack, rushed up to my horse and seized
hold of my stirrup-leather. At the same instant fifteen blacks
stood before us and stopped our horses. They all knew me, and
I knew some of them. They said they had come to take Davy's
gin, and that they would have her. One of the party, more
excited than the rest, raised his spear to kill her, but hesi-
tated to throw it for fear of striking my horse. They told me
that Davy had shot AVallumbin Charlie dead, and wounded an-
other of their men, and that Billy had nearly killed a third.
Two of them then rushed upon Polly to drag her away. I drew
my revolver, upon which they let h«r go, and she came back to
me and took hold of my leg. Upon this they left, saying that
they would kill Davy and Billy, and all the tribe, when I had
done with them shooting, but that they had no wish to ofi"end
me, and would wait until I was gone to another country. [All
the tribes round knew that I was going to leave the Richmond.]
This adventure made it late before we reached the Byangully
camp. It was nearly dark when we arrived, and we observed
at some distance that Davy and Billy were there before us and
had made a large fire. When we came to the camp, Davy re-
lated the great battle they had fought, saying that they had
fallen in with thirty Tabbo blacks, and, on hearing them at
some distance ofi", had charged their guns with ball. [This I
had given them in the morning for their protection, knowing
the feud that had existed between the tribes for some time
previous.] On their approach, Davy had fired and killed Wal-
lumbiu (the chief), and Billy had mortally wounded another
man ; the rest had fled away, some being wounded. Davy and
Billy were in great glee at having gained the victory, and
N 2
173 Mr. A. A. Leycester's Excursion
having shot plenty of game we had a good supper. The bag
consisted of two Brush-turkeys, two Pademeleons {Halmaturus),
and five Pigeons. Out of these I selected two Wonga-wonga
Pigeons {Leucosarcia picata) for my portion, and the remainder
was appropriated to the men's night's feeding. Having watered
and hobbled and bedded the horses, we set to work cooking our
suppers. Polly's former fright did not appear to have reduced
her appetite. She commenced supper on the remains of the
Snake, which she had put by from dinner. This seemed to re-
fresh her appetite and to prepare her for half a Pademeleon
which she received from her husband. This was thrown to her
over his shoulder, that being the natives' fashion of presenting
their wives with anything choice. The natives never allow their
wives to cook for them any meat or game, this being business
of too great importance ; and neither the women nor boys are
allowed to touch the " Waukham " or Brush-turkey, there
being some mystery attached to it. When supper was over,
Davy suggested that all the guns should be loaded with ball
cartridge, as he anticipated an attack on our camp during the
night from the Tabbo blacks, and that a watch should be kept.
Polly was set to keep the first watch till the moon rose, which
would be about midnight ; and Billy and Davy were to take the
subsequent portion, that being the most likely time for a rush
at us. Polly was ordered to sing a death-song all her watch, as
a sure plan of keeping her awake, and as further being supposed
to produce the efiect of sending the soul of the dead black
fellow to the right place, wherever that might be according to
their belief. The monotonous tones of her voice and song soon
sent me to sleep. Having received orders to wake me when
the moon rose, she did so, as well as her husband and Billy.
This was soon accomplished, as we all slept round one fire, not
having erected my tent. When'all were aroused Davy proposed
another supper (or rather breakfast), which I agreed to. They
then finished off" all the game (with the exception of one pigeon
which I kept for my breakfast), and in addition two opossums
which had been added to the stock since our arrival in camp,
having been killed whilst sporting among the branches of a tree
close by. Polly and I then went to sleep, whilst Davy and
Billy sung, and refreshed themselves with ^ame and tea till
in quest of Prince Albert's Lyre-bird. 173
morning, without an attack having been made. The dog, how-
ever, rushed out once during the morning watch and got hold of a
native Dingo, which he held until Davy with his " nulla nulla "
despatched him. The tail of the dog being considered a trophy,
it was not long before Davy had it off and skinned and tied it
round his head. This acted as a band to keep his hair up, and
added at the same time to his formidable appearance.
Morning came, and with it a beautiful day, for the sun shone
on the Bald Hill with all its glory; and the horses were feeding
within sight of the camp, close to a little spring that gushed out
of a small basin in the side of the hill. Breakfast being over
we again prepared for the road, having only ten miles to do
this day ; but it was a severe ten miles, the ranges being steeper
than the day before.
We expected to reach our camping-ground on the top of the
Tanning Mountain by raid-day, but did not do so till past 2 p.m.
The mountain had a table top covered with fine grass and
studded over with a beautiful species of Palm-tree, called by the
aborigines "Tanning." Its sides were covered with a dense
brush, containing Cedars of gigantic size. Here we formed our
permanent camp for our attack on the Calwin, or Menura alberti,
close to a little torrent of water which ran down a rocky ravine
on the west side of the mountain and lost itself in the dense
jungle below. Having hobbled and bedded the horses, and
stopped up the track by which we came up, to prevent them
from straying homewards, we despatched Billy for a supply
of game, and spent the remainder of the day in completing
our camp. Davy made for himself a bark " gungah," and as
it had the appearance of rain, we built a bark shed over our
kitchen fire. By the time we had competed our arrangements
Billy returned with a supply of game, consisting of three Brush-
turkeys, a Pademeleon, and two pigeons, being an ample supply
for supper and the morrow's breakfast. Before sunset we re-
joiced to hear the cry of three Menuras in different directions,
which proved to us that we were in the right spot for the de-
struction of these most beautiful and curious birds. But to
obtain their eggs and nest was the principal inducement to me
for taking so nuich trouble, and it was only after nearly two
months' hunting that I was rewarded by finding them. Day
174 Mr. A. A. Leycester's Excursion
after day passed away, and we could only discover two old nests
and another being built. The male bird belonging to the latter
we shot, not being aware at the time of the nest being close by.
After having been out nearly six weeks, I began to despair of
ever finding the eggs ; but about a week before my excursion
must terminate (as I had business to attend to in Sydney),
having been out all day, and returning to camp with Davy
hungry and wet through, Davy suddenly cried out, and invited
my attention to a hen of the Menura flying off from her nest.
Davy made a rush to get up to it, but fell back, being in too
great a hurry. The difficulty was how to reach the nest, it
being situated on a ledge of a projecting rock thirty feet above
us; but Davy, taking it coolly, managed with great skill to get
up within twelve feet of it. He then directed me to cut him a
pole fifteen feet long, which I did, and handed it up to him.
The foot of this he stationed on the ledge he was standing upon,
and having placed the other end against the rock where the
nest was, in less than a minute was up to the nest, and to our
great delight pulled out an egg. I directed him to replace it
and come down, as I wanted to find out whether any more
would be laid, and we then returned to camp, much delighted
with our day's work. Having shot plenty of game, we had a
good supper. Davy received a new blanket, a pound of to-
bacco, and a bottle of grog (which was the reward promised to
whoever discovered the egg first), and was in high glee all the
evening. On the third day after this discovery we returned to
the nest. The hen was on it, and I shot her as she flew ofl*.
Davy ascended as before. There was still only one egg, which
he lowered down in a small bag, making use of his opossum
belt which he wore round his waist as a string to let it down.
A short time afterwards the dog found the male bird and treed
him, upon which Davy shot him.
On blowing the egg, I found that it had been sat upon about
a week. The old birds I stufi'ed, together with many others,
which are now on their way to England along with the egg*.
We remained a few days longer at the camp, and then returned to
* This egg is now in Mr. Gould's collection, and will be figured, along
with that of Menura superba (which it greatly resembles), in his forth-
coming work on the Oology of Australia. — Ed.
in qxiest of Prince Albert's Lyre-bird. 175
Durrigaii, from which place shortly afterwards I left for Sydney.
1 made the blacks a present of all the stores, which amounted to
a considerable quantity of flour, tea, sugar, tobacco, pumpkins,
and old clothes, and ordered a new gown to be made for Polly
(Davy's gin). This she wore on the day of my leaving, making
in some measure a better appearance than in her native polish
of snakes'-fat and charcoal.
The following is a short sunmiary of the result of my investi-
gations into the habits of Menura alberti.
This bird has been hitherto found only on the Richmond and
Tweed Rivers, in the dense brushes which clothe the mountains
in those districts. It is most remarkable that, although similar
mountains and brushes exist on the rivers both to the north and
to the south of the Richmond and Tweed, this Menura is not to
be found in them. The range of the species appears to be
limited to a patch of country not wider than eighty by sixty
miles ; for though I have not been able to pi'ove this fact myself,
for want of time, yet I fancy the information which I have ob-
tained is pretty correct, coming, as it does, from sawyers and
blacks who are frequently travelling from one river to another.
The habits of Menura alberti are very similar to those of M.
superba, as described by Mr. Gould. Having seen and watched
both of these birds on their playgrounds, I find the M. alberti
far superior in its powers of mocking and imitating the cries
and songs of others of the feathered race to the M. superba ; and
its own peculiar cry or song is diflFerent, being of a much louder
and fuller tone. I once listened to one of these birds that had
taken up its quarters within 200 yards of a sawyer's hut, and
had made himself perfect with all the noises of the sawyer's
homestead. He imitated the crowing of the cocks, the cackling
of the hens, and the barking and howling of the dogs, and even
the painful screeching of sharpening or filing the saw. I shot
him in the act of crowing, I have heard some persons say that
the Menura is polygamous, but I never saw more than a pair
together. The cock bird commences to sing at the first dawn
of day. Each of them appears to have its walk or boundary,
never infringing on another's ground. I have heard them day
after day in the same spots, seldom nearer than a quarter of a
176 Mr. P. L. Sclater ua the occuri'ence
mile from each other. Whilst singing, they spread their tails over
their heads like a peacock, and droop their wings to the ground,
at the same time scratching and pecking up the earth. They
sing in the morning and evening, and more so in winter than at
any other season. The young cocks do not sing until they get
their full tails. This, I fancy, takes place in the fourth year, as
I have shot them in full feather with the tail in four diflferent
stages, the two centre curved feathers being the last to make
their appearance. They live entirely upon small insects, prin-
cipally beetles, and partake largely of sand, which accounts for
their preferring sandy localities. Their flesh is not eatable, being
dark, dry and tough, and quite unlike that of other birds. They
breed in mid-winter, commencing to build their nests in May,
laying in June, and having young in July. The nest is gene-
rally placed on the side of some steep rock where there is suffi-
cient room to form a lodgement, so that no animals or vermin can
approach it. It is constructed of small sticks, interwoven with
moss and fibres of roots. The inside is lined with the skeleton
leaf of a parasitical tree-fern, which resembles horse-hair. The
nest is covered over, having the entrance on the side. Only one
egg is laid, of a very dark colour, appearing as if it had been
blotched over with ink. The young bird for the first month is
covered with a white down, and remains in the nest about six
weeks before it takes its departure. It is four years before
it arrives at maturity. The native name for this Menura is
" Calwin.'^
Singleton, Dec. 9, 1859.
XVII. — Notice of the occurrence of the American Meadow-Star-
ling (Sturnella ludoviciana) in England. By Philip Lutley
Sclater.
A SHORT time ago, the Rev. Henry Temple Frere, of Burston
Rectory, near Diss in Norfolk, forwarded for my inspection a
specimen of the Meadow-Starling of North America {Sturnella
ludoviciana), stated to have been killed in this country in the
course of last year. Its plumage was in fine condition, and did
not show the slightest traces of the bird having been in cap-
of the American Meadow- Stnrling in England. 177
tivity. Indeed, though living examples of this species have been
occasionally brought to this country, the Meadow- Starling is
certainly not an ordinary cage-bird. I may mention that the
aviaries of the Zoological Society of London do not at present
contain a specimen of it.
Being convinced, therefore, that, if the bird had really been
killed in England, it might be regarded as a fresh addition to
the already numerous list of " accidental visitors " to these shores
from the New World, I requested Mr. Frere kindly to ascertain
all the particulars he could respecting the time and place of its
occurrence. In reply, Mr. Frere informed me that the specimen
in question was killed in March 1860 by Robert Baker, servant
to the Rev. T. L. French. It was shot close to the railroad in a
rough meadow at Thrandeston in Suffolk. At this time it was
picking about among the knots of earth, and would not allow
Baker to approach within thirty yards. Mr. Frere also told me
that he had good grounds for supposing that this was not the
only instance in which this species had been observed in England,
his brother-in-law, Captain Jary, having on several occasions
watched for some time a bird of similar appearance at Walsham
in Norfolk in October 1854. Captain Jary, who, though not a
scientific ornithologist, has a very good knowledge of English
birds, in answer to inquiries on this subject writes as follows : —
" Having referred to Sturnella ludoviciana in Audubon's plates, I
am quite sure it is the bird that I saw at Walsham in the month
of October 1854. I have it in my diary. I thought, when I
first saw it, that it might be a Golden Oriole. The first time I
observed it was in front of the house, near a plantation. I had
no gun with me, or could have shot it. I watched it for some
time on the soft ground, but heard no note. I saw it again next
day in a field among some Larks ; it flew away with a quick and
hurried flight. Two days afterwards I saw it a third time ; but
I could not get a shot at it, as it flew away when I was about
seventy yards ofi"." After a subsequent examination of Mr. Frcre's
specimen. Captain Jary repeated his conviction of the bird ob-
served by him having been of the same species.
The American Meadow-Starling is a well-known bird in the
United States of America and Canada, where it commonly goes
178 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the occurrence
by the name of the Meadow-Lark, from the strong resemblance
of its habits and flight to the members of the genus Alauda. It
haSj however, in reahty nothing to do with the Lark-family,
being strictly a member of the American Icteridce, or Hang-nests.
This group takes the place of the Starlings in the New World,
and is closely allied to them in structure ; but, besides other dif-
ferences, its members have only nine primaries in the wing,
whereas in the Starlings {Sturnida;) of the Old World the tenth
outer primary is always present. In their elaborate nest-wea-
ving habits the IcteridcB show much resemblance to the Weavers
{Ploceidce) of Africa and India, and in some of them (such as
Dolichonyx) the general conformation is not very different.
The genus Sturnella is an aberrant form amongst the Icteridce,
its structure being modified to suit it to terrestrial habits,
whereas the more typical members of the family are eminently
arboreal. Accurate accounts of the present well-known species
having been given by Wilson, Audubon, Baird *, and other
American ornithologists, whose writings are easy of access, it
will not be necessary to repeat them here. But it may not be
out of place to add a few lines on the geographical distribution
of this bird and its local varieties in the New World.
The Sturnella, if we embrace under this name a series of forms
nearly, if not quite, identical in structure, but slightly differing
in dimensions and in plumage, occupies the whole continent of
America from about the 50th parallel of north latitude f to the
Savannahs of Venezuela in the southern portion of the New
World, but presents certain variations in specimens brought
from different localities, to which we may do well to attach
different names, whether we regard them as species or as local
varieties.
1. Sturnella ludoviciana is the bird of the eastern parts of
* See Wilson's American Ornithology, vol. iii. p. 20. pi. 19. fig. 2 (where
the bird is called Alauda magna) : Jardine's edition of Wilson (1832), vol. i.
p. 311 : Audubon's Ornithological Biography, ii. p. 216, and v. p. 4.92
(Sturnus ludovicianus): Audubon's Synopsis of the Birds of North Ame-
rica, p. 148 ; Bii-ds of America, pi. 136 : Baii-d's Birds of North America,
p. 535.
f It is a migratory species on the Saskatchewan, arriving about May 1st.
See Richardson's Fauna Bor.-Amcr. ii. p. 282.
of the American Meadow- Starling in England. 179
North America, extending over the whole Atlantic watershed of
the continent, to the high central plains. With this form, as
might have been expected, the specimen killed in England
agrees, and it is the bird noticed in the various references given
in the note above.
2. Sturnella negleda, And. (Baird, B. N. Amer. p. 537), re-
places the Eastern form in Western America from the high cen-
tral plains to the Pacific. Prof. Baird confesses that this bird,
though decidedly paler in colouring, is so closely related to S.
ludoviciana as to render it very difficult to distinguish the skins ;
but all observers of the two living birds declare that there is a
remarkable difference in their notes.
3. Sturnella hippocrepis is a name founded by Wagler (' Isis,'
1832, p. 281) upon examples of the Sturnella brought from
Cuba. I have no very reliable Cuban specimens for comparison ;
but Mr. Lawrence, in " Notes on Cuban Birds," read before the
Lyceum of Natural History of New York, May 21st, 1860, has
pointed out its differences from Sturnella ludoviciana, which con-
sist chiefly in its narrow pectoral band and smaller size.
4. Sturnella mexicana is the name I propose to apply to the
Southern Mexican bird, which has the throat-band always quite
narrow, and is in dimensions invariably much inferior to Northern
specimens. M. de Oca's birds collected at Jalapa, M. Salle's at
Cordova (P. Z. S. 1855, p. 301), and M. Botteri's from Orizaba,
are all referable to this variety, which I have hitherto callt d " S.
hippocrepis ? " Mr. Salvin's specimens from Guatemala (cf.' Ibis,'
1859, p. 19) also belong here.
5. Sturnella meridionalis may be the term applied to the New
Granadian and Venezuelan variety of this widely diffused bird.
It agrees with S. mexicana in the form of the neck-gorget, but
is nearly of the size of the S. ludoviciana, and has the bill even
longer.
In concluding this summary notice of the geographical range
of Sturnella ludoviciana and its allies, I may remark that there
seems to be so much variation in specimens of this bird brought
even from the same districts, that I cannot deny that much fuller
evidence is necessary before we can consider these different forms
(though eminently worthy of study and of record) as entitled to
180 Mr. E. Newton's Ornithological Notes from Mauritius.
the same rank in a natural arrangement as well-established
species.
XVIII. — Ornithological Notes from Mauritius. By Edward
Newton, M.A., C.M.Z.S. No. I. A Visit to Round Island.
Round Island lies about twenty-five or thirty miles north-east
of Mauritius, and is about a mile and a half long by a mile wide.
The land rises at once from the sea to about the height of a thou-
sand feet, and is consequently very steep. Here the Red-tailed
Tropic-bird (Phaeton rubricauda, Bodd.) breeds in very large
numbers. They are the tamest birds I ever saw, and do not
know what fear is. They never attempt to leave their single
egg or nestling at one's approach, but merely stick out their
feathers and scream, pecking at one's legs with their beaks.
It is the fashion on the island for visitors to remove the old
bird from its egg by a slight shove, and then placing the foot
gently on its head, to draw out the long tail-feathers. It
resents this insult by screaming and snapping, but never tries
to escape by flying or shuffling along the ground ; in fact,
like all birds which have their legs placed so far behind, they
cannot rise ofi" a flat surface, but require a drop of a few feet to
give them an impetus. One that had an unusually tight tail I
lifted up and held in the air by that appendage, and it flapped
in my hand until the feathers gave way, when it flew off", but
having left a young one behind, returned almost to my feet in
two minutes or so, as if nothing had happened. They do not
appear at all particular in the choice of a place to deposit their
single egg. They make no nest; but the shelter of an overhang-
ing rock, or the protection of the arched roots of the Vacoa (a
species oiPandanus), seems preferred. On one occasion I found
an old lady asleep on her egg, and she was extremely indignant
at being stirred up and having her tail stolen. It is curious that
I did not see a single egg without its owner sitting on it, and
perhaps one may hence presume that they feed at night. In some
places their nests were excessively numerous, their eggs or young
occurring every few yards. There were to be found about as marjy
young as eggs, some of the former almost as large as their mothers,
and nearly able to fly ; but I did not sec a single immature bird
Mr. E. Newton's Omit hu logical Notes from Mauritius. 181
that had started in Hfe on its own account, though I have no
doubt many had ah-eady done so. Most of the eggs had been
incubated some time ; in fact, on blowing fifty or so of them, I
hardly think that I found half a dozen fresh, the majority being
within a few days of hatching. I was rather short of baskets
for carrying eggs, and consequently I did not get as many as I
might have done. Certainly I had been told that the eggs
might be picked up by the thousand, but I had not believed the
statement. This species is much finer and larger than the Yel-
low-billed one (P. flavirosiris, Brandt). Of this there were a few
about the island ; but I did not find a single egg, or see a bird on
the ground. When on the wing, the fine rosy colour suffused
over the whole under surface of the Red-tailed species comes
out very well.
On the north-east of the island, where there is more of a cliff"
than anywhere else, is a tolerably large colony of Petrels (perhaps
the Puffinus chlororhynchus of Lesson), called ' Fous' — dark-
brown birds about the size of Puffinus anglorum, with yellowish -
white legs and feet. I dare say they are spread over the
greater part of the island, but there are more at this one spot
than any other. They are as tame as the Pailles-en-queue, but
not so harmless. They breed under stones, and bite most
awfully if they get a chance. The only way to get them out
and take their single egg — for they, too, lay but one — is to
contrive to turn them round so that one can grab their folded
wings and tail. If dropped on the ground they will run about,
and for some time will not try to fly ; but if thrown into the
air, they will glide down gently towards the sea. On going
near any rock where there may be a dozen or two, one bird
seems to give the alarm, and a chorus of the most extraordinary
sounds immediately proceeds from under ground. I hardly know
what to compare it to, as there is nothing like it except, perhaps,
the noise made by cats when they set up their backs and squall ;
and though there may not be a thousand, as the imagina-
tive boy in the story averred, yet " father's old Tom and the
neighbour's dead 'un" could never make the row these few birds
do. It is kept up for a minute or two, and increases when the
individuals are hauled out in the manner above described. All
182 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the American Barbets.
the eggs 1 got (about twenty-five in number) were either fresh or
nearly so. There are hardly any other birds in Round Island,
and these two are probably the only species that breed there, with
the exception of the small Turtle-Dove [Geopelia striata, Gray),
of which I saw a pair — the only land-birds, indeed, I observed.
Between Round Island and Mauritius I saw a few Frigate-birds
[Tachypetes ?), another species of Shearwater [Procellaria
assimilis of Gould, I think), and a few Noddy Terns {Anoiis
stolidus, Leach). These latter are said to breed on Serpent Island,
about two miles to the northward of Round Island, whence it
looks as if covered with a slight snow-shower — an appearance
said to be caused by the dung of the birds. It has only been
once or twice visited, and we had not time to go there; be-
sides, the landing there is always exceedingly difficult. Round
Island for that matter is bad enough, and is only accessible two
months in the year. On it there are still the remains of the
cave and old stone wall which was built as a shelter by the late
Colonel Lloyd when he was there some fifteen or sixteen years
ago, and had to stay more than a week on account of a hurri-
cane. The present Acting Surveyor-General, to whom the island
belongs, and who accompanied me on my visit, was then one of
the party. They were thought by all here to have been lost or
starved, and a steamer was sent to their relief; but from the
number of empty bottles that are left, they could not have done
so badly in the drinking way. We were only away one night,
that of November 3, and left again the following day at noon ; so
we had not much time, and I suppose I shall not be able to get
there again for another year.
XIX, — On the American Barbets (Capitonidaj),
By Philip Lutley Sclater.
(Plate VI.)
The true Barbets of the tropics of both hemispheres [Capitonidce)
have been united by some systematists with the Woodpeckers
(Picida), whilst others have mixed them up with the Fissirostral
Bucconida or PuflF-birds — a group which cannotcertainly be placed
far from the Kingfishers {Alcedinida). Though I agree with the
Mr. P. L. Sclater on the American Barbets. 183
former authorities in considering the Barbets as true Scausorials,
I cannot join with Mr. G. R. Gray in arranging them as a sub-
family of the Woodpeckers {Picida). They appear to me to
have every claim to occupy a distinct station, and to be ranged
as an independent family near the Toucans {Ramphastidce), to
which latter group one of the genera {Tetrogonops) shows very
considerable rapprochement.
While the Woodpeckers are spi'ead throughout the New World
and over the whole of the Old World, except the Australian
region, the Barbets are strictly confined to the tropics of both
hemispheres. In Asia, Africa, and America, however, they
are represented by different genera ; and when their full history
and peculiarities are better known, it is not improbable that
the Barbets of the eastern and western hemispheres may be
separable into two subfamilies. The known genera of the
CapitoniddR, geographically arranged, are as follows : —
America. Africa. Asia.
Capita. Pogonorhijnchus^. Megalama.
Tetragonops. Gymnohucco. Psilopogon.
Barbutula. Megalorliijnchus.
Trachyphonus.
Of these three regions the Neotropical is the poorest in num-
ber of species, though, in brilliancy of colouring and in singularity
of form (looking to Tetragonops), the South- American Barbets
are perhaps the most remarkable of the family.
The Barbets occupy but a limited area in South America com-
pared with many other of its peculiar families. Not one of them
has yet been found to the north of the Isthmus of Panama, or
south of the basin of the Amazon, and the species are chiefly
confined to the countries traversed by the upper branches of this
river, and to the mountain-valleys of New Granada, Ecuador, and
Peru. We have few details recorded concerning their habits,
but they are said to be seen generally in the fruit-trees, feeding on
the fruit, and hopping from branch to branch like the Toucans f.
* This term, proposed by Van der Hoeven in 1833 (Handb. d. Zool. ii.
p. 446), has precedence over Leemodon, generally ado])ted for this genus,
t Interesting particulars concerning the habits of the Asiatic CapitonidcE
184 Mr. F. L. Sclater on the American Barbets.
Genus I. Tetragonops.
Tetragonops, Jard. Edinb. N. Phil. Journ. n. s.ii. p. 401 (1859).
Rostro forti, ad basin quadrato, mandibulse apice bifuvcata et
maxilla, supra banc leniter iucurvata, obtecta.
Tetragonops ramphastinus. (Plate VI.)
Tetragonops ramphastinus, Jard. Edinb. N. Phil. Journ. 1855,
n. s. ii. p. 404, et iii. p. 92 (cum fig.).
Pileo et nucha media cum cervice postica atris ; nucha utrinque
laterali Candida ; dorse flavo-olivascenti-brunneo ; uropygio
olivaceo-fiavo ; alis caudaque schistaceo-nigris, remigibus
extus olivascentibus : gutture late schistaceo, ventre summo
olivaceo-flavo, hoc medio et vittji pectorali coccineis ; ventre
imo crissoque cum lateribus schistaceo-virentibus : rostro
flavo, dimidio apicali schistaceo : long, tota 8'3, alse 4*0,
caudte 3"25.
Hab. in rep. iEquator.
Mus. Gul. Jardine, Bar.
Sir William Jardine received a specimen of this very curious
and beautiful bird in September 1 859 from Professor Jameson
of Quito, and described it in the ' Edinburgh New Philosophical
Journal ' for that year, as noticed above. In the following volume
some further details were given respecting it, and an uncoloured
drawing of it, from the pencil of Mrs. H. E. Strickland. Sir
William Jardine having kindly placed the stone with the drawing
on it at my disposal, I thought that a coloured figure of this
strange bird would be acceptable to the readers of ' The Ibis,'
and I have to thank Mrs. Strickland for supplying me with a
coloured copy of the plate for a pattern.
Sir William Jardine has since received a second example of
this bird from Professor Jameson. I particularly called the
attention of Mr. Fraser, when he was in Ecuador, to this bird ;
but though he visited the exact locality where Professor Jameson's
specimens were obtained (Nanegal, on the Pacific slope of the
western range of the Andes, as he was informed by Professor
Jameson, and not Cayambe), he was unable to procure specimens ;
so we must suppose the bird to be rare.
will be found collected in Horsfield and Moore's ' Catalogue of the Birds
in the East India Company's Museum ' (ii. p. 635 et seq.).
Mr. P. L. Sclater on the American Barbels. 185
The most noticeable points about the Tetragonops are the
singular conformation of the bill (the lower mandible being
distinctly bifurcated at its extremity, and the point of the upper
fitting into the groove thus made), and the abnormal distri-
bution of the colours, which strongly reminds one of some of
the Toucans of the genus Andigena.
Genus II. Capito.
Capita, Vieill. Analyse, p. 27 (1816).
Micropogon, Temm. Tabl. Meth. d. PI. Col. p. 55 (1838).
Nyctades, Gloger, Obs. s. noms d'Ois. (1827).
Rostro compresso, ad basin dilatato, culmine inter nares ele-
vato : mandibula subrecta, apice acuto ; maxilla incurva, apice
ultra mandibulam breviter protenso.
Sectio a. Capito.
Majores : robustiores.
1. Capito erythrocephalus.
Barhu de Cayenne, Buff. PI. Enl. 206. fig. 1, unde Bucco ery-
throcephalus, Bodd., et B. cayennensis, Gm. S. N. i. p. 405 :
Micropogon cayennensis, Temm.: Capito erythrocej)halus. Gray,
Gen. ii. p. 430 (adult.).
Barhu de S. Domingue, Buff. PI. Enl. 206. fig. 2, unde Bucco
cayennensis, var., Gm. S. N. i. p. 405: Micropogon navius, Temm.:
Capito navius, Gray, Gen. ii. p. 430 (juv.).
Capito cayennensis, Schomb. Guian. iii. p. 720 : Le Barhu de
la Guyane, Le Vail, Ois. de Par. ii. pis. 23, 24, 25.
Niger, sulphureo variegatus : alis et cauda fuscis, extus virescen-
tibus : pileo flavicante, fronte lato et gutture rubro-coccineis :
abdomine pallide sulphureo : lateribus nigro obsolete macu-
latis : pectore et lateribus totis in juvene nigro distincte gut-
tatis: long, tota 6"5, alee 3*1, caudse 2'0.
Hah. Guiana.
Mus, Brit., P.L.S.
There is no doubt now, we believe, that the Capito navius is
merely the young of Capito erythrocephalus, and that the spots
gradually disappear, in the manner pointed out by MM. Deville
and Des Murs in their article upon the following species, leaving
the abdomen pure and unspotted in the adult bird.
VOL. III. o
186 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the American Barbets.
2. Capito amazonicus.
Micropogon amazonicus, Deville et Des Murs, Rev. et Mag. de
Zool. 1849, p. 174; Des Murs, Zool. Voy. Casteln, Ois. p. 28.
pi. 3. fig. 2.
Similis Capitoni peruviana, sed gutture rubro : long, tota 5*3,
alse 2'3, caudse 2-1.
Bab. Ega and Santa Maria, Upper Amazon {Deville).
Mus. Brit.
MM. Deville and Des Murs describe this bird as forming an
intermediate variety between C enjthrocephalus and C.peruvianus.
A skin in the British Museum, which seems to be referable to it,
was obtained by Mr. Wallace at Ega, and is marked : " Iris
orange ; tongue cartilaginous, flat, not fringed : in stomach
seeds." It resembles Capito peimvianus except in its red throat,
in which respect it is clearly intermediate between C. erythro-
cephalus and its Amazonian representative.
3. Capito peruvianus.
Le Barbu orange de Perou, Le Vail. Ois. de Par. ii. pi. 27. p. 63.
Bucco peruvianus, Cuv. Regne An. (1829) i. p. 458.
Capito peruvianus, Gray's Gen. ii. p. 430 ; Deville et Des Murs,
Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1849, p. 161.
Capito punctatus, Less.Tr. d'Orn.p. 65; Gray's Gen. ii. p. 430 ;
Des Murs, Icon. Orn. pi. 20.
Capito aurifrons, Vig. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1832, p. 3; Gray's Gen.
ii. p. 430.
Eubucco aurifrons, Bp. Consp. p. 142.
Micropogon flavicollis, Bp. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 120.
Capito flavicollis, Gray's Gen. ii. p. 430.
Micropogon aureus, Temm. PI. Col. (sub tab. 490).
Le Barbu de la Guyane, ii. var.,Le Vail. Ois. de Par. pi. 26. p. 63.
Niger, sulphureo variegatus, pileo toto virescenti-sulphureo :
gutture aurantio : abdomine flavo : pectore et lateribus in
juvene nigro squamatis et guttatis : long, tota 7*0, alse 3'5,
caudse 2*2.
Hab. Interior of New Granada ; Rio Napo ; Upper branches of
the Amazon ; Rio Javarri {Bates); Chamicurros {Hawxwell).
Mus. Brit., P.L.S.
This species is easily distinguished from its representative in
Mr. P. L. Sclater on the American Barbets. 187
Cayenne by the want of the bright-red front, and the throat being
orange instead of red. The younger birds are more or less
spotted below, as in Capito erythrocephalus, and have been de-
scribed as different, under the name of Capito punctatus. The
irides, as noted by Mr. Hawxwell, are red.
4. Capito aurovirens.
Le Barbu oranvei't, Le Vail. Prom. Suppl. pi. E.
Bucco aurovirens, Cuv. Regn. An. (1829) i. p. 458.
Micropogon aurovirens, Bp. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1837, p. 120;
Bp. Consp. p. 142.
Capito aurovirens, Gray's Gen. ii. p. 430.
6 virescenti-fuscus : pectore late aureo : mento albescente : pileo
coccineo : long, tota 7*5, alee 3'4, caudse 2*5.
$ pileo concolore : mento albescente.
Hab. Pemvian Amazon, Sarayacu on the Ucayali {Cast, et
Deville, Hawxwell) ; Bio Napo.
Mus. Brit.
Examples of this beautiful species obtained by Mr. Hawxwell
on the Ucayali, now in the British Museum, are marked " Irides
red." Specimens have likewise been received by Sir William
Jardine from the Rio Napo, through Professor Jameson.
Sectio b. Eubucco.
Minores : coloribus Isetioribus.
5. Capito pictus.
Barbu de Maynas, Buff. PI. Enl. 330, unde Bucco pictus, Bodd.
Tabl. d. PL Enl.
Capito maynanensis, Gray's Gen. ii. p. 430, ex Brisson.
Bucco elegans, Gm. S. N. i. p. 406.
Le Barbu elegant, Le Vail. Ois. de Par. ii. pi. 34. p. 76.
Eubucco pictus, Sclat. P.Z. S. 1857, p. 268.
Viridis : pileo et gutture medio coccineis : mystacibus latis et
torque angusto cervicali undique glauco-cseruleis : pectore
flavo : ventre flavo viridique fiammulato, macula magna
mediali sanguinea : rostro flavo, basi plumbea : pedibus
nigris : long, tota 6*0, alse 2*6, caudse 2-0.
Hab. Bohvia (?).
Mus. Derbiano.
The only example I have ever seen of this Barbet is in the
o 2
188 Mr. P. L. Sclater on the American Barhets.
Derby Museum at Liverpool. It was purchased from Mr. Cu-
ming by the late Lord Derby in 1846, and is labelled "Bolivia;"
but the skin has every appearance of being of the Bogotan make.
This species may be easily distinguished from the following, with
which it has been sometimes confounded, by the broad blue
moustaches which descend on each side of the throat, and are
united below the red chin by a narrow blue throat-band. In
Capita tschudii, the sides of the face between the head and the
throat are yellow.
6. Capito tschudii.
Capita erythrocephalus, Tsch. F. P. p. 260 (nee Bodd.).
Euhucco erythrocephalus, Sclat. P. Z. S. 1857, p. 268.
Viridis : nucha griseo-cserulea : pileo et oculorum ambitu cocci-
neis : subtus flavus, gutture et pectore medio coccineis :
margine subgutturali cseruleo, deinde aurantiaco : lateribus
et crisso viridi flammulatis : crass, spec, prsec.
Hab. Eastern Peru [Tschudi).
Mus. Bremensi et Novo-Castellano.
My characters are taken from a specimen in the Bremen col-
lection received direct from Tschudi.
7. Capito bourcieri.
Micropogon bourcieri, Lafr. R. Z. 1845, p. 179, et Rev. et
Mag. de Zool. 1849, p. 116. pi. 3.
Capito bourcieri, Gray^s Gen. ii. p. 430.
Eubucco bourcieri, Bp. Consp. p. 142 ; Sclater, P. Z. S. 1854,
p. 115, 1857, p. 267, et 1860, pp. 95, 297.
Viridis : vitta nuchali angusta cserulescenti-grisea : capite toto et
gutture ad medium pectus coccineis : loris et mento nigris :
ventre medio sulphurascente, lateribus flavo viridique flam-
mulatis : rostro plumbeo, apice flava : pedibus nigris : long,
tota 5'5, alee 3*2, caudae 1*9.
Hab. Interior of New Granada ; Rio Napo ; Esmeraldas and
Nanegal (Fraser).
Mus. Brit., P.L.S.
This bird was originally received in collections from Bogota.
Examples of it were likewise contained in Mr. Gould's collection
from the Ecuadorian province of Quixos on the Rio Napo, of
which I gave a hst in Proc. Zool. Soc. for 1854 (p. 109). Mr.
Fraser has more recently obtained specimens of it, of slightly
Mr. P. L. Sclater on the American Barhets. 189
larger dimensions, though apparently not otherwise different, at
Esmeraldas and Nanegal, on the opposite side of the Andes.
8. Capito richardsoni.
Capita richardsoni, Gray^s Gen. ii. p. 430. pi. 106.
Eubucco richardsoni, Bp. Consp. p. 142; Sclater, P.Z.S. 1857,
p. 267.
Capito sulphureus, Eyt. Cont. Orn. 1849, p. 130.
Viridis : vitta cervicali postica cinerascenti-cserulea : capite toto
cum macula nientali saturate sanguineo-coccineis : gutture
pallide sulphureo : pectore sanguineo perfuso : ventre flavo
viridique flammulato : long, tota 5*5, alse 2"5, caudse 1*75.
Hab. Interior of New Granada.
Mus. Brit, P.L.S.
The dark-grey posterior neck-band is an easily distinguishing
characteristic of this bird, as compared with the next species.
9. Capito aurantiicollis.
Eubucco aurantiicollis, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 267.
Viridis : vitta cervicali postica clare flavicanti-viridi : capite toto
et macula mentali saturate sanguineo-coccineis: gutture au-
rantiaco : pectore coccineo : ventre flavo viridique flammu-
lato : long, tota 5*5, alse 2*7, caudse 1*8.
Hab. Peruvian Amazon : Rio Javarri {Bates) : Ucayali
[Hawxwell) .
Mus. Brit., P.L.S.
This species closely resembles the preceding, but may be di-
stinguished by its light greenish-yellow (not grey) posterior neck-
band, orange (not yellow) throat, and deeper scarlet breast. Mr.
Hawxwell's examples are marked " Iris red.""
10. Capito hartlaubi.
Micropogon hartlaubi, Lafr. R. Z. 1845, p. 180, et Rev. et Mag.
de Zool. 1849, p. 176. pi. 6.
Capito hartlaubi, Gray's Gen. ii. p. 430.
Capito capistratus, Eyt. Cont. Orn. 1849, p. 131.
Megalaima capistratus, Eyt. Cont. Orn. 1850, p. 29. pi. 45.
Eubucco hartlaubi, Sclater, P.Z.S. 1854, p. 115, et 1857,
p. 268.
Viridis : fronte, loris et meuto nigris : frontis margine postico,
superciliis et capitis lateribus grisescenti-cseruleis : pileo au-
190 Mr, A. Newton on the Possibility
rescente : vitta lata cervicali antica aurantia : pectore pallide
sulphureo : ventre flavo et viridi flammulato : long, tota 5'0,
alse 2'7, caudse 1'8.
Hab. Interior of New Granada and Rio Napo.
Mus. Brit., P.L.S.
11. Capito melanotis.
" Eubucco hartlaubi, ? aut juv.," Sclater, P.Z.S. 1857, p. 267.
Capito melanotis, Hartlaub, in Mus. Bremensi.
Viridis : loris et regione auriculari nigris : superciliis post oculum
aurescentibus : subtus viridis, gutture grisescente, mento
albo : vitta cervicali antica sulpliurea : ventre flavo et viridi
flammulato : crass, spec, prsec.
Hab. New Granada, Rio Napo, and Peruvian Amazon ; Ucayali
[Hawxwell) ; Rio Javarri {Bates) .
Mus. Brit., Bremensi, P.L.S.
I am still not cei-tain as to whether this bird is really distinct
from C. hartlaubi. It difiers from that species in the green cap,
which has, however, an aurescent tinge, in the black (not blue)
sides of the head, which are bordered behind by a golden post-
superciliary mark, and in the yellow (not orange) throat-band. I
have not yet met with intermediate forms, and am rather disposed,
at present, to agree with Dr. Hartlaub in making it specifically
different. I should remark, however, that both Mr. HawxwelFs
specimens in the British Museum are marked " female."
12. Capito glaucogularis.
Capito glaucogularis, Tsch. Av. Consp. inWiegm. Archiv, 1844,
p. 301, et Faun. Per. p. 259. pi. 24. fig. 2.
Eubucco glaucogularis, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 268.
Viridis : facie et gutture cseruleis : loris nigris : vitta antica cervi-
cali ruberrima : abdomine viridi : ventre flavo et viridi flam-
mulato : crass, spec, prsec.
Hab. Eastern Peru {Tsch.).
Mus. Bremensi.
XX. — On the Possibility of taking an Ornithological Census.
By Alfred Newton, M.A., F.L.S.
To attempt the taking of an Ornithological Census of these islands
was a favourite idea of Mr. John Wolley's ; so much so, indeed,
that I believe he used to regard its accomplishment as the chief
of taking an Oy-nithological Census. 191
requirement of British ornithology. To this opinion I cannot
entirely consent; but I nevertheless think that if some such
approximate estimate could be made, it would be extremely ad-
vantageous not only to English ornithologists, but to those of
foreign countries ; and that, if more generally extended to other
branches of natural history, it might furnish results of a very
valuable, not to say unexpected, character.
Just at this time, when we are on the eve of taking the human
census of the British Empire, I think, then, it is not inappro-
priate to bring a somewhat similar design as regards our Fauna
to the notice of naturalists. With this view I am about to com-
municate to the Linnean Society some remarks bearing upon
the question of a general zoological census, while I here propose
more especially to call the attention of ornithologists to the
particular application of Mr. Wolley's project.
I am not so sanguine as to hope that any immediate steps
will ensue from this paper ; but if my brother-students will but
lend the matter their consideration, perhaps, before the close of
the existing generation, we — or, rather, our successors — may be
in a position fairly to begin the work. Indeed, beyond stating my
conviction that a census of our birds merely can only be taken
by the co-operation of nearly all the ornithologists in the
country, I am not at present prepared to offer any suggestions
as to the method to be employed. But I wish to make a few
observations on the subject.
Now as to the probable utility of such a census, to which I
imagine many will at the outset demur. It is unnecessary in
these days, if it ever was otherwise, to show how much light has
been thrown upon natural history by an understanding of the
geographical distribution of species. Yet our acquaintance with
this extensive field of research is very limited. The six great
physical regions of the earth^s surface have been defined with
more or less accuracy, but the details are far from being filled
in. Meritorious efforts have been made to determine the summer
range of the Nightingale and the lines of the Crane's simultaneous
arrival. The progressive advance of the Republican Swallow in
North America, of the Grey Partridge in Scandinavia, and of the
House Sparrow in Siberia has been recorded. The respective
192 Mr. A. Newton on the Possibility
parallelism which obtains in certain families or genera inhabiting
the Greater Antilles has been noticed, and a comparison made
between the number of New-World and European species which
find their way as stragglers to our shores. But little has been
ascertained with respect to the distribution of British birds.
However, I know that one of my friends, distinguished by his
remarkable diligence, has now for some time been employed
on this deeply interesting subject, and as I trust that before
long he will have made sufficient progress to offer to the public,
in these pages, some of his investigations, I will say no more on
this head, but turn to what I conceive will prove to be the most
important result of such an inquiry as I have indicated.
Two of the expressions which have lately become very familiar
to the ears of naturalists are the " Struggle for Life," and the
" Preservation of Favoured Races " therein. Each of these
points, as it seems to me, would be greatly elucidated by the
carrying-out of Mr. Wolley's idea. Every one must admit our
present knowledge respecting them to be very meagre, and
I cannot help thinking that before we can assign any cause for
the predominance of one species over another, we should strive
to ascertain the measure of that predominance. I confess I
hardly know yet, which is to be regarded as the dominant species
of bird in a small and well-explored country like England, I
believe there are many more naturalists who will confess the
same. The different local lists that have been published scarcely
enable us to form an opinion on the subject, excellent though for
other purposes they may be. Seldom do we find in them more
definite intelligence concerning a given species than that it is
"common" or "rare" — expressions which often refer as much
to the individual powers of and opportunities for observation
possessed by the compiler, as to the peculiarity of the species ;
and expressions which must always be vague, if not arbitrary.
Still more difficult is it to say why in one part of England a
species is abundant or scarce, compared with what it is in another.
Of course there are some exceptions to this, which will imme-
diately occur to the reader^s mind, as in the case of sea-birds
not frequenting the interior, or mountain -birds not inhabiting
the level country. But can any one say why, in Devonshire, the
of taking an Ornithological Census. 193
unvaried notes of the Chiff-chaff are as commonly heard as the
joyous song of the Willow Wren^ while, in the parish in which
I am writing, the latter bird outnumbers the former by many
hundreds to one; or why, again, in some of the northei*n coun-
ties the Wood Warbler is nearly as numerous as the Willow Wren,
while here it is not more common than the Chiff-chaff? Of
course the ready reply is, " Oh, it is owing to the difference
in the habits of the species, and in the character of the locality."
But this is really no answer ; for immediately I rejoin, what are
those differences ? and, at present, I have no means of gratifying
my curiosity on this point. Nor will, I suspect, a satisfactory an-
swer be found until we have reliable information not only as to
the approximate proportion which the species I have named bear
to each other in different districts, but also as to the relative
abundance of other species which influence their existence. This
opens a wide region for inquiry, wherein not only the student of
other branches of zoology, but also the botanist and the geolo-
gist must help us ornithologists, and accordingly the object of
my communication to the Linnean Society is to invite such
assistance.
I regret extremely that among Mr. Wolley's papers I can find
few memorandums or suggestions bearing on the subject, and
yet I know that towards the close of his life it occupied his
thoughts not inconsiderably. He first acquainted me with his
idea in a letter from Ormoga in (Eland, dated June 7, 1856, in
which he stated, that at the meeting of Scandinavian naturalists,
which he was then about to attend, he should like to "give
some account of the British birds, of which so little is known
on the Continent beyond the bare list." He wished to begin
"by naming the birds which are commonest in England and
most characteristic of our bird-fauna ;" above all, " to be able to
represent by numbers the relative abundance of each species :
throughout Great Britain put a Sparrow at 1,000,000, and an
Osprey at 1, what will be the intermediate figures ? " As may
be readily imagined, I was unable to supply him with any facts
that he could use, and consequently his design was abandoned,
but, as I trust, only to be taken up and completed some day by
the numerous ornithologists of this country. However, I had
194) Mr. A. Newton on the Possibility
subsequently many opportunities of discussing the matter with
him, and the considerations recorded in this essay are among the
results of the consequent interchange of ideas between us.
I have already stated my entire ignorance of what is the
dominant species of bird in England generally. At first sight
one might be almost inclined to suppose, as Mr. Wolley (in the
passage I have just quoted) seems to have thought, that the
House Sparrow is the most abundant of our birds. There is no
question that it is one of the most characteristic ; for this is shown
as well by a walk through the streets of London as by a ramble
in the country. But on inquiry I think it will be found that
there are numerous and extensive districts in which its pre-
dominance cannot be admitted. Its habits incline it to the vici-
nity of human civilization. Where it does occur, it of necessity
obtains notice. In localities further removed from the haunts of
men it is clearly outnumbered by the Sky Lark, the Yellow Ham-
mer, and the Chaffinch, and these localities form the majority.
Difficult therefore as it is to strike the balance, I am of opinion
that its claims must be disallowed.
After some reflection, I have come to the conclusion that the
Grey Partridge in this particular district is the most abundant
species we have. I do not now pretend to assign for the fact
any causes beyond those which will immediately occur to the
reader — the long-continued and systematic destruction of its
especial enemies, and its still more ancient protection during
the breeding-season by the law of the laud. In other counties I
well know the fact is otherwise. In parts of Gloucestershire or
Monmouthshire, one cannot find in a week as many as may be
seen in an afternoon^s stroll in this neighbourhood ; and yet, as
far as human aid goes. Partridges are as carefully preserved there
as here.
Still further, I am almost inclined to doubt if, in any exten-
sive district in England, say a county of average size, any species
is more numerous than the Grey Partridge is hereabouts. But I
own freely that I am writing in comparative ignorance, and it
may well be that I am mistaken. Let it therefore mei'cly rest
as an assumption, insufficiently supported at present by evidence,
for the sake of seeing what further inferences may be drawn from
of taking an Ornithological Census. 195
it. It is a pretty general belief among those who have to do with
game, that there are few, if any, manors which, one year with
another, will yield the gun a bird to the acre; on the other
hand, in the majority of cases the proportion will not be anything
like as large : so that, admitting the truth of each of these hypo-
theses, their combination serves to show that in no one species of
bird in England do the numbers reach one to an acre ; and thus,
though on very unsatisfactory grounds, do we obtain a limit in
one direction of the ornithological population of this country.
As regards reducing to practice any of the suggestions I have
here mooted, I also desire to speak with great diffidence. I may
on a future occasion have to detail a method of recording obser-
vations, which during some years has been followed by my brother
and myself, and which, though not originally begun with any
such design as that here advocated, still would undoubtedly
furnish means of determining many points in connexion with an
ornithological census. It seems to me, however, that materials
for attaining the end I seek already exist, as regards at least one
species, to a considerable extent. I allude to the " Game Books "
which are now so commonly kept on different manors; and I think
that nothing but a little ordinary care in applying the results to
be obtained from a somewhat general inspection of these useful
registers would furnish a sufficiently accurate return as far as
relates to the Grey Partridge. No doubt many proprietors might
evince a disinclination to submit such valuable records to be
examined by a stranger ; but much of this might also be overcome
by the tact of the ornithological statistician, who could with good
reason urge that, by the comparison of local registers of this
description, he would from them very possibly supply preservers
of game with many deductions of a highly important nature.
For from an extended examination of such books, or abstracts of
books, it is not unreasonable to suppose that he would be enabled
to tender many recommendations worthy of attention. He would
be in a position to state, with authority in proportion to the
amount of information communicated to him, in what districts
it would be possible, and in what districts impossible to increase
the stock ; and in the former case he would at least be able to
give advice as to the means whereby the wished-for result might
196 Recent Ornithological Publications.
be attained. I therefore counsel any one desirous of giving effect
to Mr. Wolley^s idea to begin by polling the Partridges.
There is one other point on which I would say a few words
before concluding these remarks, and that is, on the great caution
requisite not only in making the observations themselves, but
also in drawing inferences from them. Scarcely any one is aware,
until he has tried for a long time, how hard a thing it is to
observe correctly. I have taken no small pains in this matter for
some years, and the chief result is that I have learned to doubt
many of my earlier observations, and consequently not to place
implicit confidence in my later ones. As to the inferences, it is
an old saying that anything may be proved by statistics, and a
true one, if the statistics be not collected and worked up with the
utmost fairness. It seems to me that the mere arrival at what an
ordinary observer may fancy to be an approximate enumeration of
the individuals of a species is not so very difficult. The danger
to be guarded against lies in the not making sufiicient allowance
for the effects of causes, which I would call the disturbing forces,
having an origin entirely independent of ornithology, such as
unwonted abundance or dearth of food, — seasons, wet or dry, cold
or hot, beyond the average. These must always exercise more
or less influence on its numbers, while their continued variability
makes their influence only to be duly appreciated by an observer
of prolonged experience. With these considerations I leave the
subject to the readers of ' The Ibis.'
Elveclen, 4th March, 1861.
XXI. — Recent Ornithological Publications.
1. English Publications.
We have little doubt that most of our readers are already well
acquainted with ]\Ir. Tristram's work on the " Great Sahara*,"
which will indeed require no recommendation to those who have
read that gentleman's lifelike sketches of a portion of his travels,
and his interesting notes on the birds met with " south of the Atlas
Mountains," already published in this Journal. As, however,
* The Great Sahara : Wanderings South of the Atlas Mountains. By
H. B. Tristram, M.A., F.L.S., &c. 1 vol. 8vo. London, 1860 (Murray).
Recent Ornithological Publications. 197
Mr. Tristram^s book, though not strictly an "ornithological
publication," contains frequent references to the "feathered
tribes," and moreover a zoological appendix, in which a full list
of the birds of the Sahara is given, we feel bound to allude to it
in our quarterly record of the events which relate to ornithology,
and we take the opportunity of recommending its perusal to all
(whether learned or unlearned in birds) as an instructive and
amusing account of a region hitherto seldom penetrated by
European travellers. We sincerely hope, also, that the success
which, as we understand, the present work has already attained
may induce Mr. Tristram to carry out his plan of giving us a
second volume on the Regency of Tunis without further delay.
Some apology is owing from us to Dr. George Bennett for
not having before made mention of his ' Gatherings of a Natu-
ralist in Australasia*,^ containing, as it does, many ornitholo-
gical notices, the greater number of which, however, have already
appeared in the 'Proceedings^ of the Zoological Society. The
work is illustrated by several beautiful plates, two being of birds :
the one by Mr. Angas, the well-known draughtsman at Sydney, of
that rare species the Australian Jabiru [Mycteria australis); the
other, from Mr. WolPs inimitable pencil, of the Mooruk(CV/sMarms
bennetti), so often mentioned in these pages, and the discovery of
which is due to the learned Doctor's zeal. It is indeed much to
be wished that more of our brethren dwelling in the land of the
Southern Cross would interest themselves in natural history, as
the author of this work has done, and that speedily ; for the
Australasian fauna is doubtless about to undergo considerable
changes, owing to the efforts now being made to people the
Antipodes with European species.
A peculiar feature of Australian ornithology is the extraordi-
narily sudden and hardly yet accountable appearance of birds,
often in great numbers, in particular districts where they had not
before been seen, and their equally strange and total disappear-
ance after a period generally short, but occasionally of consider-
* Gatherings of a Naturalist in Australasia, &c. By George Bennett,
M.D., F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c. London: J. Van Voorst, 1860. 1 vol. 8vo,
pp. 456.
198 Recent Ornithological Publications.
able duration. Dr. Bennett^ in terms quoted from the introduc-
tion to Mr. Gould's well-known ' Birds of Australia/ cites several
instances of this irregular migration, mentioning NympMcus
nova-hollandice, Melopsittacus undulatus, Leucosarcia picata, Pe-
ristera histrionica, Geronticus spinicollis, Threskiornis strictipennis,
and, above all, Tribonyx ventralis, as especially subject to it.
The author offers us (pp. 186, 187) a description of the egg of
Menura superba, furnished him by Mr. Gould, of which that
gentleman states, "up to the present moment (December 1859)
no correct delineation or description has been given." We do
not know whether this observation is meant to refer to the
account foraierly published in the ' Birds of Australia,' or to
that of Herr Ludwig Becker in the ' Journal fiir Ornithologie '
for 1856, where an egg, said to be of this species, is both de-
lineated (pi. 2. fig. 18) and described (p. 133). Herr Becker's
specimen seems not to differ from that of which the account is
to be found in Dr. Bennett's pages, more than the eggs of the
same species often do.
Should the ' Gatherings of a Naturalist ' reach a second edi-
tion, we hope the author will give us a clearer explanation of the
diagram at p. 78, which, he says, will serve to illustrate the pecu-
liar flight of the Albatros. At present it appears to be impossible
to comprehend it.
The ' Journal of the Royal Dublin Society' for July and Oc-
tober 1860 contains some " Notes on the Zoology of the last
Arctic Expedition under Captain Sir F. L. M'Clintock," by Dr.
David Walker, the ornithological portion of which is an amplifi-
cation of the paper already published by this gentleman in this
Magazine {' Ibis,' 1860, p. 165). We observe that the author
withdraws from his revised list the name of Anas fuligula, which
was included by him, in the article just alluded to, and by so
doing justifies the doubt since expressed on the subject by Pro-
fessor Beinhardt in his paper on the Birds of Greenland pub-
lished in our last Number ('Ibis,' 1861, p. 1). We think it
a matter of regret that Dr. Walker should have quoted, so much
as he has done, from Edwards, Richardson, and Temminck, with
respect to the geographical distribution of species ; for many of
Recent Ornithological Publications. 199
their assertions, now repeated by him, have been shown by later
investigations to have been founded in mistake, and several
errors are thus perpetuated.
2. German and Dutch Publications.
Dr. R. A. Phihppi's * Journey through the Desert of Atacama,'
of which we gave the title in our last Number (p. 109), contains
a special chapter on the zoology of this singular and nearly
rainless region of the Chilian republic, besides veiy many obser-
vations on every branch of natural history scattered throughout
the narrative of the expedition. The account given of the birds
(p. 161) is short and not very satisfactory, owing to the specimens
collected having been partly mislaid and lost. The species men-
tioned as occurring within the limits of the desert are 33 in num-
ber, the greater part of them belonging to well-known Chilian
species. Polyborus montanus [i. e. Milvago megalopterus, vide antea,
p. 19) is the commonest bird of prey in the desert, and in this
part of Chili descends to the coast. Trochilus leucopleurus {i.e.
Oreotrochilus leucopleurus), a bird belonging to a group of Tro-
chilida generally supposed to be confined to the higher Cordilleras,
also descends here nearly to the coast, having been met with near
Hueso Parado, at an elevation of not more than 1000 feet above
the sea-level. IJpucerthia atacamensis (p. 162, Zool. pi. 3) seems
to be identical with Cinclodes bifasciatus, Sclater, described in
the Zoological Society^s ' Proceedings' for 1858 (p. 448), from
examples collected by Bridges in Bolivia. Totanus chilensis
requires further examination and comparison. The new three-
toed Flamingo, already described by Dr. Philippi in 1854*, is,
perhaps, the most interesting bird of the Atacamian desert. We
find the following notice of its habits (p. 57), as observed near
Tilopozo : —
" Two hundred yards from our well were six Flamingoes, of a
new species without the hind-toe {Phoenicopterus andinus, mihi),
which is only found in the high Cordilleras, but, as it appears,
is not uncommon from Peru to Copiapo. It is wonderful that
no naturalist seems to have seen it before. Garcilaso de la Vega
* Annales de la Universidad de Chile, 1854, p. 164 : Gilliss's U. S. Nav.
Astr. Exp. ii. p. 198 : Archiv f. Nat. xxi. p. 10.
200 Recent Ornithological Publications.
(the son of one of the companions of Pizarro and Ahnagro) was,
however, acquainted with this hird, and says it is called Parri-
huana. In the desert of Atacama it bears the abbreviated name
Parrina, and is without doubt the " Red-breasted Flamingo " of
which Mr. Bollaert speaks in his description of the province of
Tarapaca. It breeds on the elevated lakes of the Andes, and its
eggs are brought for sale to the market of Atacama in December.
At this time (January 19th) the females were incubating.^'
Of the ' Journal fiir Ornithologie ' we have received numbers
3, 4, and 5 for the past year. Dr. Hartlaub's " Systematic
Review of the Birds of Madagascar " is completed in the third
number, and has been since issued in a separate form, which we
shall notice in our next Number. The same number contains
original articles by Dr. Cabanis on three African Thrushes, which
he proposes to form into a group, to be called Psophocichla;
and by Ferd. Heine on two new species of Alcedinida from the
Pacific islands, and on a new Xiphocolajites, belonging to the
typical section of the genus.
In the 4th number of the same Journal is a very important
article by Professor Burmeister, being a systematic list of the
birds observed and collected by him during his recent expedition
to South America. The three stations chosen by Professor
Burmeister for his observations (at each of which he remained,
we believe, for about a year) were Parana, IMendoza, and Tucuman,
all in the Argentine Republic. Of these, the latter was in a
district far less known to naturalists than the two former, and, as
might have been expected, the most striking novelties in Professor
Burmeister's list were met with in this locality. The total number
of species enumerated in Professor Burmeister's list is 261, of
which no less than 23 are considered to be new* to science.
Although we believe Professor Burmeister is preparing to
publish a work containing the results of his travels, and will, no
* Falco punctipennis, however, is, we suspect, the bird already described
by Dr. Kaup (P. Z. S. 1851, p. 43) as Harpagus circumcinctus ; and Conurus
brunniceps, as we have ascertained by examination of a typical specimen
received from Prof. Burmeister by Mr. Salvin, is Conurus aymara (d'Orb.),
figured in Souance's unfinished work on Parrots, pi. 23.
Recent Ornithological Publications. 201
doubt, give in it full descriptions of these and other new species
discovered in other branches of natural history, we must confess
that we consider the diagnoses here given a little too meagre,
and certainly rather calculated to deter one from describing any
species at all resembling them than to lead to their identification.
Some of his novelties, such as Geobeemon ri(fip€nnis, Coryphistera
alaudina, Saltator multicolor, and the second species of Cariama,
w^hich Dr. Hartlaub has with such propriety named after its
learned and enterprising discoverer, must certainly be recognized
as most interesting additions to the class of birds.
In the 5th number of the same Journal Dr. Cabanis has com-
menced a detailed account of the series of birds lately received
by the Berlin Museum from Costa Rica, through the exertions
of three Prussian travellers — Dr. von Frantzius,Dr. Hoffman, and
Dr. EUendorf, of whom Dr. Hoffman has, unfortunately, lost his
life in the country he was so energetically exploring. Of this
communication, which contains much of interest, especially to
those amongst us who have been working at the ordithology of
Guatemala, we propose to give a more extended notice when the
following portions are issued.
When one of our good friends and colleagues published his
Gallinula minor os, a "new species" in the same Journal (p. 341),
he had surely forgotten all about ' The Ibis,^ and the Gallinnla
pumila already described and figured in our first volume. We
recommend him to write us a penitent letter asking pardon for
his offence, and promising never to offend again in like manner !
Herr Badeker's ' Eier der Europaischen Vogel ' has reached
its sixth part, and continues to exhibit much the same merits and
failings as those on which we have before remarked ('Ibis,' i.
p. 400). Thus, though not a few of the eggs of each species
are well represented, we seldom are told on whose authority
we may rely for the genuineness of the specimens figured.
The writer of the letter-press, while regarding the Barn-Ovvl
of North America [Strix pratincola) as identical with that of
Europe {S. flammea), yet considers Lagopus montonus distinct
from L. mutus, — the difference between these latter being, we
VOL, III. P
202 Recent Ornithological Publications.
should imagine, quite inappreciable to any naturalist not belong-
ing to the family of Pastor Brehm !
Professor Schlegel's contribution to the little annual published
by the Society ' Natura Artis Magistra/ of Amsterdam, consists
this year of " Some words on the Black Cockatoos and the Para-
dise-birds," in which he gives a general review of the geogra-
phical distribution of these groups of birds. We may remark
that Professor Schlegel unites under one generic name in his
present notice the Paradisea and Epimachi. As to these birds
belonging to the same natural family, we think there can be little
doubt ; but we suppose that even Professor Schlegel would not
arrange them all under one generic name except in a popular
publication like the present. The habitats of the Paradise-birds,
as far as they are yet known, are stated with great precision.
3. Scandinavian and Russian Publications.
The second part of the second volume (new series) of the
' Transactions ' of the Royal Swedish Academy (Kongliga Sven-
ska Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar), published last year,
contains a valuable contribution to the ornithology of South
Africa, in the shape of some "Zoological Notes of the late
Johan Fredrik Victorin, compiled and arranged from his papers
by J. W. Grill," communicated to the Academy on the 16th
August, 1858. Victorin arrived at Cape-town in November
1853, where he continued collecting until the end of February
following, when he sailed to the eastward for Mossel Bay, and
thence proceeded by George-town to Knysna — his " land of
promise." There he remained until the next December, return-
ing by a circuitous route through the Karroo to Geoi'ge-town.
He finally left Cape-town in March 1855, having thus passed
sixteen months in the southern districts of the colony, during
which time he appears to have collected very diligently. The
fruits of his expedition seem to have been nearly all presented
to the Museum at Stockholm, and, we are informed, contained
517 examples of birds of 153 species, and the eggs of 11, all
stated to have been in first-rate condition. But far better than
these seem to have been the careful notes which he affixed to his
Recent Ornitholoyical Publications. 203
specimens or entered in his Journals. From these, Herr Grill's
paper has been drawn up, and in a manner well deserving of
imitation, — Professor Sundevall supplying the diagnoses of the
new species of birds, which are, Bradijpterus victorini and B.
sylvaticus, both obtained at Knysna.
Victorin himself unhappily died of consumption soon after his
return to his native country, at the age of twenty-four years.
Herr Grill very properly remarks, in his introductory note to
this communication, that " the Bird-fauna of the Cape colony
not having hitherto been separated from that of CafFre-land, and
Le Vaillant in his '^Oiseaux d^Afrique' having still more con-
fused our knowledge of the subject by mixing up a number of
species from Australia, India, Madagascar, America, &c.*, eveiy
collection, with accurately given localities, and notes made on
the spot, is of the greatest weight." Such a collection was
Victorin' s : it is stated to have been made "with extraordinary
care and skill,'' — every specimen being not only beautiful and
well prepared, but marked with the date, locality, sex, colour
of the eyes and feet, dimensions, and other explanatory circum-
stances. In addition to this, he kept, as has been before men-
tioned, very compendious journals, chiefly written in English,
partly under the name of " Zoological Notes," and partly under
that of "Day Book." His early death is assuredly well described
as a severe loss to science.
Dr. L. von Schrenck's work on the Birds of Amoorland, of
which we have given the title in our last Number (p. Ill), is a
most valuable contribution to our knowledge of the geographical
distribution of the species belonging to the Palsearctic Avifauna,
and requires a few remarks from our pen. We must premise
that Dr. v. Schrenck was placed in command of a scientific
expedition for the exploration of the newly acquired Russian
territory on the Amoor, sent out by the Imperial Academy of
Sciences of St. Petersburg in 1854. The species treated of in
this work are mainly such as came under Dr. v. Schrenck's
personal observation during his two years' sojourn in that counti-y,
with the addition of those collected by Herr Maack, who made
* Kongl. Vet. Akad. Handl., Band ii. No. .3 (1857) : ' Ibis,' 1^5!), p. 324.
]• 2
204 Recent Ornithulugical Publications.
an expedition from Transbaikalia to the Amoor and back in
1855; and by Herr Maximowicz, a botanical collector in the
employ of the Imperial Botanical Gardens of St. Petersburg, who
was also travelling on the Amoor from 1854 to 1856. The whole
number of species thus embraced in the body of the work is 190.
At the end of the volume, however, before conclusions are drawn
as to the general character of the ornithology of this country,
extended lists are given of other species attributed to the same
locality by different authorities, and of such as might have
been expected to have been found there from their occurrence
in localities not far distant, so that every endeavour has been
made to render this volume a complete guide to the ornithology
of this part of the world.
With the general conclusion drawn by Dr. v. Schrenck from
these elements, " that the prevailing character of the Avifauna
of Amoorland is Eui'opao- Siberian" or, as we should prefer call-
ing it, Pal^arctic, we fully agree ; but when we come to dis-
cuss the foreign elements which are certainly present, though to
a very limited degree, we must say a few words upon the method
which our author has followed in treating of his species. On
the difficult question where we are to draw the line between
" species " and " local varieties," we have on one side the views
of such naturalists as Mr. Wallace, who broadly state that it
matters not how small the difference is between two represent-
ative species provided it be constant, and on the other the prac-
tice of many eminent zoologists, who are accustomed to class
together a large number of species, usually considered as distinct,
as merely local or climatic varieties of one typical form. Between
these opposite views there is certainly ample room for every
shade of opinion. Every naturalist, indeed, has his own ideas
on this matter. The fact is, that the amount of difference
requisite to establish specific distinctness between two sets of
individuals is, as has been well maintained by an eminent writer,
whose views are adverse to the real existence of species, "a
matter of opinion," and we should therefore be very careful in
blaming writers whose ideas on this point may be at variance
with our own. But, nevertheless, this much is to be said upon
the subject, the truth of which we presume few will venture to
Reeent Ornithological Publications. 205
deny. In the first place, every variation of form, however
minute, w hether considered specific or not, is worthy of record ;
and, secondly, perfect specific identity should not be predicated
of any two sets of forms coming from widely distant regions
without actual comparison of examples. When difierences are
often so minute and yet so constant, it is not sufficient to draw
conclusions as to specific identity from descriptions and figures,
however excellent. Now against this last rule it appeai-s to us
that Dr. v. Schrenck, no doubt owing mainly to the want of
opportunity — certainly not from the wish to escape work — has
in many instances ofi'euded ; and we shall proceed to notice a few
of them, to some of which our attention has been particularly
directed by Dr. Hartlaub.
Acanthylis caudacuta (p. 250) is considered identical with
the Australian bird. It may be so; but such a point can
only be considered established after examination of a large series
of examples from each locality. Had the Amoorian bird been
united with the Himalayan form, Acanthylis nudipes [Hirundo
nudipes, Hodgs. ; Cypselus leuconotus, Delessert), we should
hardly have made the same objection. But we cannot allow
that the same '^ species " of bird can exist in two widely sepa-
rated localities without existing also in the intermediate space,
and we have never heard that this Acanthylis has been met with
in the Indian peninsula, Java, Sumatra, Borneo, or New Guinea.
Dr. V. Schrenck's suggestion that the bird regularly migrates
from the Amoor to New South Wales cannot surely be serious*.
Alcedo ispida, var. bengalensis (p. 265). This "local variety
of our Kingfisher," as Dr. v. Schrenck prefers to call it, is a
much smaller bird than A. ispida, but has the beak remark-
ably longer. In this case, however, an elaborate discussion is
* The existence of this Swift in N.E. Asia will perhaps explain the
occun-ence of the so-called " AustraUan Spine-tailed Swift " in the British
Islands. We have little doubt that it was a wanderer from Eastern Asia
that was recorded under this name (Zoologist, 1846, p. 1492) as having
been captured in this covmtry, if the statements there given are to be
relied upon. Such an occurrence would not be more unlikely than that of
Anthus richardi, Turtur gelastes, Phylloscopus superciliosus sen reguloides,
and other accidental visitors to Western Europe from the far East.
206 Recent Ornitholugical Publications.
entered into upon the variations, and a scries of measurements
is given, and we have no complaint to make.
Pica cyanea, Pallas (p. 318), of Siberia, is very unnecessarily
united with the Spanish bird. Pica cooki, Bp. It may be- very
true that in the Siberian bird the amount of white at the
termination of the two medial rectrices varies a little ; but had
Spanish examples been examined, it would have been seen at once
that the white spot is here not present at all !
Coi'vus monedula ! (p. 324) . Even Professor Schlegel, who
cannot be pronounced a species-maker, allows Corvus dauricus
to be a distinct species from the European Jackdaw. Dr. v.
Schrenck does not even consider it as a permanent local variety.
It is very true that intermediate forms are found. In S.E.
Europe we have Corvus collaris of Drummond, which may be
so termed. But there are several, not to say many, well-
known cases of intermediate forms between representative
species.
Cinclus pallasii (p. 331) is united with Cinclus mexicanus —
a union, which such examples of these birds as have fallen under
our inspection would certainly not justify.
Oriolus cochinsinensis, var. indica ! (p. 346). The Black-
naped Orioles are certainly separable into several well-marked
local forms, which ought not to be confounded, whether they are
called species or varieties. The true Philippine bird {Oriolus
acrorhrjnchus of Vigors) is much larger than O. sinensis, to which
race we suppose the Amoor specimens belong, and has no trace
of the yellow speculum. If Dr. v. Schrenck had a series of
examples from all the diflFerent localities before him, we have
little doubt he would be able to distinguish them easily.
Lusciola [Nemura] cyanura, Pallas (p. 361), is, we are informed,
" without doubt " the same bird as that which Hodgson has
described as Nemura rufilata from Nepal. That these two
species are congeneric we well believe ; but that they are strictly
identical could not be safely predicated without an accurate com-
parison of specimens. Dr. v. Schrenck has not had the oppor-
tunity of doing this, perhaps ; but even an examination of the
figure of Nemura rufilata in the ' Contributions to Ornitho-
logy^ might have niduced him to modify his assertion. The
Recent Ornithological Publications. 207
Nepalese bird has not even a trace of the large and conspicuous
white ante-ocular spot.
That Zosterops japonicus (p. 365) of N.E. Asia should be
identical with Z. chloronotus, Gould*, of Western Australia, is,
when we recollect that Z. chloronotus itself is only the West-
Australian representative of Z. dorsalis, a statement so entirely
contrary to the canons of geographical distribution, that we should
hardly believe our eyes if it were proved to us by actual com-
parison of specimens. But what can we say when this identity
is established merely on an examination of Mr. Gould's figure
of the Australian bird ? The two species are, in truth, conspi-
cuously different, the Asiatic bird being much smaller, and
having the abdomen very differently coloured.
Tetrao canadensis (p. 399). It is now well known, we should
have thought, to every European naturalist, that the Siberian
Grouse, called by Middendorf by this name, is by no means
identical with the American T. canadensis or T. franklinii, whether
these^ be considered as two species or as one. Dr. Hartlaub
pointed out the very marked and unmistakeable characters which
separate the Asiatic Tetrao falcipennis from the American bird
in 1855 (Cab. Journ. f. Orn. p. 39), and examples of the former
with its singularly constructed wing are now found in most of
the larger collections of Europe f-
It would be easy to continue remarks of the same sort as the
preceding ; but we rather return to Dr. v. Schrenck's general
observations on the birds of Amoorland — a subject to which he
has devoted some very interesting pages. Of the 190 species
enumerated in the body of the work as appertaining to this por-
tion of its fauna, he considers berths to be Europseo-Siberian
and ^ths Siberian, the remaining y^th being intruders from
Southern Asia and more distant localities. An examination of
the eighteen species which are included in the latter category
gives us but few belonging to really extraneous types. Peri-
crocotus and Zosterops are the two most noticeable, if not the
only such, of which the former is a pure Indian genus, and the
* The true name of this bird is Z. gouldi, Bp. (Consp. p. 398), — Z.
chloronotus being a Mauritian species.
t We may particularize those of Paris, Bremen, and Brunswick.
208 Recent Ornithological Publications.
latter conimou to the Indian, Australian, and ^Ethiopian regions.
The only species described by Dr. v. Schrenck as new to science
is a small Sylvian — Salicaria [Calamodyta) maackii — nearly allied
to Calamodyta phragmitis, C. cariceti, and C. aquatica, of which
a figure is also given. We must also not fail to call attention to
some of the notices of rarer Anatida in this volume. The true
breeding-quarters of the Mandarin Duck {Aix galericulata) — a
" very common bird" on the Amoor — were, we believe, previously
quite unknown. And, in conclusion, we must again remind our
readers of the great value of the whole work, even though excep-
tion be taken to some of its details. We may, indeed, say that
Dr. v. Schrenck's volume is absolutely essential to any one who
wishes to attain a complete knowledge of the birds of Europe, or
even of England, as giving details concerning the range of the
greater part of our native species, and a fauna of a country
whence many of our rarer stragglers have been derived.
4. American Publications.
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia have issued
their ' Proceedings ' up to the close of 1860. At p. 374 will be
found a paper of much interest to those of our friends who have
been working at the ornithology of the West Indies, being a
Catalogue of Birds from the island of St. Thomas, collected and
presented to the Academy by Mr. Robert Swift, with notes by
Mr. Cassin. Twenty-seven species are enumerated, Tijrannula
martinica is evidently the same bird as is described in Proc.
Zool. Soc. 1860, p. 314, as Elainia riisii*. Before adopting for
it the Linnean name employed by Mr. Cassin, we should like to
see specimens from Martinique. Dendrceca petechia is rightly
distinguished from D. cestiva of the continent t. The Humming-
bird (No. 12) should be Eulampis chlorolcemus. The Eupsgcho?--
tyx, about which there has been some discussion in this Journal
(antea, p. 114), is considered to be E. sonninii — "exactly the
species figured by Mr. Gould under the name, and identical with
* See also ' Ibis,' 1860, p. 30/.
t Compare Dr. Cabanis's remarks on this section of the DendrceccE in
' Jovn-n. f. Orn.' 1860, p. 327. His D. rujiceps, of which we have exa-
mined many specimens, is the same as Mr. Cassin's D. vieilloti, Proc.
Acad. Philad. 1860, p. 192.
Recent Oj- nit ho logical Publications. 209
specimens in the Academy's collection labelled * Venezuela '
and ' Cumana.' "
Through Mr. Lawrence's kindness we have received copies of
two papers published by him in the ' Annals ' of the Lyceum of
Natural History of New York. His notes on Cuban birds contain
the results of a comparison of some specimens from Dr. Gund-
lach's and Mr. Forns's collections with their American repre-
sentatives. Tinnunculus sparverioides of Vigors is considered to be
distinct from T. sparverius. The Cuban bird^ representing Acci-
piter cooperi oi Northern and A. pileatus of Southern America,
is regarded as different from either, and named A. gundlachii.
Accipiter fringilloides of Vigors is re-established as distinct from
A. fuscus of the United States. Of Cymindis wilsoni of Cassin,
specimens sent by !Mr. Forns agree very closely wdth the original
description and figure in the Journal of the Philadelphian Aca-
demy. We fear our figure in the first volume of this Journal
has been somewhat in fault in inducing Mr. Lawrence to sepa-
rate the Gymnoglaux into two species, the white spots being
certainly present in the S. Croix bird. We do not believe that
Gymnoglaux newtoni is diflferent from G. nudipes ; and Mr. Law-
rence seems to have forgotten that the term nudipes was founded
on specimens from Porto Rico. If there are two species, there-
fore, examples from Porto Rico must be examined before it can
be asserted that the Cuban bird is " assuredly the true nudipes"
Another new species from Cuba is described as Antrostomus
cubanensis, representing the continental A. vocife}"us. The Den-
drceca called albicollis is, we suppose, the true D. petechia, as
recently determined by Mr. Cassin in his paper on the birds of
St. Thomas, referred to above. Other notes of interest are given,
upon the specimens received, which belong in all to 27 species ;
and the whole paper forms a very acceptable contribution to our
knowledge of this peculiar Island-fauna.
A second paper of Mr. Lawrence, read at the same date (May
21, 1860), describes two new birds from the Isthmus of Panama,
Myiarchus panamensis and Phlegopsis macleannani.
Mr. Elliott's Eupsychortyx albifrenatus, also described in the
'Annals' of the Lyceum of Natural History (April 1860), is
evidently Ortyx leylandi, Moore, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 62.
210 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, <Sfc.
A printed sheet of four pages (forwarded to us by post) gives a
list of the birds observed round Quebec, by J. Le Moine, Esq.,
drawn up " after the system of the Smithsonian Institution."
XXII. — Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, ^c.
We have received the following letters : —
To the Editor of ' The Ibis.'
26 Perabridge Gardens, Baysvvater,
1st February, 1861.
Sir, — During a stay in Egypt in the latter part of 1857, I
shot near Kafr Dowar, a village on the Mahmoudieh Canal near
Alexandria, a specimen of Budytes cinereocapillus. This was the
only one that came under my notice. Heuglin, who is, I beheve,
the latest authority, does not include this species in his ' Syst.
Ueb. d. Vog. N. 0. Afrika's,' so I send you the above notice of
its occurrence for publication in ^ The Ibis,' if you think it of
sufficient interest. M. Loche gives it as an inhabitant of Algiers
(Cat. Mamm. et Ois. de PAlgerie, p. 80), while B. rayi is the
only species found in Western Africa (Hartlaub, System d. Orn.
W. Afrika's, p. 72). I may add that I was fortunate enough to
obtain a Chettusia leucura, which I saw exposed for sale in the
market at Alexandria. It had been shot in the vicinity by an
Arab gunner, but does not generally occur below the Cataracts.
Yom-s, &c., John Cavafy.
To the Editor of ' The Ibis.'
Foi'dingbridge, February 12th, 1861.
SiR^ — In your periodical for October last, I ventured to direct
attention to the non-existence of a reliable list of British birds,
and to express a hope that this want might soon be supplied by
some of your able contributors.
On referring to your interesting review of Herr Badeker's and
Dr. Brewer's oological works in 'The Ibis' for October 1859, I
have more than ever felt the difficulty under which I labour from
not knowing what birds really ought to be considered British.
I am quite prepared to accept your list of thirty-five British
desiderata as perfectly authentic, although Mr. Hewitson figured
Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, 3^'c. 211
three of them (Snowy Owl, Great White HeroD, and Bewick's
Swan) in his second work, and, so far as my memory serves me,
omitted only one (the Great White Heron) in his third work ;
but as I have only the second work within reach at present, I
may be mistaken in this.
Now although I believe there are thirty-five deficiencies in
British oology, I am still at a loss to discover how many known
species ought to be considered British, and I should feel deeply
indebted to yourself, or any other member of the British Orni-
thologists' Union, who would kindly inform me how I can obtain
a reliable list of British birds, and still more indebted to any
one who would publish such a list in the way suggested in my
last letter.
In common with many others who feel a real interest in the
study of ornithology, I am too much engaged in professional
avocations to admit of my devoting much time to the pursuit,
and am obliged to confine my attention pretty much to British
birds ; consequently I am desirous that my knowledge of these
should be as exact as possible, and this, without an authentic list,
is difficult to attain.
Yours, &c., Beaven Rake.
Mr. Samuel Stevens has just received a letter from Mr, A, R.
Wallace, dated " Ternate, December 7th," in which he writes as
follows : — " I returned to Ternate a few days after the last mail
had left here, having had a most hazardous voyage from Ceram
and Waigiou. My collections are immense, but very poor, when
it is considered that they are the result of nine months' collecting
by two persons in East and North Ceram, Mysol, and Waigiou.
Ceram is a wretched country ; and the Papuan Islands, now that
the cream is taken ofi" by Aru and Dorey, are really not worth
visiting, except for the Birds of Paradise.
" My beetles, I am sorry to say, are most miserable — smaller
and more obscure species than at Dorey, and only a few of the
good ones found there, and none in any quantity.
" In birds there is absolutely nothing good but the Paradisea
rubra, which is the only species that inhabits Waigiou, and is
peculiar to that island.
212 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, ^-c.
" I have been so busy with my mass of specimens (all wanting
sorting and cleaning), and with my numerous letters and books (a
whole year), that my mind has been too much unsettled to write.
Next mail I shall write to all my entomological and ornithological
friends who have been kind enough to send me communications.
" I do not like the figure of Semioptera wallacii copied in ' The
Ibis ' from Gould's : the neck-shields are not shown to advan-
tage ; and the white plumes should be raised much higher or laid
down lower — they are neither one thmg nor the other.
" C. Allen starts in a week or two for N. Guinea — to the true
locality for the rarer Birds of Paradise, and I trust he may be
successful. The last voyage, with all its dangers and disappoint-
ments, has nearly sickened me, and I think in one year I shall
return.
''I seem to have all your letters but one (April 16, I860)."
The following extracts are from letters recently received by
us from Mr. Edward Blyth : —
" Calcutta, January 4tli.
"I have just received 'The Ibis,' vol. ii. No. 8, and need I
say that I am delighted with it ? My compliments especially
to the Hon. T. L. Powys and to Mr. W. H. Simpson. I have
also something like a compliment to send you on the part of
my little Shdma {Kittacincla macroura), whose cage hangs about
eight paces fi'om where I am now writing, and thoroughly enjoy-
ing existence at the delicious temperature of 70° Fahrenheit.
Turning to p. 410, opposite to which is a figure of Circaetus
zonurus, and holding it up to look at it, little Shdma imme-
diately became in a violent condition of excitement. No doubt
at all about it, as I have proved a second and a third time.
There is something about that spirited figure of Circaetus zo-
nurus which Shdma less approves of than I do. We have all
heard of the old Greek painter who deceived the birds. Here
is a modern instance ; and, I cannot help thinking, a sufficiently
remarkable one. Alexander von Humboldt, in his ' Personal
Narrative,' if I remember rightly, relates that a small South-
American monkey at once recognized the insects it had been
accustomed to prey upon, though represented only in outline
Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, &^c. 213
or uncoloured. Contrast that with the n on -appreciation of a
picture by Arabs or certain other races of human kind !
" Well, in your No. 8, p. 323, I demolished a luckless Mon-
sieur Payen, who cheerfully fancied that he had made a grand
discovery about the comestible birds'-nests. Now it comes to
the turn of my good and exceedingly respected friend, Robert
F. Tomes, Esq., who tells us (p. 318) that, as far as he knows,
' the name of Professor Macgillivray stands alone in justification
of the alleged Pringilline affinities^ of the so-called Bearded
Titmouse.
" Now, it does so happen that the very first ornithological
essay I ever committed to writing in my life was about this
very bird, which I called ' Bearded Reedling,' and not Tit, or
Titmouse. This was in 1832, in the first number of Rennie's
* Field-Naturalist's Magazine,^ wherein I made my debut as a
scribbler in Natural-History matters. I have had much to
answer for since then ! But, however that may be, it seems
that I do not happen to have this particular number handy to
refer to at this instant ; nevertheless I recommend those who
possess the opportunity to revert to it, because they will find
some sound and direct personal observations on the habits of
the ' Bearded Reedlinff,' whose afiinities I at that time thought
were Shrikish. By the way, this species is ' the Least Butcher-
bird' of Goldsmith's ' Animated Nature,' in which I suppose
that the agreeable author of ' The Traveller ' and the * Deserted
Village ' copied BufFon as usual.
" However, in that same ' Field-Naturalist's Magazine' for
April 1833, p. 190 et seq., in returning to the charge, I would
not listen to anything about affinity with Parus, and I think
that it may be discerned that even then my notions were already
approximating i'lncA- ward.
"In 1838 I took a part in a new translation of Cuvier's
' Regne Animal,' wherein, if you refer to p. 198, you will find
that I assert of the Reedlings {Panurus seu Calamophilus) that
* their anatomy is strictly that of a Finch ; and they are much
more nearly related to the Waxbill-Finches than to the Tits,
with which latter they have little in common. The gullet has
an extremely long dilatation, or craw, and the gizzard is remark-
214 Letters, Eoctracts from Correspondence, Notices, ^-c.
ably muscular.' lu the same work (p. 180) I remarked of the
Falcunculi, that ' they are nearly Tits, with a somewhat Shrike-
like bill, and resemble our common Pari in their manners,
notes, nidification, eggs, and plumage.' Others have since come
over to the same opinion.
"In my Catalogue of the specimens of Stuffed Birds in the
Asiatic Society's Museum, Calcutta (1852), I placed Panurus
at the tail of the FringilUdoi (p. 134), under the heading of
' Incerta sedis.'
" Permit me further to inform you that our late most sin-
cerely lamented friend William Yarrell was about to perpe-
trate, through his artist, a most thoroughly detestable figure
of Panurus biar-micus, carefully and minutely copied from a
villainously stuffed specimen, when I happened to call upon
him just in the very nick of time, and gave him an off-hand
sketch of about the genuine outline, which appears (in his third
edition) in vol. i. p. 406 : only the tail is not quite long enough,
nor the tarsi ; and that shadow of a shade of the moustache is,
of course, a mistake, such as non-naturalist artists are so ex-
tremely prone to indulge in.
" Of course you know that the late Prince Bonaparte described
a second race of the Panurus genus from Kamtschatka, in one of
his papers in the ' Comptes Rendus' — about such a form as our
friend Charles Darwin would designate an ' incipient ' species.
" I observe in p. 353 that Mr. Powys remarks of the Gadwall
Duck, that it is ' by far the best for the table of the European
AnotidceJ I have digested several Gadwalls this season, and I
don't think that he is very far from wrong ; but the best of all
the Duck tribe, so far as my experience goes, is decidedly Fuli-
gula rufina. Much, of course, depends upon the cookery : too
often, as the poet tells us, ' cooks come from t'other place ! '
But a fine fleshy Red-crested Pochard, just done to a turn, and
not overdone, must be equal to the finest ' Canvas-back ' that
ever was roasted. To say the least, I cannot conceive the possi-
bility of anything of the sort being finer ! I undoubtedly am a
bit of an epicure in a quiet way, and have just been feasting off
Glossy Ibis. Take my word for it, a roasted Falcinellus iyneiis
is anything but contemptible fare.
Letters, Extracts from Corresjjondence, N^utices, 6\C. 215
" Some time ago, I met a stranger who had been travelling in
the Middle Island of New Zealand (I wonder if he will ever read
this). Of course I was curious about the Apteryx owenii;
and I showed him Gould's figure of the bird, and tried to make
him comprehend some notion of its value. ' Good/ said he,
* I know it well : we ate four of them in one pie 1 ' Alas for
Apteryx oivenii, as well as for the last surviving specimens of
Dinornis or Palapteryx (if such there yet remain), to be put
into a pie ! ' Gather your roses while you may,^ Mr. Editor,
and collect your impennates before this pestilent civilization
spoils and ruins everything !"
" Calcutta, Janviary 19.
" In my small garden near the entrance of my residence is a
tolerably umbrageous tree, the branches of which are conve-
nient for hanging up dendrophytic orchids, ferns, &c. Now,
from the foliage of this tree I have several times lately heard a
remarkably sweet, low, continuous warbling note, and could not
imagine what bird it came from— supposing it, however, to be
some delicate little Becfin. This morning I was determined to
settle the question ; so I brought out my spy-glass, and, lo !
what should the songster prove to be but Lanius superciliosus
(Indian variety, phoe7iicurus), which I had only known heretofore
as an exceedingly harsh chatterer ? I have much pleasure there-
fore in noting this redeeming point about this bird ; and it is not
the only one: for, harsh as his ordinary chattering may be, either
that chatter, or the brisk and smart apparition of the pretty little
sprightly Pied Wagtail {Motacilla Juzoniensis) — one or the other
— is annually, to us here who note and observe, the earliest
familiar token of the most welcome approach of what we desig-
nate by comparison the ' cold ' season. Moreover, I have never
observed this Lanius to be murderous ; and, as regards other
birds, I doubt if it ever is so."
" January 22.
'^Babu Rajendra Mallika has just got another fine batch of
things, including seven Victoria Crown-Pigeons {Goura victoria),
a superb male Mia'oglossus to match with his female (the 6 is
considerably larger than the $ ), and one of those beautiful
Ground-Pigeons [Caloenas cruenia vel luzonica).
216 Letters, Extracts fi'om Correspondence, Notices, ^x.
" I was about to take a short trip to Burmali ; but as our
friend J is appointed to a station on the Sitang River, in
Tenasserim, I start in a steamer in the course of a couple of
days or so, and mean to accompany him at least as far as
Maulmein/'
The subjoined extract from the " Argus ^' of October 25th,
1860, gives the most recent account of the progress of the
experiment of the introduction of English Singing-birds into
Australia, which has recently been undertaken at INIelbourne.
It will be observed that the Httle immigrants have adopted the
Australian seasons, and begun to nest in October ! : —
" The English birds at the Botanic Gardens are now all in a
bustle. They seem perfectly awake to the character of the
season. The little Warblers are busy in nest-building, and per-
forming all the other tender offices which mark their proceedings
at spring time. The Larks are already multiplying, and the
Thrushes have nests both in the aviary and in the open air.
The Starlings and Blackbirds which were brought out by the
' Lincolnshire ' and the ' Essex ' occupy a building in the Botanic
Gardens' reserve, which ie usually devoted, in the winter, to the
accommodation of the Alpacas and other quadrupeds. Here
they will remain until their plumage — lost or disordered on the
voyage — is restored, when they will be removed to the aviary,
and thence to the open air. A similar house holds a number of
Thrushes that are nest-building in the orange and Japanese
spindle-trees which are placed there. In the aviary the same
interesting process is going on. There the Goldfinch, the
Linnet, and the Java Sparrow have nests, as well as the Thrush
and the Quail — due care, however, being taken for the separa-
tion of the peaceable from the pugnacious birds. The Pheasants
are engaged in egg-laying, and for the work of incubation the
assistance of some Bantam fowls has been secured. The whole
of the arrangements for the preservation of the birds which
have been sent from England, and the propagation here of the
feathered tribes of the old country — thanks to the indefatigable
Dr. Mueller — are as complete as can be desired."
Ibis 1861. PI VIL
J Wolf del.et hth.
M.& N.Ha-nharL.Imp
FALCO BABYLON! CUS
THE IBIS.
No. XI. JULY 1861.
XXIII. — Notes on Birds observed in Oudh and Kumaon.
By Captain L. Howard Irby, 90th Regt.
(Plate VII.)
The following notes were made in Oudh, from October 1857
to August 1860, with the exception of about two months, from
April 15th to June 15th, 1859, during which time I was in the
British Himalayan province of Kumaon. During the first part
of the time, in Oudh, the disadvantage of being in an enemy's
country (for a long time without any kit) prevented my making
notes; and many specimens which I obtained and skinned were
lost or destroyed, either by insects or through being continually
on the march.
The province of Oudh is well situated for an ornithologist,
containing every variety of soil ; and bordering on the Nepalese
hills is the " Terai " forest — a part very little explored, except
by tiger-shooting sportsmen. The intense heat in the hot and
rainy season confines a European to his bungalow, except for a
couple of hours in the morning and evening ; and even in the
" cold season," from October to March inclusive, it is unplea-
santly warm at mid-day ; so that, on the whole, the disadvantages
preponderate.
The names here employed are the same as those used by Mr.
Blyth in his ' Catalogue of the Birds of the Asiatic Society's
Museum ' ; and, unless otherwise stated, the notes apply to birds
observed in Oudh.
VOL. III. Q
218 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
1. Pal/eornis alexandri.
Common, in large flocks, in the Terai jungle, at the foot of the
hills, during the cold season. It is known to the natives as the
Hill-Parroquet.
2. Pal^ornis torquatus.
Excessively abundant throughout the year; more particularly
so at the middle and end of the rainy season. Breeds in the
holes of trees.
3. PaLtEORNIS cyanocephalus.
Common in the cold season in jungly districts: probably re-
sorts to the hills during the hot weather, as I did not then
notice it in Oudb, and it was common in the valleys of Kumaon
in May and June 1859.
4. Falco JUGGER. (Male " Jugger," female '' Luggur".)
Seen and killed at Alumbagh, in January 1858. I observed
what I supposed to have been this Falcon upon many other
occasions in the cold season. It is much used by the native
falconers, but is rather deficient in pluck, as compared with the
Peregrine Falcon.
5. Falco babylonicus. (Plate VII.)
A smglc specimen of this Falcon was obtained in October 1858,
at Newabgunge Bara Bunki, Oudh, and is now in the Norwich
Museum. Mr. Sclater has kindly supplied me with the follow-
ing remarks upon this hitherto undescribed bird : —
" Capt. Irby^s specimen seems to be referable to a new species
or distinct variety of true Falcon, most nearly allied to Falco
barbarus (of 'The Ibis,' 1859, p. 184, pi. 6; Falco peregrinoides
of Temminck), for which Mr. Gurney proposes to use the name
Falco babylonicus, the first specimen of it having been obtained
in Babylonia by the Euphrates Exploring Expedition.
" The coloration of F. babylonicus is nearly similar to that of
F. barbaruSy but generally lighter, and rather more rufous on the
front of the head : the size, however, is nearly one-third greater,
being the same as that of F. lanarius of Schlegel. From the latter
bird it may be distinguished — (1.) By the absence of the whitish
frontal band, the rufous of the vertex extending forwards on to
observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 219
the cere, and being bordered behind by a broad band of dark
slat)'- brown, which divides it from the rufous of the nape. (2.)
By the feathers on the back of the neck below the nape being
bordered with rufous of the same tinge as on the nape. This
edging is sometimes present in F. baj-barus, but never to the same
extent in F. hnarius. (3.) By the comparative absence of spots
on the upper portion of the lower surface, in which character it
nearly agrees with the Abyssinian form of F. lanarius, which I
take to be strictly Lichtenstein's F. tanypterus. The middle
claw of F. babylonicus is longer than that of F. lanarius, in which
respect it also approaches to the structure of F. barbarus.
Judging from the partial remains of the immature plumage in
one specimen, it would appear that in this stage the bird most
nearly resembles F. peregrinus, in which particular it also agrees
with F. barbarus.
"Besides Capt. Irby's specimen (No. 1), I am acquainted
with the following individuals, referable to F. babylonicus : —
" 2. An example in partially immature plumage, already al-
luded to as procured by the Euphrates Exploring Expedition in
Babylonia, and presented by Commander Jones to the IMuseum
of the East India Company. This is one of the two specimens
of ' F. peregrinator ' of Horsfield and Moore's Catalogue of the
Birds of that Collection, entered as ' presented by Commander
Jones ; ' the other of the two being apparently a young F. pere-
grinus — certainly not F. peregrinator.
" 3. An adult specimen in the Norwich Museum, procured
from ]\I. Parzudaki of Paris, and said to be from Abyssinia.
" 4. An adult specimen, also in the Norwich Museum, pro-
cured from Mr. Warwick, of which the locality is not known.
" I may remark that Mr. Blyth has lately (Journ. Asiat. Soc.
Beng. xxviii. p. 281) distinguished the Indian variety of the Pere-
grine from the European bird as F. calidus — the name being
adopted from Latham, who, in his ' Index Oruithologicus ' (vol. i.
p. 41), conferred that title upon the 'Bauri' Falcon of India.
The present bird, however, does not belong to the group of true
Peregrines, but rather to that containing F. lanarius, Schlegel,
F. tanypterus, Licht., F. biarmicus, Temm., and F. barbarus,
Salvin.
q2
220 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
'^ I annex the dimensions of the first three specimens of F. hahij'
lonicus, in inches and tenths :" —
Spec
Locality.
Long. tota.
alae.
caudae.
tarsi.
dig. med.
1.
Oudh ..
17-3
13-
70
1-95
2-05
2.
Babylon .
17-0
12-5
G-6
1-95
1-95
3.
Abyssinia
18-0
12-8
6-5
2-00
1-95
6. Falco chicquera.
A common resident ; usually seen in the wooded parts of the
country.
7. Hypotriorchis subbuteo. (Hobby.)
Two seen in Oudh in September 1858.
8. TiNNUNCULUs ALAUDARius. (Kcstrel.)
Common throughout the cold season ; occasionally seen
during the rains.
'D
9. TiNNUNCULiJs CENCHRis. (Lesscr Kestrel.)
Seen in the cold season.
10. Elanus melanopterus. (Black-winged Elanus.)
Not uncommon in woody country during the cold season,
especially in the jungles near Khyreegurh.
11. Circaetus gallicus.
Seen occasionally in the cold season.
12. Circus ^ruginosus. (Marsh Harrier.)
Most abundant during the cold season near all swamps and
jheels : is very annoying to the wild-fowl shooter, driving up
the ducks, but never seems to catch any but wounded ones. The
adult birds are more frequently seen than the immature.
13. Circus swainsonit. (Pallid Harrier.)
Very common in the cold season in open cultivated country.
14. Circus cinerascens. (Montagu's Harrier.)
Found in the same localities as C. swainsonii, and is perhaps
more numerous.
15. Circus melanoleucos. (Pied Harrier.)
Very abundant near the rivers Choka and Gogra, on the plains
observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 221
covered with thick grass about two feet high. I have never
seen this Harrier far away from grass jungles, where it appears to
replace the two preceding species, although they are now and
then seen there also.
16. PoLIORNIS TEESA.
Very common on sandy plains; seldom seen among trees.
This Hawk remains throughout the year; but I did not find its
nest. When disturbed, it flies generally quite close to the ground,
and utters a low plaintive cry, seldom going further than a
hundred yards before settling again. It feeds on beetles and
insects. The irides are of a light-red colour.
17. AcciPiTER Nisus. (Sparrow-hawk.)
Occurred at Alumbagh in January 1858.
18. MiCRONISUS BADIUS.
A specimen, killed at Newabgunge in September 1858, is in
the Norwich Museum ; it is not an uncommon bird.
19. Aquila N^vioiDES. (Tawuy Eagle.)
Abundant on sandy plains, especially those frequented by the
Antelope [Antilope ce7-vicapra) : and occasionally seen near can-
tonments in company with the Neophron and Govinda Kite.
I once saw it sharing some carrion with one of the Red-headed
Vultures {Otofftjps calvus). Though this Eagle is resident, I could
not obtain a nest. I imagine that it breeds during the hottest
part of the year, when it is impossible to go bird-nesting. Owing
to the strong habits of deceitfulness of the natives, no reliance
can be placed upon them, if sent out to get eggs. They invariably
try to deceive ; but their European brethren in trade are often
nearly as bad ; so that the Asiatic must not come in for all the
black paint.
20. Aquila n^via. (Spotted Eagle.)
Occasionally found in the same localities as the preceding
species : only once observed in the spotted plumage, in February
1859.
21. IcTiNAETUS malayensis. (Black Eagle.)
I killed a fine specimen of this bird on the 20th of April, 1859,
near Ranigurh, between NyneeTal and Almorah, in Kumaon. I
222 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
noticed one other at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet, about fifteen
or twenty miles from Milum, one of the passes into Thibet.
This Eagle cannot be a very common bird in Kumaon, as during
two months there I only saw these two. The specimen which I
obtained, which is now in the Norwich Museum, had the inside
of the mouth and throat covered with small pieces of egg-shell,
apparently that of the Cheer [Phasianus wallicJdi), or Chickore
{Caccabis chukar) ; hence, of course, Jerdon's synonym ^' ovi-
vorus." Is not this bird nearly allied to the Honey Buzzards ?
The European species {Pernis apivora) has been known to feed,
in a wild state, on Thrushes' eggs (Zool. p. 3707), and the Marsh
Harrier {Circus aruffinosus) has also been found to do the same.
The irides of the Black Eagle are yellow.
22. BuTEO RUFiNUS. (Loug-leggcd Buzzard.)
Common near wooded jungle. 1 took four large rats (swal-
lowed whole) out of the stomach of one. Tiie irides of this
Buzzard are golden-coloured.
23. Pandion haliaetus. (Osprey.)
Not observed in Oudh, but doubtless occurs there, as it is
"common throughout India in all suitable localities" according
to Mr. Blyth's Catalogue. I obtained it at Nynee Tal, at an
elevation of about 5500 feet, in June 1859, when it was fre-
quently seen there. The shikarees, or native hunters, told me
that it nested at Bheem Tal, another mountain lake at a lower
elevation, fifteen miles from Nynee Tal.
24). HaliaIstus macei. (Mace's Sea Eagle.)
Irides dark brown. This "Sea" Eagle is very common in
Oudh in the cold season, and always seen in the vicinity of rivers
and jheels ; it makes a very large nest of sticks, on tall trees
close to water. I never obtained the eggs myself, though some
men of my regiment took the eggs on the 19th of November,
1859, but ate them on the spot, to my intense disgust.
I repeatedly found the young in January and February. There
were never more than two, and sometimes only one, in each
nest ; hence I conclude the number of eggs to be usually two. I
brought up three young birds, one of which (pinioned) lived for
eighteen months. The other two used to sit on the top of my
obset'ved in Oudh and Kumaun, 223
tent and fly about the camp quite tamely, but they disappeared
when the hot weather began to come on. The one ])inioned
showed, at the time of its death, no signs of the adult plumage.
This Eagle, when I have been out shooting, has often carried off
ducks and snipes, &c. which I had shot.
I have little doubt that this Eagle is identical with Pallas's
Sea Eagle [H. leuconjphus), which I saw in the Crimea*. I
brought home a sternum from that country, and also one from
Oudh; these are in the Norwich Museum. At the request of
Mr. Gurney, Mr. Alfred Newton has kindly examined them, and
reports as follows : " I have received your note, and also the two
sterna from the Norwich Museum, marked respectively 'Oudh*
and ' Crimea,' which, according to your wish, I have examined
attentively.
" Presuming the Haliaetus macei and the H. leuconjphus are
birds of the same size, I should suppose, from these specimens,
that the Indian was that of a female, and the Crimean that of a
male. Comparing them closely, I find that, notwithstanding the
general i-esemblance, there exists a great difference in the pro-
portions of the parts which make up the entire sternal apparatus.
" This may be best shown in the following manner : —
Oudh specimen. Crimean specimen,
inches. inches.
Entire length of sternal apparatus . 7*27 6' 79
Extreme length of sternum proper . 5*15 4*76
Extreme length of coracoid 2*24 3'05
"Thus, while the ratio of the sternum proper in each is within
•04 inch in direct proportion to the entire length of the sternal
apparatus, the ratio of the coracoids differs by "6 inch in inverse
proportion.
" Such a discrepancy as this I have never yet found in the
sterna of what I should consider to be examples of the same
species ; and should the difference be constant, it would go far,
in my mind, towards making me believe H. macei to be distinct
from H. leucoryphus ; but I do not think one can judge suffi-
ciently from the evidence at present before me.
* Vide ' Zoologist,' vol. xv. p. 5353.
224 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
" I do not attach much importance to the fact that the pos-
terior part of the Indian specimen shows two orifices which are
wanting in the Crimean example, because I think that the
absence of these holes in the Eagles generally indicates a degree
of maturity perhaps seldom, though certainly sometimes arrived
at. I may add, however, that it is usual for species of the re-
stricted genus Aquila to possess these holes, while I never before
saw them in any example of Halia'etus."
This report is decidedly in favour of the species being distinct ;
but I hope some one may soon procure a European specimen,
which will decide the matter.
25. Haliastur INDUS. (Brahminy Kite.)
Abundant throughout the year, feeding almost entirely on
fish and frogs. I did not obtain a nest. This species was
common at the Island of Banca iu July 1857.
26. MiLvus GoviNDA. (Goviuda Kite.)
In the Catalogue of the Birds of the Asiatic Society's IMuseura
this Kite is called M. ater — being perhaps confounded with M.
migrans (the Black Kite), a species which, I believe, has not yet
been noticed in India,
The Govinda Kite is found in swarms near all cantonments,
particularly those in which the carnivorous European troops are
quartered. I have seen certainly more than a hundred on the
wing at a time ; and the time of the men's meals could always
be told by the Kites being in motion and on the qui vive for the
scraps of meat and bones which are thrown away. They have
been known to snatch meat ofi' a plate which a servant was
carrying from the cook-house to the mess-room; occasionally
they may be seen catching fish in company with the Brahminy
Kite and the small Black-bellied Tern [Sterna javanica). They
nest on tall trees in the cold season ; but I did not obtain the
eggs — not thinking I should leave the country so suddenly. The
Govinda Kite is common in the valleys of Kumaon and at
Nynee Tal.
27. Otogyps CALVUS. ("King Vulture" of European resi-
dents.)
Found throughout the year, and breeds on tall trees at the end
observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 225
of the cold season. An egg, obtained in February 1859, was
rather rough on the surface, white in colour, with a few pale-
bluish spots on the larger end. This Vulture does not collect
in flocks like the two following species, seldom more than two or
three being seen together : it was seen occasionally in Kumaon
in May and June. I noticed another large Vulture in Kumaon,
which I imagine to have been V. monachus, but I could not
obtain one for examination.
28. Gyps indicus.
This species and the next are equally common throughout the
year. One was captured in a rather curious way at Alumbagh :
the Vulture had made a hole in a dead horse's belly, and poking
his head in, was caught before he could extricate himself.
29. Gyps BENGALENSIS.
30. Neophron percnopterus. (Egyptian Neophron.)
Found in great numbers near all towns and cantonments.
Nests on trees in the cold season. Has the taste, in common
with pigs and adjutants {Leptuptilus argala), to prefer human
excrement to any other food. Was frequently seen in the valleys
of Kumaon, and is common at Nynee Tal and Almorah. This
Neophron is very seldom, if ever, seen at Calcutta; yet it is
common at Aden and at St. Vincent's, one of the Cape de Verd
Islands, both places being in a latitude south of Calcutta.
31. Gypaetos barbatus. (Lammergeyer.)
Common in Kumaon, especially near Almorah and Nynee Tal,
where it appears to feed almost exclusively on carrion. All Eu-
ropeans, not ornithologists, call it the " Golden Eagle," — pro-
bably on account of the reddish tinge on the breast, which is very
apparent when the bird is on the wing.
The other species of Diurnal Raptores said to inhabit India
are : —
1. Falco sacer. Nepal.
2. F.peregrinus', or, if the Indian species be distinct, F. calidus.
India generally.
3. F. ijeregrinator. India generally.
4. Hypotriurchis severus. Bengal and Himalayas.
226 Capt. L. H. Irby an Birds
5. Hierax eutolmos. Nepal ; Darjeeling.
6. Baza lophotes. India.
7. Pernis cristata. India.
8. P. apivora. Nepal ?
9. Hamatornis cheela. India generally.
10. Circus cyaneus. Nepal.
11. Astur virgatus. India generally. Darjeeling.
12. A. palumbarius. Nepal.
13. A. trivirgatus. Hilly parts of India.
14. Spizaetus nipalensis. Himalayas.
15. S. limnaetus. India generally.
16. S. kieneri. Himalayas. Central India.
17. Eutulmcletus bonellii. Himalayas.
18. Aquila chrysa'etos. Himalayas.
19. A. imperialis. Himalayas.
20. Hieraetus pennatus.
21. Buteo vulgaris t Nilgiris and Himalayas.
22. Pontoaetus ichthyaetus. Bengal,
23. Blagrus leucogaster. India generally.
24. Milvus ajffinis. India generally.
25. Vultur monachus. Himalayas.
26. Gypjs fulvus. Himalayas.
32. Bubo bengalensis.
Seen in February 1860.
33. Asio BRACHYOTUs. (Short-cared Owl.)
Very common in the cold season. I have flushed as many as
ten at once, in long grass.
34. Scops BAKKAMiENA.
Occasionally seen in the cold season.
35. Athene brama.
Very common throughout the year; chiefly resorting to mango
topes.
36. Strix flammea. (White Owl.)
Assuming the Indian and British species to be identical, this
Owl is very common in Oudh ; its habits are the same as in
England, the cry, or rather screech, being exactly similar.
observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 227
37. Glaux javanica.
Obtained in the open country in the cold season.
The other Nocturnal Raptores said to inhabit India, not in-
cluding the Malay countries, are : —
1. Bubu orientalis. Himalaya; S.India.
2. B. maximus. Nepal.
3. B. umhratus. India generally.
4. Asio otus. Nepal ?
5. Scops lempiji. Himalaya.
6. Ketupa flavipes. Himalaya.
7. K. ceylonensis. India generally.
8. Ninox scutellatus. India generally.
9. Athene cuculoides. Himalaya.
10. A. noctua ? Himalaya.
11. A. brodiei. Himalaya.
12. Syrnium indranee. India generally.
13. S. sinense. India generally.
14. S. nivicolum. Himalaya.
15. Phodilus badius. Himalaya.
38. BUCEROS BIROSTRIS.
Common in wood jungle during the cold season, especially in
the Terai, near the foot of the Nepalese hills.
39. Upupa epops. (Hoopoe.)
Common throughout the year; nesting in roofs of houses and
in chimneys dui'ing April and May.
40. Halcyon gurial.
I obtained a specimen, in December 1859, at a jheel in a
thickly wooded country near Khyreegur; I never noticed it
again.
41. Halcyon smyrnensis.
Exceedingly common throughout the year, frequenting jheels
more than rivers.
42. Ceryle guttatus.
Frequently seen in Kumaon in May 1859, and was very
difficult to approach.
228 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
43. Ceryle RUDis. ("Dobie Bird,'^)
Very common in the cold season : is called the " Dobie Bird "
from being so often observed near where the '' Dobies " or native
washermen are at work. It is generally seen hovering in the
air like a Kestrel, and^ pouncing down like a stone, will go quite
under water. The cry of this bird is loud, shrill, and inces-
santly repeated.
44. Alcedo bengalensis.
This beautiful miniature of our English Kingfisher is not
seen nearly so often as the preceding species, or Halcyon smyr-
nensis, and, unlike the latter, prefers running streams. The most
splendidly coloured of the Indian Kingfishers, H. coromanda,
did not come under my notice, and probably is not found in Oudh.
45. CoRACiAs iNDiCA. (Indian Roller.)
Called " Blue Jay '' by Europeans, and " Ned Kant" (Blue
Crow) by the natives. Is seen in great numbers throughout the
year, and breeds in roofs of houses and in holes of trees.
They perform the same aerial antics as C. garrula, but are much
more noisy, and very annoying during the breeding-season, in
May and June. They make holes for their nests in the thatch
of bungalows, and used to create such a disturbance, that I kept
a gun ready-loaded for them ; but it was labour in vain — no
sooner was one pair disposed of than others appeared. This
species certainly interbreeds with the more southern and eastern
C. affinis, as there are specimens in the Calcutta Museum,
evidently hybrids. The European C. yarrula has been killed at
Mooltan, and also in Aflfghanistan.
46. Merops philippinus.
Seen in the hot season, but not in any numbers.
47. Merops viridis. (Green Bee-eater.)
Excessively numerous throughout the year : ten or more may
often be seen sitting on the same bush ; and on the telegraph
wires on the Grand Trunk Road, I once saw, in the early morn-
ing, upwards of fifty within twenty yards. In one habit this
bird resembles our Spotted Flycatcher {Muscicapa gi-iseola) : it
is incessantly Hying a few feet in chase of insects, and settling
observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 229
again on its former perch. When on the wing, its plumage
glistening in the sun, it is seen much more to advantage than
when at rest. Like theatrical scenery and Eastern cities, it looks
best at a distance.
48. Gecinus flavixuchus,
I killed a specimen of this very handsome "Woodpecker on
June 12, 1859, on one of the lower hills between Nynee Tal and
Kaleedoughee, in Kumaon.
49. Brachypternus aurantius.
Common. There were other species of Woodpeckers which I
did not identify. Not knowing that I should leave the country so
soon, I neglected to keep the specimens obtained, hoping to get
better ones.
50. PiCUS HIMALAYANUS.
Common in Kumaon.
51. YuNX TORQUiLLA. (Wryucck.)
A specimen of this bird was brought alive to me by a native
birdcatcher in August 1858.
52. Megal.ima virens.
Frequently obsei-ved in Kumaon in April, May, and June. It
is generally to be seen on the top of some tall tree, uttering its
peculiar piercing whistle.
53. Megal-ema philippensis.
Noticed only once, near Newabgunge, in November 1858.
54. CucuLUS CANORUS. (Commou Cuckoo.)
Occasionally seen, or rather heard, in Oudh. I heard it in
August, and shot an immature specimen in October 1859, and
again heard it several times in June and July 1860, the ther-
mometer at the time ranging from 95° to 105° in the shade, and
a hot wind blowing.
It is a very common bird in Kumaon in April, Ma}^, and
June, and is known to the hill men under the name of
'' Kupwah," which, like most native names of birds, is evidently
derived from its cry.
230 Capt. L. II. Irby on Birds
55. EuDYNAMIS ORIENTALIS.
Common; arriving in April, and frequenting mango topes.
The note of tliis bird is very loud and peculiar ; it is often heard
throughout the night.
56. OXYLOPIIUS COROMANDUS.
Seen in Kumaon in May 1859.
57. Crntropus niiLipPENSis.
Common in tliick jungle; particularly in the bamboo jungle
round villages.
A species of Cnprimulyus was eonunon in Oudh, and also in
Kumaon ; but I did not identify it. IMiis was also the case with
a species of Acanthijlis, and many other birds.
58. CoRVUS CULMINATUS.
Exceedingly common in Kumaon, where the next species is
not seen.
59. CoRVUS SPLENDENS.
Exceedingly eonunon and impertinent, entering houses, steal-
ing meat, &c., off the table, horridly noisy, and of generally
disagreeable habits.
GO. Dkndrocitta rufa.
Common wherever there are any trees. The note of this bird
is a very peculiar whistle, somewhat thus: Kook-koo-kool-n-lee.
61. PSILORIIINUS OCCIPITALIS.
'J'his handsome bird is very common in Kumaon.
62. Garrulus oularis.
Common in Kumaon.
63. Garrulax leucolopiius.
Frequently seen in the valleys of Kumaon, in small flocks of
seven or (^ight, in May 1859 : is a conspicuous bird from its
white head.
64'. Garrulax albogularis.
Found in Kumaon in May 1859.
65. Gracula intermkdia.
Seen in Kumaon in May.
observed in Oudh and Kunmon. 231
GQ. AcRiDOTHERES TRisTis. (The Comnioii Myiia of Oudli.)
Found throughout the year. Nests during the rains in holes
of trees and in the roofs of houses. The young become very
tame, and will follow the person who feeds them.
67. Sturnus contra. (Pied Myna.)
Common throughout the year.
G8. Sturnus vulgaris. (Starling.)
Found in immense flocks in January and February ; generally
seen in company with Pastor ruscus, amongst cattle.
69. Sturnia pagodarum.
Not so common as Sturnus contra, but fluctuates in number
very much.
70. Pastor roskus, (Rose-coloured Pastor.)
Common in flocks in January and February. All the spe-
cimens which I examined were of a much paler rose-colour than
those which I have seen in the Crimea, where it was very common
in May and June.
71. Passer indicus.
Common : resembling exactly in habits our P. domesficus.
Nesting in May and June. The Indian species is lighter in
colour than ours, as regards the females and inunature males;
but I have seen English specimens quite as light. The adult
male is redder on the back.
72. Petronia flavicollis.
Common in the rainy and cold seasons.
73. Calandrella braciivdactvla. (Short-toed Jjark.)
Exceedingly numerous : is caught in nets by the natives and
sold to Europeans, to whom it is generally known by the name of
" Ortolan."
There were one or two species of Anthus which I did not
identify.
74. Galerida cristata. (Crested Lark.)
Common.
75. Motacilla maderaspatensis.
Connnon during the cold season.
232 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
76. MoTACiLLA BOARULA. (Grey Wagtail.)
Seen in the cold season.
77. BUDYTES VIUIDIS.
Very common in marshes during the cold season.
78. Malacocercus bengalensts.
Common throughout the year.
79. Chrysomma hypoleucum.
One specimen was brought to me alive in August 1858.
80. Lanius lahtora.
Occasionally noticed.
81. Lanius hardwickii.
Very common.
82. Enicurus maculatus.
Seen in Kumaon in April 1859.
I also shot a species of Dipper^ probably Cincivs asiaticus ;
but the skin was accidentally destroyed before I could identify it.
83. Myiophonus temminckii.
Common in Kumaon in May 1859, and rather solitary in
its habits.
84. TuRDUs viscivoRus. (Missel Thrush.)
Common in Kumaon, though sometimes considered to be a
distinct species (7^. hodgsonii).
85. Merula boulboul.
Common in Kumaon in May. I observed a flock of eight or
ten in the Terai jungle near Khyreegur, Oudh, in December
1859.
86. Cyanecula SUECICA. (Indian Blue-throated Warbler.)
Common in the hot season. I never saw the white-spotted
species in India.
87. BUTICILLA LEUCOCEPHALA.
Extremely common in Kumaon. I never observed this bird
except close to streams, and generally sitting on some stone in
the midst of a torrent : 1 never saw it perch on a bush or tree.
obseroed in Oudh and Kuinaon. 233
Another species, probably R. rufiventris, was very common in
Oudh throughout the year, frequenting bushy jungle.
88. Stoparola melanops. (Blue Fly-catcher.)
Common near Nynee Tal. Not seen in Oudh.
89. Certhia himalayana.
Seen in Kumaon.
90. HiRUNDO RUSTICA.
91. HlRUNDO URBICA.
92. HlRUNDO SINENSIS.
•Common in the cold season.
93. TcHiTREA PARADisEA. (Paradise Fly-catcher.)
Common in Kumaon in May 1859. Not observed in Oudh.
94. Leucocirca albofrgntata.
Common throughout the year : generally seen in mango topes.
A species of Bulbul {Pycnonotus) was common both in Oudh and
Kumaon, but I did not identify it.
95. Oriolus kundoo.
Common in the hot season, frequenting mango topes. I did
not see 0. melanocephalus in Oudh, but I have seen a specimen
from Allahabad.
96. Treron chlorogaster.
Common in Oudh throughout the year.
97. Sphenocercus cantillans.
Found in Kumaon wherever there were trees. Both this
species and the preceding are excellent eating.
98. Alsocomus hodgsonii.
Frequently seen in Kumaon in April and May : at that time
some nested in inaccessible cliffs near Moonsheyaree, about 70
miles from Almorah.
Two species of Columha are common in Oudh : one very much
like the Stock Dove, Columba oenas, and the other resembling
the Rock Dove, C. livia, except that it settles on trees. The
latter is not found west of the rivers Gogra and Choka. I un-
luckily did not identify these two species.
VOL. III. *
234 Capt. L. II. Iiby on Birds
99. TURTUR RISORIUS.
Common throughout the year in Oudh, and was equally nu-
merous in the valleys of Kumaon in April, May, and June 1859.
100. TURTUR SURATENSIS.
Abundant throughout the year. A pair nested in my garden
at Seetapore in May 1860. The nest and eggs reseu)bled those
of our British T. auritus, only, of eoursc, being diminished in
size. This species of Turtle Dove and the next are equally
numerous in villages and wild unfrequented jungle; but T,
risorius and T. orientalis are much less famiUar birds, never
entering villages, and are much wilder.
101. T. SENEGALENSIS.
This beautiful little Dove is exceedingly common throughout
the year.
102. T. ORIENTALIS.
Common during the cold season.
103. Pavo cristatus. (Pea-fowl.)
Found in numbers wherever there is any woody jungle : breeds
during the rainy season. The male bird begins to lose his train
in September, and does not fully regain it till March or April.
The Pea-fowl remains during the heat of the day in the depths
of the jungle, and goes to the fields at the edges to feed morning
and evening : the cock bird in the breeding-time may be heard
calling throughout the night. The number of Pea-fowl in the
Terai jungles near Khyreegur is wonderful ; they are much tamer
there than in any other part of Oudh. The young are very
difficult to rear — at least I could not succeed ; they lived for six
months, but then pined ofi". I saw some splendidly-coloured
hybrids in Calcutta between this bird and the Malayan Pea-fowl,
P. muticus.
101. Ceriornis satyra. (Loonghee.)
Found in Kumaon, on the lofty hills near the snows.
105. Gallus ferrugineus. (Jungle- fowl.)
Common in the Terai jungles; not observed in Central or
Western Oudh.
observed in Oudh and Kumaon, 235
106. EuPLocoMus ALBOCRisTATUs. (KalHdge Pheasant.)
Common in Kumaon in the lower hills and in valleys.
107. PUCRASIA MACROLOPHA. (KokloSS.)
Common in Kumaon, at a higher elevation than the Kallidge
Pheasant, which is replaced in its turn by the Cheer at a still
greater height.
108. Phasianus wallichii. (Cheer.)
Also called by Europeans the " Golden Pheasant." Common
in Kumaon : nesting in May.
109. LoPHOPHORUs impeyanus. (Monal.)
Found in great numbers on the higher hills in Kumaon, and
seems to keep just at the edge of the snow. It is at first a
difficult bird to shoot, flying downhill, as all the Himalayan
Pheasants do, at a most tremendous rate ; a little practice, how-
ever, will soon enable one to kill them ; but at the time of year I
saw them, I only shot two or three, as they were beginning to
lay. The flesh of the Monal in May was not very good — nothing
equal to our English pheasant ; but the time of year might have
caused this. The best-flavoured Himalayan Pheasants are the
Cheer and Kokloss, according to the judgment of confirmed
epicures. The Monal, in England, is, I see, called the Impeyau :
why not retain its native name of Monal, which is certainly
shorter, and possibly less of a mouthful ?
110. Pterocles arenarius. (Big Sand Grouse.)
Two or three large flocks were seen near Hurdue in January
1860, and many killed. Both the species of the Indian Sand
Grouse which I have tasted are uneatable, and in this respect
certainly tend to confirm what the natives say, " that they live
upon sand."
111. Pterocles exustus. (Common Sand Grouse.)
Very common on sandy plains, from January to July inclusive.
I found two eggs in June, both addled. There was no nest, the
eggs being merely laid on the bare sand. They veiy closely
resembled, in size, colour, and markings, the eggs of Caprimulgus
europceus. There were no trees or bushes within two miles of
the spot ; if there had been, I should have referred the eggs
r2
236 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
to some species of Goatsucker, from their appearance. All the
Indian Sand Grouse are indiscriminately called " Rock-Pigeons "
by Europeans.
112. Francolinus vulgaris. (Black Partridge.)
This very handsome Partridge is found in great numbers in
all grass jungle near water, and is particularly numerous on the
banks of the Gogra, Choka, and other large rivers. Good sport
is to be had with them in November, in the huldee or turmeric
fields. This Partridge was common in Kumaon in April, May,
and June; its call was to be heard wherever there was any
cultivation.
113. Caccabis chukar. (Chickore.)
Common in Kumaon on bare and rocky hill-sides: is very
common at a place called Jullut or Moonsheyaree, seven days^
march from Almorah. The flesh of the Chickore is considered
good. The eggs, brought to me in May, resembled those of
Perdix cinerea, not having any spots or markings like those of
Caccabis rufa.
114. Perdix ponticeriana. (Grey Partridge.)
Common throughout the year : breeds in July and August :
has acquired the unenviable name of " Dung-bird,'' probably
from feeding on the beetles and insects which feed on the refuse
of camps. Its flesh is dry and scarcely eatable, being a degree
worse than that of the Black Partridge. Both the Grey and
Black Partridge will settle on trees when flushed, though the
latter very seldom does so.
115. Arboricola torqueola. (Peurah.)
Abundant in Kumaon, in the woody and more elevated ranges.
Is easily decoyed within shot by imitating its whistle, which
resembles somewhat the words "poor hoy " two or three times
repeated.
116. Perdicula asiatica.
Common in jungle : rather difficult to flush.
117. CoTURNix VULGARIS. (Common Quail.)
Exceedingly numerous during the cold and first part of the
hot season.
observed in Oudh and Kumaoti. 237
118. C. coROMANDELiCA. (Rain Quail.)
Common during tlie rainy season.
A species of Turnix is common in Oudh in the cold season,
but I did not retain a specimen for identification.
119. Sypiieotides BENGALENsis. (Florican of Bengal.)
Exceedingly local, and then not numerous : never found but
in grass jungle : to kill eight in a day in Oudh would be a good
bag. This Florican well deserves the synonym " deliciosa"
A large species of Bustard is sometimes seen in Oudh, parti-
cularly at a place called .Tallalnugger, on the Goomtee ; I never
could obtain a specimen, but think it must have been Eupodotis
edwardsii.
120. Sypheotides auritus. (Leek Florican.)
Occurred near Seetapore in June 1860.
121. Glareola orientalis.
Seen at Alumbagh hi January 1858.
122. CURSORIUS coromandelicus.
Found throughout the year on sandy plains; generally in pairs.
123. ESACUS recurvirostris.
Found in small flocks on the large rivers during the cold season.
124. QjIdicnemus crepitans. (Norfolk Plover.)
Common throughout the year in thin, low, woody jungle.
Nests in July.
125. HOPLOPTERUS ventralis.
Very common on the sandy banks and shores of the Gogra
and Choka : is generally seen near the Crocodiles and Gavials
which swarm in those rivers ; I have even seen it sitting on their
backs. The notes of this Plover and the two next species are
very loud, and closely resemble one another; when on the wing,
in particular, they are very noisy.
126. Sarciophorus bilobus.
Found in small numbers throughout the year in open country.
127. LOBIVANELLUS GOENSIS.
Exceedingly numerous throughout the year ; nesting in June.
I saw this bird in Kumaon, some fifty miles in the interior of
238 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
the hill-ranges, on the river Surgoo. From its noisy cry, this
handsome Plover is nicknamed the " Didn't you-do-it " Plover
by Europeans, its cry resembling somewhat those words. It is
called Tyteree by the natives, a name also applied to the pre-
ceding species.
128. LOBIVANELLUS CINEREUS.
Abundant in the cold season about swamps and jheels; seen
generally in lots of seven or eight.
129. Vanellus cristatus. (Peewit.)
Common, in large flocks, during the cold season.
130. Charadrius virginicus. (Long-legged Golden Plover.)
Found in flocks on the banks of the Gogra and Choka, and
occasionally on plains some distance from those rivers. Of the
numerous representatives of the family of Charadriida found in
Oudh, this is the only one worth eating, rivalling our C, pluvialis
in its excellence.
131. Chettusia GREGARiA. (Keptuscka Or Cawnporc Sand-
piper.)
Exceedingly common on open sandy plains in January,
February, and March. Never seen alone, but in flocks of from
six to upwards of fifty. When on the ground, at first sight they
appear very like the Golden Plover ; but upon taking wing, they
resemble Sarcwphorus hilobus or Lohivanellus cinereus, showing
a great deal of white in the wings, but flying close to the
ground, unlike the other Plovers.
132. HiATicuLA CANTiANA. (Kcutish Plovcr.)
Seen near the Choka in the cold season of 1858-59. Two
other species of Hiaticula are common in Oudh, but I did not
identify them.
133. HiMANTOPFS CANDiDus. (Black-wiugcd Stilt.)
Exceedingly common during the cold season ; arrives in small
numbers in September; seen once or twice in August. Is
generally observed in small flocks, wading about the edges of
jheels, and picking in the water amongst the mud and weeds.
134. ToTANUS GLOTTIS. (Grccnshank.)
Seen singly and in flocks of up to thirty in number; is most
observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 239
numerous during the cold season, but is occasionally seen during
every month throughout the year.
135. ToTANUS STAGNATiLis. (Ycllow-legged Sandpiper.)
Very common in the cold season. In habits resembles Actitis
glareola, being more of a Marsh Sandpiper than A. ochropus or
A. hypoleucos, both of which are found on the banks of rivers ;
the Common Sandpiper being seldom seen on muddy marshes.
136. ToTANUs Fuscus. (Dusky Redshank.)
Frequently seen in small flocks during the cold season : not
noticed in the summer plumage.
137. ToTANUS CALiDRis. (Rcdshank.)
Exceedingly numerous during the cold season. This bird has
a curious way of feeding, which I often noticed : a flock of
perhaps thirty or forty will form a sort of oblique line, each one
a little in rear of the other, and advance across a shallow jheel,
all with their heads down half under the water, moving them
from right to left with great rapidity. The noise they make in
the water is plainly audible. Probably they feed in this way in
other countries, but in India they are so tame as to allow a very
near approach without alarm.
The j heels in Oudh, except in the Terai, are always very
shallow, seldom more than two feet deep, and not often of that
depth. In the Terai, however, they are very deep, and are there
greatly inhabited by crocodiles {Crocodilus palmtris). When
there in November and December, scarcely any waders were to
be seen, except on the rivers, and very few Ducks. Whether the
crocodiles have anything to do with this, I do not know ; but if
ever one shot a duck or any bird that fell into the water, the
natives disliked going in to retrieve them, and needed rather
forcible persuasion to make them do so, though I do not think
that the crocodiles would hurt them; certainly the " sharp-nosed "
Gavial would not. The shallow jheels are filled by the rains, and
become perfectly dry by February or IMarch, partly from evapo-
ration, but more from irrigation. When a jheel is very nearly
dry, there are more waders than when it is full : as a rule, the
shallower the water is the better, as long as there is some.
The fishes in these places must bury themselves in the mud, as
240 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
directly the rains begin to fill them, they appear, though there
may have been no water for three or four mouths.
138. AcTiTis GLAREOLA. (Wood Sandpiper.)
Excessively common in the cold season.
139. AcTiTis ocHROPUS. (Green Sandpiper.)
Extremely common in the cold season ; rarely seen in May,
June, July, and August : is by far the most common Sandpiper
in Oudh ; the Wood Sandpiper ranking next in numbers. The
Green Sandpiper is the only one I noticed in Kumaon, vs'here I
twice saw and shot it in May, on a small stream near Almorah.
In Oudh, every little puddle by the roadside, and every pond
outside the villages, has one or more of these birds running at
the edge, and they are so tame that you can walk within a yard
of them.
140. AcTiTis HYPOLEUCOS. (Common Sandpiper.)
Very common in the cold season.
141. LiMosA .aiGocEPHALA. (Black-tailcd Godwit.)
Found in large flocks in the cold season.
The Bar-tailed Godwit, L. lapponica, has, I believe, occurred
in Nepal. Terekia cinerea is common in India ; but I never saw
one, which is rather singular, as I paid more attention to the
Grallatores than to any other order.
142. NuMENius ARCUATUS. (Curlcw.)
Found during the cold season in very large flocks on the
sand-banks of the rivers Gogra and Choka.
143. NuMENius pHjEopus. (Whimbrel.)
Three seen at a half-dried jheel near Hurdui, in February
1859 ; the only time that I noticed it.
144. Tringa canutus. (Knot.)
Seen near Cawnpore in September.
145. Tringa subarquata. (Pigmy Curlew.)
Observed occasionally in the cold season.
146. Tringa cinclus, (Dunlin.)
Seen in the cold season in company with the two next species,
but was not common.
observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 241
147. Tringa minuta. (Little Stint.) ^
I during 1
, ,o m /m Very common m flocks
148. Tringa TEMMiNCKii. (Tern- r, . , ,,
. -, , ^ . . I dunnp; the cold season.
149. Philomachus pugnax. (Ruff.)
Found in immense flocks in the cold season; I have seen
some flocks of certainly not less than from three to four hundred
on the rice-stubbles near Khyreegur ; those which I shot were
full of rice, and were well worth shooting for the table. I never
saw one with a ruff; but Mr. Blyth has kept them alive in Cal-
cutta till the ruff appeared.
150. ScoLOPAx RusTicoLA. (Woodcock.)
Common in Kumaon, resorting to the lower hills and valleys in
the cold season. In May, I have seen a Woodcock and ]\Ional on
the wing at the same time, and suppose that they breed on the high
ranges of the Himalayas. In December, I imagine that I flushed
a Woodcock near Khyreegur, in Oudh ; but not being able to
get a shot at him, or even mark him down, I cannot be certain
that it was one.
151. Gallinago nemoricola.
I saw several couples of this fine Snipe at Moonsheyaree, in
Kumaon, at an elevation of about 6000 or 7000 feet, in May 1859.
The shikarees had no distinctive name for the bird, though they
knew it well by sight. Those I found were in little rushy patches
of bog on the sides of the hills, never on streams.
152. Gallinago stenura. (Pin-tailed Snipe.)
Common at the commencement of the cold season.
153. Gallinago scolopacina. (Common Snipe.)
Found in great numbers ; arriving in Oudh in October, and
departing at the end of March. At Nimkar, on the Goomtee, on
the 8th of November, I bagged thirty couples of Snipe in four
hours, about five couples of which were Jacksnipes. Is called
" Chahah " by the natives of Oudh.
154. Gallinago gallinula. (Jacksnipe.)
Found in the cold season wherever the Common Snipe is
found, but not in such numbers.
242 Capt. L. H. Irby o?i Birds
155. Rhynchvea bengxVLEnsis. (Painted Snipe.)
Found in small numbers throughout the year. Like the
Jacksnipe, this bird will not rise till nearly trodden upon, and
then only flies a few yards.
156. Metopidius indicus.
Very common in the rainy season; frequenting weedy, grassy
jheels.
157. Hydrophasianus chirurgus.
Very common in the rainy season ; arrives in June, and last
seen in September. When flying, which it does very strongly
and fast, its screams may be heard a long way. This handsome
Jacana is included in Mr. Gould's Century of Birds fi*om the
Himalaya. It is certainly rare in Kumaon ; I never saw it there
during the two hottest months in the year ; and there is no
locality there adapted to its habits — not even the mountain lakes.
158. Grus ANTIGONE. (Saras Crane.)
Found in great numbers in the cold season, generally in pairs,
though sometimes in flocks, whereas the Common and Demoiselle
Cranes are always seen in flocks. Many Saras remain to
breed in Oudh, forming an immense nest of grass and rushes
in the centre of large jheels. The number of eggs, which are
laid in June, is generally two : some eggs are pure white ; others
white, spotted with red at the larger end. The young birds are
easily reared by hand, and become very tame and attached to the
person who feeds them, following him like a dog. They are
veiy amusing birds, going through the most grotesque dances
and antics, and are well worth keeping in captivity. One which
I kept, when bread and milk was given to him, would take the
bread out of the milk, and wash it in his pan of water before
eating it. This bird, which was taken out of the King's Palace
at Lucknow, was very fierce towards strangers and dogs, espe-
cially if they were afraid of him : he was very noisy, the only
bad habit he possessed. The natives say that if a Siras be killed,
its mate will never pair again ; certainly I have heard the
survivor calling all night for its mate, and since then I never
would shoot them.
The flesh somewhat resembles that of a Goose ; it makes capital
observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 243
soup, and the liver is considered rather a delicacy by some
people.
159. Grus leucogeranos. (White Crane.)
Though I never succeeded in obtaining a specimen of this
Crane, I saw it on four different occasions, at Sandee in February,
and at Hilgee, on the river Choka, in December 1859. The
first time there were three together, two white, and one dusky-
coloured (the colour of an immature Hooper) — no doubt the two
old birds and their young. I tried to get a shot at them in vain,
they were so excessively wild, which is not the case with the
Saras; though the Common and Demoiselle Cranes are in India
very difficult to approach, the only way of shooting them being
with a rifle.
160. Grus cinerea. (Common Crane.)
Large flocks of the Common Crane appear during the cold
season, and are chiefly found near the rivers Choka and Kurnalli,
feeding on the rice- stubbles. This and the next species are
much prized by European sportsmen under the name of
" Courlan."
161. Anthropoides virgo. (Demoiselle Crane.)
Occurs in immense flocks during the cold season, and are
found in the same localities as Gi'us cinerea. At Sirsa Ghat, on
the Choka, flocks of several hundreds may be seen on the wing
at once ; their cry can be heard when they are out of sight.
162. Falcinellus igneus. (Glossy Ibis.) " Kowari " of
natives : " Black Curlew " of European sportsmen.
Common during the cold season ; generally seen in flocks. I
have repeatedly seen this and the next two species of Ibis settle
on trees.
163. Geronticus papillosus. ("King Curlew^' of Euro-
peans.)
Frequently seen in the cold season.
164. Thr^scigrnis melanocephalus. ("White Curlew"
of Europeans.)
Common throughout the year.
244 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
165. Platalea leucorodia. (White Spoonbill.)
Common in flocks at the end of the cold season.
166. Anastomus oscitans.
Common throughout the year. At a place named Kupser, on
the river Kutna, a branch of the Goomtee, this bird breeds in a
large colony on two or three tall trees growing on the banks of
the river. The nests are immense stacks, or rather platforms of
sticks, one above the other, several pairs nesting on each plat-
form, without any apparent separation of the eggs, which, on the
26th of June, were hard set on and of a chalky-white colour,
smaller than, but about the same shape as the egg of Ardea
cinerea. I left India shortly after finding this place, or I should
have got some young birds to bring up. The immature bird is
of an ashy-grey colour on those parts of the plumage which
when adult are white. I have eaten the innnature bird, and
found it tolerably good.
167. Mycteria australis. (Green-headed Jabiru.)
Frequently observed throughout the year. Generally they
are solitary birds, more than three being seldom seen together,
and very wary. Probably they breed in Oudh, but I never
could find out where they nested.
168. CicoNiA alba. (White Stork.)
Common, especially in the cold season ; generally seen in flocks.
169. CiCONIA LEUCOCEPHALA.
Common in the cold season : is not so gregarious as the White
Stork.
170. Leptoptilus argala. (Adjutant.)
Common throughout the year, though it is thought to be
migratory.
171. Ardea cinerea. (Common Heron.)
Numerous during the cold season. That handsome Heron,
A. goliath, is found in Bengal and Nepal, but I never observed
it in Oudh.
172. Ardea purpurea. (Purple Heron.)
Exceedingly numerous during the cold season. This Heron
observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 245
has a good deal of the habits of the Bittern, skulking in rushes, &c.
I have repeatedly seen it in India, at the Cape, and in the Crimea,
but never saw it in the open, like Ardea cinerea, except when
flushed out of rushes ; then it will sometimes settle on dry land,
much in the manner of the Night Heron.
173. Herodias alba. (Great Egret.)
Common from August to March inclusive, and probably found
throughout the year. Attempts have been made to distinguish
the different species of Egret by the colour of the bill ; but the
colour varies according to age and the time of year, and spe-
cimens may be often obtained with the bill half black, half
yellow : the only way of distinguishing them is by the crests,
back and breast plumes, and by the size of the birds when not in
the breeding plumage.
174. Herodias IxXtermedia.
More common than the preceding species, and observed
throughout the year.
175. Herodias garzetta. (Little Egret.)
Common throughout the year. I kept one alive some time,
feeding it on meat.
176. Herodias melanopus.
Common, and, like the preceding species, often seen among
cattle. This Egret is the smallest of the four ; and the breast
plumes in the breeding-plumage are few in number, but thick
in texture, and scattered down the neck — not springing from one
place as in H. garzetta.
177. Herodias bubulcus. (Buff-backed Heron.)
Excessively common during the rainy season ; always seen
amongst cattle. I have seen a buffalo walking along with three
or four of these birds or H. intermedia sitting on his back,
reminding one of an itinerant vendor of plaster- of-Paris images.
178. Ardeola leucoptera. (" Paddy Bird.'')
A name also applied to the preceding five species, but espe-
cially to this one, which is very common throughout the year.
179. Nycticorax griseus. (Night Heron.)
Seen in small numbers throughout the year, and is rather wary.
246 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
180. BoTAURUS STELLARis. (Commou Bittern.)
. Common in the cold season on the large rushy jheels.
181. PORPHYRIO POLIOCEPHALUS.
Very common, especially on rushy jheels and those where
bushes grow in the water. This bird can bite very sharply, as I
know from personal experience.
183. PORZANA PHCENICURA.
Very common throughout the year ; frequenting small ponds
and swamps near villages.
183. PoRZANA MARUETTA. (Spotted Crake.)
Common in rushy swamps during the cold season.
184. Gallinula chloropus. (Waterhen.)
Common.
185. PuLiCA atra. (Common Coot.)
Found in great numbers on the large jheels in the cold
season. I saw one on the lake at Nynee Tal, Kumaon, about
the 1st of June, 1859.
186. Larus ridibundus. (Black-headed Gull.)
Frequently seen in the cold season, but never in summer
plumage.
187. Larus miiNutus. (Little Gull.)
I killed a specimen of this Gull in its winter dress in January
1859, near Jehangirabad; it was exceedingly tame, allowing me
to approach within two or three yards.
188. Rhynchops albicollis. (" Scissors-bill.")
Common in the cold season in the vicinity of the Gogra and
Choka, on the sand-banks of which rivers large flocks are seen
sitting in the daytime. I think this bird must feed at night, as
I never saw it doing so till just towards dusk, when it was often
to be seen skimming along close to the water, every now and then
dipping in its curiously constructed beak.
189. Hydrochelidon indica. (Whiskered Tern.)
Common in the cold season.
190. Sterna hirundo. (Common Tern.)
Occasionally seen.
observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 217
191. S. JAVANICA.
Very common.
192. S. MiNUTA. (Lesser Tern.)
Seen once or twice on the Gogra ; always (like all the Terns)
in the cold season.
193. Pelecanus javanicus.
Very common on large jhccls and on rivers in the rainy
seasons, and settles on trees. Most of those which I saw were
in the immature plumage.
194. GrACULUS PYGMyEUS.
Extremely numerous on rivers, particularly during the cold
season.
195. Plotus melanogaster. (" Snake Bird "of Europeans.)
So called from its appearance when swimming, the whole of
the body being submerged, and only the snake-like head and
neck being seen. This Darter is exceedingly common in some
localities during the cold season, preferring rivers and deep
jheels. In the Terai I have seen as many as twenty sitting on
a dead tree, which was quite white from their dung.
196. Anser cinereus. (Grey-lag Goose.)
Arrives in November, and departs about the end of February ;
is during that time very common, frequenting large jheels more
than rivers, whereas the Barred Goose [Bernicla indica) resorts
more to rivers, and is not nearly so good a bird for the table as
the Grey-lag.
A single specimen of some species of Goose, which, from the
description given me, I imagine to have been a Grey-lag, was
seen on Nynee Tal in Kumaon, about the beginning of May
1859, probably en route from the plains to the cooler regions of
the Thibetan lakes.
197. Anser brachyrhynchus. (Pink-footed Goose.)
I saw a specimen of this Goose, killed at Alumbagh in
January 1858. According to Mr. Blyth, it has also occurred in
the Punjab.
198. Anser minutus, Naum. (Little White-fronted Goose.)
On the 24th of October, 1859, near Seetapore, in Oudh, I
248 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds
killed two birds of this species, and saw a third; these are the
only ones I noticed. At the time I could not make out what
Goose it was, and was unable to find out, till I saw some alive in
the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park. It is probably very rare
in India.
199. Bernicla indica. (Barred Goose.)
Exceedingly numerous in the cold season on the large rivers,
such as the Gogra, Choka, and Korialla; is seldom seen on
jheels, and is scarcely worth shooting for the pot.
200. Dendrocygna arcuata. {" Tree Duck,'' " Whistling
Teal," and "Rain Teal" of Europeans.)
Appears in great numbers at the commencement of the rainy
season, and is then seen in pairs ; towards the middle of the cold
season they are seen in flocks of eight or ten — probably the old
birds and their young. This Duck, when on the wing, has a
peculiar whistling cry. It flies very heavily, shows no sport, and
its flesh is dry and tasteless. The large species of Rain Teal
(Z). major) I did not observe in Oudh, but doubtless it occurs
there.
201. Sarcidiornis melanotus.
This curious and handsomely-coloured Duck is not common
in Oudh, and when observed was on jheels, not rivers. I saw
it in May, June, and July; and once, in November, saw a small
flock, all in the sombre plumage of immature males or females.
The adult male, with the boss on the beak, I only observed four
times. In all the family of Anatida there is probably no species
in which there is such a difference in size between the male and
female; the former is nearly double the weight of the latter;
when on the wing this diff"erence is very apparent. The boss on
the beak varies in size, probably according to the age of the
bird; in the plate given in the ' PI. Enl.' 937, the boss is smaller
than most which I have seen. The flesh of this Duck is, unlike
that of other Tree Ducks, very good.
202. Nettapus coromandelicus.
Very common ; arriving about the same time as D. arcuata,
but departing sooner.
observedin Oudh and Kumaon. 249
203. Casarca rutila. (" Ruddy Shieldrake.") " Braliminy
Duck " of Europeans. " Chukwa " of natives ; probably so called
from its cry.
Very common in the cold season on the large rivers and lakes ;
seldom seen on the small jheels, except in the vicinity of rivers.
Immense flocks^ during the day^ rest on the sand-banks of rivers,
and towards dusk these flocks break up into pairs and disperse
in various directions. Should one bird be killed, its mate will
not leave the spot, but continue flying round for some time,
calling repeatedly. It is a shame to shoot them, as their flesh
is proverbial for its dryness and other bad qualities. There is a
strange Hindoo legend about the Chukwa, the pith of which is
that any person who kills one is for ever after doomed to
celibacy.
204. Spatula clypeata. (Shoveller.)
Very common on the shallow jheels in the cold season, pre-
ferring those jheels in which the water is about four or five
inches deep.
205. Anas boschas. (Wild Duck.)
Numerous in some localities during January and February.
206. Anas pcecilgrhyncha. ("Big Duck" of European
sportsmen.)
Exceedingly common in the cold season ; occasionally noticed
in June, July, and August ; generally seen in pairs, or in parties
of from three to eight in number, and is more partial to rivers
and deep jheels than the shallow muddy jheels. This Duck and
the Shoveller are seldom seen on the same piece of water ; the
latter alwayo seeking its food in very shallow water, as also do
the Common Teal and the Pintail, both of which I have often
killed at the same shot. With the exception of A. boschas and
the next species, this Duck is the most wary of any, — Teal,
Gadwall, and the Pochards being the tamest. There is scarcely
any difference between the note of A. boschas and this Duck
when alarmed.
207. Anas caryophyllacea. (Pink-headed Duck.)
Three times seen towards the end of the rainy season — twice
VOL. III. S
250 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds observed in Oudh and Kumaon.
in small flocks of seven or eight, and a single bird — and is, as fa
as I have seen, excessively wary. The pink head is very ap-
parent when on the wing, contrasting with the dark plumage of
the body : immature specimens are not so pink on the head and
neck as the adult.
208. Dafila acuta. (Pintail.)
Very common in the cold season in large flocks.
209. Mareca PENELOPE. (Wigeon.)
Seen in small numbers towards the end of the cold season.
210. QuERQUEDULA CRECCA. (Teal.)
Extremely numerous ; arriving about the end of September.
I know an instance of twenty-three having been bagged out of
a flock. Three barrels were fired, and a single one was killed
with the fourth barrel. A great haul for the pot this, especially
when one is hard up for good food.
211. QuERQUEDULA ciRCiA. (Gargauey.)
Frequently seen in the cold season; exceedingly common in
February and March ; I caught some young, half-fledged, in the
month of September. It is, I suppose, an unsolved problem
where the wild-fowl, waders, &c., which resort to the plains of
India in the cold season, go to breed : to the Lakes of Thibet,
and the river Yaroo, perhaps. The only wild-fowl which I
noticed in Kumaon, on Nynee Tal, were — a single Goose, some
Gadwalls, Shovellers, Teals and Garganeys, and a solitary Coot
{Fulica atra) ; I also once saw a large Grebe, probably Podi-
ceps cristata. These birds only remained on the lake for a
day or two ; indeed they could not live, the depth of the lake is
so great that there can be little food for them, and there are not
many weeds except close to the road.
212. Branta rufina. (Red-crested Pochard.)
Exceedingly common in the cold season. Why was the
epithet " Whistling " ever applied to this bird ? I have seen
hundreds, and never once heard a whistle from one. In habits
they resemble our Common Pochard.
213. FuLiGULA FERiNA. (Commou Pochard.)
Occasionally seen in the cold season, but was not common.
Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Birds observed about Talien Bay. 251
214. FuLiGULA CRisTATA. (Tufted Pochard.)
Seen on the large jheels, in small numbers, during the cold
season.
215. FuLiGULA XYROCA. (Whitc-eycd Pochard.)
Extremely numerous in the cold season ; and is very good for
the table.
216. Mergus CASTOR. (Goosander.)
Seen on Sandee jheel, near Hurdui, in February 1859.
217. Mergus albellus. (Smew.)
Occasionally seen, in January and February, in small flocks of
from three to seven.
218. PoDicEPs CRisTATUS. (Great-crcstcd Grebe.)
Frequently seen on the jheel at Sandee and on other large
jheels towards the end of the cold season.
219. Podiceps philippensis. (Dabchick.)
Very common throughout the year, and breeds during the
rains.
XXIV. — Notes on the Birds observed about Talien Bay {North
China), from June 21 to July 25, 1860. By Robert Swinhoe,
of H. M.^s Consular Service.
Before giving my notes and observations on the few birds of
the place, it will be necessary to give the reader a brief introduc-
tion to the "natura loci." Talien Bay (the Chinese word, by
some explanations meaning " girdle," and according to others,
" united") is the name applied by the British to a bay in the
extreme southerly peninsula of the Province of Leautung, where
the expeditionary force rendezvoused previous to their campaign
in the Gulf of Pecheli. Whence the name took its origin re-
mains a mystery, as it was perfectly unknown to the natives of
the place. The bay measures, from north to south, about 9 miles,
and from east to west, about 13 miles. The S.E. and N.W. shores
are steep and rocky, the cliffs in some parts rising up perpendi-
cularly from the water. In the N.E. angle and on the W. the
land gradually slopes towards the sea and forms a shelving
s2
252 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Birds
beach. The shores of the bay are very much indented, and
form quite a number of subordinate bays. The bay is bovmded
by two long peninsulas that stretch out like horns from the
main land and converge towards the entrance of the harbour.
The average breadth of each of these peninsulas may be 4 or 5
miles. The centre of each is occupied by a range of rocky hills
consisting of stratified limestone and clay, of what the geologists
would call a ^' metamorphic formation." In these rocks large
quantities of granite occur, and the scratches and broad lines
on the slabs of softer limestone give plain indications of the
grinding influence of giant glaciers during the long-past " glacial
period." Water is scarce and chiefly procured from wells, but
a few trickling streams may be discovered stealing down the
depths of the chasms and ravines that wash the sides of the
hills. The villages are mostly small and cluster in chosen spots
round streams or wells, but scarce any bear the stamp of later
date than 80 or 100 years, judging from the growth of the
trees planted in their neighbourhood ; for, with the exception
of such trees, sylvan vegetation is unknown there, though the
hills are covered with verdure and off'er a rich gathering to the
botanist. You would naturally expect to meet here Mantchu-
rians, considering the province generally marked down as part
of Mantchuria ; but not so, the natives (who are stout and
brawny-looking fellows, though uncouth and boorish) report
themselves as colonists from the Chinese provinces of Shantung
and Shanse. They live in strongly-built huts composed of stone
and mud, with thatched roofs ; but the internal economy of their
dwellings is fearfully neglected and slovenly, and all kinds of
vermin abound. It is a strange fact that these people do not
drink tea, using instead a decoction of millet. Opium, on the
contrary, has found its way among them ; and not a few have
fallen victims to its ravages. Their language is a vulgar patois
of the court dialect. Bearded corn, coarse millet, maize, beans,
potatoes (the true English potatoe is eaten there, boiled as a deli-
cacy with sugar), form the chief crops in summer. The climate
even at this late season was never hot, a nice fresh breeze always
blowing from the sea; and such delightful evenings ! Strange
to say, birds were scarce ; for what particular reasons I could not
observed about Talien Bay {N. China). 253
ascertain, as insects and vegetable food were both abundant, and
their enemies, in the shape of Hawks or beasts of prey, by no
means common.
1. MiLvus GOVTNDA, Sykcs.
Even here this bird is met with, though in no great numbers,
soaring about in the neighbourhood of villages and over junks in
the harbour, ever prowling for its carrion prey. I shot a male,
and found it answering in most respects to the southern bird,
though the bill is stronger and thicker, and the legs more robust.
The culmen of the cere, when the specimen was fresh, was yel-
low, the rest bluish. Legs bluish, with black claws. Compared
with some skins of the Indian bird sent me by Mr. Blyth, the
Chinese race is much larger and stronger, with heavier legs and
stouter claws, and a much darker tinge of plumage ; but I think
there can be little doubt that they are the same species, the
Chinese race being somewhat more ennobled in appearance by
the cooler temperature in these parts.
2. Erythropus vespertinus, Linn.
This handsome little bird-slayer was not unfrequently met with
flying along overhead or hovering poised in air. Judging from
the contents of the stomachs of two I procured, I should say it
committed considerable havoc among the Larks and other field-
birds. It certainly caused considerable consternation wherever
it appeared among them. I had an opportunity of observing
the nest of this species twice; one was placed amongst the top-
most boughs of a willow, the other in the leafy foliage of some
umbrageous tree. The nests were large and round, and built
of sticks, resembling somewhat those of the Magpie. When the
old birds visited the nest, the young set up a chattering cry.
Old male. Length 11 in., wing 9y\j, tail 5. Cere, skin round
the eye, bright orange-red, with a tinge of yellow-orange running
into the beak. Apical third of upper mandible bluish black,
somewhat light in tint. Iris deep hazel. Legs bright orange,
with yellowish claws.
The young were balls of white down with bluish bills. The
cere and skin round the eyes were of a pale yellow, as also were
the legs and claws. The irides were brown.
254 Mr. E. Swinlioe on the Birds
3. Bubo maximus.
I twice saw this fine Owl. Once we were on an expedition,
when the whole party stopped to see one of this giant species sitting
on a rock some way up a hill, and trying to ward off the attacks
of a pair of Red-legged Falcons, who were hovering over and
darting at him on each side. At last he flew to the other side
of the hill to try and take refuge from his small assailants ; but
they followed after and continued their persecution until he hid
himself under a rock. At another time, when I was clambering
over the hills that skirt the harbour between "Pearl Bay" and
" Odin Bay," I suddenly turned a corner and came close in view of
a very fine specimen, which at once rose respectfully and flapped
over the valley out of view. These birds, I presume, banquet
off the Hares {Lepus sinensis) that scantily people the surround-
ing country.
4. Cypselus vittatus, Jardine.
This Swift has a long sweep of coast for his peregrinations.
At Amoy we have his company in the spring, while the weather
remains rainy and unsettled ; we found him in the commence-
ment of June breeding on the Lam-yit islands; and later,
towards the close of that month, we find him again, a thousand
miles north, sporting about in the clear atmosphere of Salienwan.
As the season advances and the incubatory duties are finally
concluded, he betakes himself south again for the winter.
5. HiRUNDO RUSTiCA, Linn.
I think we must drop the gutturalis of Scopoli and call this
bird by its old familiar name ; for it can certainly be no other
than our English acquaintance, though somewhat smaller in
size. It differs nothing in point of colouring, and in habits uo
more than the change of situation would lead one to expect.
This species was plentiful enough among the villages.
6. Upupa epops, Linn.
In a willow grove a party of these birds, probably consisting
of a family group, had taken up their quarters, and fi'om this
spot they used to make their little excursions into the neigh-
bouring open land, skimming along with long undulating flight.
Sometimes they would toy and gambol with one another in the
observed about Talien Baij {N. China). 255
air^ occasionally tumbling several feet downwards before they
could recover themselves. The note they mostly uttered was a
kind of hissing sound.
7. Lanius lucionensis, Strickland.
Male shot. Length 8 in., wing 3i, tail 3^. Bill black; legs
and claws leaden blue.
This bird apparently passes the summer in the north, as on
our first arrival it was much more common than it subsequently
became. Still later, in the plains of the Peiho we did not meet
with them at all ; they had probably migrated southwards.
8. MOTACILLA LUGUBRIS.
A pied Wagtail, I should fancy of this species.
9. Passer montanus, Linn.
This is here the domestic Sparrow as in the south, and is found
as numerous and as noisy as ever.
10. Emberiza rustica, Pall.
1 frequently met with this Bunting, which appeared to be the
only species. Its choice habitats wei'e on the grass-covered
sides of hills, where several together might be seen searching
about on the ground for small seeds and insects. Occasionally
flitting on the top 'of a rock, a male would continue to pour out
a flow of rich notes, wild in their strain, but sweet and melodi-
ous. Its twittering call-note is not unlike that of the Robin.
Male. Upper mandible bluish black, lower pale bluish ;
legs light clay colour, with blackish claws.
1 send four individuals of this species. They are all adult,
and answer in most respects to the description in the * Fauna
Japonica;^ but mine have the top of the head deep reddish
brown, instead of " noir tirant au brun-roux.^^
11. Alauda brachydactyla, Temminck.
I have compared the northern skins with some from India,
and can discover no tangible difiierence. It is a very common
species among the fields of corn in the open part of the country.
On the soft mouldy soil, when the corn was just springing, I
have watched numbers of them. They chirp just like other
Larks in their uncertain, hovering flight, and occasionally start
256 Mr. R. Swinboe on the Birds
up on wing, singing as they rise, and continue soaring till almost
out of sight. It varies its flight sometimes to undulations,
almost after the manner of Pipits.
Male. Length 6 in., wing Sy^,, tail 2^.
Female. Length 6 in., wing 3^, tail 2^^.
Bill pale yellowish horn-colour, blackened on culmen, gonys,
and tip. Legs clay colour, with blackish claws.
12. Alauda leautungensis, n. sp.
This is a short-bodied, robust Lark, with long crest and absurdly
long bill. It had a heavy flight and never attained any height in
soaring. Its song abounded in loud, though somewhat sweet,
notes. After rising some twenty or thirty feet, while engaged in
song, it would suddenly drop downwards, with closed wings, to
within a few feet of the earth, and then flutter along with a lark-
chirp to some convenient spot to drop upon. The song reminded
me of the rambhng chant of A. mongolica, for which species I
at first mistook it.
Male. Length 7 in., wing 4^^, expanse ll-j^. Tail 2y?o,
culmen of bill 6^^,, to gape ^, from forehead to end of crest
1|. Tarsus fx), mid-toe, claw jV; hind-toe jo, its claw y|.
Bill pale yellowish horn-colour. Inside of mouth yellow.
Iris dark hazel. Ear oval, placed nearly on the same parallel
with the eye. Legs and claws pale clay-colour.
Female. Length 6y^^ ii^v wing S^V- Irides hght brown. Bill
and legs very pale flesh-brow^n, the former with a darker culmen.
Claws short and pale flesh-colour.
The long, somewhat curved bill of this species, its crested
head and short hind claws draw it very near to the Certhilauda.
Streak over and round the eye pale ochreous. Crest consist-
ing of blackish-brown feathers margined with yellowish brown.
Upper parts lark- like, tinged strongly on the rump and across
the wings with rust-brown. Axillje, flanks, and greater part of
the basal half of each quill strongly washed with rust-colour.
Under parts a dingy ochreous white, browner on the pectoral
baud, where frequent blackish-brown spots occur, which ex-
tend somewhat obscurely up to the lower mandible and towards
the eye.
observed about Talien Bay {N. China). 257
The young have a strong wash of yellow over the predomina-
ting brown. They are freckled on the wing and tail-coverts
with yellowish white, and the back and rump in parts are ob-
scurely striated with a darker hue. The brown spots that mark
the centre of feathers in the older individuals are here very in-
distinct, and the pectoral spots do not show themselves. The
long crest is very apparent.
Bill pale horn-colour, brown along the culmen; angle and
inside of mouth yellow. Irides brown. Legs and claws very
light flesh-ochre.
This species is very distinct from the Alauda japonica, which
occurs in abundance in the plains of the Peiho; and 1 have
named it after the Province of Leautung into a peninsula of
which the bay flows.
13. Stuknus cineraceus, Schlegel.
This bird occurred here in flocks feeding in the open coun-
try, and roosting at night in the trees that grouped themselves
about the hamlets. From the number of young birds in the
flocks I infer that they spent the summer here for the purposes
of nidification, and thence on the approach of winter betake
themselves further south, and speed down the coast as far as
Canton.
Yearling. Bill liver-brown with a wash of blackish. Inside
of mouth yellowish. Legs clay-colour. All the dark parts of
the adult plumage are in the young yellowish or light liver-
brown; some of the feathers, especially on the head, being
margined paler. The top of the head, freckles on the cheek,
quills, and tail-feathers of a darker brown. The throat is whitish.
At the commencement of winter this plumage becomes darker,
and then attains to what is called " la livree de passage " in the
' Fauna Japonica,^ from which to the full summer garb is but a
step.
14, CoRvus (Monedula) dauricus, Pallas.
At the bottom of Talien Bay there is a creek with a flat rock,
some eighty feet high, standing at its mouth. The side of this rock
that faces the main, and the main itself, are very precipitous,
jagged all over with broken fragments of rock, and rent in
258 Mr. R. Svvinhoe 07i the Birds
various parts into chasms and crevices. In sucli a spot nature
has offered to the Jackdaw a secure retreat, and the bird seems
fully conscious of the blessing. Thousands of them all day long
flock in and out with food for their young, who keep up a con-
stant clamour within their secure strongholds. We landed on
the island, and having clambered up on the other side, stood
over the Jackdaw site. The birds soon observed the intruders,
and contrived a good many dodges to go in and out of their nests
unnoticed ; some would quietly steal round the rocks and sud-
denly slip into their holes, others would dash by in parties and
in an instant disappear in all directions on the rock face.
Again, in flying out from their nests, instead of starting off
direct, they flew first towards one side then towards the other,
describing a series of angles until they tu)-ned the corner. But
finding our intrusion at last irksome, they assembled in large
flocks aloft, and kept hovering over our heads, uttering the pecu-
liar cracked note of the Jackdaw. 1 managed, with the assist-
ance of the boat's crew, to get down the rock some little way,
and to examine one of the nests placed in a creviced ledge. The
nest was a rude open construction of straw, grasses, and other
materials hastily collected together, and lined profusely with
feathers. It contained two newly-fledged young. The insides
and angles of their mouths were bright yellow, their eyes greyish,
and the light portion of their plumage was of a sullied grey.
Their cry for food consisted of a strange yerking note. When
the young birds are able to fly, their parents conduct them to
the trees in the neighbourhood, where they roost, and whence
they can easily explore the plains. The note of alarm employed
by these birds consisted of nasal " caws," very diff"erent from
the ordinary falsetto cries. The old birds were in bad plumage,
so I did not procure any specimens ; but I shot two full-grown
young, of which I subjoin a description.
Yearling. Bill black, with a light-coloured tip. Legs black,
with light soles. Eyes blackish brown. Inside of mouth pale
yellowish. The general colour of the plumage is a dull black,
enlivened somewhat on the head, quills^ and tail with a gloss of
dark green, more vivid on the two latter ; the wing-coverts and
tertiary quills have, on the other hand, a lively gloss of purple.
observed about Talien Bay {N. China). 259
A broad band encircling the lower neck, the lower part of the
breast, and the belly, are of a smoke grey. The birds undergo
an autumnal moult, in which black tints become much bright-
ened and the grey approaches to the white of the adult. The
authors of the ' Fauna Japonica ' have somewhat jumbled the de-
scription of this bird with that of the following species.
15. CoRvus (Monedula) neglectus, Schlegel.
In most flocks of the pied species a few of these were to be
seen, but they w^ere by no means common.
16. CucuLUs STRiATUS, Drapicz.
This Cuckoo is found all down the coast of China throughout
summer, but in wdnter it leaves us. Mr. Blyth has identified
the species. Our specimens are invariably larger, and have
weaker bills than skins from India, but in other respects I can
see no difference. The note of this bii'd has a wonderful simi-
larity to that of Cuculns canorus.
17. COLUMBA LEUCOZONUKA, n. Sp.
This Hock-Pigeon, at once distinguishable from C. Jivia by its
white tail-band, its purple breast, and the reversion of the re-
splendent tints that adorn the neck, is found in immense num-
bers in Talien Bay, where the precipitous rocks abounding in
dark limestone caverns afford it a safe retreat and present it
with cradles for the rearing of its young. The caverns these
birds generally choose were dark and unwholesome-looking, with
the damp trickling from the roof. In these places out of arm's
reach the pigeons chose rocky ledges to place their stick-built
nests on ; rude constructions they generally were. You never
watched long before seeing some bird either going or returning
with food. They mostly went on these excursions several toge-
ther, and dashing by with rapid flight, made for the fields of
newly-planted grain, into which they would drop and commence
to search for food. On our first landing we found no difficulty
in approaching to within a few yards ; but they very soon learnt
to dread the gun. The ships of war that visited this bay during
early spring, report these birds as wandering about the country,
associated in immense flocks. One officer, I was informed^
brought down thirteen at one shot.
260 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Birds
Adult male. Bill blackish brown, with the swollen membrane
pale bluish white. Iris yellow round the pupil, with a broader
outer circle of blood-red. The naked skin round the eye pale
flesh-colour. Legs bright pink, with blackish claws. General
plumage light greyish blue. Middle of the neck all round
splendent with purple pink, its lower part with emerald green.
Back, upper part of the sides, and lower wing-coverts pure white.
Primaries brown on their outer webs and ends, the brown on
some of the feathers being yellowish and light. Secondaries
with their ends a rich dark brown. Two black bars half across
the wing, one extending half across the secondai*y coverts, and
the other over the inner secondaries. Head, rump, and tail
bluish smoke-grey, the latter barred with a broad white band 1 \
inch in extent, and then by a terminal black bar 1 inch in depth.
The white runs up the outer web of the outermost feather to its
base. Breast reddish purple. Lower parts light bluish grey.
18. COTURNIX DACTYLISONANS, Mcycr.
Not common.
19. CHARA.DRIUS PHILIPPINUS.
This was the common species here to be met with all along
the sandy beaches and gullies. You found them also in the
ploughed fields and grassy meadows ; in fact, wherever the
ground is flat. The bird runs with amazing velocity, carrying its
head rather low and its tail uplifted. When on wing it flutters
along, uttering its merry note " tew-tew." One morning I was
passing along a sandy water-course looking out for terns, when a
pair of small Plovers rose and flew round and round me in great
agitation, whistling and quivering their wings with every sign
of distress. The foolish birds ! if they had not alarmed them-
selves, I should have passed without noticing what met my eyes
when I examined the ground closely. Two wee downy things
were creeping about amongst gravel, so much the colour of the
ground that they were extremely hard to detect. They uttered
a sharp cry not unlike that of a young chick, and offiered no
resistance to my hand when I attempted to pick them up. The
old birds grew bold and noisy, perching close to me, and then
running ofi" to attract my attention, and flying round and round
ohsei'ved about Talien Bay {N. China). 261
again. I brouglit the two young ones home. They support
themselves on the bases of their tarsi when walking. The down
is short and fluffy. Forehead, neck, under parts and wing
white. Upper parts and shoulder freckled with chestnut and
white. A line round the crown and fringing the rest of the
upper parts black. Down of tail long and black. Bill and eyes
black. Legs pale flesh-colour, with a leaden tinge ; claws black.
The adult male has the bill and eye blackish hazel ; the
latter with a broad bright yellow skin round it. Legs orange-
ochre, with blackish claws.
20. Ibis ?
I only once met with a party of these birds. They were feed-
ing in a small stream left by the retiring tide. As we approached
they rose and flew slowly to another spot. I could plainly see
that they had dark heads with curlew-like bills, and that the
rest of their plumage was entirely white. There were six of them
together, and they all appeared similar*.
21. HiEMATOPUS OSTRALEGUS, LiuU.
I occasionally saw this bird flying across the water close to its
surface with quick flaps of the wing. One perched in the mud
and commenced raking about in it. This specimen I secured.
It is in every respect similar to the European bird, and we have
met with it year after year along the coast. From this bird
being seen so frequently at Talien Bay during June, I have
reason to believe it breeds there.
Adult male. Bill and eye-rim bright orange-lead. Iris crimson.
Legs fine pink, with pale brownish claws.
22. Herodias egrettoides, Schleg.
A large white Heron, I fancy the Japanese bird, seen in com-
pany with the party of Ibis.
23. Phalacrocorax carbo, Linn.
A black Cormorant very like our southern species, frequently
seen. I was unable to secure one.
24. Larus melanurus, Schleg.
All the Gulls seemed to be this species. They were very com-
mon, though I could not discover their resting site.
* Possibly Ibis nippon of the ' Fauna Japonica,' pi. 71. — Ed.
262 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
Adult male. Beak greenish yellow for over | of basal portion,
apical portion black with vermilion tinge, bright on the culnien,
near the tip, and on the lower mandible. Inside of mouth orange-
red. Iris pale straw -yellow. Eye-rim vermilion. Legs bright
yellow with a greenish tinge ; claws black.
XXV. — Letter from Mr. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Ainoy
and Foochoiv.
To the Editor of ' The Ibis.'
Sir, — A few more words on the birds of this province
(Fuh-keen) before I take my departure to the comparatively new
field at Formosa. I have submitted a specimen of the Larvivora
cyanea ? {marked " 7 " in ' Ibis/ 1860, p. 359) to Mr. Blyth, and
that gentleman pronounces it perfectly distinct from Hodgson's
species. I have therefore named it L. gracilis, and beg to offer a
diagnosis of its characters.
Larvivora gracilis, n. sp.
Bill, upper mandible brown, lower ochreous, with yellow
rictus. Legs and claws yellowish flesh-colour. Iris hazel.
Top of the head dark olive-green, quickly blending into the
cyanean blue of the upper parts. Wings and tail dark brown,
tinged with bluish grey, and indistinctly edged with yellowish
brown. Throat, breast, cheek, and region of the eye yellow
ochre, the feathers being palely edged with olive brown. Belly
and vent white. Axillae and flanks dark bluish-grey.
Length 4^ in., wing 3, tail 1^. Bill \ in. Tarse 1 in.; hind-
toe ^, its claw Y-(i'
I twice procured this species in the autumn of 1859. It was
perhaps a passing migrant, accidentally blown on the island. It
is very elegant in its contour, and appeared very tame, allowing
me to a])proach within a few yards of it. It kept a good deal on
the ground, hopping and running with a quick ambling motion
among the dried leaves, expanding and closing its tail with a slight
vertical depression, and seemed to be searching for small chry-
salides, and for the dipterous insects that had taken refuge
among the fallen leaves to escape the rude blast that caused the
of Amoy and Foochow. 263
branches overhead to sway to and fro ; for such insects were found
in its stomach.
Our Cypselus affinis is more strictly Blyth's Malayan C. sub-
furcattis; and the Querquedula multicolor \% the Anas falca7'ia,
Pallas.
No. 8^ Micronisus badius, Gmelin, I have already informed you,
is, according to Blyth, Accipiter virgatus, Teniminck.
No. 87, p. 358, Munia minima, Lath., I have received from
Mr. Blyth, ticketed Munia acuticauda, Hodgson, Burmah; and
another species was at the same time sent from Calcutta, bearing
a similar form, but with blacker breast and cheeks, named Munia
striata, Linn. Specimens in my present collection from Formosa
are identical with that procured at Burmah, though a specimen
from Shanghai appears to be different.
Tchitrea caruleocepliala, Quoy et Gaim.? (No. 66 of my first
paper) proves to be Myiagra azurea, Bodd. ; and to the Flycatcher
list I must add another species, Stoparola melanops. Vigors. Both
these birds Mr. Blyth tells me are common in Bengal. Of the
former two females were procured here in the autumn of 1859,
and one female of the latter. We cannot therefore look upon
them but as rare stragglers to this island.
No. 12. Circus, sp. ?, is closely affine to, if not identical with,
Circus uliginosus of America. There is a specimen of this species
in a cabinet at Hongkong procured from Manilla through
Mr. Cuming.
Of the two Caprimulgid(s , one affine to C. jotaka of Japan is
described by Mr. Blyth as C. sicinhoei ; the other that gentleman
tells me is a very near ally of C. monticola of Asia.
The rest of the doubtful species of Amoy I have sent you with
one or other of my late papers.
There is one other bird that I jotted down without careful com-
parison, and that is the Cormorant that winters in this harbour.
I set it down in my list asPhalacrocorax carbo. Now I discover, on
close comparison of my specimens with the bird in the ' Fauna Ja-
ponica,'that our species is undoubtedly referable to P. filamentosus,
Schlegel, of Japan. But I see, in the ' Fauna Japonica,^ P. carbo
is also noted at Japan and at Kamtschatka, and Mr. Blyth tells
me it is found in India. I have therefore every reason to suppose
that it also favom-s this coast with its visits during winter. Can
264 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
the Editor inform us whether P. filamentosus, which Schlegel says
" n'a ete observe jusqu^a pi-esent qu^au Japon," is the same bird
as P. sinensis, Shaw, Nat. Misc. pi. 529 ?* If so, which name has
the priority ? A young bird of this species was shot a few days
ago in the harbour here, and so I have just had an excellent
opportunity of comparing the bird in a fresh state with the
different accounts.
P. FILAMENTOSUS, Schlegel, juv.
Bill yellowish horn-colour, with a blackish-brown culmen ; at
the base of both mandibles yellow, and bright orange-yellow on
the naked skin about the face. Inside of mouth yellowish
flesh-colour. Iris yellow. Legs blackish brown, with a purplish
tinge, and lighter claws.
Length 31 in., wing 12, tail 5i. Bill, upper mandible 2^ in.,
lower ^^. Tarsus 2-j^^in. ; 1st toe ^-^y its claw^; 2nd toe
2^, its claw h ; 3rd toe 2^, its claw ^ ; 4th toe \\, its claw ^.
From the above it will be seen how much nearer the measure-
ments of my bird agree with those of P. filamentosus in the
' Fauna Japonica,^ than with those of P. carbo in Macgillivray.
The most striking resemblance, however, is in the disposition of
the naked skin, which Schlegel ably describes thus, " Peau nue du
tour des yeux et de la region des freins descendant vers I'angle de
la bouche, et se renuissant a la poche gutturale, sur la ligne me-
diane de laquelle s'avancent les plumes de la gorge en couvrant un
espace en forme d'un angle tres-aigu et long d'environ dix lignes."
Foochow is the chief city of this province, situated in a well-
watered picturesque valley more than half surrounded by woody
hills, and some 30 miles from the sea. I visited the spot in
June 1857, and then procured some species which I have never
observed in Amoy ; and through the kind exertions of Mr. Holt
of our Service, since stationed at that port, I have been enabled
to add a few others to my collection. As I am of opinion that a
list of these birds would prove of interest to the readers of * The
Ibis,' I will make no excuse for submitting it here : —
AcciPiTER viRGATus, Temm.
One shot at Amoy. Several received from Mr. Holt.
* Shaw's bird appears to be merely the Chinese variety of P. carbo, and
not P. capillatus (i. e. filamentosus). — Ed.
of Amoy and Foochow. 265
Athene cuculoides, Jcrdon.
Canton and Foochow. Very common during summer at the
latter place.
Scops le.aipiji^ Horsfield.
Canton and Foochow. Mr. Blyth observes that specimens of
both this and the last from China are rather larger than those of
India.
DicRURUS ciNERACEUSj Horsfield.
Common in the vale of Foochow, but not found on the table-
land or the hills, where D. macrocercus, Vieill., takes its place.
CORYDALLA SINENSIS, Bp. ?
Foochow hills. This is a smaller bird than C. richardi, with
comparatively larger bill and legs, and I think is very likely to
prove to be Bonaparte's species. The distribution of colours in
the two specimens I have is similar to that in the cognate Lark,
which latter, by the way, varies considerably in the tone of the
ochreous tinge that washes the plumage.
Enicurus speciosus, Horsfield.
Pehling hills, Foochow. I never met but one, and that
answers so completely to Horsfield's description in the 'Researches
in Java,' that I have little doubt in assigning to my bird his
specific name.
POMATORHINUS STRIDULUS, n. sp.
This small Wren-like species, which Mr. Blyth marks as new,
is common on the Pehling hills, Foochow, where I have procured
however but one individual. It possesses a long rattling note,
which it utters when disturbed in its haunts, and perching close
to the intruder, stoops its body to its feet, and throws up its tail
at right angles, assuming at such times much the appearance of
a Wren.
Upper mandible of bill brown, lower yellowish. Legs brown,
with pale claws. Iris hazel. Upper parts olive-brown with a
rufous tinge; the brown on the wings and tail being darker
on the inner webs of the feathers. A white streak runs over
the eye, and a black one under it, from the nostrils to the ear,
which it covers. Beyond these two streaks a chestnut nuchal
VOL. III. T
266 Mr. R. Swinhoe on the Ornithology
patch occurs, which extends on either side, and meets semicircu-
larly on the hind neck. Throat white. Breast reddish chestnut-
brown, with most of the feathers broadly edged with white on
their sides. Axillae rather paler than the breast. Belly, flanks,
and under tail -coverts of the same tint as the back.
Length 6^ in., wing 2^, tail 2^^. Bill along culmen ^ in.,
from rictus ^. Tarse 1 in.; hind-toe^, its clawfj; hind-
toe 2, its claw Y^.
Hypsipetes holtii, n. sp.
This bird, which I procured from the Pehling hills near
Foochow, is, as Mr. Blyth remarks, "barely separable from
H. mackllandii of S. Himalaya, Assam, &c., but is of a duskier
hue on the back, seapularies and shoulders, with less and weaker
rufous on the breast." When closely compared, however, the
two species present differences, in my opinion, quite justifying a
separation. I have a male of both species before me. The bill of
H. maclellandii is longer and more arched, with yellowish under-
inandible. Ours has a somewhat straight blackish-brown bill.
Legs and claws brown. Crown of head with pointed feathers of
a deeper brown with paler streaks. Back and scapulars olive-
brown with paler shafts. Gular feathers pointed, of a smoke-
grey, with broad white medial streaks. Cheeks and fore neck pale
rufous brown. Under parts with a rufous-brown wash. Vent
yellow. Wings and tail as in H. maclellandii, but less xanthous.
Our species is moreover larger, and has a longer tail.
SPIZrXOS SEMITORQUES, n. sp.
A common species on the Pehling plateau, where it frequents
the bushes, and appears to be substituted for the Pijcnonotus occi-
pitalis, Temm. {nee P. sinensis sive P.jocosus), of the plains below.
Mr. Blyth considers it a typical Spizixos, and alludes to a figure
resembling it of a bird brought from Assam. He says it differs
from his Sp. canifrons "by its black forehead, want of crest,
greater extent of black on throat, &c. ; but, except the head and
neck, that there is hardly any difference."
Length 7^ in., wing 2,^, tail 3^^^. Bill I in. Tarse ^^ in.
Bill pale yellow. Legs and claws pale liver-brown. Iris
brown. Head black, yielding to smoke-grey on the occiput and
of Amoy and Foochow. 267
hind ueck. A white patch occurs on each side of the forehead
and at the base of the lower mandible. The cheeks are streaked
with the same, which accumulates to a patch on each side of the
nape, and advancing on the fore neck with a mixture of smoke-
grey, forms a half-collar. Upper parts, breast and flanks olive-
green. Inner webs and shafts of rectrices deep rich brown, rest
of wing yellow olive-green. Tail also olive-green, with brown
shafts and edges to inner webs, and a black band at its end.
Edge of wing bright greenish yellow, as are also the remaining
under parts.
. Garrulus orxatus, G. R. Gray.
Common at Foochow^ and Ningpo.
Urocissa sinensis, Gould.
Canton and Foochow.
Chrysomitris spinus, Linn.
Foochow.
PoLOPHiLUS sinensis, Stcph-
Canton and Foochow.
PiCUS CABANISI.
Identified by Mr. Blyth. Also procured at Canton.
Brachypternus badius. Raffles.
Rather larger than Malacca specimens. I procured this
myself. It attracted my attention by its laughing note as it ran
up the trunk of a tree. I have never seen but one from Foochow.
Gecinus ?
Smaller than G. viridis of Europe, but a good deal resembling
it, except that the capital decoration of the male is confined to
the forehead. I have unfortunately sent home the only male and
two young ones that I procured from Foochow; I can there-
fore give no further note of the bird.
Gallicrex cristatus, Lath.
Also procured at Canton.
Rhynchops sinensis, Linn.
At Canton also.
Just as I am closing this letter ray hunters arrive with a fine
t2
268 Mr. E. Blytli on the Calcutta ' Adjutant.'
speciraeu of Colymbus, but I find I cannot reconcile it with my
description of C. glacialis. Here is a note of the bird they have
shot in Amoy harbour : —
Length 25 in., wing \l^. Bill along ridge 1^, along edge
of lower mandible 3^. Tarse 3 in. ; 1st toe 2-j^ in., 2nd 2^,
3rd 2|, 4th i.
Tarsus on the inward surface, surface of the toes, and median
line of webs pale bluish grey variegated with purplish black,
which forms the pervading colour of the outward side of the
tarse and the under surface of the feet. Bill flesh-colour with
blackish-brown culmen. The upper head and neck are grey ;
and the back and scapulars spotted with white on a greenish-
black ground. All the under parts are jmre white. Now
Schlegel, I find, puts down the Colymbus that winters at Japan
as the C. ardicus ; but this assuredly does not answer that species.
Is our bird the C. adamsii^, not long since described by
G. R. Gray ? or is it a species with which the Editor of ' The
Ibis ' is not acquainted ?
Yours, &c., Robert Swinhoe.
British Consulate, Amoy, February 20tli, 1861.
XXVI. — Note on the Calcutta 'Adjutant' {Leptoptilus ai-gala).
Bv Edward Blyth, Curator of the Asiatic Society's Museum,
Calcutta.
In ' Chambers's Journal ' for January of the current year, p. 40,
I observe an article entitled "The Calcutta iVdjutaut, or Hur-
ghila of the natives of Bengal," of which term its technical spe-
cific appellation is of course a corruption. It contains a deal of
nonsense, which I forthwith proceed to criticise and correct.
We are told, in the fourth paragraph, that these gaunt birds
*' have a long, straight, broad bill, much depressed, the uppei- man-
dible flattened, and terminated by a very strong hook [!] ; the
lower formed by two bony branches, which are flexible, and united
at the tip ; from these branches are suspended a naked skin, in
* C. udamsii is the Pacific form of C glacialis, and generally resembles
the latter, except in its larger yellowish-white bill. See Mr. Gray's de-
scription (P. Z. S. 1859, p. 167)- It is probable that Mr. Swinhoe's bird
may be C. udamsii in immature plumage. — Ed.
Mr. E. Blyth on the Calcutta ' Adjutant,' 269
form of a pouch." Now tlie whole of what I have put into italics
is utterly untrue, as I scarcely need inform the readers of
'The Ibis/ Next, the row between the 'Adjutant' and the
Crows, mentioned in the second column of p. 40, was (I have
not the slightest doubt, from personal observation of a similar
affray) the result of "the raw-headed old Adjutant'' having
seized and gulped some unlucky juvenile member of the Crow
community. Generally speaking, when an 'Adjutant' com-
mits a misdemeanour of the kind, he carries his victim to the
nearest tank, and soaks it thoroughly before engulfing it. But
this, it would seem, did not happen in the instance witnessed
by the author of the narrative in ' Chambers's Journal.' We are
told that " the impertinent Crows had by far the best of this
recluse. They attacked him principally about the head, which
has at all times a bare and sore appearance. At last, driven to
desperation, the Adjutant, by a manoeuvre, possibly more by
accident than good management, succeeded in seizing one of his
foes with his large and powerful bill. The hour of that bird's
dissolution had arrived, and he was not to die as other Crows
have died from time immemorial ! There were two or three
efforts made on the part of the Adjutant, and, in a moment
more, the Crow, body and limbs, was in the sienna-toned 'pouch of
the greater avenger. He who writes it saw it done." Now
there happens to be no connexion whatever between the pouch
and the gullet ! The former is connected with the respiratory
system of the bird, and analogous (in my opinion) to the air-
bag attached to one being only — a Python or Boa, and, as in that
case, no doubt, supplies oxygen to the lungs during protracted
acts of deglutition. In the smaller Indian Adjutant [L.javanicus)
there is no pouch ; but the latter is not (in its wild state at least)
a feeder on garbage of all kinds, but subsists mainly on small
aquatic animals, never venturing about human habitations like
its big congener. About what is said of the size and plumage
of the Calcutta Adjutant, the fact is simply this, that the males
are larger than the females, and the grey birds with broad al-
bescent wing-bands are the adults of either sex in nearly moulted
plumage.
" The Adjutant's cry very much resembles water flowing from
270 Mr. E. Newtou's Oimithological Notes from Mauritius.
a narrow-necked bottle ; and it invariably utters it when about
to swallow a piece of offal/^ Decidedly not ! The bird happens
to have no cry at all, and (like most other Storks) wants the
sterno-tracheal tendinous muscles, and is therefore voiceless.
The only noise it can produce is by clattering its mandibles to-
gether, as may be likewise observed in the case of Ciconia alba.
Calcutta, March 25th, 18G1.
XXVII. — Ornithological Notes from Mauritius. By Edward
Newton, M.A., C.M.Z.S.— No. II. A Ten Days' Sojourn at
Savanne.
I LEFT Port Louis on the 26th September, 1860, for St. Martin,
an abandoned sugar-estate situated on the coast of Savanne, the
southernmost district of Mauritius, where I was in hopes of find-
ing a very different lot of birds from those which frequent the
neighbourhood of the metropolis. Being the first holiday of any
length I had taken since my arrival in the island, I determined to
devote it to getting a better knowledge of its ornithology ; and,
as may be supposed, I greatly enjoyed not merely the complete
relaxation from all work thus afforded me, but also the being able
to turn my attention more fully to my favourite pursuit. The only
drawback was the short time that I could be away. Two of my
friends had preceded me, and I found their tent pitched within
twenty yards of high-water mark, under the shade of a line of
Filao-trees — Madagascar Fir [Casuarina equisetifolia) . The
ground all along the sea-shore was covered with short grass —
almost down-like, and unencumbered by the large blocks of basalt
which are found nearly everywhere else over the island. Alto-
gether it was as pleasant a spot for a camp as ever was seen. Un-
fortunately there was not, anywhere near, above three or four feet
of water inside the reef (which lies about a mile and a half out) ;
and the bottom was covered with long slug-like monsters which
have very sharp feelers, and scratch uncommonly if you tread
upon them j so there was not much bathing to be had, beyond
sitting for half an hour or so in a place free from these brutes.
In many parts of the tropics it would be impossible to encamp
by the sea-shore on account of the sand-flies and mosquitoes.
Mr. E. Newton's Ornithological Notes from Mauritius. 271
but here there are none of the former and very few of the latter.
My notes on the birds I met with are as follows : —
TiNNUNCULUS PUNCTATUS. (Hartl. Orn. Beitr. p. 18.) Man-
geur-des-poules.
A few, but not so many as I have found elsewhere. From the
appearance of a male that was shot^ I should think they must
breed at this time of the year.
CoLLOCALiA FRANCiCA. (Hartl. l.c. p. 27.)
Not so numerous as in the neighbourhood of Port Louis.
Phedina borbonica. (Hartl. I. c. p. 27.)
This very local species is tolerably common. They seem fond
of feeding over the sand at low water and sitting on it, after the
manner of Sand Martins in England, uttering at the same time
a most peculiar whistle for a Martin. When flying they have a
note which very much resembles that of a Bee-eater, as far as
my recollection goes of that bird's cry when passing through
Egypt in 1859. These birds are also given to perching on trees;
and I noticed three that were in the habit of taking up their
position on the same bough every day at about the same hour,
probably awaiting the falling of the tide. They are, I think,
early breeders. In a small cavern on the western face of the
east side of the Baie du Cap, I saw several, and, from their man-
ner, I am certain that they either had nests or were about to
build. I observed one which had its back of a dark ash-brown ;
I had no gun with me at the time, and the individual never
showed itself again.
TcHiTREA BORBONICA. (Hartl. /. c. p. 46.) Coq-du-bois, Coq-
marron.
A few seen, but not as many as the nature of the country
would have led me to expect.
Hypsipetes olivacea. (Hartl. /. c. p. 44.) Merle.
A few in the forests ; but I only saw them one day. They
seem to be entirely arboreal and frugivorous. The gizzards of
two that I examined contained berries. They are very stupid
birds, and by simply squeaking, in the manner that one would
to attract a Jay or a Magpie, one causes three or four to make
272 Mr. E. Newton's Ornithological Notes from Mauritius.
their appearance, settling on a bough, close above the intruder,
holding their heads on one side, and giving their tails a curious
lateral jerk, uttering at the same time an indescribable sort of
''quok*' much like the croak of a Song Thrush when it has young.
Besides this, they have, I know, a low whistle ; and I heard some
bird singing, nearly in the same key, a low inward song, as Red-
wings do in the spring before they leave England, which I think
must have proceeded from a Merle, If it did not, it must have
been the performance of some bird I do not yet know, as I can
hardly expect Oxynotus ferrugineus to possess any great musical
powers.
ZosTEROPS CHLORoxoTUs. (Hartl. I.e. p. 41.)
I saw a pair on the hills at St. Martin, and two more pairs
very near Souillac. They therefore do not, as I once supposed,
remain only on the very high land. The only note I have heard
them utter is a short impatient "tic-tic." At Bourbon (Reunion)
there is a bird called Tectec, probably the same as this.
FouDiA MADAGASCARiENSis. (Hartl. /. c. p. 55.) Cardinal.
As common at Savanne as in other parts of the island. The
males appeared either to have completed their red plumage, or
to be in a fair way of doing so.
FoUDIA ERYTHROCEPHALA. (Hartl. /. C. p. 55.)
Not so abundant at Savanne as the preceding species. The
cocks had assumed the nuptial dress. Their note resembles that
of Zosterops chloronotus, and both birds are, I believe, here called
by the same name, Zozo (i. e. Oiseau) Banane, perhaps for this
reason.
EsTRELDA ASTRiLD. (Hartl. /. c. p. 56.) Bengali.
Perhaps not so common as near Port Louis.
Crithagra CHRYSOPYGA. (Hartl. /.c. p. 57.) Serin-du-pags.
Very common along the shore, and wherever Filao-trees are
to be found. The song is something between the Linnet's and
a Siskin's.
Crithagra canicollis. (Hartl. I. c. p. 57.) Serin-du-cap.
At Jacote this bird is extremely abundant : at St. Martin it
was comparatively scarce, and 1 only saw one or two flying over.
Mr. E. Newtoii*s Ornithological Notes from Mauritius. 273
At the former place, which belongs to Mr, Telfair (a relative
of him of Dodo celebrity), the house is surrounded by a grove of
Filao-trees, and a perpetual concert was kept up by these birds.
The song is not unlike that of a tame Canary, but not so loud,
and the notes are sweeter. They were just beginning to build
as I saw one flying with a feather in its mouth, but 1 was unable
to watch where it went. Mr, Telfair took me to see, as he said,
10,000,000 birds of all sorts in one field ! Though this was a
slight exaggeration, there were certainly a good few — perhaps as
many as I ever before saw at once. The piece of land was in
" plant-canes,^' and very foul with a species of Groundsel, then
in seed, which was probably the cause of the multitude. The
Serin-du-cap was perhaps the most numerous ; but there were
thon&auds oi Serins-du-paj/s, Cardmnh, Bengalis, the Small Green
Parrakeets, and Tourterelles, which were flying round on all sides
as thickly as Sparrows, Finches, and Buntings in a farm-yard at
home in winter-time. I wished I had had with me some of
the people who say there are no birds in Mauritius !
AcRiDOTHERES TRisTis. (Hartl. /. c. pp. 54 & 87.) Martin.
As plentiful there as elsewhere. Thousands roost in a grove
of shrubby trees by the Mer St. Martin. They arrive soon after
sunset from all parts, in parties of from one to three or four
pairs, and commencing their chattering, screaming, and whistling,
continue it till after dark. Then, too, they are not always
quiet, as in the middle of the night one fellow would give the
alarm and the row would become general ; perhaps they were
frightened by a cat, a monkey, or some such beast. In the
morning, at first break of day, the noise would begin again in
real earnest, and continue till a few minutes before sunrise, when
they would depart in small parties as they arrived. Altogether
they make as much fuss about going to bed and getting up as
any birds I ever heard.
Agapornis cana. (Hartl. /. c. p. 59.) Peri'uche.
I saw more in the cane-piece just mentioned than anywhere
else. Round our camp there were several. They were usually
flying about the Filaos, from one tree to another, chirping and
whistling, and settling four or five together in a heap on the
274 Mr. E. Newton^s Ornithological Notes from Mauritius.
same bough, where they would begin to squabble and fight until
one lost his hold, when they would all start off again to repeat
the operation on another bough. They fly very fast and straight,
I was unable to make out anything of their breeding time or
locality, but from the appearance of two I dissected, the former
could not be very far distant.
Geopelia striata. (Hartl. I. c. p. 67.) Tourterelle.
Of this little Tourterelle there are plenty in Savanue. On the
5th of October I found a nest containing two eggs, on the top of
a large tuft of grass which was laid by the wind. The nest was
perhaps larger and more neatly put together than Doves' nests
usually are.
In Grande Savaune, both going and returning, I saw several
Doves of what I supposed are called Tourterelles de Batavie.
They are larger than the last species ; but I could not get one.
Francolinus MADAGASCARiENSis. (Hartl. /.c. p. 69.) Pintade.
These birds are tolerably common about St. Martin. Alto-
gether I think we saw about nineteen brace, of which we killed
fourteen. They lie very close, and in good covert will almost
allow themselves to be trodden on before rising, but on bare
ground they run for a considerable distance. They were gene-
rally in pairs, though on two occasions we put up three together;
but from their habits it is not always easy to find the second
bird, when one has been flushed. They appear to keep in the
bushes and canes during the heat of the day, and to come out
night and morning to feed in the barren places and fallows.
The call of the male is a regular crow — " Kercuck, kercuck, ker-
kdrr." They seldom fly more than a couple of hundred yards,
and with about the speed of a badly-grown Pheasant in Septem-
ber, so that, if the nature of the ground will allow, they can be
nearly always marked down. With a good brace of pointers, I
think twenty brace might easily be killed in a day on that
ground : we had only one old dog, and did not take much
trouble about it ; but one day, in four hours' shooting (two in the
morning and two in the afternoon), we killed six brace and a
half.
Mr. E. Newton's Ornithological Notes from Mauritius, 275
Prancolinus ponticerianus. (Hartl. /. c. p. 69.) Perdrix
rouge.
Not nearly so common at St. Martin as the preceding. They
seem to prefer the neighbourhood of cane-fields rather than grass
and brush-wood. I only saw a pair, and had but one shot,
killing the bird. On the wing they are a much stronger bird
than the Pintade. The call of the male sounds like " Terra-
cotta, terra-cotta." They are said to keep in coveys of five or
six, to run very much before dogs, and to perch.
Syncecus sinensis. (Hartl. I.e. p. 71.)
Not very numerous ; they stick as close as possible under a
dog's nose, and will allow you to pull away the grass and dis-
cover perhaps four or five sitting all together before they rise.
They seldom fly more than eighty or a hundred yards, and
though marked down, it is very difficult to find them again.
Gallinula pyrrhorrhoa, A.Newton*. (G. chloropus,HQ,vi\.
I. c. p. 81.) Poule d'eau.
I heard several birds in the rushes at Jacote, which I was told
were Poules d'eau ; but the note was different from that of the
European Water-hen ; in fact, I am quite sure that the example
I sent home in the last lot was of a species distinct from G.
chloropus.
BuTORiDES atricapilla. (Hartl. /. c. p. 75.) Gasse.
All along this coast this small Heron is very common. At
St. Martin, by the side of the lake, there is a scrubby wood,
consisting chiefly of high bushes, growing very like tall haw-
thorns, with here and there a tree, but not exceeding thirty feet
in altitude. Here is a great resort for this species, and five or six
pairs perhaps seem to look upon it as their home. I found two
nests — one with two young ones nearly ready to fly, the other
with two eggs nearly ready to hatch. In habits, general ap-
pearance, and note, particularly the latter, these birds greatly
resemble the West Indian Butorides brunnescens (Gundlach),
* This is the species mentioned in our January Number (' Ibis,' iii.
p. 116), and since described by Mr. Alfred Newton at the Meeting of the
Zoological Society, January 8, 1861 (P. Z. S. 1861, p.. 18), under the above
name. — Ed.
276 Mr. E. Newton's Ornithological Notes from Mauritius.
excepting that I have not seen them feeding away from the
water. The gizzards of two that I examined contained remains
of mollusks.
NuMENius pHjEOPUs. (Hartl. I. c. p. 77.) CorUjeu.
As the tide ebbs, flocks of from five to twenty Whimbrels
come and feed on the mud. They are very wild — so much so,
that I only succeeded in getting one specimen. At high water
they appear to retire inland ; and I put some off a piece of turned-
out cane which had been eaten close by cattle. The bird I
shot was in very fresh plumage, having apparently but very
recently moulted — indeed its pen-feathers were not half-grown.
I saw them at Flat Island in March, and in October I was told
they had only just made their appearance at Savanne, and that
they stayed but a short time. However, I found some at Can-
noneer's Point, on the north-west of the island, the last week in
January or first in February of this year (1861), and I heard of
one having been killed on the 21st of April, and large flocks
seen, so that at any rate they must remain here during the
whole of our summer.
TOTANUS (?).
On the 27th of September, by the side of the Mer St. Martin,
I saw a large Sandpiper, about the size of a Greenshank. It was
very wild, and I could not get within a hundred yards of it. I
saw it again two or three days after, and with no better success.
Tringoides hypoleucus (?). (Hartl. I.e. p. 78.)
The same day that 1 first saw the last-mentioned species, I
had a shot at one of two birds, to my mind exactly our Common
Sandpiper. This was at St. Martin. On the 7th of October, I
saw one of a])parently the same species at Jacote, but I had no
gun. I have also seen them in the vicinity of Port Louis.
Phaeton flavirostris, (Hartl. /. c. p. 86.) Paille-en-queue.
A few are to be seen about Savanne ; but there are hardly
rocks enough to afibrd breeding-places for many. I think a good
number breed in the woods about Curepipe, on the tops of the
])arasitical ferns which grow on the trees : these great bunches
of fern form one of the most characteristic features of a Mauri-
Dr. Sclater on the Distribution of the Genus Turdus. 277
tian forest. First of all, I suspect, the White Ants make a
nest, then the seeds of the fern are deposited in it and grow,
and afterwards this Tropic-bird takes possession of it.
So much for the birds of Savanne. The absence there of two
species which are elsewhere so common is curious — I mean
Zosferops borbonica and Munia punctularia ; the first I never
saw near the sea, the second nowhere at all in the district. I
have heard of a fine Pigeon, which is said to occur in this part
of the island, but it seems to be gradually getting scarcer, owing
to the destruction of the forests, and I was not lucky enough to
meet with it. I suspect it will turn out to be Alectrocenas niti-
dissima.
XXVIII. — Remai'ks on the Geographical Distribution of the Genus
Turdus. By Philip Lutley Sclater.
(Plate VIII.)
The Thrushes proper, of the genus Turdus as now restricted,
although hardly to be called cosmopolitan in their range, since
this particular form is not known to occur in New Guinea,
Australia, and the greater portion of the Pacific islands, are
very widely distributed over the earth's surface. In company
with a figure of Turdus fidviventris (a fine American species of
this group, which has lately been described in the ' Proceedings*
of the Zoological Society,^ and will be readily recognized by its
distinct style of coloration), it may not be out of place to ofi'er
some few remarks on the present state of our knowledge of the
geographical distribution of the members of this genus.
Beginning with the PAL^ARCTict region, which embraces the
whole northern part of the Old World, the species of Thrush
inhabiting its western portion are six in number — the well-
known Turdi torquatus, merula, viscivorus, pilaris, musicus, and
iliacus. Though Turdus migratoriv,s and one or more of the
group of little Thrushes allied to T. wilsoni of the United States
have occurred accidentally in Europe, they cannot be con-
sidered to have any real claims to a place in its Avifauna.
* See P.Z.S. 1857, p. 273, et 1859, p. 331.
t Cf. Journ. Proc. Linn. Soe., ZooL, ii. p. 130 et seq.
278 Dr. Sclater on the Geographical Distribution
On the other hand, the wanderers from the East, such as Turdus
naurnanni^, T. atrigularis, T. ruficoUis, T. pallens, and T. sibi-
ricus, most of which have occurred several times in Europe,
though more strictly belonging to the fauna of Central Asia,
may be with propriety introduced into the European list as
" accidental visitors/' Some of the European species (such as
T. iliacus) extend likewise far into Central and North-eastern
Asia; but when we arrive in Amoorland and approach the con-
fines of China, we find that a total change in the species has
taken place. Out of the seven Thrushes recorded by Dr. v.
Schrenck as found in this country, not one is a truly European
bird ; and in addition to the Siberian species already mentioned,
we meet with T. daulias and T. chnjsolaus, both originally de-
scribed from Japanese specimens.
In Japan, Turdus cardis occurs, besides 2'urdi sibiricus, dau-
lias, fuscatus, pallens, and chrysolaus, which have been already
adverted to as likewise occurring more to the westward. In
China, Mr. Swinhoe's researches f have already brought to light
Turdi sibiricus, daulias, pallens, and chrysolaus, as being met
with more or less regularly during the winter and spring migra-
tions : Turdus mandarinus is a common resident, and represents
our Blackbird : T. cardis occurs during migration, and was found
nesting at Macao {antea, p. 37). I am not aware that the more
* Dr. V. Schrenck, who does not usually err on the side of admitting
too many species, records in his ' Amur-reise ' (i. p. 353) the occurrence in
Amoorland of the true T. naumanni of Temminck (T. dubius, Naum., nee
Bechst.), and states his decided ojnnion as to its distinctness from T. fus-
catus of Pallas. The latter is figured as T. naumanni hy Mr. Gould in his
'Birds of Europe' (vol. ii. pi. 7^)j as T. fuscatus in his 'Birds of Asia'
(part iv.), and as T. eunomus hy Temminck (Pi. Col. 514). The former
(T. naumanni, verus) is figured in Naumann's 'Nat. d. Vog. Deutschl.'
pi. 68. fig. 1, and pi. 358. fig. 2. I am inclined to think that Mr. Gould
has done wrong in uniting these two species. Turdus fuscatus is a well-
known Japanese bird, and, as Dr. v. Schrenck informs us, tlie "commonest "
of all the genus in Amoorland. Of T. naumanni, on the other hand, but one
example was obtained in Amoorland, and it appears to be a more western
bu-d, which occasionally straggles into Europe. See Homeyer's article in
' Rhea,' ii. p. 155 et seq., and Naumann's own explanations on this subject
in ' Naumaunia,' vol. i. pt. 3, p. 11, and pt. 4. p. 4.
t See ' Ibis,' 1860, p. 56, et 1861, p. 23.
of the Genus Turdus.
279
southern portion of the Palsearctic region furnishes any authen-
ticated species besides those ah-eady enumerated, except the very
singular hook-winged Blackbird, Turdus dachjlojiterus {Merula
dactijloptera, Bp.), which is found in Asia Minor. We may
therefore take the well-ascertained species of the genus belong-
ing to the Palsearctic region as about sixteen in number, distri-
buted somewhat as follows : —
Europe.
Asia Minor.
Siberia.
Amoorland.
Japan.
China.
viscivorus.
viscivorus.
pilaris.
pilaris.
fuscatus.
fuscatus.
fuscatus.
naumanni.
naumanni
musicus.
musicus.
iliacus.
iliacus.
Hiarus.
daulias.
daulias.
daulias.
pallens.
pallens.
pallens.
pallens.
c/irysolaus.
chrysolaus.
chrysolaus.
ruficollis.
ritficullis.
afriguliiris.
sibiricus.
sibiricus.
sibiricus.
sibiricus.
cardis.
cardis.
cardis.
merula.
merula.
dactylopterus.
mandarinus.
torquatus.
Let us next take a glance at the Thrushes of the Indian
region. On the southern slopes of the Himalayas we find three
species intruding from Northern Asia — Turdus fuscatus, T.
atrigularis, and T. ruficollis, and besides these, Turdus hodgsoni
(hardly distinct from our Missel-Thrush), T. albocinctus (repre-
senting our T. torquatus), and Turdi casianeus, boulboul, wai'dii,
dissimilis, pelodes, and unicolor. In the peninsula of India we
meet with Turdi simillimus and nigropileus, whilst Turdus wardii
also occurs there, and in the cold season T. dissimilis " is not
rare in Lower Bengal*." The Ceylonese species of true Thrush
appear to be T. wardii and T. kinnisii, the latter representing
T. simillimus of India and our T. merula.
In the Malayan portion of the Indian region Thrushes are
much less numerous. Turdus rufulus [T. modestus, Eyt.) is
the only Thrush I have ever noticed in collections from Malacca.
This bird, which, according to Mr. Blyth, ascends the peninsula
as high up as Arracan (Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xvi. p. 144), is
* Blyth in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xvi. p. 145.
280
Dr. Sclater on the Geograjihical Distribution
said by Drapiez to occur also in Java, and certainly ranges as
far as Labuan, where Mr. jMottley obtained specimens, now in
Mr. L. L. Dillwyn^s collection. In Java also occur Temminck's
Turdus mutabilis — a very close ally of T. sibiricus, but, according
to Prince Bonaparte (Compt. Rend, xxxviii. p. 4), distinguish-
able from it — and Horsfield's Tu7'dus javanicus, of which later
synonyms appear to be Turdus fumidus, Miill., and T. hijpo-
pijrrhus, Hartlaub (Verz. Brem. Samml. p. 43). A nearly allied
representative of the latter bird inhabits Timor, if the specimens
are accurately labelled in the Leyden collection, and may be
called Tu7-dus schlegelii *, after the present eminent director of
that establishment. Excluding therefore the three intruders
from Northern Asia, the Indian Thrushes appear to be about
fifteen in number, some of which (e. g. T. pelodes and dissimilis)
require further comparison and examination.
Himalayas.
India.
Ceylon.
Malacca.
Java.
Labuan.
Timor.
hodgsoni.
dissimilis.
rufulus.
rufulus.
javanicus.
rufulus.
schlegelii.
peliides.
uiiicolor.
unicolor.
boulhoul.
castaneus.
albocincius.
nigripileus.
simillimtis.
kinnisii.
uiardii.
wardii.
wardii.
mutabilis.
In the ^Ethiopian region Thrushes are not so plentiful.
There appear to be, at the present moment, only nine well-ascer-
tained species known to occur in those portions of Africa and
Asia which are within its boundaries j namely, —
* Turdus schlegelii, sp. nov.
Turdus fumidus, Temm. in Mus. Lixgdunens. (partim).
Pallide chocolatino-brimueus, abdomine castaneo, crisso eodem colore
vix tincto : rostro et pedibus fla\'is : crassitie Turdi javanici.
Hah. In ins. Timor.
Mus. Lugdunensi.
Obs. Affinis T.javanico {sive fumido) et statura eadem, sed hie ventre
imo albo, et crisso nigricante, albo striato differt.
of the Genus Tiirdus.
281
N.E. Africa.
W. Africa.
S. Africa.
S.E. Africa.
simensis, Riipp.
pelios, Bp.
olivaeimts, Bp.
shnensis, Riipp.
pelios, Bp.
olivaceu-fuscus, Hartl.
apiculis, H.
simensis, Rupp.
libonyanus, Sm.
olieucexis.
guttatus, Vig.
smithii {obscurus, Sm.).
In the Australian region, as I have ah-eady stated, true
Turdi are not at present known to occur in New Guinea or
Australia. ]Mr. Gray has, however, lately described a Tardus
erythropterus from Gilolof ; and a Blackbird occurs in the Sa-
moan Islands, which is probably Turdus vanicorensis, Q. etG.
In New Caledonia and some of the adjacent islands, a little
group of Thrushes is found, which somewhat deviates in struc-
ture from the ordinary type, and will probably be ultimately
separated from true Turdus. The species of this section at pre-
sent known are — Turdus xanthopus, Forster, from New Cale-
donia, Turdus vinotinctus {Mei'ula vinitincta, Gould, P.Z.S. 1855,
p. 165), from Lord Howe's Island, and T. nestor, Gould, from
Norfolk Island. We have, therefore, only five Thrushes in the
Australian region.
In the New World, on the other hand, the genus Turdus is
very fully represented. Upwards of forty species are distributed
over the different parts of the Northern and Southern continents.
In a paper read before the Zoological Society (see P. Z. S. 1859,
p. 321 et seq.)y I have given some account of the whole of the
members of the family Turdida in the New World, and it will
be the less necessary for me to say much about the subject on
the present occasion, except so far as is wanted to complete an
outline of the general distribution of the genus.
In the Nearctic region, forming the northern portion of
the New World, the following may be taken as restricted to the
Atlantic slope : — T.mustelinus,pallasi,fuscescens,swainsoni, and
alicice. On the Pacific region opposite, we find T. pallasi re-
placed by T. nanus, and T. fuscescens by T. ustulatus, while
T. migratorius also occurs, and besides it the well-marked
species T. ncevius. On the table-land of Mexico are found pro-
t See P.Z.S. 1860, p. 350.
VOL. III. U
28.2 Dr. Sclater on the Distribution of the Genus Turdus,
bably all or, at any rate, the greater part of these species (except,
perhaps, T. ntevius) as winter migrants, and on the western
coast T. fiavirostris, while T. pinicola inhabits the pine ridges of
Southern Mexico. Three other species {T. infuscatus, grayii, and
assimilis), which I have placed under the head of Mexico in my
list in the ' Proceedings,^ belong, I believe, to the tierra caliente
exclusively, and must be set down to the account of the Neo-
tropical region.
The Thrushes of the Nearctic region may therefore be esti-
mated as twelve in number ; viz. —
Eastern N. America.
Western N. America.
Table-land of Jlexico.
migratorius.
migratorius.
Tuevius,
migratorius.
flavirostris.
mustelimis.
mustelinus.
pallasi.
nanus.
silens.
fuscescens.
ustulatus.
swamsont.
swainsoni.
alicia.
pbticola.
If we exclude from the Neotropical region Turdi migratorius,
mustelinus, and swainsoni, which are really only intruders from
the north, we shall find left about twenty-seven species, distri-
buted somewhat as follows : —
1.
2.
Southern
Mexico.
Guatemala
and Central
America,
infuscatus.
inftiseatus.
nigrescens.
rufitorques.
grayii.
plebeius.
grayii.
assimilis.
leucauchen.
3.
Antilles.
aurantiua.
jamatcensts,
New
Granada.
gtgas.
ignobilis.
phcEopygus.
fulviventris
5.
Chili, Peru,
and
Arg. Republic.
fuscaler.
chiguanco.
serranns.
falklnndinis.
6.
South-
eastern
Brazil.
flavipes.
fiimigatus.
crotopezus.
albicollis.
rufiventris.
Guiana.
[thahmts
gymnoph-
fumigatus.
albiventris.
phtEopygus.
8.
Venezuela,
Trinidad,
and Tobapro.
xanthosceles.
atrosericeus.
olivater.
gymniiph-
[thalmus.
phceopygus.
The general distribution of the genus Turdus over the earth,
therefore, taking Mr. Wallace's revised areas (cf. 'Ibis,' 1859,
Ibis. 1661, Pl.IX.
xT Wolf, del elliih. M &1 .Hanidrt.Imp'
Fig . 1, BASIL 0RITI5 CORYTHAIX . Tig . 2 , B . CELEBEITSIS .
Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Ornitholoyij ofCeram and Waigiou. 283
p. 451), may be assumed to be nearly as follows, as far as we
are at present acquainted with it : —
Area in
square miles.
No. of species
of Tiinliis.
No. of sq. miles
to each species.
1. Palffiarctic
2. Indian
3. Jiithiopian
4. Australian
5. Nearctic
6. Neotropical
12,500,000
3,100,000
6,500,000
2,600,000
5,500,000
5,600,000
16
15
9
5
12
27
780,000
200,000
722,000
520,000
458,000
207,000
The whole earth . . 35,800,000
84
. 426,000
Whence it plainly appears that the genus has attained its greatest
degree of development in South America and India^ and that
the Palsearctic and j3Ethiopian areas are comparatively very poor
in their number of species.
XXIX. — On the Ojmithology of Ceram and Waigiou.
By Alfred R. Wallace.
(Plate IX.)
Ever since I arrived in the Moluccan seas (now four years ago),
I have been repeatedly told, "if you want fine birds, go to Ceram/'
and the same idea appears to prevail in Europe, for my corre-
spondent writes me, "Mr. Gould and Mr. Gray both say the
birds of Ceram are very fine."
With such encouragement, it was with great expectations I
started, in October 1859, for the south-western part of the island.
What was my surprise to find one bird very plentiful that was
not to be found in Amboyna, and only one, namely the Tropi-
dorhynchus suhcornutus, Temm. ! There w^as absolutely nothing
else ; and the best birds of Amboyna, as Tonysiptera dea and Lo-
rius doniicella, were so scarce that I could not get a specimen of
either of them. I changed my locality — I went into the very
centre of the island ; but still nothing new, and birds in general
scarcer and scarcer. At last, however, after great exertions, I did
get two more species new to me, Eiidxjnamys ransomi and Corvus
ciulaceus ; and one, I believe^ new to science, and very interesting
u2
284 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Ornithology
— a new species of Basilornis^, a genus hitherto containing only
a single Celebes species, which that of Ceram closely resembles,
but has the crest much elongated and recurved. Of this inter-
esting bird, however, I only got a pair of specimens. And that
was really all that three months' collecting produced in much-
vaunted Ceram.
It was, however, the eastern part of Ceram that I had heard
most spoken of, and I determined to try again, and after nearly
two months' delay, owing to illness in Amboyna, I started afresh.
My first stopping-place was at Teluti, near the centre of the S.
coast, which tempted me by its noble forests, lofty mountains,
and rocky streams.
Four days' search, however, convinced me that all was barren ;
birds were scarcer than ever; and the natives were quite astonished
at being asked about handsome birds, assuring me they knew of
none in their country.
I then went on to Kissa laut, near the east end of the island,
where 1 stayed a month, and obtained literally not one species new
to me, and, moreover, none of the few good things that I had
met with, though rarely, in W. Ceram. The forests and thickets
were here most wretchedly depopulated of bird-life. Some half-
dozen species, mostly noisy ones, were to be seen and heard, in-
deed, every day and everywhere, such as Cacatua moluccensis, the
Trichoglossus versicolor {"i) , and Eos rubra (the only species of
* Mr. G. R. Gray considers the Basilornis of Ceram to be the Pastor
corythaix of Wagler. It must therefore stand as Basilornis corythaix ;
while the species of Celebes will retain Temminck's name, Basilornis
celehensis. Both species are figured in the accompanying illustration by
Mr. Wolf (Plate IX.), and their differences, which are sufficiently obvious,
are pointed out by Mr. Gray, as follows. The two birds " are easily di-
stinguished from one another by the form of their crests. That of Celebes
possesses a short, compressed, keel-like crest, which extends from the
culmen to behind the head, and is composed entirely of scale-like and
convex feathers ; whilst that of Ceram has an occipital, erect, and elongated
crest, which, when viewed sideways, assumes somewhat of a subtriangular
form, and is composed of truncated, rather broad and lax plumes. It also
differs in having the nostrils exposed and a naked space round each eye.
In the Celebes species the nostrils are covered by the frontal plumes, and
there is scarcely any naked space round the eyes. — P. Z. S. April 23rd,
IHCL— Ed.
of Cerain and Waigiou. 285
these genei-a found in all the great island of Ceram), and the
Buceros ruficollis and Tropidorhynclius subcornutus. One may
search for days, and literally see nothing else but these, with the
Carpophaga i^erspicillata and C. luctuosa (?). Flycatchers, Edolii,
Thrushes, Kingfishers, Warblers, Finches, are so scarce as to
seem altogether absent. The few species that do occur are
only seen singly, and at rare intervals.
On my return from Goram I spent ten days on the N.E. coast,
but found nothing. I afterwards met with a gentleman, in the
employ of the Dutch government, who is an amateur in orni-
thology, and has resided in Ceram more than a year, visiting the
interior and the N. coast, with one or two hunters always engaged;
but he seems to have met with scarcely anything more than
myself. Pitfa seems altogether absent ; of Psittaci there is but
one not found also in Amboyna, the Platycercus amboinensis ; of
Ptilonopodes, the two Amboyna species only, P. viridis and P.
superbus. Leaving out Psittaci, I have only found 24 Passeres in
Ceram, after a more extensive and laborious exploration than I
have given to any other island.
The poverty in species and individuals of land birds exceeds
anything I have hitherto met with, and seems very unaccount-
able. I think it must be partly due to the very little cultivation
in the island, the population subsisting almost wholly upon
sago.
Where there are and have long been extensive clearings of
the forest, a different kind of vegetation is found, moi'e fruit-
bearing trees and shrubs occur together, and insects are more
plentiful. In such localities, if virgin forest is close at hand,
birds are almost always more abundant. I believe, however,
that though my collection of the birds of Ceram is no doubt
very incomplete, the poverty it displays is real, and will not be
materially affected by future discoveries; and its cause is, I
think, to be traced to the general character and origin of the
whole Moluccan fauna (contrary to what has generally been
supposed, a remarkably poor one), and to the peculiar geogra-
phical and geological antecedents of the island of Ceram. At
some future time I hope more fully to enter into this subject.
My intention was to have continued my voyage as far as Ke,
286 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Ornithology
visiting all the small islands between it and Ceram, and I much
regret that I was not enabled to do so ; but the delay and trouble
in getting boats and men from the native Rajahs was so great,
that the East monsoon set in and drove me back on the way there.
I stayed, however, about a fortnight on the two Matabello Islands
(and I believe I am the first European who has ever touched
there), and spent also a month at Goram, and in both of them I
found several of the Ke birds which I obtained on my voyage
to Aru two years ago.
The species of birds in these islands are very limited. A few
New Guinea species occur {Cacatua triton and Eclectns linneei),
probably escaped and naturalized. The Eos and Trichoglossus
are the Ceram species.
The Carpophiiga, both at Goram and Matabello, is the fine
species found at Banda and Ke. I sent it from Aru ; but as it
inhabits there only one small island nearest Ke, it has, no doubt,
recently emigrated, and is not a true New Guinea bird. G. R.
Gray identifies it with C chalybura, Bp. ; but this I doubt, as it
certainly does not agree with the description in the ' Conspectus,'
and the locality of C. chalybura (the Philippines) is much against
its being the same.
In Matabello, the only Ptilonopus seems to be the P.prasi7ior-
rhous, Gray. In Goram the same species occurs, in company with
the P.viridis of Ceram. The Dicrurus of Goram is a large species,
very dift'erent from that of Ceram, and probably the D. megalor-
nis of Ke. I am decidedly of opinion, therefore, that the Ke
Islands do not belong to the New Guinea fauna, but, with Banda,
Goram, and the intermediate islands, form a little subgroup of
the Moluccas, perhaps also including Timor laut. None of
them, as far as we know, contain a single true Papuan form, as
Redes, Manucodia, or Cracticus, which are found even in the
smaller islands of Aru. The species peculiar to them should
therefore be erased from the list of New Guinea birds.
The Cassowary occurs rather plentifully over the whole interior
of Ceram, but I was never able to obtain or even see a specimen.
In a native house I found an upper mandible and crest, which
may perhaps show if it differs from the New Guinea species. A
residence in the interior of Ceram with the indigenes might pro-
of Ceram and Waigiou. 287
(luce several novelties ; but the too palpable poverty of the coun-
try would not permit me to bestow more time upon it, with the
glorious Papuan region almost within sight.
Leaving Goram, therefore, I intended to go to Mysol, to visit
my assistant Mr. Allen, who had been there three months, and
then go on myself to Waigiou, My Goram crew, however, ran
away, and I was detained, first in E., and then in N. Ceram. I
afterwards had an adventurous voyage, in my little native prahaw
purchased at Goram, being driven to leeward of Mysol, and then,
when at anchor off an uninhabited island, our anchor (a native
wooden one) broke in the coral rocks, we drifted away, and our
two best sailors were left on shore. We could not possibly get
back, as wind and current were against us ; they alone knew the
proper channels about Waigiou, and we were consequently eight
days puzzling our way, in great peril, among the shoals and coral
reefs. On reaching a village, we hired a boat and men to go to the
island ; but bad weather came on, and the boat returned in a
fortnight, without having reached it. Again we induced them to
go back, and in a fortnight more they returned with the two
sailors, who had lived a month, naked, and eating only leaves,
roots, and shellfish, having luckily found water, though the
island was only about a mile in diameter.
I have written thus far in Waigiou. About the birds of
Waigiou I will tell you when I have returned to Ternate.
Judging from the birds said to have been obtained at Waigiou
by the French naturalists, I had expected to find it a very pro-
ductive locality. Epimackus magmis, Paradisea papuana, P.
rubra, Diphyllodes magnifica, Cicinnurus regius, hophorina su-
perba, Parotia aurea, and Sericuius aureus, are all mentioned as
Waigiou birds. My disappointment may therefore be imagined
when I discovered that the whole of these birds, with one ex-
ception, had been brought from the mainland of New Guinea
(whither many of the inhabitants make an annual voyage), and
that the sole representative of these gems of the New Guinea
fauna was the Paradisea rubra, which is absolutely restricted to
the island, where it takes the place of the P. papuana of the
mainland.
I remained in Waigiou about four months, much hindered by
288 Mr. A. R. Wallace on (he Ornitlwlugy
excessive wet, and by having only a single gun good for any-
thing. During the first two months, which I spent at Mukaon
the S. coast of the island, I obtained only two males of P. rubra.
I afterwards visited the district of Bessir, where there are a few
natives who catch the birds and prepare the skins, and obtained
a very fine series in this locality.
The P. rub-a is obtained in quite a different manner from the
allied species of Aru and New Guinea. It is always caught
alive by snares placed on the trees it frequents, and to a branch
of which is hung the large red fruit of a species of Arum, of
which the bird is very fond. The noose is placed in such a
position that the bird must perch on it to get at the fruit; and
it is attached to the branch by an ingenious slip-knot, so that
when the end of the cord which descends to the ground is
pulled, the bird is caught by the leg and dragged down. It may
be thought that, the speciniens being unwounded, and captured
alive, I should obtain them in much finer condition than those
that are shot ; but such was not the case, and I have never been
so much troubled with any Birds-of-Paradise as I was here. At
first they were brought to me alive, bundled up in a bag, and
with the plumage and tail-cirrhi terribly rumpled and broken. I
then showed them how to perch them on a stick, attached by the
leg; but then they were often brought dreadfully dirty, having
been allowed to get among ashes or sticky dammar-torches during
the time they were kept in their houses. In vain I begged them
to bring the birds to me directly they were caught ; in vain I
begged them to kill them directly and hang them up. They
would do neither, because it was a little more trouble. I had
four or five men in my employ, who were paid in advance for a
certain number of birds (the only way to get them). These men
distributed themselves about the jungle, often a day^s journey
from the village, in search of good localities to set their snares.
Having got one bird, they did not like the trouble of bringing
it home, but would wait as long as they could keep it alive;
and thus they often came to me, after a week or ten days'
absence, with one bird dead and almost stinking, another freshly
dead, and a thii'd alive and just caught. Notwithstanding all
my endeavours to alter this system, it continued in full force
of Ceram, and IVaigiou. 289
to the end. Luckily, however, the plumage of these birds is so
firmly set that they are washed and cleaned more easily than any
others, and thus a few hours' extra work was all their obstinacy
cost me.
Having these beautiful birds brought to me alive, I, of course,
made many attempts to preserve them. With my own hands
I constructed a large cage in which they could move about
freely, and tried every kind of food I could procure. The proper
fruits were, however, scattered widely over the forest on lofty
trees, and could not be obtained enough ripened with sufficient
regularity. Rice and grasshoppers they soon came to eat pretty
eagerly, and I was then in hopes of success ; but on the second
or third day they were invariably attacked by a kind of convul-
sions, fell off their perch, and soon died. I tried altogether
seven or eight individuals, ajiparently in perfect health, and in
every case with the same result. Some were full-plumaged,
others without lateral plumes ; but I could not obtain any very
young birds, with which the attempt might probably have suc-
ceeded better.
The live birds were principally remarkable for their excessive
activity and liveliness. They were in constant motion ; and the
brilliantly contrasted colours of the head and neck, with the
erected crests and swelling throat, formed a most beautiful pic-
ture. I never saw the red lateral plumes fully expanded, and
can therefore form no judgment as to their beauty. They were
generally carried under the wing, rising a little over the back,
with the white curved tips drooping over the end of the tail.
The long flattened tail-cirrhi hang down in a graceful, spiral
curve, which is produced by the general curved form of these
feathei's (which lay naturally in a complete circle reaching round
to the head of the bird) combined with the semicylindrical
sectional figure. These plumes pass through a variety of sin-
gular forms before they become fully developed. First they
appear as simple cirrhi, like those of P. apoda and P.popuana :
these have often a spatulate tip, as in Momotus and Tanysiptera.
The rachis then becomes flattened out and slightly curved,
and finally black, curved cylindrically, and entirely destitute of
barb. In one singular example I possess, a single cirrhus has
290 Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Ornithology
a spatulate feather tip to the fully-developed black whaleboue-
like rachis.
The Paradisea rubra differs from its allies in the colour of the
bill, which is a pretty clear gamboge- or ochre-yellow, with a
very faint greenish tinge; the iris is of a blackish olive: the
feet dark reddish or fleshy olive ; the claws horny. Its voice is
very similar to that of its allies, but less shrill, and like them
it seems to be very abundant in its native forests, though,
from its activity and incessant motion, by no means easy to
procure. I several times observed the adult males on low trees
and among bushes only a few feet from the ground. They
crept along the branches and up the nearly vertical trunks, ap-
parently in search of insects, which, I believe, they only feed on
when their favourite food, the " ivarmgin/' or Indian fig, is not
to be obtained. At these times they utter a low clucking note,
very different to their usual shrill call, which seems always to
proceed from the summits of lofty trees.
EpimachidiB are altogether absent from Waigiou. The nearest
ally to the Paradisece is Manucodia, of which only one species
is found. Of the rare Parrots imputed to Waigiou, Psittacodis
stavorini and Chalcopsitta rubiginosa, I could see or hear nothing.
In fact, I found no Psittaci that I had not previously obtained,
and none but very common species. Of Pigeons I obtained many
species, but few new. The most abundant Carpophaga was C.
sundevalii, one of the hump-beaked group. The swelling seems
equally large in both sexes. Three other New Guinea species
occur, and also the Gilolo Cpet^spicillata. The Ptilonopus pra-
sinorrhous of Ke and Goram occurred here also on the small
islands, while on the mainland of Waigiou, P. sup)erbus and the
lovely little P.]}ulchellus are the characteristic forms. There is,
I think, a new species, of which I got a male in Gagie Island, and
which also occurred in Mysol, marked only with a vinous patch
on the breast. Of the splendid lanthocnas hahnaheira, Bp., or a
closely allied species, I obtained a single specimen, and also one
of a species of Eutrijgon. Of other birds I got scarcely anything
new, besides one or two Redes and Myiolestes, a fine Podargus,
and one or two small birds. My whole collection only amounted
to 74 species, almost all common New Guinea birds ; and I un-
of Ceram and Waigiou, 291
hesitatingly pronounce Waigiou to be the very poorest island in
the New Guinea zoological region.
On my arrival in Ternate I found my assistant Mr. Allen,
who had spent more than six months in Mysol, and it was with
much anxiety I proceeded to examine his collection. I was much
disappointed, however, in finding almost all ray own birds over
again, with the addition of a few Dorey species and about 15-16
new to me, mostly of the genera Campephaga, Rectes, Myiolestes,
and a few Hawks, — a Rail, a Kingfisher, and the Eos atra.
Owing to his having to return to Ceram for rice, and waiting
there two months till it arrived from Amboyna, he missed the
season for the Paradise-birds, obtaining only a single P.papuana,
a few P. regia, and of the third species which inhabits the island,
Diphyllodes magnifica, only a native skin. Successive visits of
several months each to four distinct Papuan districts have only
produced me four species of Paradise-birds, while the general
run of the birds is so nearly identical in all as to make a fifth
visit absolutely profitless, except by obtaining the remaining
species of these beautiful creatures. I have, however, at length
obtained very precise information as to where the greater part,
if not all, of my desiderata in Paradisece and Epimachidce are to
be obtained, and in a few days Mr. Allen starts for this locality
with every requisite for a thorough exploration, in my own
Goram prahaw, and accompanied by a lieutenant and two soldiers
from the Sultan of Tidore to assist and protect him. If he does
not succeed this time, I must give up the attempt in despair,
lie touches for a few weeks at Guebe, and on his return goes for
a month to the Xulla Islands, which contain the Babirusa, but
of which the fauna is otherwise totally unknown.
I myself leave by the next steamer for Timor Delli : on my
return I spend two months at Bourn, where the Babirusa is also
found ; but whether its fauna is of the Moluccan or of the
Celebes type, we are yet ignorant. In September we are to
meet again here, to pack up our collections, and shall then finally
quit the district of the Moluccas and New Guinea. Please
make allowance for these hasty notes, written amid the confusion
and fatigue of packing.
Ternate, Deo. 20tli, 1860.
292 Dr. J. H. Blasius oa the Diversity in the Estimate
XXX. — On the Diversity in the Estimate of the European Ornis,
and its Causes. By Dr. J. H. Blasius*.
It appears to me to be desirable that, from time to time, we
should ascertain the point which we have attained by our
joint endeavours. It is absolutely necessary that we should
ascertain clearly what we are to regard as positively gained, and
what we have to leave to the future as problems still to be
solved. Our circumstances, our environments indicate to us as
an important part of our endeavours the elucidation of European
ornithology.
No land on the face of the earth has been more repeatedly
examined than Europe. AVe often hear, and, indeed, we might
justly suppose, that the ornithology of Europe is quite settled;
but every one who possesses an accurate knowledge of the sub-
ject must declare this assertion to be a manifest error. In no
branch of ornithology — neither in systematic division, nor in
literary criticism, nor in the observation of modes of life, nor in
oology — has complete agreement, certainty, or peace been arrived
at. To refer to one only of these points, that of the systematic
division and enumeration of species, — for nearly forty years, no
single scientific investigation, perhaps, has led to such divergent
results as this with regard to European ornithology.
We find enumerated in— j^ t^e year Species.
Brehm, ' Lehrbuch ' 1823 471
Bonaparte, ' List,' &c 1838 503
Temminck, ' Manuel,' 2ucl edit 1840 499
Keyserling and Blasius, ' Wirbelthiere ' 1840 484
Schlegel, ' Kritische Uebersieht ' 1844 489
Thienemann, ' Rhea ' 1846 4/0
Deglaml, ' Ornithologie ' 1849 507
Bonaparte, ' Revue Critique ' 1850 539
Brehm, ' Nauraannia ' 1855 950
and with the subspecies Ifi28
Brehm, ' Vogelfang' 18.55 1030
and with the subspecies 1800
Bonaparte, ' Catalogue Parzudaki ' 185(1 581
De Selys-Longchamps, ' Revue de Zoologie' ... 1857 509
Keitel, ' Vcrzeichniss,' &c 18.57 501
Des Murs, ' Traite d'Oologie ' 1860 536
* Tliis important pajjcr is translated from the Report of the Thirteenth
of the European Ornis, and its Causes. 293
This series of figures speaks for itself, but not much in favour
of the healthy state of European ornithology. There must be
something rotten in this " State of Denmark." A science which
gathers such very different flowers from one and the same soil
cannot twine itself a garland of them ; they would be frail and
perishable decorations, without a single evergreen leaf.
A variation from 470 to 1030, or even to 1800 ! — a fluctua-
tion of double or quadruple ! — such a result appears to me to
be something more than a joke. Every unprejudiced and un-
initiated person must with justice ask how this can be possible ;
he must see in the priests of the Ornis a repetition of the Roman
Augurs who could not look at each other without laughing at
their gods ! It seems to me that we are standing on the brink
of the bitterest earnest, and that wherever we wander must be
in false paths or on bogs. It is our serious duty to seek the
cause of the evil, in order that we may not expose ourselves in
the pilloiy to an unprejudiced public opinion any longer than is
necessary either as deliberate deceivers, or as unconscious night-
walkers, or as delirious fever-patients.
Let us look at our question as objectively and with as little
partisan-spirit as possible ! The statistical criterion shows us, in
the numbers above given, two well-marked and irreconcileable
opposite statements : — one group of numbers varies between 470
and 581 ; the other between 950 and 1030. The numbers of
each group differ amongst themselves in nearly the same pro-
portion; but the second group is nearly double the first. It
must be evident at once even to the most unlearned that the
opposite statements of these different groups are founded upon
quite different data, upon quite irreconcileable principles. On
which side is the right ? or, in case both are in error, which
side comes nearest to the truth ?
The majority of ornithologists is on the side of the first, or
smaller group : — all against one ! Even the arithmetical mean
of all the statements, 578, is on the same side ! The judgment
of those who decide objective probabilities by numbers cannot
be a matter of question.
Meeting of the German Ornithologists' Society held at Stuttgardt in 1860,
of which we shall give further particulars in the next Number. — Ed.
294 Dr. J. H. Blasius on the Diversity in t/ie Estimate
On the side of the majority stands, besides all other ornitho-
logists, Brehm's * Lehrbuch,' published in 1823 ; on the other
side stands Brehm alone, in the ' Naumannia ' and the ' Vogel-
fang' of the year 1855. So far as any conflict of principles is
in question, therefore, we have to do with a struggle between
the entire science of ornithology up to the present time, and the
most recent views of Brehm. The contradictions depend essen-
tially, although not entirely, upon this conflict of principles.
The previous estimate of the European Ornis falls into two
series of very different values — the species regularly inhabiting
Europe, and those accidentally visiting that continent. The
species not regularly belonging to Europe require merely a sort
of police-notice, or domiciliation — we have simply to do with
the question whether we shall give a place in our books and
catalogues to the exotic species which may wander into Europe,
or pass them by unnoticed. If they be left unnoticed, the ques-
tion as to the estimation of the European Ornis becomes greatly
simplified.
If, as is almost universally the case, the stray immigrants arc
to be noticed, their acceptance depends simply on the proof of
their voluntary appearance in Europe, without importation.
Imported birds, or exotic birds escaped from confinement, have
no right to a place in our Ornis. The occurrence oi Spiza ciris,
L., in England, of Parra jacana, L., in the south of France, of
Nycterodius violaceus,L.,\n England, oi Pledropterus gambensis in
France, of Erismatura ferruginea, Eyton, in Belgium, of Halieus
sulcirostris, Brdt., and of many birds commonly kept in aviaries,
may remain unnoticed without the least objection.
The number of voluntary immigrants, the occurrence of which
in Europe is positively ascertained, amounts at the present mo-
ment to a little over 100 species. It has become greater nearly
every year, and may be expected to continue increasing.
These species are distributed as follows, according to their
native countries and the various natural orders : —
of the European Ornis, and its Causes.
295
Asia.
N. Africa.
N. America
1
Totals.
Rantores
0
1
20
1
1
5
5
0
8
0
0
8
10
2
3
10
1
0
12
16
7
4
38
2
1
25
30
Clamatores
Osoines
ColumbfK
Galliiisr
Grallffi
Natatores
Some few of these species occur both in the north-east of Africa
and the south-west of Asia, or in the north of Asia as well as in
North America, so as to render their origin not quite certain.
Besides these, nearly 70 other exotic species have been re-
ceived into the Eui'opean fauna by different ornithologists, with-
out the least justification ; these must be omitted in our sum-
maries.
About 25 of them were introduced as European by Bonaparte
and Brehm merely on supposition, on the ground of the possibility
of their occurrence ; as, for example,
Gyps hippellii, Br.
Aquila brehniii, Br.
Cotyle cahirica, Wurt., Br.
Turdus libonyanus, Br.
Otocorj's bicornis, Br.
Carduelis orientalis, Br.
Chrysomitris pistacina, Bp.
Corvus umbrinus, Br,
Podoces panderi, Bp.
Zenaida carolinensis, Br.
iEgialites indicus, Br.
Ilj-ljsibates leucocephalus, Br.
Totanus guttifer, Bp.
Rhyncliaca variegata, Br.
Halieus africanus, Br.
Uriacarbo, Bp.
Mormon corniculata, Bp.
&c.
Upon the arbitrary principle of such an augmentation of the
European fauna there can only be one opinion — that it is not
legitimate 1 Is not almost anything possible ? Let us wait,
therefore, until it has actually taken place.
A great many exotic species have been erroneously received
into the fauna of Europe, either by mistaking one for another,
or entirely without reason. Criticism has definitely decided
upon most of them and excluded them, but we find them for
the most part still carried on in the most recent catalogues, as
if there were no doubt about their occurrence
we reckon, —
Amongst these
296 Dr. J. H. Blasius on the Diversitij in the Estimate
Falco peregrinoides, T. Troglodytes fumigatus, T.
sparverius, L. Uragus sibiricus. Pall.
Haliaetus leucocephalus, L. Corvus dauricus, Pall.
Ulula nebulosa, Forst. ossifragus, fVils.
Caprimulgus atrovirens. Laud. Peristera semitorquata. Gin.
climacurus, Vieill. liigens, Riipp. (risoria, L.).
virginicus, Briss. Eurynorhynchus pygmteus, L.
Hirundo senegalensis, L. (ca- Ardea herodias, L.
pensis, Gm.). Buphus russatus, T.
Parus atricapillus, Gm, Pelecanus mitratus, Lieht.
bicolor, L. Dysporus melanurus, T. &c.
It would be a just requirement of tlie ornithological public
from its writers, or of the latter from themselves, that they
should only admit positively ascertained species into the fauna
of Europe, and finally consign ascertained errors to oblivion.
This certainly does not offend against any internal conviction,
or against a principle carried out to its consequences. The
question regards only a vacillation between a mere external
scrupulous completeness in name, or simple, non-critical care-
lessness, and positive adherence to fact.
It is only when we remove the whole of the exotic species, or
at least those which have been erroneously admitted, that we
can see clearly how far the different numbers of the summary
above given are caused by diversity of fundamental views, by
mutually opposed principles or requirements.
If we deduct the whole of the exotic species observed occa-
sionally in Europe, there remain in
Thienemann, ' Rhea ' 401 species
Keyserling and Blasius, ' Wirbelth.' 424 ,,
Schlegel, ' Krit. Uebersicht ' 430
Brelim, ' Lehrbuch ' 450 „
Bonaparte, ' Revue Crit.' 463 „
Des Murs, •' Traite ' 466
Bonaparte, ' Catalogue P.' 500 „
Brehm, ' Vogelfang ' 940 „
and with the subspecies 1700 „
as regular inhabitants of Europe. There is no essential change
in the proportions above given ; the statements vary from double
to quadruple the average number. Here also occurs again the
same abrupt and irreconcileable opposition of the majority of
of the European Ornis, and its Causes. 297
ornithologists to Brehm's position since the year 1855 : between
Thienemann and Bonaparte there is a difference of 100 ; between
Thienemann and Brehm of 540 species. The gap between these
numbers must have its origin in principles, or in a diversity of
views as to the separation of species.
If we examine the group of smaller numbers, we find that it
contains essentially four different sections : —
1. Thienemann, with 401 species as the minimum.
2. KeyserUng, Blasius, Schlegel, and De Selys, with 424-430 species.
3. Bonaparte, 1850, and Des Murs, with 463-466 species.
4. Bonaparte, 1856, with 500 species.
Amongst the species cited by Thienemann there are but few
that are open to doubt, — such, for example, as Sitta uralensis,
Licht.; Sylvia sarda, ^larm. ; Anthus cervinus, Pall.; Glareola
melanoptera, Nordm.; Podiceps arcticus, Hoie ; and Uria hring-
via, Briinnich, — in respect of the determination of the species,
and Ixos obscurus, T., and Lanius tschagra, Vieill., with regard
to the domicile. In the union of the Crossbills he goes very
sharply to work, but not entirely without reason. In other
unions he is decidedly wrong, — for example, in that of Circus
cineraceus, Mont., and C. pallidus, Sykes. Numerous new dis-
coveries since the year 1816 would have brought his list pretty
accurately to the position of those under No. 2. This position
is exceeded by the lists under No. 3 by about 40 species, and by
that under No. 4 by about 80 species.
Afier carefully comparing all known facts, I find that the
European Oruis consists, in round numbers, of 425 indubitable
species of birds breeding in Europe {Brdtvogeln), besides 60
varieties or races, which are frequently regarded as species, and
about 100 exotic species. These 60 varieties, which are some-
what increased in Bonaparte's Catalogue, form the still doubtful
specific element in the European fauna, if we follow the majority
of ornithologists. They constitute almost exactly the eighth part
of the total valuation. By the application of rigorous principles
the number may be still greatly reduced.
Up to the year 1820, and, with few exceptions, even up to
the year 1840, ornithology, in its conception of species, was
developed exactly in analogy with the rules followed in other
VOL. III. X
298 Dr. J. H. Blasius on the Diversity in the Estimate
branches of zoology. The sph'it of Linne, Pallas^ and Cuvier
ruled the entire domain of zoology. As soon as ornithology
hastened forward with moi'e rapid strides, it began to emancipate
itself from other branches of zoology, and struck, as regards
the conception of species, into a totally different course. The
majority of ornithologists of note troubled themselves but little,
or not at all, with other departments of zoology ; they found no
check upon their efforts in the stricter conception of the other
classes of animals ; their conception of species became constantly
more and more isolated and, in course of time, looser and less care-
ful in comparison with the prevailing zoological procedure.
For a long time Brehm was the only ornithologist who fol-
lowed this bolder conception as a matter of principle. Towards
the close of the year 1840, Bonaparte also gradually acquired
the same taste ; but he never went so far as that he could have
formed a bridge between Brehm and the other ornithologists.
In his fundamental views he entirely belonged to the opposite
school in ornithology, and vacillated only as to the signification of
some local races differing in colour, but similar in form. Gloger,
Schlegel, and Thieuemann still endeavoured to maintain the old
classical zoological point of view.
If we examine the ornithological species-question from this
zoological point of view, the gap between the two extreme
schools becomes still more distinctly marked. Of the above-
mentioned 60 doubtful forms, which are regarded by most zoo-
logists as varieties, by many ornithologists at different times as
species, about 50 would decidedly have to be united with the
allied forms. Scarcely ten of these forms would remain as still
fluctuating zoologically. According to the views which have
hitherto been followed practically by Schlegel, Gloger, and
Thienemann, to which I may add my own, the European Ornis
would consist of about 425 certain species, 10 doubtful forms,
and 100 exotic immigrants.
On the other hand, Brehm, in his " Vogelfang," cites, besides
these 420 certain species, 520 others, of which the boldest orni-
thologists of the opposite party mention 60 at the outside, and
besides these again, nearly 1400 subspecies. The number of
species not certainly well founded with Brehm is fifty times,
of the European Ornis, audits Causes. 299
and that of the subspecies one hundred and forty times, as great
as with those ornithologists who form their opinions in accord-
ance with strict zoological notions.
Reichenbach and Brehm assert that the notion of the species
is subjective : whoever requires a more convincing proof, over-
leaps the bounds of discretion.
Strictly speaking, the only objectively distinct forms presented
by nature are the individuals. All further conceptions are sub-
jective views — separations on account of differences observed or
supposed to be observed. These differences belong objectively
to animals ; their estimation and relative valuation is exclusively
a subjective affair. It is a matter of subjective choice whether
we separate the Ostrich -like birds from the other birds as a
distinct class, or unite them with them ; it is a matter of sub-
jective choice whether we separate the Herons as an order from
the other Grall^e, and the Ducks from the other Natatores, or
place them together; it is a matter of subjective choice whether
we leave the Linnean genera Falco and Strix in their original
condition, or break them up into many genera, and so forth.
Lastly, it is a matter of subjective choice whether we separate
individuals as species, which only differ from each other by a
different state of plumage or a diffei'ent coloration, — e. g. Hali-
aetus leucorypkus, Pall, [unicolor, Gray), and H. macei, Temm.,
or Larus heinei, Hom., and L. canus, L., or jEgialites homeyeri,
Br., and yE. hiaticula, L. ; one of them may be converted into
the other in time. It is a matter of subjective choice whether
or no we separate Charadrius pardela, Pall., from C. hypome-
lanus, Pall. In the case of living animals we need onlj'^ wait a
few mouths to see how, in the same individual, the one bird
becomes converted into the other. It is a matter of subjective
choice to separate Alauda semitoi'quata, Br., from A. tartarica,
Pall., as the one form agrees exactly with the female of the
other. In the above-mentioned cases I believe it is possible to
come to a perfectly concordant view, although at present this
does not exist throughout. Nature presents conditions which
may bi'ing about a common conception ; but she also presents
objective differences, which in separate individuals have, in fact,
caused the young, or the female, or the winter dress to be re-
x2
300 Dr. J. H. Blasius on the Diversity in the Estimate
garded as specifically distinct. In these cases coloration is less
decisive than the force of the conditions of life and develop-
ment; where the latter are not known, it would be well to de-
pend rather on the form than on the colour. Mergus merganser
has been met with paired with Anas clangula ; it would be sub-
jective and arbitrary, but possible, and therefore, from the sub-
jective point of view, also justifiable, to regard the two as one
species. In this case also we should have to depend rather on
the form than on the isolated objective fact.
Whoever regards the notion of the species as subjective is
empirically right ; biit whoever thereby means to deny to the idea
of species any objective foundation, is certainly in error. The
dictum " the species is subjective'^ has therefore truly no signifi-
cation at all. Any one may with equal right assert the opposite.
The objective data for the practical application of the idea of
species lie in the general nature of the animal — in the form, size,
marking and coloration, in the manifestations of life, in the de-
velopment and reproduction of the animal. We know that not
a single one of these peculiarities in one and the same species is
rigidly concluded at a single point, — we know that in all pro-
perties variations may occur in one and the same species. For
the idea of the species, it is, in fact, requisite that concordance
should occur within the limits of such vacillations, which cannot
be established a priori ; but that with respect to all other species,
a sharply-defined boundary, free from all gradual transitions,
must occur. When both these objective conditions are fulfilled,
we are justified in ranging any totality of individuals under the
same specific idea.
The objective specific conditions may be fulfilled in very dif-
ferent ways and in very different degrees. Whoever makes very
small requirements, and judges from an isolated peculiarity
which has acquired no significance in the totality of the organism
(separating, for example, the young or the female from the old
male, the small Sparrow-Hawk from the large one, the brown
Screech-Ovvl from the grey, or the grey-capped House-Sparrow
from the brown-headed one), is of course subjectively justified in
making species ; but his species possess a less degree of objective
justification than those established in accordance with more rigor-
of the European Ornis, and its Causes. 301
ous requirements. The principle of the separation of species is
in all cases essentially the same ; in respect of its practical ap-
plication, we can only hold different views as to the degree of
requirement, and this diversity is purely subjective.
The abrupt gap between the two schools is considerably en-
larged, if we differ also in the principle and not merely in the
degree of requirement. The dominant zoology universally assumes
that different species must be actually different in their pro-
perties— that is to say, separated by well-defined limits in their
characters. This, however, is not theoretically the view of the
freer unbridled ornithology. In this it stands as a theoretical
principle that nature everywhere presents transitions between
species, as between subspecies. With this therefore every kind
of objective conception falls to the ground. The only means of
comprehension that remains consists in the comparison of in-
dividuals lying before the observer. The ornithology which pro-
ceeds on the principle of allowing universal transition, and sets
lax requirements on the species, runs the danger of becoming
incapable of being checked by others, and thereby necessarily
renouncing all further influence in favour of a deviation. It is
throughout of a subjective nature, and therefore not com-
municable.
From this it follows, in my opinion, that it must remain with-
out results, as, indeed, it has hitherto done, to dispute as to the
boundaries of species in the two distinct ornithological schools.
All that can be done towards an elucidation is to indicate the
irreconcileable degree of the diversity in the two tendencies and
to establish a synonymy for both views.
Both the digressing sects do well when they avoid all disputes ;
when they at the utmost confine themselves to ascertaining what
objective matter of fact runs parallel to the two different sub-
jective views. This is the only question on which unity can be
attained on both sides, although not to the satisfaction of both
parties.
All that the ornithologists with more rigid requirements can
do in this direction for the advancement of their science is that
they should come to an understanding among themselves as to
the way in which the so-called local races, about fifty in number,
302 Recent Ornithological Publications.
had better be regarded, — that they should bring together the
material which is still necessary to enable them to come to a
final judgment upon about ten still uncertain forms, — and that
they should subject any exotic immigrants to be added to the
fauna to a strict criticism.
On these points it appears to me that a concordant judgment
may be arrived at.
XXXI. — Recent OrnitJwluyical Publications^.
1. English Publications.
Sir John Uichardson's volume on the Polar Regions f con-
tains a notice of the birds met with in Spitzbergen (p. 210), and
a short chapter devoted to the Zoology of the Arctic Circle ge-
nerally. " Excluding merely the points where the woods cross
the Arctic Circle," says the author, p. 278, " the polar region
presents a uniformity in its native birds in all meridians. All
the birds that frequent the high latitudes are natives, and,
though their stay at the breeding-places does not exceed three
months, they are to be considered as merely visitors in the
southern regions, which they traverse in going and coming du-
ring the remaining nine months of the year." This, we believe,
is pretty nearly true, as far as it goes ; but a really good and
succinct account of Arctic Zoology is still a desideratum, and
would form a very acceptable addition to our knowledge of geo-
graphical distribution.
We do not propose here to enter into the general merits of
Mr. Du Chaillu^s account of his travels in Equatorial AfricaJ.
That his work has produced much hostile criticism our readers
are well aware. But no ornithologist, who is acquainted with
the progress of his favourite science during the past few years,
* Want of space has compelled us to defer the notice of several works
until the next Number. — Ed.
■\ The Polar Regions. By Sir John Richardson. Edinburgh, 1861,
1 vol. 8vo.
X Explorations and Adventures in Equatorial Africa. By Paul B. Du
Chaillu. London, 1861.
Recent Ornithological Publications. 303
can be ignorant that Mr. Du Chaillu has discovered some re-
markable novelties in the order of Birds, whatever he may have
done in Mammals. In this branch of his investigations, how-
ever, he has had the advantage of the services of Mr. John Cas-
sin, the well-known Ornithologist of the iicademy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia, who has thoroughly worked at his
specimens, and has been able to discriminate between what was
really new, and what were merely more perfect examples of
already named species. Mr. Du Chaillu's narrative contains
several notices concerning some of the more important species
which he discovered, to which we must call our readers' at-
tention.
The new Guinea-fowl {Numida plumifera^) "is very shy, but
marches in large flocks through the woods, where the traveller
hears its loud voice. It utters a kind of ' quack,' hoarse and
discordant, like the voices of other Guinea-fowls. It avoids the
path left by travellers ; but its own tracks are met everywhere
in the woods it frequents, as the flock scratch and tear up the
ground wherever they stop. It is strong of wing, and sleeps by
night on the tops of high trees, a flock generally roosting toge-
ther on the same tree. When surprised by the hunter they do not
fly in a body, but scatter in every direction. Thus it is a diffi-
cult bird to get, and the natives do not often get a shot at it."
Of the Phasidus niger, remarkable as being the nearest ap-
proach in the iEthiopian fauna to anything like a true Gallus or
Phasianus, Mr.DuChaillu tells us that when he met with it for the
first time in the woods, he thought he saw before him a domestic
fowl. " The natives have noticed the resemblance too, as their
name for it shows — couba iga, signifying wild-fowl. Wild they
are, and most difficult to approach ; and also rare even in the
forests where they are at home. They are not found at all on
the sea-coast, and do not appear until the traveller reaches the
* For a good figure of this species and the Phasidus niger, see ' Journal
of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia,' new series, vol. iv.
pis. 2 & 3. In the same work (pi. 49) are also representations of two
beautiful Meropidce discovered by Mr. Du Chaillu, Meropogon breweri
and Meropiscus midleri ; aud in the following plate are figured some very
remarkable species of Muscicapidee.
304 Recent Ornithological Puhlications.
range of fifty or sixty miles from the coast. Even there they are
so rare that, though I looked out for them constantly, I killed
but three in all my expeditions. They are not gregarious, like
the Guinea-fowl, but wander through the woods — a male, and
one, or, at most, two females in company. They are very watch-
ful, and fly off to retreats in the woods at the slightest alarm.''
Another remarkable type, for the discovery of which we are
indebted to Mr. Du Chaillu's exei'tions, is the Alethe castanea,
belonging to the Ant-eating series of the Old World, whieh em-
braces Lxos and its allies. Of this bird we find the following
notice, p. 273 : —
" Hunting in the rear of the village, on the 15th, I shot a
curious bird, the Alethe castanea, a new species. It is said by
the natives to have a devil in it — for what reason I could not
discover; probably for none. But its habits make it singular.
They fly in a small flock, and follow industriously the Bashikouay
ants in their marches about the country. The bird is insecti-
vorous ; and when the Bashikouay army routs before it the
frightened grasshoppers and beetles, the bird, like a regular
camp-follower, pounces on the prey, and carries it off. I think
it does not eat the Bashikouay."
Mr. Du Chaillu likewise confirms (p. 131) what Dr. Hartlaub
has previously reported, on the authority of Pel, as to the habits
of Gypohierax atigolensis, that they are those of the Fishing-Eagles
{Halia'etus) .
2. French Publications.
We have seen the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th numbers of MM.
Jaubert and Barthelemy La-Pommeraye's ' Richesscs Ornitholo-
giques de Midi de la France,' of which we have already noticed
the first part (' Ibis,' 1859, p. 201). They contain much useful
information to the student of the European Avifauna.
M. Salle has printed a carefully-prepared sale-list of his
Mexican birds*, which we are sure he will willingly forward to
any of our correspondents who may desire to consult it. M.
* l>iste d'Oiseaux a vendre provenant dcs chasses faites en Amerique.
Par M. A. Salle, 1.3 Rue Guv de la Brosse, ^ Paris.
Recent Ornithological Publications. 305
Emile Parzudaki^s ' Catalogue des Trochilides ' is another printed
list of the same character, which those ornithologists who are
studying the group of Humming-birds would do well to apply
for. M. Parzudaki has a very large series of skins of this group
of birds on sale.
3. Russian and Scandinavian Publications.
Herr Magnus von Wright's "■ Birds of Finland* " of which
the title was mentioned in our January Number ('Ibis/ 1861,
p. Ill), forms the fifth part of the 'Bidrag till Finlands Na-
turkannedom, Etnografi och Statistik,' issued by the Finnisli
Scientific Society, and, as far as it goes, — for the part published
only comprehends the Land-Birds, — will be found a very useful
account of the ornithology of that country. As might be ex-
pected, the character of the Avifauna of each side of the Baltic
is very much the same, and we think the author has done well
in making such constant reference to Nilsson's well-known
' Skandinavisk Fauna.' But, according to Herr von Wright,
thirty-two species occur in Sweden or Norway which have not
been met with in Finland, though further observation will no
doubt tend to reduce this inequality, since several birds of
Asiatic origin have never been obtained in the latter country,
though they must probably have passed through it to reach the
other shore of the Gulf of Bothnia. Among these we may
instance the two species of Oreocincla, 0. aurea and O. heinei,
Bp. (the latter erroneously called by our author Turdus lumdatus),
Parus cyamis, Emberiza aureola and Turtur rupicola (Pall.), and
Columba gelastes, Temm., the last of which may perhaps be ex-
pected some day in England. Of birds of southern or western
range which do not seem to reach Finland, the more noticeable
are Faico milvus, F. rufus, Sti-ix noctua, S. aluco, and S. flammea,
Sylvia luscinia, S. tithys, S. locustella, and S. arundinacea, Mota-
cilla boarula, Saxicola rubicola, Regulus ignicapillus, Emberiza
miliaria, Picus viridis and P. medius, Alcedo ispida, Merops
apiaster, and Columba livia.
* Finlauds Foglar, hufvudsakligen till deres diagter, bcskiifna af
Magnus voii Wright. Forra Afdelningen. Helsingfors--, Finnska Littera-
tui-siillskapets Tryckeri, 1859. 8vo, pp. 315.
306 Recent Ornithological Publications.
The only species included by our author, which he says has
not been noticed either in Sweden or Norway, is Falco ater ; and
this can scarcely be said to be a Finnish bird, though it occurs
in tolerable plenty from the neighbourhood of Lake Onega
northwards to Archangel.
We notice with pleasure (page 97 et seq.) the acknowledg-
ment willingly rendered to the services of our countrymen, the
late Mr. Wolley, and Mr. H. Dresser (the latter in company with
two Finnish gentlemen), in discovering the nidification of the
Waxwing {Ampelis garndus, L.), of which the particulars have
been given at length in this Journal.
Herr von Wright thinks himself justified in considering the
Titmouse of Scandinavia, usually known as Parus sibiricus, di-
stinct from the Siberian bird to which that name was applied
by Gmelin, and accordingly continues to the former (the Euro-
pean one) Lundahl's appellation of P. lapponicus^.
The work is written in Swedish, which is an additional re-
commendation, as had it been in the Finnish language it must
have remained almost a sealed book to naturalists, few of
whom we should imagine have time to spend in mastering the
grammar of a tongue in which the nouns have thirteen cases !
The volume of Scientific Communications published by the
Natural- History Union of Copenhagen, for the past yearf, con-
tains (page 306) a paper by Professor J. Reinhardt on the
example of Syrrhaptes paradoxus which was shot in Jutland,
as has before been mentioned in our pages (' Ibis,^ 1860, p. 109,
7iote), and also (page 335) a notice of some recent additions to
the ornithology of Greenland, all of which, however, are included
in the valuable list of the birds of that country, with which that
learned naturalist has enriched our present volume.
* Sallsk. pro F. et Fl. Fenn. F5ihandl. 1848, p. 1.
t Videnskabelige Meddelelser fia dea naturhistoriske Forening i Kjo-
benhavn, for Aaret 1860. Udgivne af Selskabets Bestyrelse. Andet Aarties
anden Aargang. Kjobenlia\Ti, 1861.
Letters, Extracts from Cori'esjjondence, Notices, ^c. 307
XXXII. — Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, Sfc.
We have received the following letter : —
To the Editor of ' The Ibis.'
Foidingbridge, June 1st, 1861.
SiRj — Since my letter to you in February, which appeared in
the last Number of ' The Ibis/ I have had an opportunity of
inspecting- the third edition of Mr. Hewitson^s work on the
Eggs of British Birds, and now beg to offer a few remarks,
which, I hope, may result in the acquisition of a reliable list of
British birds, properly so called.
Species.
There are figured in the 3rd edition of He witson 286
Enumerated in 'The Ibis ' List of Desiderata 35
321
But we must deduct the Snowy Owl and Bewick's Swan, as they
are figured in Hewitson and also occur in ' The Ibis ' List of
Desiderata 2
319
In the ' Zoologist' List, and not occurring in Hewitson, or 'The
Ibis' List of Desiderata, there are 34
In the 3rd edition of Yanell, but not in the above ' Ibis,' ' Zoolo-
gist,' or Hewitson's Lists 5
Noticed in ' The Ibis ' and in none of the above Lists 2
Total number of Birds regarded as British by various authorities 360
Now, there is no doubt that all Hewitson^s figures of eggs
are those of British birds, and that all the birds in ' The Ibis '
List of Desiderata are really British. In order somewhat to nar-
row the point at issue, I will now enumerate those species which
occur in the ' Zoologist ' list, in the 3rd edition of ' Yarrell,' and
in the last two Numbers of * The Ibis,^ but which are not men
tioned in the 3rd edition of Hewitson, or in ' The Ibis ' List of
Desiderata, as amongst these must be found those which, without
sufficient reason, have obtained a place in the British list — some,
perhaps, through mistake, some on slender evidence, and some
in consequence of having been improperly regarded as distinct
species.
The following list must also of necessity contain those spe-
308 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, i§c.
cies of British birds whose eggs have been discovered since the
3rd edition of Hewitson was pubhshed ; and these were stated
to be at least eight in number, in ' The Ibis ' for October 1859.
List of Birds occurring in the '
in Hewitson' s Srd edition, or
1. Greenland Falcon.
2. Rufous Sedge Warbler.
3. Bohemian Waxwing.
4. American Cuckoo.
5. Belted Kingfisher.
6. Purple Martin.
7. Passenger Pigeon.
8. Sand Grouse.
9. Barbar\' Partridge.
10. Cream-coloured Courser.
11. Andalusian Hemipode.
12. Little Egret.
13. Buff-backed Heron.
14. Squacco Heron.
15. American Bittern.
16. Yellow-shanks Sandpiper.
1 7. Bartram's Sandpiper.
18. Sabine's Snipe.
19. North American Stint.
20. Mate Swan.
21. Polish Swan.
22. Bimaculated Duck.
23. Surf Scoter.
Zoologist ' List, but not mentioned
The Ibis ' List of Desiderata.
24. Red-crested Duck.
25. Paget's Pochard.
26. Smew.
27. Hooded Merganser.
28. Ringed Guillemot.
29. Swift Tern.
30. Sooty Tern.
31. White-winged Black Tern.
32. Masked Gull.
33. Laughing Gull.
34. Dusky Shearwater.
Mr. Yarrell.
35. American Mottled Owl.
36. Red-winged Starhng.
37. Great Spotted Cuckoo.
38. Virginian Quail.
39. American Scaup.
In ' Ibis.'
40. Serine Finch.
41. American Meadow Starling.
Now, Sir, if you, or any of your valued conti'ibutors, will
inform me, in the next Number of * The Ibis,^ or in any other
way, how many of the forty-one species enumerated above ought
to be considered British, and at the same time how many of the
forty-one species have had their eggs discovered since the 3rd
edition of Hewitson was published, I shall feel greatly obliged.
I may add, in conclusion, that I think * The Ibis ' List of
Desiderata is capable of a little legitimate enlargement. Take,
for instance, Sabine's Snipe, which certainly, as I believe, has
undoubted claims to rank as a British bird, and, so far as I
know, the egg of which has not yet been obtained. Neverthe-
less this bird, which " does not seem to have fallen into the hands
Letters, Extracts from Correspondencey Notices, S^-c. 309
of any naturalist out of the British Islands */' finds no place in
*The Ibis' List of Desiderata f.
Yours, &c., Beaven Rake.
A letter, addressed to the Editor by Mr. J. J. Monteiro, who
has already done good service in Angolan J ornithology, is dated
from the province of Cambambe, Angola, February 6th, 1861,
and says, —
*' I have only time to pen these few lines to inform you
that I am well, and that, despite the rainy season (now at its
thickest), I have already managed to preserve thirty skins of dif-
ferent species of birds. Nearly the whole are different from those
I collected and noticed before at Bembe. Amongst the skins
are several which I think are new, and all are very beautiful.
Amongst those I suppose new is a Great Kingfisher from the
River Quanza (Coanza of English maps). None of the descrip-
tions of Kingfishers in Swainson's ' Birds of Africa ' (the only
work I have at present with me) accord with my specimen.
Another good piece of news is, that ' Plantain Eaters,' and said
to be of several species, abound within a few miles of my present
locality, and so ' get-at-able ' that I have already purchased two
live specimens of the Corythuix erxjthrolophus, of which one is
in perfect health, and the other dead. As soon as the rainy
season is over, I will obtain more skins, and very likely some
new species.
" Please send my kindest regards to Dr. Hartlaub, and tell
him that it would do him and you good to come and spend a
few months on the magnificent river Coanza — magnificent not
so much in size or body of water, as in vegetation, scenery, and
ornithology.
" I am, unfortunately, removed from the vicinity of its finest
part, which is as far as Cambambe (the fort and station of),
though within a very few miles north of its unnavigable part. I
am about thirty to forty miles west of Pungo Andongo."
* Vide Yarrell's British Birds, 2ad edit. p. 42.
t Sabine's Snipe is considered, we believe, by the best authorities to be
merely a melanism of the Common Snipe. — Ed.
+ Cf. P. Z. S. 1860, p. loy.
310 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, ifc.
Mr. Wallace's letters from Ternate (of December 10th, 1800),
enclosing the valuable paper already given [antea, p. 383), con-
tain several passages which may interest our readers : —
" I do not like the figure of Semioptera waU.acii : the shoulder-
plumes are not sufficiently erected; neither is the contrast of
colour between the pure whiteness and the dark silky ash of the
back sufficiently marked."
" The Dutch have just sent out a collector for the Leyden
Museum to the Moluccas. He is now at Ternate, and goes to
spend two years in Gilolo and Batchian, and then to N. Guinea.
He will, of course (having four hunters constantly employed,
and not being obliged to make his collecting pay expenses), do
much more than I have been able to do ; but I think I have got
the cream of it all. His name is Bernstein ; he has resided long
in Java, as doctor at a Sanatorium, and tells me he has already
sent large collections to Leyden, including the nests and eggs
of more than a hundred species of birds ! Are these yet arranged
and exhibited ? They must form a most interesting collection *.
" Many thanks for your list of Parrots f. My collections
already furnish many corrections of the localities. Allow me
here to make a remark on the constant changes of specific
names by yourself and Mr. Gray. It strikes me that, by forcing
the law of priority to its extreme limits, you create a complicated
synonymy, instead of settling it. Was not that law made to
decide among several names already in use — not to introduce
diversity where uniformity of nomenclature has hitherto existed ?
What is gained by changing Eclectus linnm into E. cardinalis,
and Paradisea superba into P. atra, when it is almost certain
that such changes will not be generally adopted ? I believe the
synonymy of Natural History will never be settled till a tribunal
shall be appointed by general assent, from whose decrees there
shall be no appeal. It matters absolutely nothing whether a
bird has one name or another ; but it is of the utmost importance
that it should not have two or three at once. A syuonyraical
catalogue, which should be authoritative and final by the general
* These have been described at length in two articles in Cabanis'
'Journal fur Ornithologie,' which we have already noticed (' Ibis,' 1860,
pp. 94 & 299). t See P. Z. S. 1860, p. 223.
Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, ^c. 311
consent of naturalists in congress assembled, would be a work
worthy of the century. Let ornithologists be the first in the
field, and the other -ologists will soon follow."
" The Cockatoos puzzle me greatly. You make my Lombock
sp. C. cequatorialis, which Temminck says is peculiar to N. Gilolo
and N. Celebes. Do you make it a synonym of C. sulphurea,
which you do not mention?* You will see small specimens of a
Cockatoo from Mysol, which I thought were C. cequatorialis. I
have just received a very small specimen from Gilolo, bearing the
same relation to C. cristata that C. sulphurea does to C. triton.
It will be, I suppose, quite new.^'
" The larger and smaller specimens of Megapodius from Mysol
are also curious. In colour they are exactly alike ; but the size
of the bill and feet is so different that they must be distinct.
Between the Ti-ichoglossus of Amboyna and Ceram and that of the
Papuan Islands I can discover no difference, and I suspect that T.
nigrigularis of G. R. Gray must be suppressed. You have left
out Lorius domicella altogether from your list, giving L. tricolor
to Amboyna in its place, which latter is wholly Papuan. Eos
cyanostriata is a native of Timor-laut ; and of Eos reticulata and
squamata I saw nothing in Amboyna and Cerara, and believe
they do not exist there. Aprosmictus amboinensis is a species
strictly confined to Ceram, which you have not given. It is
quite distinct from the A. dorsalis of New Guinea. The Psitta-
cidce of the Solomon Islands seem so exactly representative of
those of New Guinea and the Moluccas, as to show that they
must be included in the Papuan subregion, and (if true Lories
are not found in New Caledonia) will mark its eastern limits.
New Ireland and the eastern parts of New Guinea no doubt
still contain many fine things in this group."
The last letters received by Mr. S. Stevens from Mr. Wallace
are dated Delli in Timor, February 6th, 1861, and state that he
had been there a month, and intended waiting two moi-e. The
country was barren, and, Australia-like, poor in insects ; but
birds were tolerably abundant, though not of very fine species.
* No. C. sulphurea is certainly separable, and it is probable that the
Lombock bird belongs to this form ; the Timor species being, according to
Temminck, the true C. sulphurea. — P. L. S.
312 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, ^'c.
Mr. Gould informs us that the Night-Heron of the Falkland
Islands, which we have hitherto termed N. gardeni^, and con-
cerning which Capt. Abbott has written an interesting note in
our last Number, is not the same as the North-American bird, as
we had imagined from Mr. Gould himself having called it Nycti-
corax americanus (see P. Z. S. 1859, p. 96), but belongs to the
darker-coloured species found in the southern parts of South
America, Nycticorax obscurus, Licht., Bp. Consp. ii. p. 141.
With regard to the Larus roseiventris of the Falkland Islands
(p. 1G6), we have endeavoured to solve the question of its specific
validity by sending a specimen to the Berlin Museum, whence
Dr. Cabanis has obligingly furnished us with the following note
respecting the species : —
" Lai-us roseiventris of Gould cannot be confounded with L.
maculipennis of Lichtensteiu [Mouette blanche, Azar. ?j, because
L. maculipennis has the greater part of the wings black, only
spotted with white.
" Larus albipennis, Licht., is identical with L. glaucotes, Meyen,
the only diflference being that Meyen's original example is rather
smaller. I can find no specific distinction.
" Larus roseiventi-is, therefore, has only to be compared with
L. glaucotes, Meyen. These two birds are very much alike, but
may perhaps be considered separable, as forms belonging re-
spectively to the eastern and western coasts. L. roseiventris
diff'ers in its somewhat smaller size, in its remarkably smaller
and shorter bill, shorter feet, and its underside not being pure
white, but tinged with rose-colour.''
In part i. of the ' Journal fiir Ornithologie ' for this year, G.
von Rosenberg of Amboyna announces the discovery of a new
species of Cassowary in the island of Salawattie, which he pro-
poses to call C. kaupi. It has no ivattles, and appears to be quite
distinct from the several other species of this genus which have
lately been described under the names C. bennettii, C. uniappen-
diculatus, and C. bicarunculatus.
* See P.Z. S. 1860, p. 387, and ' Ibis,' 1861, p. 15/.
bj5.l861.P].7.
J WolF del
J Jennens.iiUi.
M.&B.HanharUny.
ACCIPITER PECTORAL! 5.
THE IBIS.
No. XII. OCTOBER 1861.
XXXIII. — On a rare Species of Hawk, of the Genm Accipiter,
from South America. By P. L. Sclater.
{Plate X.)
The accompanying illustration is a reduction from an original
water-colour drawing by Mr. Wolf, belonging to Mr. J. H.
Gurney's portfolio, and represents a little-known species of
Hawk, of the genus Accipiter, which I propose to call Accipiter
pectoralis. This scarce bird has never been properly described,
but has been alluded to by Prince Bonaparte, in an article en-
titled " Revue Generale de la Classe des Oiseaux," in the * Revue
et Magasin de Zoologie^ for 1850 (p. 474 et seq.), in the fol-
lowing terms: —
" Mais la plus belle espece d'Accipitrien est sans contredit
celle que nous venous de retrouver dans le Musee d'Anvers,
sous le nom de F. pectoralis, Cuv. {Buteo pectoralis"^ Vieill.).
Quoique indiquee comme venant de I'Inde, elle vient du Bresil,
et rappelle, par son plumage, le Spizaetus ornatus. Sa taille est
celle de mon Astur cooperi; le dessus de la tete et le dos sont
noirs ; la gorge blanche; le haut du cou et la poitrine d'un roux
pur ; le ventre blanc, barre de taches noires ; la queue cendree,
traversee de quatre bandes noires.^'
Besides the example in the Museum of Antwerp thus spoken
of by Prince Bonaparte, the only specimens of this Hawk which,
as far as I know, exist in European collections, are in the Derby
Museum at Liverpool. From one of them Mr. WolPs figure
VOL. III. Y
314 Capt. Blakiston on Birds collected and observed
was taken ; and from the same bird, which has been kindly sub-
mitted to my examination by Mr. T. J. Moore, the Curator of
this celebrated collection, I have drawn up the following short
characters, which, when taken in conjunction with Mr. WolPs
figure, will, I hope, be sufficient to render the species recognizable
without much difficulty.
ACCIPITER PECTORALIS.
Falco pectoralis, in Mus. Antverpiauo.
Supra niger, dorsi et scapularium tectricumque plumis albo mar-
ginatis, pileo nigro immaculato : torque collari postico et
capitis lateribus rufis : remigibus obscure fuscis : cauda
nigra, albo quater fasciata : subtus albus, plaga rictali et
striga mediali gutturis nigris ; pectore rufo, albo variegato :
ventre toto albo nigroque transfasciato : rostro nigro, pedibus
flavicantibus : long, tota 17, alse 10*2, tarsi 2"3, rostri a
rictu I'l poll. Angl. et dec.
Hab. (ut dicitur) in America meridionali.
Mus. Antverp. et Derbiano.
The two examples of this bird in the Derby Museum (No. 393
and 393, a) were purchased by the late Lord Derby from
Mr. Gould, in September 1841. They have no locality marked
upon them. The species is very remarkable as being so nearly
a miniature, as regards general appearance, of Spizaetus omatus,
although certainly a true Accipitrine. The wings reach to about
one-half of the length of the tail ; the third, fourth, and fifth
primaries are nearly equal and longest.
XXXIV. — On Birds collected and observed in the Interior of
British North America. By Captain Blakiston, R.A. (Part I.)
By the " Interior of British North America," I mean that portion
of the continent lying to the north-west of Canada which may
be said to be bounded by the western base of the Rocky Moun-
tains, the 49th parallel of north latitude, Canada, Hudson^sBay,
and the Arctic Sea, and which has hitherto usually gone by the
somewhat indefinite appellation of the " Hudson's Bay Company's
Territories " and the " Fur Countries."
Rather than give localities which require some amount of
geographical knowledge to make out, I have referred to the great
in the Interior of British North America, 315
physical features of this region in the following manner : — " Hud-
son's Bay " means the coast of that bay ; " between Hudson's Bay
and Lake Winipeg/' the densely wooded region to the east of
that lake ; " Saskatchewan Plains," the high prairie-plains be-
tween the north branch of that river and the international
boundary ; " Lower Saskatchewan/' the country bordering that
river below its forks ; and " Red River Settlement," the settle-
ment on the river of the same name which flows into the
south end of Lake Winipeg.
The observations here do not extend beyond the western edge
of the Rocky Mountains ; whence to the Pacific a distinct fauna
and flora prevail, which cannot be included with the present.
Most of the specimens I have collected are in the Royal Artil-
lery Institution at Woolwich, where they can be inspected by any
ornithologist. The nomenclature adopted is that given in Pro-
fessor Baird's recent Report on the Birds of North America, un-
less the contrary is stated.
Order ACCIPITRES.
L Falco ANATUM. 2 No. 48. A female, from Saskatchewan
Plains, on Bow River, near Rocky Mountains, August 6th, 1858.
Length 19 in., wing 14. Eye brown, feet yellow, bill blue
horn-colour, cere yellow.
This species, although extending from Greenland to Cuba,
has not yet been found on the Pacific slope of North America ;
and Professor Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, considers
that the locality of my specimen (longitude 115° W.) is the
most westerly yet ascribed to this bird. F. nigriceps takes its
place on the Pacific, but may probably be found in the district
of Mackenzie River in the far north, where the Rocky Mountains
do not appear to offer so great an impediment to the mingling
of the fauna and flora of the two sides of the continent as is the
ease to the southward.
2. Falco columbarius. 6 No. 64. 2 No. 65. North branch
Saskatchewan River, April 6th, 1858. Male: length 11| in.,
wing 7|, tail 5. Legs and feet yellow, claws black; bill horn-
colour, greenish towards the base.
X (NT
316 Capt. Blakiston on Birds collected and observed
Female: same date. Length 13^ in., wing 81, tail 5f. Legs
and feet somewhat duller yellow than male, bill same colour as
male, and cere greenish yellow. These two specimens had large
intestinal worms, but were in very good condition.
No. 117 S . Forks of the Saskatchewan, May 25th, 1858.
Length 11^ in., wing 7|, tail 5. Feet, cere, and space round the
eye bright yellow, bill bluish horn-colour. Female shot at the
same nest : length 12| in., wing 8^, tail 5|. Feet, cere, and space
round the eye bright yellow. The nest of these birds was placed
ten feet from the ground in a clump of willows and aspen, and
contained four eggs.
The Pigeon Hawk appears to be as abundant and widely
distributed in the northern as in the temperate regions of North
America, where it is found to range from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. Sir John Richardson mentions it as common on the
coasts of Hudson's Bay, and I can bear testimony to the same
fact in the interior.
It is curious that in both pairs of birds mentioned above, which
I examined carefully, long intestinal worms were found.
In my collection are three eggs of this species, with the male
bird belonging to the nest. M. Bourgeau, the indefatigable bo-
tanist of Captain Palliser's late exploring expedition, obtained a
female specimen and eggs.
3. AsTUR ATRiCAPiLLUS, $ No. 89. Forks of Saskatchewan
River, May 7th, 1858. Length 24 in., wing 13|, tail 11. Bill
blue horn-colour, feet light dull yellow, cere light greenish yellow,
eye reddish orange. Shot off the nest, which contained four eggs.
No. 13 6 young. Saskatchewan River, October 14th, 1857.
Length 22| in., wing 13. Eye bright yellow, feet and cere light
dirty greenish yellow.
My specimens of theAmei-ican Goshawk agree in measurements
with the dimensions given by Professor Baird ; but the total
lengths given in ' Fauna Bor.-Am.' are considerably greater,
which leads me to think that they are measurements of the pre-
served specimens. I take this opportunity of stating that all
the measurements given by me, which can be influenced by the
process of preparation, are from the specimens before skinning ;
and that the colours of the different parts which change after
in the Interior of British North America. 317
death, unless otherwise stated, have been taken at the time of
the bird being killed. Moreover, the sex, if inserted, has been
ascertained by dissection.
4. AcciPiTER cooPERii. $ No. 114. Forks of Saskatchewan
River, May 21st, 1858. Length 19 in., wing 9|, tail 8|. Cere
light yellowish green, feet yellow, bill blue horn-colour.
The first notice of Cooper's Hawk from the interior of Bi'itish
North America is here recorded ; it was obtained by M. Bour-
geau, and belonged to a nest in a balsam poplar, from which he
procured two eggs of a bluish-white colour, which measured 1'8
to 1*9 in, by 1'4. The eyes were damaged by shot, but the irides
appeared to have been orange. I have no other particulars of
this species, which appears to be much commoner on the Atlantic
coast of the United States.
5. AcciPiTER Fuscus. $ No. 101. Forks of Saskatchewan
River, May 15th, 1858. Length 13 in., wing 7|. Eye orange,
feet and cere yellow.
No. 165. Thirty miles south of Fort Edmonton, Sept. 27th,
1858. Length 14^ in., wing 8^.
6. BuTEO SWAINSONI. 6 No. 78. Forks of Saskatchewan
River, May 5th, 1858. Length 21 in., wing 15|, tail 8. Feet
yellow, cere hght yellow, bill bluish horn-colour.
Another male, Saskatchewan Plains, May 4th, 1858. Length
20 in., wing 15|. Eye chocolate-hazel, feet and cere light
yellow, bill bluish black, colour of plumage same as No. 78.
Another male, forks of Saskatchewan River, May 18th, 1858.
Length 19| in., wing 15i. The rusty bars on the belly and femo-
rals rather more distinct; hardly so much white on the throat;
bars on upper part of tail not so dark as No, 78.
Another male, forks of Saskatchewan River, May 25th, 1858.
Length 19| in., wing 15, tail 8. Eye chocolate-brown, feet and
cere yellow, bill dark-blue horn-colour, plumage same as No. 78.
No. 108 $ . Forks of Saskatchewan River, May 18th, 1858.
Length 21 1 in., wing 161, tail 9. Stomach contained three toads.
This well-marked species is abundant in the neighbourhood of
the Saskatchewan River ; and out of a number shot I have pre-
served two fine, well-marked individuals. M. Bourgeau was also
318 Capt. Blakiston on Birds collected and observed
fortunate enough to procure eggs identified by specimens, which
are white, more or less blotched with red.
The white throat in conjunction with the dark breast is so
marked a feature that this might well be called Swainson's White-
throated Buzzard.
7. BuTEo BUBEALis. ^ No. 153. Kootsnay Pass, Rocky
Mountains, August 21st, 1858. Male and female, killed on the
15th of May, 1858, at the forks of Saskatchewan : had red tails.
This bird utters a peculiar squealing cry very frequently.
At the time of my ascending to a nest of this bird (of which,
unfortunately, I have only one of the two eggs then taken re-
maining), my partner, although the birds made continual sweeps
near me, failed in killing either. I have, however, very little
hesitation in pronouncing the bird to be the Red-tailed Hawk,
and the same as that of which I have the tail and feet, and of
which I saw numbers at the Red River Settlement in the spring
of 1859. The cry is very peculiar, and caused me to give the
bird, for the time, when I had no books of reference, the name
of the Squealing Buzzard.
8. Archibuteo lagopus. Although I saw numbers of this
patchwork-looking bird, I never obtained a specimen.
9. Archibuteo sancti-johannis. Head, feet, and wings
preserved, and three eggs obtained by M. Bourgeau : wing 18 in.
long. Saskatchewan Plains, summer of 1858. The eggs are
white, with slight blotches of red : rather more spherical than
those of A. ferrugineus.
10. Archibuteo ferrugineus. $ No. 86. Between north
and south branches of Saskatchewan River, April 30th, 1858.
Length 26| in., wing 18|, tail 9^. Eye brown-hazel, feet and
cere yellow, bill dark horn-colour. Remains of Ground-Squirrel
in stomach.
The eggs taken from the nest of No. 86 were four in number.
The nest, which was placed in an aspen tree, 20 feet from the
ground, was composed of sticks, 2g feet across, and lined with
buffalo wool. Those taken from another nest near the same
in the Interior of British North America. 319
locality were five in number. This nest was situated in a tree
only 10 feet above a lake.
A specimen and two eggs by M. Bourgeau, Saskatchewan
Plainsj July 9th, 1858. Skin 25 in. long, wing 17. This is
the first instance of the eggs of this bird having been collected ;
they are of a white colour, plain, or blotched more or less with
reddish brown.
This bird feeds on the Ground- Squirrels so common on the
prairies ; hence, I suppose, its name of " Californian Squirrel-
Hawk.'^
It is a fine powerful bird, and, in distinction from other hawks,
is known to the Cree Indians by the name of Sa-qua-ta-mov, of
which word I can find no interpretation ; but they have shown
their knowledge by classing the Black Hawk, last mentioned,
along with this one, and calling it the black Sa-qua-ta-mov.
The way in which birds adapt their habits to circumstances is
strikingly shown on the prairie, where hawks and ravens will
build even on low bushes ; and, again, along rivers where wolves
are numerous, Canada Geese sometimes lay their eggs in the
old nests of eagles.
11. Circus hudsonius, Nos. 76, 92, 161. Saskatchewan
Plains to Rocky Mountains, 1858.
This bird is abundant throughout the interior ; the indivi-
duals vary much in the colour and markings of their plumage.
From the fact, I suppose, of its feeding on snakes, it is known
among the Crees as the " Snake-hunter.^' I have, however, never
found anything but the remains of mice in the stomachs of many
of these birds which I have opened.
In 1858 I observed it as early as April 1st near the forks of
the Saskatchewan ; while the spring following I did not observe
it before the 28th of that month at Red River Settlement. The
progress of the seasons of these two years was, however, very
difi'erent.
12. Aquila canadensis. On Saskatchewan River till No-
vember 18th, 1858. Tail-feathers highly prized by the Indians.
13. Haliaetus leucocephalus. Head, wing, and feet of
an example obtained by M. Bourgeau, Saskatchewan Plains,
320 Capt. Blakiston on American Birds.
summer, 1858. Wing 23 in. long. Common on Saskatchewan
River, and thence to Hudson's Bay. It is sometimes seen in
February, and remains until the rivers close in November. I
was not fortunate enough to procure a specimen of either of these
Eagles.
As has been observed by Sir John Richardson, the Indians
divide the year into moons, each of which is named after some
natural occurrence. Among them are the Eagle and Goose
Moons, at the times of the year when these birds first make their
appearance after the winter. Now, although this lunar reckoning
may be very well for intervals of time, it is far from satisfactory
in fixing certain periods of the year ; for as the number of days
in a year is not divisible by the number of days in a lunar month,
so each year the same moon is about eleven days earlier, and in
three years would take the place of the former one.
14. Pandion carolinensis. I regret that I cannot give a
single instance of the occurrence of the Fish-Hawk in the interior
of British North America. It is, however, by no means an un-
common bird, and was observed by myself from Hudson's Bay
to the western base of the Rocky Mountains. It is rather early
in going south in the fall of the year.
15. Bubo virginianus. $ No. 38. Forks of the Saskatche-
wan, January 29th, 1858. Length 23 in., wing 15. Eye bright
yellow.
16. Bubo arcticus. 6 No. 52. Forks of the Saskatchewan,
March 25th, 1858. Length 22| in., wing 4^, tail 9^, 2nd, 3rd,
and 4th quill-feathers nearly equal and longest. Eye very bright
amber-yellow. Agrees with B. arcticus of the ' Fauna Bor.-Am.'
17. Nyctea nivea. No. 186. Hudson's Bay, common
throughout the north ; follows the Willow Grouse south in winter.
18. Surnia ULULA. No. 21. Forks of the Saskatchewan,
November 7th, 1857.
No. 39 6 . Same locality, January 29th, 1858.
[To be continued.]
Dr. G. Hartlaub on a new Bird from W. Africa. 321
XXXV. — On a New Bird from Western Africa.
By Dr. G. Hartlaub*, F.M.Z.S.
(Plate XI.)
Equatorial Gaboon must undoubtedly be reckoned among
those districts of Africa which are most rich in ornithology.
DuChaillu, Franquet, Aubry-Lecomte, Fosse, Gujon, and others
have collected species, up to the number of 400, in this some-
what confined locality. Parinia, Phodidornis, Archimerops,
Pa7-moptila, Alethe, Erythrocercus, Megabias, Artomyias, Ver-
reauxia, Hetcerodes, Phasidus, are among the most remarkable
forms of the African Avifauna, and have as yet been only met
with in Gaboon. But still more remarkable than all these, and
in our eyes, indeed, to be placed among the most interesting
ornithological discoveries of the present time, is a new genus
of bird of the order Fissirostres from this country, which, thanks
to the friendly zeal of Jules Verreaux, has lately come into our
hands, and which we wish to introduce into the system under
the name Pseudochelidon.
It is evident, at the first glance, that this form must be
placed as a connecting link between the families of Hirundinidce
and Coraciida, which have been so truly and rightly placed
near one another by George llobert Grayf. A distinguished
observer, to whom we showed the bird without allowing him to
see the bill and feet, pronounced it at once to be a Swallow ;
and, in fact, the size, colour, formation of the tail and wings
(particularly of the latter) seem thoroughly Swallow-like ; while
* Translated from part i. of the ' Journal fiir Ornithologie ' for the
present year (p. 11).
t We cannot agree with Mr. Gray and Dr. Hartlaub in considering the
Coraciida and Hirundinidce to be at all nearly allied. The Swallows,
though often confounded with the Swifts {Cypselidce), have, as has been
repeatedly shown by those who have studied their anatomical and pteiy-
lographical structure, nothmg to do with the true Fissirostres, but form a
merely modified group of typical Oscines. Pseudochelidon, having, as Dr.
Hartlaub has kindly informed us, ten primaries, should, in our opinion,
have been compared with Cypselus ; and with all deference to Dr. Hart-
laub's great authority, we venture to suggest that it will eventually
be recognized as an aberrant form of the Cypselidce, perhaps leading oflF
towards Eurystomus. — Ed.
322 Dr. G, Hartlaub on a new Bird from W. Africa.
the red bill and feet also, though in rather a less degree, remind
one strongly of Eurystomus.
Genus Pseudochelidon.
Rostrum eurystominum, sed apicem versus conspicue attenuato-
subcompressum, culinine minus rotundato, inter nares
apertas subcarinato ; naribus in fossa subtriangulari positis,
subrotundatis, conspicuis.
Pedes niajusculi ; tarsi breves, digito interno et externo sequa-
libus ; unguibus debilibus valde compressis, postico robus-
tiore, majore.
Alee cypselinse, longse, angustse, subfalcatse, caudse apicem longe
superantes.
Cauda brevis, sequalis, rectricibus apice subquadrato-dilatatis,
in apicem tenuem desinentibus, sive submucronatis ; scapis
mollibus ; supra- et infra-caudalibus longis, cypselinis.
Ptilosis sericea, metallice nitida.
Pseudochelidon eurystomina, nob.
Tota nigra, nitore nonnullo metallico ; dorso conspicue seneo-vi-
rescente, cauda et alis vix virescentibus ; subalaribus fuli-
ginosis J pedibus flavo-rubentibus ; rostro corallino-rubro,
apice pallidiore, fiavo ; unguibus pallidis.
Long, tota 5" 3'"; alai4"4"'; cauda 1" 7'"; rostri a fronte 5'",
a rictu 7'"; latit. rostri ad bas. 5'"; altit. rostri ad bas. 2^'";
long, tarsi 5i"'; dig. med. c. ung. 8'"; long. dig. ext. et int.
c. ung. 6'", poll, et lin. Gall.
The deep, half velvet-like, half dull metallic-like, glimmering
green of the back seems rather sharply defined against the pure
black of the head, and reminds one of the somewhat peculiar
colouring of Hirundo thalassina. The under side is more of a
dull black. The formation of the tail is abnormal, and worthy
of remark. The soft shafts of the rectrices project, though not
naked, beyond the barbed portions ; these latter being rather
pointed towards them. This formation is carried to the furthest
extent in the two middle feathers, but is apparent in all of them.
The upper and under tail-coverts project in a wedge-like shape
to nearly the end of the tail — a formation almost constant
among the Hirundinidce, but which, on the other hand, is not
found in Eurystomus, where the tail-coverts only just cover the
base of the tail. The formation of the feet differs from that of
Eurystomus, inasmuch as it is generally weaker, and the inner
Ibis 1861, PI. XL.
J .-Jury, lilli.
M a:U.HanliaTl^lnip^
PSALIDOPROCNK CYPSELINA.
Mr. R. Swinhoe's Notes on Chinese Ornithoioyy. 333
and outer toes are of the same length (in Eurystomus the inner
toe is considerably shortei*) ; also the claw of the short hinder
toe seems considerably longer than in Eurystomus. The nos-
trils, which in Eurystomus are covered, are bare in Pseudoche-
lidon; and the very peculiar compression of the short broad
beak towards the tip is not found in the former genus.
The only example of this small, but, in spite of its appearance,
very interesting bird is among the treasures of the Bremen col-
lection.
XXXVI. — Notes on Ornithology taken between Takoo and Peking,
in the neighbourhood of the Peiho River, Province of Chelee, North
China, from August to December, 1860. By Robert Swtn-
HOE, Corr. Memb. Zool. Soc. Lond., Member of I. R. Zool. &
Botan. Soc. of Vienna, C. M. of the R. As. Soc. of Bengal, &c.
From Takoo to Tangkoo, a distance of some five miles, nothing
but open flats of mud present themselves to the eye, relieved by
ditches some 10 or 20 feet wide, which communicate with the sea,
supplying the salt-pans with sea-water, and were used during the
war as impediments to the passage to and from the forts. Pools
of water also frequently abound, sprinkled here and there with
rushes. About Tangkoo, on both sides of the river, the ground
grows more firm and becomes covered with coarse grass and low
vegetation, though abounding in marshes. Numerous grave-
hillocks speckle the face of the flat plain, and, magnified by the
mirage, assume the aspect, at a distance, of small villages or houses
grouped together. These localities aff"ord ample shelter to the
small Chinese Hare {Lepus sinensis), and are frequented by nu-
merous species of birds. On leaving Tangkoo on the passage
up the river, both banks are lined with flourishing gardens and
orchards, abounding in great plenty in all the fruits and vege-
tables of the north, though further inland the country still re-
tains its marshy appearance, undrained and uncultivated ; and
it is not until you reach Hunshuy-koo, some twenty-five miles
up on the south bank, that cultivation springs into existence,
and large fields of coarse millet [Sorghum] and maize wave their
lofty stalks over your head and destroy your view. Villages
324 Mr. R. Swinhoe's Notes on Ornithology
begin to increase in number, though without many trees. Culti-
vation increases as you advance to the walls of Tientsin, where
a large open grassy plain to the east arrests your attention. I
was the only interpreter with Sir Robert Napier, General of the
2nd Division, on the march to Tientsin ; and as the divisional
duties were so heavy, I had not much time to shoot, or to bestow
on natural history. But fortunately, on the march to Peking,
I was attached to the topographic department under Colonel
Wolsely, and my duties being principally confined to making
inquiries of, and getting information from, the natives, I had
plenty of opportunities, in our numerous halts, of papng some
little attention to my favourite study. The Grand Canal, the
Ta-se and Seaou-se Rivers, with the main branch of the Peiho
winding N.W., together with their numerous creeks and tribu-
taries, all oflfer excellent feeding-ground to numberless water-
birds. Tlie country consists of one vast alluvial plain of mixed
sand and mud, gradually and almost imperceptibly ascending
towards Peking. In the neighbourhood of Ho-se-woo, on the
banks of the Peiho, a few sandy undulations break somewhat the
flatness of the country. After leavingTientsin the numbers of trees
about the villages begin to increase, and as you approach Peking,
topes of lofty timber overshadowing the /w?n?</2 of departed great-
ness give in many places quite a sylvan aspect to the scene. As
we marched up in September the chief crops of sorghum, maize,
cotton, three descriptions of small millet, pumpkins, beans, &c.
were all ready for the harvest, and in some spots the reapers
had already been busy. On our return in November the country
presented a very barren face. All that was left of the waving
maize and millet was merely the dry and hardened pegs, some
foot and a half high, which covered acres of ground, and made
digression from the road very unpleasant for the horses' legs.
We were delayed some time on the banks of the Yunleang
Canal, some seven miles from Peking, waiting for reinforce-
ments. This canal is the chief water-communication between
Tungchow, on the banks of a branch of the Peiho, and Peking. It
runs close to the Peiho, but not into it ; thence westerly under
the Pa-le (8 le) or stone bridge to the first weir, where the further
portion of the canal is dammed and lies some 10 feet above. There
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 325
is a small custom- or toll-house here for the purpose of levying
duties on goods reshipped from the lower on to the upper portion
of the canal. The canal was reported to run through and round
Peking ; but it was found to do nothing of the kind, it being
again dammed on its approach to that city. The banks of this
almost stagnant piece of water are densely clothed here and there
with rushes and high grass, which afford skulking-places to many
a freshwater-frequenting bird.
On the north of Peking there is a large open space of gi'ound
beyond the Russian cemetery, called the parade ground, where the
Chinese troops were said to exercise. Beyond this, again, stood
several Lama temples abounding in lofty trees, the haunts of many
of the Crow- tribe: and the Imperial grounds inside of Peking, with
their gardens densely planted with trees, were further favourite
resorts. We cannot allude to the parks of the Summer Palace,
with their lakes and fine groves of timber, wdthout making the soul
of the naturalist long for a year's ramble at least in these lovely
bird-frequented spots. But the follower of an army suffers under
great disadvantages. He is at all times interdicted from shooting
within the precincts of the camp, and as soldiers always choose
sylvan spots for their encampment, if the camp be a large one,
he finds every grove monopolized by the army, and unless he
travels miles away in a dangerous country, has little prospect
of procuring much. With such a treacherous race as the Chinese
one never knew when it was peace, and so the constant sounds of
guns miles from the camp were not at all unlikely to alarm the
outposts. M. Zill, an amateur naturalist in the French camp,
found the same difficulties there, and being dressed in private
costume he was held in greater restraint by the French soldiery
than one in uniform would have been. On our return march
the cold presented many obstacles. I merely make the above
remarks in case any one looking over the following list might
object to my want of activity, forgetting the difficulties I had
to contend with. I procured the skins of some fine Deer in the
Summer Palace Park, which, together with a few other mammals
and a few reptiles, have been forwarded to the Zoological Society
of London for determination. The plants I collected I have pre-
sented to Dr. IL T. Hance, H.M. Vicc-Consul at Whampoa, well
326 Mr. R. Swinhoe's Notes on Ornithology
known for his diligent researches in Chinese botany ; and the
insects to J. C. Bowring, Esq., the best entomologist, perhaps,
this side of the Cape.
On our return to Tientsin we found the market well-stocked
with wild fowl and other game at cheap rates ; but it was diffi-
cult to make the natives understand that I wanted the birds for
their skins merely, and preferred clean and perfect specimens to
those partly plucked in order to show their plumpness.
I am sending the skins procured from the above-mentioned
localities as well as those from Talienwan for the inspection of
the Editor of ' The Ibis,^ that he may correct or add to my re-
marks in any way he chooses*.
1. Brahminy Kite. Milvus govinda, Sykes.
A somewhat larger and stronger species than the southern bird,
and much larger than the Indian form.
2. Japanese Buzzard. Buteo japomcus,^c\Ae^e\.
3. Eagle Buzzard. Buteo ?
The female of this bird was procured at Tientsin in November.
It was hooded and carried about on the fist of a Chinaman, who
said he was training it for hunting hares. I saw another, a good
deal resembling it, with a blue back, which I took for the male.
A Chinese had it on his arm ; but as we were on the march from
Tientsin to Takoo, I was not able to purchase it. I never noticed
it in a wild state. Cere yellow, legs pale yellow tinged with
blue, claws black.
4. Hen Harrier. Circus cyaneus (Linn.).
Common about the marshes near Takoo in August.
5. Pied Harrier. Circus ?
This is the species numbered 12 in my notes in ' Ibis ' for
1860, p. 359. I have not yet succeeded in identifying the
species, but I think it may be Circus hudsonius of America.
I noticed it occasionally about the Takoo marshes at the same
period as the foregoing.
* These skins have not yet reached us ; but we are unwilling to detain
Mr. Swinhoe's paper any longer, and will therefore give any observations
we may have to make on thera in a subsequent Number. — Ed.
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 327
6. Kestrel, Faico tinnunculus, L.
Not common.
7. Merlin. Falco cesalon, L.
I was watching a small Hawk being chased by a Magpie. The
Hawk was in great distress and screamed piteously as it flew
round and round the woody graveyard in which I was standing,
to try and elude its persecutor. Presently I heard the report of
a gun outside, and running out found Colonel Dupont and M.
Zill with the body of a female of this species expiring in their
hands.
8. Red-legged Falcon. Falco vespertimis, L.
Occasionally seen. M. Zill assured me he had seen and shot
it at Chefoo, the northernmost promontory of Shantung, where
the French rendezvoused.
9. Sparrow- Hawk. Accipitei' nisust
I suppose this is the same as the South-Chinese species; but the
female I procured has rust-tinted axillae as in the European bird,
whereas those parts in the Amoy bird are white. I must say I
took an unfair advantage of the individual of which I send the
skin. It was very nearly dark one evening when I was standing
in a pine plantation looking out for Blue Pies. I felt, rather than
saw, something dark by me. It charged into a tree, and settled
on a bough. I put up my gun and fired at guess, and to my delight
picked up a bonny Sparrow- Hawk. This took place in Novem-
ber on our return march^ the thermometer standing below
freezing-point,
9 a. Eagle-Owl. Bubo maximus.
10. Tawny Owl. Otus brachyotus, L, ?
When the army was advancing on the north wall of Peking,
an owl was put up from its skulking-place in a field of dried
maize-stalk. It flew round and round and again settled. It
appeared to me to belong to this species.
11. Goat-sucker. Caprimulgus jotaka, Schlegel.
A male was caught alive in August soon after our landing at
Pehtang. This species I take tobe the true C jotaka of the ' Fauna
Japonica.' It seems to differ somewhat from our Amoy species.
328 Mr. R. Swinhoe's Notes on Ornithology
We did not see any more of them ; they had probably migrated,
or this might have been a single individual blown ashore from
its usual course of migration. We certainly did not observe the
bird at Talienwan.
12. Filleted Swift. Cypselus vittatus, Jardine.
Not uncommon on our first arrival.
13. Swallow. Hirundo rustica, L.
A common summer resident.
14. TIGER-SwALLOw^ Hirundo daiirica, Pallas.
Flocks frequently seen in August and September.
15. Sand-Martin. Cotrjle ripariaj
I send two specimens of this pretty little Swallow. It was
very common about the marshes at Takoo, often perching on the
ground, apparently to take rest and preen itself. In the plain
before Tientsin thousands of this species, in company with large
parties of the two foregoing, swarmed the air during the warm
days of September, engaged in catching the numerous flies that
haunted the camp. We were delighted to see these active little
fly-destroyers engaged so busily in the work of destruction, as we
were literally inflicted with a plague of flies ; every tent was
blackened towards the top with these small pests.
In the flights of Swallows met up the river near Amoy, I ob-
served a smaller and lighter species, which I conjectured at the
time might be Sand Swallows ; but as I was unable to procure
specimens, I let the matter pass. I cannot help thinking now
that they were of this species.
16. Kingfisher. Alcedo bengalensis, Latham.
Sometimes seen, but not common.
17. Hoopoe. Upupa epops, L.
18. Warbler. Liisciniopsis canturians, mihi.
This, or the closely allied species L. cantans of Schlegel, oc-
curred in August, but I did not procure specimens.
19. Grasshopper-Lark. Locustel/a ?
Closely allied to L. rubescens, Blyth, but differs in many
respects from a specimen of that bird kindly sent me by Mr.
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 329
Blyth. I observed this bird in August, but was not able to pro-
cure specimens. I therefore enclose my only specimen from
Amoy, that Mr. Sclater may inspect it, and, if he considers it
new, describe it.
20. Fantail Warbler. Cisticola cursitans.
Not common. Probably resident ; one shot in October on the
banks of the Yun-leang Canal.
21. Spotwing Redstart. Ruticilla aurorea, Pallas.
A few observed. Leaves early.
22. Blue-throated Warbler. Cyanecula suecica (Linn.).
One caged specimen observed at Tientsin.
23. Red-throated Warbler. Calliope camtschatkensis {Gm.).
This is a common bird in the neighbourhood of Peking, and, I
think, is a permanent resident. I observed it as late as October
skulking about amongst the long grass, like a Reed -Warbler,
whence it was very difficult to drive it. Perched on a tree, it
assumes many of the habits of the Redbreast, throwing the tail
up and bobbing forward. It is a great favourite among the
Chinese, who call it the Hung-po (Red-throat), and sometimes
Chin-po (Golden- throat). The female has the red decoration on
the throat like the male, but this is not the case in the young
birds. I send three males and one female ; two of the males
were taken from a Tartar camp. They were attached, by strings
tied round the neck, to a long twig, on which they amused them-
selves by hopping up and down. This is a common way of con-
fining birds in the north.
24. Blue-tail. lanthia rufilata, Hodgson.
A summer resident only.
25. Reed-bird. Acrocephalus magnirostris, mihi.
I saw this bird frequently in August about the reeds on the
banks of the Peiho. It migrated soon afterwards.
26. Stone-chat. Pratincola indica, Blyth.
The separation of this bird from the European P. ruhicola is
usually very arbitrary. It appears, in my opinion, to be only a
variety. I saw a few in September near Ho-see-woo, and secured
a female, which I send.
VOL. III. 2
330 Mr. R. Swinhoe's Notes on Ornithology
27. Ribbon-tailed Flycatcher. Tchitrea principalis (Tem-
minck).
I observed one in the garden round Sankolinsin's head-quar-
ters at Takoo in the month of August. It was a female, and
from its superior size I should take it to be the Japanese species
rather than the Southern-Chinese bird, if these are different.
28. Broad-billed Flycatcher. Hemichelidon latirostris
(Raffles).
Common in August.
29. Grey-spotted Flycatcher. Hemichelidon griseisticta,
n. sp. Wrongly referred to H. fuliginosa, 'Ibis/ I860, p. 57.
This bird, which has occasionally been procured at Amoy, I
met with in August in a garden near Takoo. I send the Editor
an Amoy specimen for comparison. The species is closely allied
to the last, but is larger, and is marked with oblong grey spots
on the breast and flanks. Mr. Blyth has pronounced it new.
30. Pied-tail Flycatcher. Erythrosterna mugimaki (Temm.
&Schl.).
Very common in August and September about orchards.
Throws up and expands the tail, uttering a Robin-like running
note.
31. Dalmatian Gold-crest. Reguloides proregulus (Pallas).
Very common among the trees near Tungchow in September.
32. Yellow-rumped Gold-crest. Reguloides chloronotus,
Hodgson.
Common in the same spot and at the same date as the fore-
going.
33. Brown Wren. Phylloscopus fuscatus, Hodgson.
Common in September. Col. Dupont shot specimens of this
and the two last while a la chasse with M. Zill and myself.
34. Crowned Wren. Phylloscopus coronatus {Temm. SkSchl.)?
I frequently saw a species of Yellow Wren in the low scrub near
Tangkoo in August, which I took to be this species. As, how-
ever, I did not procure specimens, I mark the name with a query.
35. Leaden-legged Wren. Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus,Ti.s^.
I shot but one of this pretty species, and took it at first for
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 331
P. STjlvicultrix, mihi, so common at certain seasons at Amoy ; but
on handling it, I at once observed the 1st primary, quite small
in P. sylvicultrix, to be much larger in this species. The tarsus
was furthermore, strange to say, of a leaden colour, as in the
ParidiE, though the feet were quite phylloscopine. I extract my
notes taken while the bird was fresh.
d. Length 4^ in.; wing 2^, 1st primary 6-^; tail Ij^q-;
tarsus ^. Bill : upper mandible brown, lower mandible and
rictus clear ochre. Legs leaden grey, bases of toes and claws
pale yellowish. This species resembles much P. sijlvicuUrix,
but is distinguishable at once by its large 1st primary, the grey
legs, and the ochreous under-mandible. In this last peculiarity
it resembles P. coronatus ; but is a smaller species, and is totally
destitute of the pale yellowish stripe, flanked by a brown one on
each side, that crowns the head of the Japanese bird.
36. Red-flanked White-eye. Zosterops japonicus,Ten-im.
& Schl.
I saw this bird only once, and that in a cage at Tientsin, and
was surprised to find how completely it differed from the Southern-
Chinese species, to which I had before ascribed the same name.
Schlegel was quite right in the ' Fauna Japonica ' in stating that
this species has no 1st primary, and that the feathers of the
flanks are of a ruddy rust- colour, though in the colour of the
legs and beak he was misinformed. These, as in the southern
species, are leaden-coloured. The coloui'ed plate, which his son
at Amoy has, misled me ; as the colours, somewhat carelessly put
on, do not show in half-brilliant-enough tints the red patch on
each side that marks the species. It will not do to call the other
bird Z. sinensis, as it is only a Southern-Chinese form, being
generally resident in the places where it is found. Let it stand,
then, as Z. simplex.
37. Marsh Tit. Parus palustris, L.
It is surely remarkable that this European species should be
the only common bird of the genus in the Peiho Plain. I have
four skins, and I can discover no specific distinction ; perhaps
Mr. Sclater may be more successful. Wherever trees abounded,
the chirp of this species was sure to be heard. They were rather
z 2
332 Mr. R. Swinhoe's Notes on Ornithology
knowing, and would seldom allow you to come under the tree
in which they were sporting.
38. Lesser Ox-eye. Parus minor, Temm. & Schl.
I never met with this species wild here, and only once saw one
in a cage. M. Zill assured me it was by no means rare at Chefoo.
Perhaps the bird is migratory in these parts, and had departed
southwards before our arrival. I do not think there is sufficient
difference between this and Parus cinereus to sanction a specific
separation. I have shot very grey-backed birds at Amoy ; and
in Hongkong the specimens procured are certainly identical with
a skin of P. cinereus lately received from Mr. Blyth.
39. Pale Redwing. Turdus pallidus, Gmelin.
A few of these birds were about in September.
40. Red-tailed Fieldfare. Turdus ?
This Thrush resembles somewhat T. naumanni; but a differ-
ence is at once seen in the brownish-red side-feathers of the tail,
which are conspicuously displayed when the bix*d flies. A few
arrived about Peking in October, and frequented the leafless
groves, where they would perch on the topmost boughs of the
twigs three or four at a time. The note was a kind of chuckling
chirp, and differed much from the ordinary sibilant "sit " uttered
by all the other species found in China. The affinities of this
Thrush are certainly with the Fieldfare.
I may here state I have T. naurnanni from Amoy, shot here on
several occasions, and identified by Mr. Blyth. A Thrush-like
Geocincla has also been procured at Amoy on two occasions. This
Mr. Blyth declares to be his Turdus dissimilis, once procured in
Calcutta. But one of this last species, shot at Hongkong, and
included among my birds from Hongkong, Macao, and Canton,
forwarded to Mr. Sclater in June last, has been identified by
him as the young of Turdus cordis. (See antea, p. 37.)
41. MONTICOLA ?
The specimen I enclose was the only one I ever saw of this
interesting bird. I met with it on the 26th of September in a
grove of pines. It was very lively, hopping about from branch
to branch with its eye fixed upon me. It occasionally bobbed its
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 333
body and moved its tail with a depressed jerk, much ia the
manner of Petrucossijphus manillensis. I think this is a new
species, and, it strikes me, a very interesting one, as being some-
what abundant.
42. Golden Thrush. Oreocincla whitei (Eyton).
The feathers of this species were picked up in a tomb-grove in
September ; the body had probably been devoured by a Hawk.
43. Pied Wagtail. Motacilla luguhris, Pallas.
Frequent in September.
44. Grey Wagtail. Motacilla boarula, L.
In September.
45. Yellow Quaketail. Budytes flava (L.).
Also '■ September.
46. \\ CD Wagtail. Nemoricola indica ?
I watch 1 this or a cognate species for some time closely in an
orchard in August. It looked very similar to the Indian skins,
but unfortunately I was not able to get a specimen.
47. Richard's Pipit. Anthus richardi, "1 Common in
Steph. > September; not
48. Tree Pipit. Anthus agilis, Sykes. J seen after.
49. Japanese Pipit. Anthus japonicus, Temm. & Schl.
I think resident.
50. Short-toed Lark. Alauda brachydactyla, L.
Observed this bird in a cage.
51. Japanese Lark. Alauda japonica, Temm. & Schl.
I think identical with the bird in the ' Fauna Japonica.' I
send home two specimens. It was very common in the cultivated
fields, roosting at night in the coarse grass and water plants that
line the banks of the Peiho. Numbers of them were offered for
sale in the Tientsin market all ready plucked and trussed.
51 a. Mongolian Lark. Melanocorypha mongolica (Pall.),
I never saw this bird wild; but, judging from the numbers
brought to Tientsin for sale in November and December, I
should say it must be common in the neighbourhood.
334 Mr. R. Swinhoe's Notes on Ornithology
52. Small Bunting. Emberiza pusilla, VaWas.
Found in small flocks on the banks of canals and edges of
water-pools. M. Zill had two specimens of this bird alive in a
cage, which were more or less marked with white.
53. Painted Bunting. Emberiza fucata, Pallas.
54. Golden Bunting. Emberiza aureola, Pallas.
Common about the reedy herbage of the Yun-leang Canal.
55. Sulphured Bunting. Emberiza sulphurata,Temm.kSch\.
Mr. Blyth assigns this to P. Bonaparte's genus Citrinella, but
it is evidently the bird of the ' Fauna Japonica.' I send an Amoy
specimen. I have also seen it at Hongkong.
56. Masked Bunting. Emberiza personata, Pallas.
Seen in August, but not afterwards.
57. Frosted Bunting. Emberiza canescens, mihi.
I send an Amoy specimen of the male.
58. Red and Yellow Bunting. Emberiza rutila, Pallas.
A fine specimen used to come down into my courtyard to feed
at Peking. I loaded my gun with the smallest possible quantity
of powder, and shot in order not to make a noise, and so missed
him. This was the only one I saw of this handsome species.
59. Ruddy Hammer. Emberiza ?
The only specimen I saw and procured of this interesting
Bunting, I enclose. It appears to me closely allied to E. citri-
nella, L., and will very likely have been described by Pallas in his
' Zoogr. Rosso-Asiat.,' a copy of which work I have not at hand.
60. Lapland Lark-Bunting. Plectrophanes lapponicus.
My first acquaintance with this bird was on the 12th of
November. It was a bitterly cold morning, the thermometer
much below freezing-point, wben I started at sunrise to explore
the neighbouring country, and to return at eight before the camp
broke up. We were within a day's march from Tientsin. My
fingers were quite numbed, so that I could scarcely use them to
pull the trigger, when I suddenly put up a brown lark-like bird
from a tuft of dried cotton-plant. It flew a little way and then
dropped again. I then observed that it had a peculiarly short
beak, though it walked like a lark. My first shot missed it ; yet
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 335
the foolish bird only flew a little distance and settled again,
looking at me while I reloaded. I then shot it, and imagine
my delight when I picked up what appeared to me to be a new
species of Lark-Bunting. It was a female. I beat the ground
over and over again, refusing several shots at hares that started
from almost under my feet, knowing that the birds of this genus
are seldom found alone, but could flush no other. I was obliged
to give up the chase, and returned to my tent, only just in time to
pack up and march. When arrived at Tientsin I found thousands
of this bird on sale, plucked and trussed like larks. I begged
the market-men to bring some with feathers on, and one morning,
to my surprise, found a basketful of very fair specimens. I at
once bought two dozen, and set to work skinning them. They
measured on an average 6^ in., wing 3^, tail 2^^. The
natives called them Teay-cheo (Iron Bird), and explained to me
that they were caught by the hand in springes baited with the
small maggots found in decaying millet-stalks. My specimens
correspond very nearly with the description of the Lapland Lark-
Bunting found in Europe in ' M'Gillivray's British Birds,^ though
I should think it could hardly be the same species, as its exist-
ence is not noted, to my knowledge, in Siberia*.
61. Red -Poll. Cannabina linaria (Linn.).
Seen in cages.
62. Mealy Red-Poll. Cannabina canescens (Gould).
Apairwere found in a cage at Pehtang, where the troops landed.
63. Siskin. Fringilla spinus, L.
This species was frequently seen in cages. I have received it
before from Foochow, in Fuh-keeu Province.
64. Chinese Greenfinch. Fringilla sinica, L.
Common both wild and in cages.
65. Mountain Sparrow. Fringilla montana, L.
Common. Takes the place of the domestic Sparrow.
66. Mountain Finch. Fringilla montifringilla, L,
Often offered for sale at Peking. I send a female procured there.
* It is included in v. Schrenck's work on the Birds of Amoorland (vol. i.
p. 2/6).— Ed.
336 Mr. R. Swinhoe's Notes on Ornithology
67. Hawfinch. Coccothraustes vulgaris, Selby.
In cages.
68. Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra, L.
In cages.
69. Chinese Magpie. Pica sericea, Gould.
Veiy common : associating in the winter in large flocks.
70. Blue Magpie. Cyanopica cyanea (Pall.).
This shy and noisy bird occurred in large flocks among the
thick groves of the pine. Imagine yourself in a dark grove of
such ti-ees, walled all round. Several large tomb-mounds stand
at the other end, side by side. They can contain nought but
the dust of the departed ; for these trees were planted at the same
time ; and see to what a height they have attained, their long
arms twining fondly together, and throwing a dark gloom on the
coarse grass and weeds below. You hear a rustle over your head,
then another and another, and a loud nasal chattering commences.
You look up quietly, and see leaping from bough to bough a
party of long-tailed blue birds, displaying their pretty tints at
each leap, and spreading their tails to balance themselves as they
alight. This is the month of October, and still they are moulting.
Presently one sees you, and gives the warning "cayr" pronounced
nasally and gutturally, as much as to say " an intruder,^' and with
notes sounding something like "cairn wit-wit twit-twit" ofi" he
flies. All hands follow, each bird as he flies from his perch joining
in the chorus " twit-twit." Thus in nearly single file they stream
off to the next grove. In July 1858 I found these birds very
common near Shanghai, where they were rearing their young in
similar groves. Their nests were usually placed close to the top
of the fir-trees, and were built exteriorly of sticks, and open at the
top, much in the manner of the Jays. As far as habits are con-
cerned, the Blue Pies certainly have far more in common with
the long-tailed Jays, Urocissce, than with Magpies; and some
of their actions are not unlike those of the large Chinese
Garj'ulax, G. perspicillatus (Gm.).
71. Book. Corvus pastinator, Gould.
Hundreds of this bird frequented the large trees around the
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 337
Lama temples north of Peking. In the morning they might be
seen strutting about the parade-ground and the neighbouring
fields searching for food ; in the afternoon they would collect in
large numbers, and toy and cuflF one another among the lofty
branches, cawing vociferously. They soon learnt a natural dread
of the fowling-piece.
These birds are not uncommon near Shanghai, whence
Mr. Gould probably obtained his specimens.
72. Black Crow. Corvus japonicus, Schlegel.
In close communion with the former I often saw these birds,
but they were always distinguishable by their larger size and
peculiar cry of " caw-caw ah-ah." They associated in flocks,
though never of any great extent.
73. ^Vhite-rixged Crow^. Corvus pectoralis, Gould.
I occasionally saw this species, but it was by no means so
common as the last.
74. Pied Jackdaw. Corvus [Monedula) daiiricus, Pallas.
Large flocks of these birds were to be found all day long in the
fine trees above mentioned, clustering close together on the
boughs, and having quiet talks among themselves. As the sun
began to set, one would see flocks of thousands coming to Peking
from the direction of the hills on the west. Their flight was
always high, and their cries incessant. I should say some twenty
or thirty of these immense flocks, sometimes mingled with rooks,
but more often with individuals of the following species, would
pass over of an evening; the majority settling for the night
among the woods in the Imperial grounds inside the city, or in
he trees of the temples of Heaven and Earth. The rooks would
generally leave them and drop into the lama-trees, where they
usually roosted. In the morning at day-dawn one would hear
their cries again, even before discerning them in the hazy sky,
though their flight was then usually much lower.
75. Black Jackdaw. Corvus (Monedula) neglectus, Schlegel.
This species was also very numerous, though not so numerous
as the last, with which it often associated. Indeed, I seldom
saw a flock of either without a few of the cognate species among
their number. In habits the two are remarkably similar, as well
338 Mr. R. Swinboe's Notes on Ornithology
as in flight and choice of roosting-ground. I much regret I was
unable to procure a specimen of this httle-known species, but the
temple they most frequented was occupied by the troops, and of
course all shooting prohibited within the precincts.
70). White-cheeked Starling. Sturnus cineraceus, Temm.
Often seen in flocks in September, but not after.
77. Silky Starling. Sturnus sericeus, Gm.
A few observed in September.
78. Red-cheeked Starling. Sturnus pyrrhogenys, Temm.
& Schl.
I once saw a few small Starling-like birds that I attributed to
this species : it was, I think, in August.
79. Wryneck. Yunx torquilla, L.
I observed this species in August, and have no doubt it
travels southward to hibernate. It arrives at Amoy in September.
80. Green Woodpecker. Gecinus canus, Gmelin?
M. Zill assured me this was no other than the European species,
but I have my doubts on the matter. I send three males
and one female. I first met with this bird about twenty miles
beyond Tientsin, where the country abounded in woody planta-
tions. It was often to be found on the ground grubbing about
the millet roots, and its earth-stained bill gave tokens of frequent
insertion into the soil. If suddenly disturbed, it would utter a
screeching laugh, and fly off with a series of long undulations to
some distant tree, on which it would fix close to the roots and
immediately dodge round to the other side, clambering up all the
while with a short jerking motion of the body. It rarely ascended
into the upper branches, and seemed content with beating the
trunk of the tree only, unless the tree separated above into good
thick boughs. If the tree to which it next flew was only a few
yards off, the bird's flight consisted of a flutter in a direct line.
When arrived it would half turn on its back, as it were, and
throw up its claws to grasp firmly the bark. Its usual note was
sharp and monosyllabic, and differed much from that of its pied
brethren. It proved to be very common, and known to the
Chinese of the place as the "Tsaou-ta muh-tsze" or ''Tree-
injurer." It was very tenacious of life, and hard to kill.
between Takuo and Peking, North China. 339
The iris was white, with a slight wash of pink. Bill bluish
grey, except the basal edge of upper mandible and basal half of
lower, which were gi'eenish yellow ; legs greenish grey, claws
bluish grey. The birds had not completed their moult during
September.
81. Large Pied Woodpecker. Picus cabanisil
This species is wonderfully similar to P. major, but does not
quite tally with M'Gilliv ray's description. Mr. Blyth identifies
the Pied Woodpecker from Foochow and Canton with P. cabanisi,
and I strongly suspect this is the same, though I have not spe-
cimens at hand just now to compare with it. I sent Mr. Sclater
a Canton specimen in my last box, and I now enclose the male,
procured in the north, so that he will be able to compare and
make his comments.
The first and only time I met this species was near Peking on
a cold and sunny day in November. The bird uttered the usual
"pic-pic" of the pied group as it flew away to an adjoining tree,
on an upper branch of which it stood and eyed me without
showing any signs of fear. I then saw at a glance that it was a
larger species than any I had yet met in these parts, and when
I shot it I was delighted to pick up what I took to be an old
acquaintance.
82. Pied Woodpecker. Picus ?
I suspect this is a new species. It was quite common in all
the groves, but very shy and unapproachable. I only managed
to secure one male. M. Zill procured a female, which was similar
in all respects to the male, except that the red feathers on the
crown were exchanged for black ones, and the top of the beak
was black freckled with yellowish grey. This bird generally
prefers the higher branches of the trees, round which it dodges,
and so eludes observation. If the intruder comes too near, he
hears the bird utter the notes "pic-pic," and before he can again
get a glance at it, the noise of the quick beats of its wing reaches
his ear, and he sees the creature disappear with a rise-and-fall
flight into an adjoining copse. This bird also often repeats that
peculiar rattle that P. major is heard to do at home. The noise
may well be imitated by pressing one end of a stick on a table
340 Mr. R. Swinlioe's Notes on Ornitholoyii
and suddenly pushing down the projecting end ; the whirr thus
caused by the vibration will give a good idea of the sound the bird
produces. The species seldom alights on the ground, except at
the margin of a pool to drink ; but it frequently descends to the
long maize and millet stalks, and taps them for worms.
83. Small Pied Woodpecker. Picus •?
A species closely allied to P. kisuki of the ' Fauna Japonica/
and to P. hardwickii of the Himalayas, but evidently differing
from both. I send home two pairs. It was very common, but
seldom observable to any but a watchful eye, as it affected the
tip-top branches of the highest trees. It remains for long spaces
of time on one bough, and does not show half the alacrity in the
pursuit of its food that the other species do. It generally prefers
the thin dead branches at the tops of forest trees, where, no doubt,
it finds a plentiful supply of small maggots, many of which I have
taken from the stomachs of those shot. Its cry is a weak attempt
at "pic-pic ;" and its flight, undulatory as in the former instances,
is remarkable also for the same noise, produced by quick succes-
sive beats of the wing. This peculiar sound of the wings I have
also observed in Parus palustris of this place, made as the little
fellow drops from a high branch down to a lower.
84. Cuckoo. Cuculus striatus, Drapiez.
Very common in August and September. I send a male and
a female.
85. Grey Pericrocote. Pericrocotus cinereus, La Presn.
Common in September. It is strange that this tropical form
should be found so far north *.
86. Drongo. Dicrurus macrocercus (Lath.).
Common in September.
87. LuzoNiAN Shrike. Lanius luzoniensis, Strickland.
In a cage only. But as the migration of this bii*d commences
early, that may account for its non-appearance.
88. Japan Shrike. Lanius hucephalus, Temm. & Schl.
Not common. I send an immature specimen shot in September.
* It is found in summer as far north as the Lower Amoor. See
V. Schrenck's op. cit. p. 381. — Ed.
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 341
89. Chinese Oriole. Oriolus chinensis, Scop.
Frequent in August and September.
90. Lapland Turtle. Turtur orientalis (Lath.).
The only Dove observed. It is found during winter all down
the coast as far as Hongkong.
91. Ring-necked Pheasant. Phasianus torquatus.
We never met with these birds alive, but some were brought
for sale to Tangkoo and Tientsin, and the natives assured us
they were captured in the neighbourhood.
92. Button Quail. Turnix dussumieri, Temminck.
Identified by Mr. Blyth, and wrongly named in my Amoy list
as T. jondera, Hodgson. One of this species was shot in
September in a millet field. The same bird is found in spring
all down the coast as far south as Hongkong.
93. Quail. Coturnix dactylisonans.
Very common, even as late as October, in which month
immense flocks of them dropped in the neighbourhood of the
Taku forts, evidently birds from more northerly parts bound south.
94. Pallas' Sand-Grouse. Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pall.).
Your readers will be both surprised and delighted to hear of
the abundant occurrence of this species during winter about the
plains between Peking and Tientsin. Flocks of hundreds con-
stantly pass over with a very swift flight, not unlike that of the
Golden Plover, for which we at first mistook them. The market
at Tientsin was literally glutted with them, and you could
purchase them for a mere nothing. The natives called them
" Sha-chee " or Sand-fowl, and told me they were mostly
caught in clapnets. After a fall of snow their capture was
greatest; for where the net was laid the ground was cleared
and strewed with small green beans. The cleared patch was
almost sure to catch the eyes of the passing flocks, who would
descend and crowd into the snare. It only remained then for
the fowler, hidden at a distance, to jerk the strings, and in his
haul he would not unfrequently take the whole flock. Numbers,
however, were shot with matchlocks. When on the ground they
were rather shy and difficult of approach , but on the wing they
342 Mr. R. Swinhoe's N^otes on Ornithology
would sometimes dart within a few yards of you. They possess
rather a melodious chuckle^ the only note that I have heard them
utter. The natives say that, during the summer, they are found
abundantly in the great plains of Tartary beyond the Great Wall,
where they breed in the sand.
95. Pratincole. Glareola orientalis, Lath.
Common about the marshes near Takoo, where they most
certainly breed.
96. Virginian Plover. Charadrius virginicus.
97. Bustard Plover. Squatarola helvetica, L.
A specimen kept in an aviary at Amoy showed no change in
the plumage all the summer through, retaining the while its
winter white breast.
98. Lapwing. Vanellus cristatus.
A flock of these birds flapped close over me one cold day in
November. It was the only time I saw them.
99. Leschenault's Plover. jEgialites leschenaultii.
100. Kentish Plover. jEgialites cantianus.
101. Philippine Plover. yEgialites philippinus.
102. Turnstone. Strepsilas interpres.
103. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria.
104. Oyster-catcher. Hamatojms osti'alegus.
105. Chinese Snippit. Tringa suharquata.
106. Snippit. Tringa ?
This bird occurred in great abundance in the marshes during
August. It is new to me, so I enclose the only three specimens
procured for Mr. Sclater's inspection.
107. Minute Snippit. Tringa minuta.
108. Temminck^s Snippit. Tringa temminckii.
109. Lesser Snippit. Tringa ?
This I have procured before at Amoy ; and though pronounced
identical with T. minuta by Mr. BIyth, I cannot help thinking it
diff'erent, and in all probability a new species. I enclose a spe-
cimen. Compare this bird's feet with those of T. minuta.
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 343
110. Rock Tail-wagler. Tringoides hypoleucus, L.
111. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus, L.
112. Wood Sandpiper. Totanus fflareola, L.
113. Dusty Sandpiper. Totanus pulverulentus.
114. Red-shanked Sandpiper. Totanus calidris, L.
Tientsin market in December.
115. Whistling Sandpiper. Totanus glottoides.
116. AvocET. Recurvirostra avocetta.
I saw this bird on the banks of the Peiho in November. It was
frequent in Tientsin market.
117. Woodcock. Scolopax rusticola, Ij.
118. Chinese Snipe. Gallinago megala, n. sp.
Mr. Blyth has pronounced on a specimen of this bird forwarded
to him from Amoy, that it is identical with G. major : now I
am convinced that it is not. It resembles the Great Snipe^ no
doubt, in general appearance, but the Great Snipe has sixteen
obtuse tail-feathers : this bird has twenty, five of which on each
side are short and narrowed ; the outermost being the shortest and
the narrowest, the next longer and broader ; and so on until the
ten centre ones are reached, which are pretty much about of an
equal length and of an equal breadth. It approaches, on the
other hand, much nearer G. stenura, Temm., from which,
however, it is at once distinguishable by its larger size, and by
the fewer and broader lateral tail-feathers ; G. stenura having, if I
recollect right, seven very short and very narrow lateral rectrices
on each side. I enclose a specimen.
119. Narrow-tailed Snipe. Gallinago stenura, Temminck.
Very common in August and September.
120. Snipe. Gallinago uniclava, Hodgson.
Closely allied to the European species. Also very common.
121. Curlew. Nnmenius major, Schlegel.
It is hard to discover any difi"erence between this and N.
arcuatus. Very common in August in the marshes.
122. Heron. Ardea cinerea, L.
Common.
344 Mr. R. Swinhoe's Notes on Ornithology
123. Small Black and White Heron. Ardea ?
I several times put up a small black and white Heron; but as
I was unable to procure specimens, I cannot assign it to any
particular species. It may have been A. goisagi of the ' Fauna
Japonica.'
124. Intermediate Egret. Herodias intermedia.
I saw one of this species standing in a pool in August ; it was
much larger than H, garzetta and smaller than H, alba, and had
a yellow bill,
125. Night Heron. Nycticorax griseus {L\xm.).
Common.
125 a. Spoonbill. Platalea leucorodia, L.
126. Coot. Fulica atra, L.
Of frequent occurrence on the Yun-leang Canal. I shot one
out of a pair.
127. Crested Grebe. Podiceps cristatus, L.
128. Eared Grebe. Podiceps auritus, L.
129. Philippine Dabchick. Podiceps philippinus, Jj.
130. Grey Lag. Anser ferus, L.
131. Bean Goose. Anser segetum, L.
132. White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons.
133. Swan-Goose. Anser cygnoides, Pallas.
It is difficult to believe that the wild bird is the parent of the
domestic Knotted Goose, so different do they look on comparison.
134. Small Swan. Cygnus minor, Pallas.
135. Goosander. Mergus merganser, L.
136. Saw-bill. Mergus serratus, L.
137. Swan. Mergus albellus, L.
138. Sheldrake. Tadorna vulpanser.
139. Ruddy Sheldrake. Casarca rutila.
140. Mallard. Anas boschas, L.
141. Baikal Teal. Quej-quedula glocitans {Vd\\.).
between Takoo and Peking, North China. 345
142. Falcated Teal. Quei-quedula falcaria (Pallas),
I send a female of this species.
143. Common Teal. Querquedula a-ecca (Linn.).
144. Pintail. Dafila acuta (Linn.).
145. WiGEON. Mareca penelope (Linn.).
146. Scaup. Fuligula inarila (Linn.).
147. Tufted Duck. Fuligula cristata (Leach).
148. Golden-eye. Clangula glaucion {liiun.).
I send a male and female of this species. The male was
purchased in the Tientsin market ; the female was shot by Major
Sarel on the lakes in the Emperor's Summer Palace Park.
149. Great Northern Diver. Culymhus glacialis, L.
150. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carho (Linn.).
Often seen on the inland waters.
151. Common Gull. Larus canus.
152. Herring Gull. Lai'us argentatus.
153. Black-tailed Gull. Larus melanurus, Temm. & Schl.
Faun. Japon. pi. 88.
All these Gulls have been shot at Amoy, and are, I think, cor-
rectly identified.
154. KiTTLiTz's Gull. Gavia kittlitzii.
155. Gull. Gavia ?
A species with red bill, black towards tip, and orange-ochre
legs ; somewhat allied to G. ridibunda.
156. Caspian Tern. Sterna caspia, L.
157. Swift Tern. Sterna velox, Riippell,
158. Lesser Tern. Sterna minuta, L.
159. Javan Tern. Htjdrochelidon javanica (Horsf.).
All these Gulls and Terns were common about the marshes in
August and September. Of the last I send a few specimens.
VOL. 111. 2 a
316 Dr. P. L. Sclater on Hypotriorchis castanouotus.
XXXVII. — Note on the Hypotriorchis castanonotus of
Dr. Heuglin. By P. L. Sclater.
(Plate XII.)
The series of Abyssinian birds collected by Sir William Harris
during his residence at Schoa^ which was formerly in the Museum
of the East India Company in Leadenhall Street, having been
transferred to the British Museum, I have been enabled, through
Mr. George Gray's kindness, to compare the specimen entered
in Horsfield and Moore's Catalogue of the East India Company's
Museum as " Polihierax semitorquatus " with typical examples of
the true Falco semitorquatus, Smith, collected in South Africa by
the describer of the species. In the first place I should mention
that the Abyssinian specimen of Sir W. Harris has not the
red back, which is stated by Dr. Heuglin to be found in both
sexes of his H. castanonotus. This point of difference, therefore,
which seems to be the chief ground on which Dr. Heuglin has
maintained the specific distinction between his bird and the
southern Falco semitorquatus, seems to fail entirely ; and we must
suppose that Dr. Heuglin is in error in stating that the male of
the Abyssinian bird, when adult, resembles the female in having
a red back, although this may be the case in young males. On
comparing the Abyssinian bird with the South African specimen
in corresponding plumage, the difi'erences which present them-
selves are but slight. The head and neck are of rather a darker
slaty-grey, the wings rather longer, and the legs generally rather
stronger and stouter in the Abyssinian specimen ; but the two
birds are otherwise so much alike, that I should much hesitate
in considering them as specifically distinct. The white external
marginations of the ends of the rectrices appear to be of about
the same extent in both specimens.
The figure (PL XII.) is an exact copy of Dr. Heuglin's original
figure of Hypotriorchis castanonotus, which accompanied his de-
scription of the bird as already given in ' The Ibis ' (1860, p. 407) .
It represents, according to him, an adult male, two-thn-ds of the
natural size. Dr. Smith, in his ' Illustrations of the Zoology of
South Africa,' has figured the female of Polihierax semitorquatus ;
but this is, I believe, the first published representation of the
IMs, 18 61. PI. ZI
"'1^
?'?'
7(r }', r
ITYPCiT.
li J x'Lj ,:.
Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Ornithology of Timor. 347
red-backed stage of plumage in this iittle-known species of
Accipitrine.
XXXVIII. — Notes on the Ornithology of Timor.
By Alfred Russel Wallace.
In pursuance of my plan of exploring the Zoology of the jMalayan
Archipelago, I have just completed a three-and-a-half months'
residence atDelli, in the eastern part of the island of Timor, and
have devoted myself principally to the Birds, every other class of
animals being very poorly represented in this barren island.
Owing to ill-health, the wet season, and a rebellion of the
native tribes, I was unable to extend my excursions far from the
town of Belli. I resided, however, in one of the most fertile
valleys, about two miles from the town, and spent tw^o weeks on
the mountains at an elevation of 2000 feet. I was accompanied
on this excursion by Mr. Geach, a mining engineer, who has been
engaged here for more than two years in search of minerals,
during which time he has traversed the island in several places
from sea to sea, and who is altogether better acquainted than
any person living wdth the eastern half of Timor.
From this gentleman I obtained much information as to the
character of the country, which seems to be very uniform, and
not likely to be more productive in any other parts than in those
that I have explored.
Timor seems to consist entirely of a chain of mountains, rising
in the central range to 5000 and 6000 feet, and near either
coast to about 3000. In only two or three places in the island
are there any level plains, the rest being a succession of moun-
tainous ridges and precipitous ravines. Nowhere in the island
are there any forests comparable with those of the other parts of
the Archipelago, all the lower hills being covered with an open
growth of more or less scrubby Eucalypti, and anything like a
lofty or luxuriant vegetation being confined to those places in the
ravines or on the mountain spurs where a little rich soil has been
accumulated. At a height of above 4000 feet even this vege-
tation disappears, and a scanty herbage of coarse grasses alono-
covers the higher ridges. Pi-uit-bearing trees are comparatively
o . o
348 Mr. A. R. Wallace un the Ornithology of Timor.
scarce, and in the dry season extensive tracts of country are
destitute of water, circumstances not likely to be favourable to
bird-life.
Notwithstanding these disadvantages, however, I have ob-
tained upwards of a hundred species of birds, about two-thirds or
perhaps three-fourths of which number are altogether peculiar to
the island of Timor, although closely allied to those of the sur-
rounding countries. Australian forms are, as might be ex-
pected, the most numerous, and it is from that country that
Timor has evidently derived the greater portion of its birds.
Even where the genus is widely distributed we can often see
that the particular species has been derived from Australia, as
Artamus perspicillatus and Aprosmidus vulneratus, which are
slight modifications of Australian species ; while others, as Ama-
dina castanotis, have remained altogether unchanged. On the
other hand, the resemblance to the Moluccas is very slight.
Lorius, Eos, and all the characteristic forms of New Guinea, are
quite wanting ; and there are only three birds that seem to have
been derived from the Moluccan or Papuan faunas — viz.
Geoffroius jukesii, Ptilonopus flavicollis, and lanthcenas metallica.
The relation is equally slight to Celebes, and is shown only by
the Turacoena modesta, closely allied to the T. manadensis, Q. & G.,
of Celebes, and the Ptilonopus cinctus, forming, with the P.
gularis of Celebes, the subgenus Leucotreron, Bp. I very much
regret not having obtained the other species of this interesting
group, which my friend Mr. Geach assures me are found in the
interior of the island. In particular he mentioned a species re-
sembling the P. cinctus, but in which the white forms a ring
round the neck, and his opinion was that there existed in Timor
three or four species of the same group having the colours
differently distributed.
Besides the birds already mentioned, and which are all more
or less characteristic of the Australian region, Timor contains an
important Indian element, consisting of Javan species or their
representatives. The genera Lanius, Cijoriiis, Treron, Gallus,
and Estrelda occur here, but are not found in any part of the
Moluccas, and only one or two of them in Celebes. About thirty
species thus appear to have been " derived from Java, which.
Mr. A. R. Wallace on the Ornithology of Timor. 349
though 600 miles distant from Timor, is connected with it by a
chain of islands ; and between these more than twenty miles of
sea nowhere intervenes, so that the passage across might have
been easily effected by the progenitors of these birds, which are
all capable of greater powers of flight than the circumstances
would require.
The absence oiMegapodius from Timor — a fact already noticed
by the Dutch naturalists, and which all my inquiries tend to
confirm — is a very singular one, because the genus exists in every
other island of the Australian region, and even in the little
island of Semao, at the west end of Timor. I can only conjec-
ture that it may have been exterminated by the Tiger-cat, said to
exist in the interior. Taking into consideration the absence of
such characteristic Australian birds as Dacelo, Malurus, Cracti-
cus, and Casuarius, together with the non-existence of a single
Australian genus of Mammals, I cannot believe that Timor has
ever been actually connected with Australia, though the sea
which separates them has probably been much narrower than at
present, as is indicated by the great Sahul bank, which now
extends from the shores of Northern Australia to within twenty
miles of the south coast of Timor.
We may therefore, I think, fairly look upon the fauna of Timor
as almost entirely derived by immigration from the surrounding
countries, and subsequently modified by the reciprocal action of
the species on each other and by the influence of a new vegeta-
tion. In accordance with this view we find the external relations
of the genera and species of which it is composed varying in
degree with the varying distances of the surrounding lands, and
the probability of the reception of immigrants from them.
The Dutch naturalists who explored the interior of the west
part of Timor seem to have collected a great many birds, and
some French expeditions have also visited it. It thus happens
that most of the species are already known, though I suppose
many of them are rare in collections. I have 10 species of
Pigeons ; and there is still one, mentioned in Bonaparte's ' Con-
spectus ' as Ptilonopus viridissimus, which I have not met with.
Trichoglossus euteles was very abundant on the flowers of the
Eucalypti ; a smaller red-capped species ( T. iris ?) also occurred ;
350 Mr. A. 11. Wallace on the Ornithology of Timor.
but the beautiful T. hcematodus seems rare, as I never saw a
specimen, aud with difficulty obtained two live ones in the town.
1 observed it in the island of Semao two years ago, but could
not obtain an example. There are said to be one or two more
Psitiaci in the island, but I could see nothing of them. I ob-
tained 3 Ducks, 5 or 6 Herons and Egrets, and a fine Himantopus
(perhaps the H. leucocephalus of Australia), and that is all worth
mentioning. I was much disappointed in not finding the beau-
tiful Pitta irena, but presume it inhabits the interior only.
I have long been of opinion that there is no foundation what-
ever for the very prevalent idea that tropical heat and light have
some direct or specific efiect in producing the brilliant colours
that adorn birds, or insects, or flowers. Here, in Timor, the birds
are remarkably dull in colour ; and I think a fair average com-
parison will show that even chilly England possesses more beauty
among the common birds that give the character to the ornitho-
logy of the country than this tropical island. Out of the 100
species of birds I have collected here at Delli, I only find four
that are at all brilliant in colour — viz. Cinnyris Solaris, Chalco-
phaps, sp., Estrelda, sp., and lanthoenas metallica ; and I think
I am correct in saying, that in any part of England we could
find in the same time a larger number of species more or less
adorned with brilliant colours, and at least as many which might
be called pretty or ornamental.
That the larger number by far of brilliant birds do exist in
the tropics cannot be disputed ; but that climatal or solar influ-
ence has anything to do with the fact there is not the slightest
evidence, while there is much that contradicts the supposition.
And first, why does this supposed influence never act on those
families and genera which are equally abundant in the temperate
and tropical regions ? Why are not tropical Ducks and Accipi-
tres, Larks, Crows, Warblers, Goat-suckers, and Finches, much
more brilliant on the average than those of temperate and north-
ern regions ? Again, when stragglers from purely tropical families
occur in the north and south,why are they not the dullest-coloured
of their group ? Instead of being so, they are fully up to the
average of beauty. Our Kingfisher, Roller, and Bee-eater, the
northern and southern Humming-birds, the Psittaci of Tempe-
Mr. 0. Salvin un Central- American Birds. 351
rate Australia, are rather above than below the average brilliancy
of their tropical allies.
We must remember that the tropical fauna almost always ex-
tends beyond the geographical tropic, and thus comprehends the
largest part of the earth habitable all the year by birds. More-
over it is one mass, while the temperate regions are divided;
and most important of all, owing to the perennial presence of
fruits and insects, a far greater number and variety of birds can
exist there than in the colder parts of the earth. It follows, there-
fore, that if the proportion of bright- to obscure- coloured birds is
the same everywhere, yet the tropics must produce the largest
actual number, and it has yet to be shown that this proportion
is greater in the tropics. Such extensive tropical families as the
Trochilida, Trogonidce, Cotingidce, and Tanagridce, consisting
almost entirely of gay-coloured birds, will immediately occur to
every one ; but on the other side may be set the Todida, Bp.,
Thamnophilida, Anabatidcs, Dendrocolaptidce, Capitonidee, and
others equally tropical and as remarkable for their generally
obscure coloration.
Here the amount of colour would almost seem to be in inverse
proportion to the amount of solar light ; for while no island has
more clear sky and bright sunshine than Timor, its birds are far
less brilliant than those which dwell amid the gloomy forests and
ever-cloudy sky of the Moluccas and New Guinea.
On the whole, therefore, I cannot but believe that a careful
investigation of the facts will show that there exists no imme-
diate connexion between tropical heat and light and brilliancy
of colour in any department of nature ; and I am sure that on
no subject does a greater amount of misconception prevail than
on the relative beauty of nature and display of colour in tempe-
rate and tropical regions.
Delli, Timor, April 20tli, 1861.
XXX IX. — A List of Species to be added to the Oi-nitliology of
Central America. By Osbert Salvin, M.A., F.Z.S.
The following list of birds is derived partly from a collection
brought over by Mr. Robert Owen from Vera Paz, partly from
352 Mr. 0. Salvin's List of Species to be added to the
a revision of my own collections (which has led to the discovery
of several species accidentally omitted in former lists), and partly
from other authentic sources.
Mr. Owen's collection was formed mainly by Cipriano Prado,
who went as far as Chisec on the Rio de la Passion, and Filipe
Sierra, who collected at Teleman and Panzos on the Rio Polo-
chic. The rest were procured by Mr. Owen himself in the
vicinity of Coban and San Gerouimo. Amongst the birds col-
lected by Cipriano Prado, not mentioned in this list, occur two
specimens of a Coccothraustes, marked by him male and female,
and which he shot together (so he told Mr. Owen) near Coban.
These agree, on comparison, the male with C. abeillii, and the
female with C. maculipennis , Sclater; and I cannot help think-
ing that these two supposed species are actually the male and
female of one, which should be called bv Lesson's name, C.
aheillii. One female, marked so from dissection, shot by myself
near Duenas, and agreeing with Mr. Sclater's type of the sup-
posed male C. maculipennis, confirms me in this idea. Another
interesting bird is a Sclerurus (which I have referred to S.
guatemalensis, Hartl.), showing that two species of the limited
genus Sclerurus occur in Guatemala. There is also a female of a
species of Myrmotherula which I have been unable to determine,
no male specimen having been sent. This is the most northern
locality for any species of this genus hitherto recorded.
Passeres.
1. Cyphorhinus PHILOMELA, Salvin, P. Z. S. 1861, p. 201.
Several specimens. I have no doubt that this is the bird I
heard in the mountains and described (Ibis, 1861, p. 143) as
having great powers of song. In the dense forests it is a diffi-
cult bird to see, but its notes may very frequently be heard.
2. Certhiola mexicana, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 286.
Apparently very common in Central Vera Paz. I have re-
ceived many specimens from Chisec and other localities in the
same region, all agreeing very closely with one another.
3. Guiraca CiERULEA (Liuu.) ; Baird, B. Am. p. 499.
Though not of very common occurrence, this species is pretty
Ornithology of Central America. 353
generally distributed throughout Vera Paz. I met with it myself
in the plain of Salama, and all the collections from the warmer
districts to the northward of Coban contained examples. It has
been accidentally omitted from the previous lists.
4. Embernagra chloronota, Salvin, P.Z.S. 1861^ p. 202.
Chisec. Several specimens.
5. Cassidix oryzivora (Gm.); Cab. Mus. Hein. p. 194;
Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 57.
Included in Mr. Moore's list of the birds collected by Leyland
in Honduras.
6. Cyanocitta crassirostris, Bp. Consp. p. 378 ; Pucheran,
Rev. Zool. 1858, p. 198. Pica beecheyi, Eyd. et Gerv. Mag. de
Zool. 1 836, p. 26, pi. 72, et Voy. Favorite, pi. 20 ; Moore, P.Z.S.
1859, p. 57.
Guatemala (Morelet), Mus. Paris : Belize, Honduras (Leyland).
7. PicoLAPTEs LiNEATiCEPs, Lafr. Rcv. Zool. 1850, p. 277;
Sclater, P. Z. S. 1860, p. 252.
The specimen mentioned as having been observed on the
Pacific coast (Ibis, 1859, p. 117) belongs properly to this species,
and not to P. affinis, as there stated. It is not improbable that
P. lineaticeps is an inhabitant exclusively of the warm, and P.
affinis of more elevated regions. All the specimens of these two
species that I have collected lead to this conclusion.
8. Dendromanes homochrous, Sclater, P.Z.S. 1859, p. 382.
One specimen, with others of D. anabatinus, occurs in the col-
lection from Chisec. Neither species of this singular form ap-
pears to be common either in Guatemala or Mexico.
9. SiTTASOMUs SYLVioiDES, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1849, p. 331, et
1850, p. 590.
Two specimens from Chisec.
10. Xenops mexicanus, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 289.
Apparently common throughout the " tierra cahente " of Vera
Paz.
11. FoRMiCARius MONiLiGER, Sclatcr, P. Z. S. 1856, p. 294.
Several specimens collected at Chisec.
354 Mr. 0. Salvin's List of Species to be added to the
There is also iu the collection one skin of Grallaria guatema-
lensis, a bird which I have hitherto only known from specimens
procured by Mr. Skinner. G. guatemalensis appears to be quite
distinct from the Mexican Gi-allaria (which Mr. Sclater now calls
G, mexicana), being considerably smaller in size and having the
under parts more rufous.
12. CoNTOPUs BRACHYTARSus, Sclatcr, MS. Empidonax bra-
chytarsus, Sclat. Ibis, 1859, p. 441.
Two specimens of this Tyrant were collected by Mr. Eraser at
Escuintla.
13. Aphantochroa roberti, Salvin, P. Z. S. 1861, p. 203.
This Humming-bird and Campylopterus cuvieri of Gould
ought, perhaps, to be placed in a separate subgenus, as being
distinct from both Aphantochroa and Campyloptei^us.
14. MoMOTUS CASTANEiCEPS, Gould, P. Z. S. 1854, p. 154;
Sclater, P. Z. S. 1857, p. 254.
Though Coban is given as the locality in which M. Delattre
found this Mot-mot, I somewhat doubt its accuracy, as no spe-
cimen has ever come into my hands from that place. In the
plain of Zacapa and in the adjacent country, the commonest
species is one which answers best to M. castaneiceps, many spe-
cimens of which I have seen, but never obtained. M. Delattre
collected in other parts of Guatemala besides Coban, and it is
very possible that the true locality of this bird may have been
wrongly given.
15. Chrysotis xantholora, G. R. Gray, List of Psittacidje,
p. 83.
The specimen in the British Museum is marked "Dyson,
Honduras," and I therefore include it in this list. It differs
from C albifrons, its nearest ally, in having yellow lores and
black ear- coverts. The dark edgings to the feathers of the back
are also more strongly shown.
ACCIPITRES.
16. Hypotriorchis deiroleucus (Temm.). Falco deiro-
leucus, Temm. PI. Col. 348.
Among some old skins belonging to Mr. Mcany, of Guatemala,
Ornithology of Central Ameinca. 355
I picked out a specimen of this Hobby, the finest, perhaps,
of the genus. The skin is of an adult female and in good con-
dition. Mr. Meany had received it from Vera Paz.
17. AcciPiTER piLEATUs, Max.
This bird having occurred in M. Salle's collection from South
Mexico, might naturally be expected to be found also in Gua-
temala. 1 have now two specimens from Vera Paz, both in the
immature dress. They were shot by Juan Prado, who has cer-
tainly been most fortunate in obtaining rare birds of prey.
18. IcTiNiA MississippiENSis, Wils. J Baird, Rep. p. 37;
Cassin, Ibis, 1860, p. 103.
One specimen from Coban occurs in the last collection, but
I. plumbea is by far the commonest species of Ictinia in Vera
Paz. The present bird is clearly distinguishable from that spe-
cies, the differences being rightly pointed out by Mr. Cassin
(/. c). I am not aware of any other specimen of this Hawk ex-
isting in this country except the one in the British Museum.
It appears to be almost as rare in North American collections.
19. Scops flammeola, Licht. in Mus. Berol. ; Kaup, Trans.
Zool. Soc. 1859, p. 226.
One specimen of this rare Owl was shot by Mr. Owen in the
mountain of Santa Barbara, near San Geronimo. M. Salle's
Mexican collections, I believe, contained but one example, which
was placed in the late Prince Charles Bonaparte's private col-
lection.
COLUMB^.
20. Chlorcenas flavirostris, Wagl. Isis, 1831, p. 410;
Sclater, P.Z.S. 1856, p. 309.
Volcan de Fuego. Collected by Mr. Fraser.
21. Leptoptila ?
Several specimens of a third species of this genus, which may
possibly be the Columba erythrothorax of Temminck. It is cer-
tainly distinct from either L. albifrons or L. ruf axilla.
GALLINiE.
22. TiNAMUS ROBUSTUS, Sclater, P.Z S. 1860, p. 253.
I obtained two eggs of this species in Yzabal in 1859. They
356 Mr. 0. Salvin on Central-American Birds.
are of a greenish blue^ like those of T. major of Brazil. An egg
of T. meserythrus, procured by Mr. Owen, is of a reddish choco-
late-brown colour. A specimen of that of T. sallm, in the British
Museum, is a creamy white. Other eggs of species belonging to
this peculiar family in my collection tend to show that even a
specific character may very fairly be assumed from the different
colours of the eggs, so decidedly are differences shown in the
eggs of such Tinami as I have been able to determine satis-
factorily.
23. TiNAMUs MESERYTHRUS, Sclatcr, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 392.
A considerable series of this species shows a great constancy
in its colouring. One specimen — no doubt a young one — has
the chestnut-red of the breast much less strongly shown, and
there is an indication of barred markings on the sides and wings.
The egg is of a reddish chocolate-brown.
24. TiNAMUS salLjEI, Bp. Compt. Bend. xlii. p.955 ; Sclater,
P. Z. S. 1859, p. 392.
Chisec.
25. TiNAMUs BOUCARDi, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 391.
In addition to these four species of Tinamou, Mr. Owen states
that there is another belonging to the smaller section of this
family. Of this fifth species I hope shortly to obtain spe-
cimens.
Grallje.
26. NuMENius borealis, Lath. ; Baird, Rep. p. 744.
A single specimen of this well-known North American bird
was sent home last autumn by Mr. R. Owen. It was shot at
San Geronimo.
27. Q^dicnemus bistriatus, Wagl. (E. vocifer, L'Herm.
Mag. de Zool. 1837, pi. 84; Owen, Ibis, 1861, p. 68.
Mr. Owen has given an account of the breeding habits of this
bird in this Journal [antea, p. 68). I believe it occurs in most
of the plains of moderate elevation, such as that of Salama, and
no doubt is the species observed by Mr. Taylor on the plain of
Comayagua in Honduras (Ibis, 1860, p. 314). It is a bird
easily tamed, and may frequently be seen in the "patios" or
courtyards so characteristic of Spanish American houses.
Ibif' i8Sl VI XII
J -JenneTiB , 1-iih .
li &¥.'SaiihArX,Jmv.
ZOSTERCP.;
-ASTFA
H. Th. von Heuglin on a new African Zosterops, 357
28. Nycticorax violaceuSj Linn,; Baird, Rep. p. 679;
Moore, P. Z. S. 1859, p. 63.
Included in Mr. Moore's list of the birds collected by Leyland.
XL. — On a new African Species of the Genus Zosterops.
By Th. von Heuglin*.
(Plate XIIL)
The genus Zoster-ops (a very circumscribed and very distinct one,
though not very rich in species) is found over nearly the whole of
Africa, in Madagascar, Australia, some parts of Northern Asia,
and in the Southern Indian Islands. I discovered a new species
in the high mountainous districts of Abyssinia, easily to be
distinguished by its very large eyes and eye-rings, and by its
breast and upper abdomen being of a pure grey. In my " List
of N.E. African Birds," printed in the * Transactions of the
Vienna Academy,' I have enumerated this new species under
the name of Z. euryophthalma, but now I prefer changing this
name into
Zosterops poliogastra. (PI. XIII.)
Supra virescenti-flava ; superciliis gutture et subcaudalibus sul-
phureis; pectore et epigastrio obsolete cinereis; abdomine
medio pallidiore ; remigibus et rectricibus fuliginosis, extus
virescenti-flavo marginatis, illis intus basin versus albidis ;
subalaribus albis, flexuram al?e versus virescente tinctis ;
tectricibus caudse superioribus fere totis flavis; macula
nigra inter oculum et rictum ; regione parotica viridi-nigri-
cante ; annulo periophthalmico nitide sericeo-albo ; tibiis
griseis, flavescente tinctis ; rostro nigerrimo ; pedibus plum-
beis ; iride brunnea.
Long. 4" 3"'; rostr. a fr. 4'"; al. 2" 5'"; caud. 1" 9"'; tars. 8'".
The male is a little more brightly coloured than the female.
The first primary is 2" shorter than the second, third, and fourth,
which are the longest. This pretty species lives on the high-
lands of Abyssinia ; I found it there in the month of February
and March in wooded districts, on Euphorbiie and olive-trees, at
an elevation of 10-11,000 feet.
* Translated ami edited by Dr. G. Hartlaub.
358 H. Th. von Heuglin on a new African Zosterops.
The well-known African species oi Zosterops are tlie following :
a. Zosterops.
1. Z. CAPENsis, Sundev.
Olivaceo-viridis, subtus sordide cinereo-albida ; gula crissoque
flavis ; loris nigro-fuscis^ linea superiore flavescente ; hypo-
chondriis grisescentibus ; annulo periophthalraico nitide
albo; rostronigro; iride brunnca.
Long. 4|"; rostr. a fr. 4'"; al. 2" 3'"; tars. 8|"'.
Syn. Sundev. Ofvers. af Kongl. Vetensk. Akad. Foi'handl.
1850, p. 102. Le Tcheric, Le Vaill. Ois. d'Afr. pi. 132. Z. Vail-
lantii, Reichenb. Meropin. p. 89, t. 460. figs. 3281-86 ; Grill,
Zool. Anteckn. p. 38.
Inhabits the most southern portion of Africa. Common about
Cape Town (Wahlb.) ; Victoria, &c. Stationary and solitary in
Central, North, and Eastern Abyssinia (Heuglin, Riippell, &c.).
With Sundevall and Reichenbach, we believe the very nearly
allied Madagascar species to be distinct. It is a smaller bird,
and wants the dark, blackish lores.
2. Z. MADAGASCARIENSIS (L.).
Supra cum alis et cauda olivacea, capitis lateribus olivaceis ; an-
nulo periophthalmico nitide albo; mento et gula flavis-
simis ; pectore abdomineque albido-cinerascentibus ; sub-
caudalibus, cruribus et subalaribus flavis ; rostro nigricanti-
corneo, basi mandibulse pallida ; pedibus brunnescentibus.
Long.3|-3|"; rostr.afr.4i"';al.l"ll"'; caud.abas.l4"'; tars. 7'".
Syn. Ficedula madagasc. minor, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 498, pi. 27.
fig. 2. Motacilla madagasc, L. Sylvia annulosa, Sw. Zool.
lUustr. pi. 164. Z. flavigula, Sw. Menag. p. 294; Reichenb.
/. c. p. 90, t. 460. fig. 3289 ; Hartl. Orn. Madag. p. 40.
Specimens from Bernier and Goudot in the ParisMuseum. Our
description is from a fine specimen in the Stuttgardt collection.
3. Z. LATERALIS, SuudcV.
Supra pallide olivaceo-viridis, subtus albida, lateribus griseo-
fulvescentibus ; gutture crissoque flavis ; loiis flavis ; gula
leviter fulvescente tincta ; annvdo periophthalmico conspi-
cue albo ; rostro nigricante.
Long. 4"; al. 2" 2'"; tars. 8'".
Syn. Sundev. Ofvers. Kongl. Vetensk. Ak. Forhandl. 1850,
p. 101. Z. abyssinica, Guer. Rev. Zool. 1843, p. 162.
H. Th. von Heuglin on a new African Zosterops. 359
Upper Caffraria (Wahlb.). Abyssinia (Galinier et Ferret).
There can be but little doubt about the identity of the North-
eastern and the South-African bird. Sundevall himself seems
to believe in it, but not feeling quite sure about the meaning
of Guerin's expi-ession "pulveris colore," prefers giving a new
name to the Caffrarian Zosterops.
4i. Z. POLioGASTRA, Heugl.
5. Z. PALLTDA., Swains.
Pallide griseo-olivascens, subtus flavescenti-alba, abdomiue et
hypochondriis isabellino tiuctis ; alis et Cauda pallide brun-
neis; subalaribus albis; subcaudalibus stramineis.
Long, circa 3|".
Syn. Swains. Anim. in Menag. p. 294.
South Africa (Burchell).
6. Z. CHLORONOTos (Yieill.).
Capite, collo et interscapulio ardesiaco-cineraceis, pileo paulum
olivaceo lavato ; tergo, uropygio, alarum tectricibus remi-
gumque marginibus externis Isete flavo-virentibus, mento
et gula albidis; pectore cinerascente ; subalaribus albis;
hypochondriis rufescentibus ; subcaudalibus dilute flavis ;
annulo periophthalmico niveo ; rostro brunneo, subtus palli-
diore ; pedibus pallidis.
Long. 3" 10'"; rostr. a fr. Sf"; al. 1" 10'"; caud. 15'"; tars. 7'".
Syn. Certhia chloronotos, Vieill. Ois. Dor. pi. 28. C. bor-
bonica, Gm. Zosterops curvirostris, Swains. B. W. Afr. ii. Z. cur-
virostris, Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xiv. p. 363; Reichenb.
fig. 3287; Hartl. Orn. Madag. p. 44.
Madagascar, Mauritius, Bourbon.
The description is from a fine specimen in the Bremen col-
lection.
7. Z. H^STTATA, Hartl.
Supra in fundo cinerascenti-olivaceo induta, sincipite subnigri-
cante ; subtus cinerea ; abdomine imo conspicue rufescente,
uropygio, remigura et rectricum marginibus externis la^tius
virentibus ; annulo circa oculum niveo ; subcaudalibus di-
lute flavis ; rostro nigro ; pedibus pallidis.
Long. 4"; rostr. a fr. 5^'"; caud. 15'"; tars. 8'"; dig. med. 6'".
Syn. Hartl. Orn. Madag. p. 41.
360 H. Th. von Heuglin on a neiv African Zosterops.
Bourbon (Leclancher). Two specimens in the Paris collec-
tion. A very large species.
8. Z. sENEGALENSis, Bonap.
Supra Isete virescenti-flava^ subtus pure et dilute flava; lineola
nigra inter oculum et rictum ; annulo periophthalmico
nitide albo ; subalaribus flavis ; rostro et pedibus nigrican-
tibus.
Long 4f ; rostr. a fr. 4|"'; al. 1" 11'"; caud. 13'"; tars. 6|"'.
Syn. Z. flava, Swains. B. W. Afr. ii. p. 43, pi. 3. Z. citrina,
Hartl. Beitr. Orn. Westafr. p. 22. Z. senegalensis, Bp. Consp.
p. 399; Reichenb. Meropin. p. 90, fig. 3288; Hartl. Syst. Orn.
Westafr. p. 72. Z. icterovh-ens, Herz. v. Wiirt. Icon. ined.
t.41.6.
Inhabits Senegambia. The description is taken from a speci-
men from the Casamanse River. Atbara (Herz. v. Wiirt.). A
careful and repeated examination of the very fine figure in the
Duke of Wiirtemberg's 'Icones ineditse' leaves me no doubt as
to the identity of his Z. icterovirens with the well-known Senegal
species, Z. senegalensis,
9. Z. viRENs, Sundev.
Flavo-viridis ; gastrseo flavo, exceptis hypochoudriis conspicue
virescentibus ; loris nigris, superne flavis; rostro nigro;
pedibus fuscis.
Long.4|"; al.2"2'"; tars. 5f'.
Syn. Zosterops virens, Sundev. Ofvers. Kongl. Vetensk. Akad.
Forhandl. 1850, p. 101.
Inhabits Upper Cafi"raria (Wahlb.).
Nearly allied to the preceding, but larger and greener. Cer-
tainly distinct.
b. Malacirops.
10. Z. BORBONiCA (Briss.).
Supra cinei'ea, subtus alba, latei'ibus pallide brunnescente lavatis ;
rectricibus et remigibus ftiscis, his dorsi colore fimbriatis ;
subalaribus et subcaudalibus albis ; rostro fusco ; pedibus
pallidis.
Long. 4"; rostr. a fr. 4'"; al. 2" 1'" ; caud. 1" 2'"; tars. 7i"'.
Syn. Ficedula borbonica, Briss. Orn. iii. p. 510, pi. 28. fig. 3.
Le petit Simon de Bourbon, Buft'. PI. Enl. 105. fig. 2; Hartl.
Mr. W. H. Simpson's Fortnight m the Dohrudscha. 361
Ornith. Madag. p. 40. Malacirops borbonica, Bonap. Notes s. 1.
Coll. Del. p. 56; Reicheub. fig. 3290. Fiyuier de VIsle de France,
BufF. [Motacilla mauritiana, Gra. ?). Z. cinerea, Swains.?
Found in Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands. A speci-
men received from Goudot in the Paris collection is a little more
brownish ; perhaps a female.
c. Speirops.
11. Z. LUGUBRis, Hartl.
Supra olivacea, pileo nigricante, uropygio viridi-flavescente ;
fasciola inter rictum et oculum annuloque periophthalmico,
hoc minus conspicue, albis ; subalaribus et flexura alae pure
albis ; gutture pallide cinerascente ; pectore et abdomine
dilute brunnescenti-olivaceis ; rostro brunneo ; pedibus
carneis ; iride nigra.
Long. 5" 2'"; rostr. a fr. 4|"; al.2"8|"'; caud. 2"; tars. Sf.
Syn. Zosterops lugubi-is, Hartl. Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 108; Id.
Beitr. z. Orn. Westafr. p. 49 ; Id. xibhandl. Naturw. Ver. Hamb.
ii. p. 49, t. 2. fig. med. ; Id. Syst. Orn. Westafr. p. 72. Speirops
higubris, lleichenb. Merop. p. 93, fig. 3306.
Confined to the Island of St. Thomas. We have examined
two specimens (Hamb. Mus.).
Less typical. The largest Zosteropine species of Africa.
XLI. — A Fortnight in the Dobrudscha.
By W. H. Simpson, M.A., F.Z.S.
The Austrian steamer from Constantinople to Galatz being
caught in a gale of wind off Varna, on Sunday, April 15, 1860,
was obliged to run for shelter behind the point of Kali Akra,
the eastern horn of Baltschik Bay, where she lay for thirty-six
hours, secure from the furious nor^-easter, which drove the scud
at hurricane speed just over the 300 feet cliffs that protected us
from its fury. This is the first view which the traveller from
the south has of the coast of the Dobrudscha, and if he has pre-
viously indulged in the popular error that that region is a low-
lying swamp, he will here have an opportunity for correcting his
geography. But unless he wishes to find himself alone in the
midst of a somewhat lawless Turkish population, he will hardly
care to land here in order to improve his ornithology, though
VOL. III. 2 b
362 Mr. W. H. Simpson's Fortnight
he might probably long to explore those clifi's if the captain
would guarantee that the steamer would not sail without him.
As, however, the captain of an Austrian ' Lloyd^s steamer •" is
too great a personage to be lightly addressed, especially on an
occasion when his feelings are aggravated by the dread of being
driven ashore, he, the traveller, will have to postpone his explora-
tions until the steamer arrives off Kustendje, where, if the fog
and swell permit, he may land in the new harbour which is being
there constructed by an English Company in connexion with the
Danube and Black Sea Railway, of which Kustendje is the eastern
terminus. This was my case. It had, indeed, been darkly
intimated to the passengers that the vessel would be obliged
to go on through the Sulina channel to Galatz — a circuit of
200 miles for any one wishing to reach this place. Fortunately
the fog, which had succeeded the gale, cleared up on the morn-
ing of the 1 7th, and revealed to us the earthy cliffs which form
the distinctive feature of this part of the coast of the Dobrudscha.
The first object that greeted my arrival in port was a fiock
of Little Gulls (Larus minutus) flying about in the harbour.
This I considered a good omen, and even indulged in hopes of
finding their breeding-quarters, as many were already in good
plumage. This species was subsequently noticed in immense
numbers between the 20th and 24th, especially on the first of
the above dates. At that time the bulk of the flocks were
frequenting a lake of fresh water called " Sud Geul," which
extends fur several miles in a northerly direction parallel to the
sea, from which it is separated by a narrow isthmus. On this
occasion the flocks of Larus minutus, associated with a few in-
dividuals of Sterna cantiaca, were literally swarming in the air
a few feet above the surface of the water, like swallows over
a river on a summer's evening. Far as the eye could reach, look-
ing northwards down the lake, these elegant little birds were to
be seen on the feed, dashing to and fro most actively. In most
of them the head and u^pper part of the neck were of a brilliant
jet-black, producing a singular effect in the mass when contrasted
with the white of the rest of the plumage. Upon those which
were nearest, a faint rosy tinge, confined to the upper part of
the breast, was also noticeable. This, I think, is more marked
in the Dobrudscha. 363
in the living bird than in preserved specimens. In the distance
they looked like musquitoes over the water, the flocks probably
extending to the farthest end of the lake, which cannot be less
than eight or ten nnles off. Here, then, it seemed was the
home of the birds, for which the late John Wolley and myself,
misled by a false description, had vainly sought in Oland
during the spring of 1856. The isthmus between the lake and
the sea, uneven with swampy hollows and dry hillocks that
support a coarse and scanty vegetation, might surely be their
appropriate breeding-places, where, in company with Terns,
Pratincoles, Stilts, et hoc genus omne, they might be expected
towards the end of May to deposit their eggs. Never was there
a greater mistake. A few days later and the thousands have
become hundreds, yet a few days more and these will have
dwindled down to tens, so that, by the middle of May, it is
possible that not a pair will remain behind. Doubtless they con-
tinue their northward journey along this coast of the Black Sea;
but it is in the marshes and lakes of Central Russia, in the great
plains of the Volga, and possibly also in those of the Bug, the
Dneiper, and the Don, that oologists must look for eggs of Lai-us
minutus.
In order to make the following notes more intelligible, it would
be well to attempt a slight description of the chief features of
the Dobrudscha, — not, indeed, with any pretensions to accuracy,
as a fortnight's sojourn in a district so little travelled as this is
only just sufficient to make a person wish to know more of it.
One thing, however, is obvious enough, viz., that the country,
instead of being a marsh, much more reseuibles the downs of
the chalk formation, being in fact very dry, except in a few parts
to be more particularly mentioned subsequently. As the fate of
Lord Cardigan's cavalry and also of the French expeditionary
column is well known, an impression has gone abroad that the
Dobrudscha is marshy and malarious. The bones of the unfortu-
nate soldiers composing the latter forces were but lately to be seen
on the heights of Kustendje; but whether the men died of cholera,
or any other disease, want of water was much more likely to have
been a predisposing cause than the excess of it.
The region north of Baltschik Bay, as far as the delta of the
2 b2
364 Mr. W. H. Simpson's Fortnight
Danube^ appears then to consist of an undulating upland, having
its watershed within a few miles of the Black Sea, to which it
slopes rather rapidly. The point where the Danube and Black
Sea Railway (about forty miles in length) crosses the height of
land is very near its eastern terminus. Speaking from memory,
the elevation is between 250 and 350 feet. Further north, at
Baba-dagh, where primary or plutonic rocks are said to burst
through the calcareous strata forming the main bulk of the mass,
these elevations are greatly exceeded. The Danube below Sili-
stria, flowing eastwards, is gradually deflected northwards by this
mass, as it cats its way into the cliff's on the Bulgarian shore
as far as Tchernawoda, where it is within forty miles of the sea.
At this point its course is completely turned, at first even a
little towards the W. of N.; but although foiled in its attempts
to penetrate the uplands of the Dobrudscha, its summer floods
appear to have inundated the numerous valleys that debouche
upon it. What share the river itself may have had in the
erosion of these valleys is, of course, a geological question. Thus
are formed chains of lakes and swamps, which constitute the real
marshes of the Dobrudscha. The aspect therefore which this
district presents to the Danube, its western boundary, is that of
an immense in-curving sweep of land about 300 or 400 feet high,
which often comes to the water's edge in low precipices of a
softish rock, apparently calcareous, but which is also perforated
by swampy hollows reaching far back into the heart of the
country. The view from these heights, looking immediately
down upon the chief arm of the river, and across into the low-
lying but richly wooded islands of Wallachia, is probably one of
the most striking in Turkey. It suggests the idea of standing
on one of the bastions of an immense fortress, which has the
largest river in Europe for its ditch. In this region may be
seen the Griffon and Cinereous Vultures, the Egyptian Neophron,
Sea-Eagles in plenty, the Imperial Eagle, and a small dark variety
of the Golden Eagle. Some of these are pretty sure to be on
the wing, not to mention the less obvious birds of prey, which
breed in the almost boundless extent of forest and morass that
covers the flat islands stretching northwards and westwards till
lost in the distant horizon.
in the Dobvudscha. 3G5
Reverting, however, for the preseut to the coast, we find that,
where the earth-cliffs do not come down directly to the sea, lakes
both of salt and fresh water intervene. These are generally
separated from the sea by strips of land, such as the one pre-
viously described at Sud Geul. Towards the north the lakes
are more extensive. The earth -cliffs about Kustendje are much
I'esorted to by birds for breeding, from the facility with which
they are perforated. The Eagle-Owl {Bubo maxirnus) has been
known, though not quite lately, to have its eyrie on a very ac-
cessible ledge in one of these faces ; but it is not likely this will
occur again, owing to an increase in the European population
hereabouts. The Turk is a true friend to all birds, and never
molests them ; but where Franks and Greeks abound guns
become numerous, and birds diminish, Tne Ruddy Shelduck
{Tadorna rutila) breeds in these places, as also in the holes of Tra-
jan's wall, and in other holes up the country. Eggs, however, of
this bird would be of no value to collectors unless authenticated,
as the other species occurs spai'ingly. Though plentiful, it is by.
no means easy to obtain the eggs. I and my friend spent the
greater part of a day in driving a tunnel into a bank where one
had been seen to come out. But our labour was in vain ; for
after advancing several yards, working one at a time, prostrate,
and in the dark, the original hole was found to fork off into
two branches. The natives sometimes obtain a sitting which is
hatched, and the young ones are brought up for domestic pur-
poses. Starlings and Jackdaws (always Corvus collaris : see
' Ibis,' vol.ii. p. 355) are likewise fond of these cliffs. Acridotheres
roseus has also been noticed, but not by me ; it may be seen at
times sparingly mixed with the other Starlings. This bird, as is
well known, breeds in large colonies in parts of Asia Minor,
though at irregular intervals ; it is not supposed that it ever
breeds here. A few Gulls frequent these cliffs, but they were
very scarce in the month of April, and being rather shy from
frequent shooting, I was not able to handle a specimen. Judg-
ing from a distance, Larus fuscus and L. argentatus seem to
prevail. We picked up the remains of a Shearwater in the very
last stage of decomposition ; it appeared to hePi/ffinus anglorum.
I fancy this is the species so numerous on the Bosphorus, where
366 Mr. W. H. Simpson's Fortnight
long files of them are ever flying tbrough the channel — an up
and down train several hundred yards in length being often
in sight at the same time. These are the dmes damnees of
sultanas who got the sack under the old regime^ each separate
train being perhaps part of the establishment of a difl'erent
Sultan. Not that all these poor restless spirits were necessarily
frail ones : harems must have been expensive in those days, as
they were lately proved to be under Sultan Abdul Medjid, and
when the inmates became ugly or strong-minded, the sack was
more economical than a pension.
To the north of where these earth-cliffs terminate, the lakes,
backwatei's, and rough sand-hills intervening between the sea
and the uplands are sure to be favourite places of resort for
Waders and Wild-fowl dui'ing the spring and autumn flights ;
these being from their position a place of call as it were on the
direct line of East-European migrations, a sort of halfway house
between the South and the North. Pelicans bound for the mus-
quito-haunted delta of the Danube ; Ducks, Geese, Plovers, and
Snipes, of many species besides those which breed here, on their
way to Poland and Kussia ; Stints from their African winter-
quarters going to Lapland, Siberia, and the farthest north, —
all are likely to be met with here at their respective seasons. Ex-
cepting my two visits to Sud Geul, I never had an opportunity
of examining this district ; but on one of those occasions a flock
of Pelicans (probably Pelecaims onocrotalus) , consisting of several
thousands, w^as noticed moving northwards at an immense height.
Tribes of Cossack fishermen prey upon the fowl hereabouts ;
they have the reputation of being very active eggers. We our-
selves took the nest of a Wild Goose (believed to be Anserferus).
I noticed also Stilts [Himantopus Candidas), which undoubtedly
breed here, the Double Snipe, Common Curlew, Common Snipe,
and Kentish Plover amongst the V/aders, besides the Hooper
[Cygnus 7nusicus), Common Wild Ducks in great quantities, the
Shoveler, Pochai'd, and Garganey, and some other ducks not made
out with equal certainty. To the great numbers o( Larus minutus
allusion has already been made. Strange to say, the birds of
prey, so numerous generally in the Dobrudscha, were not well
represented here, possibly for want of appropriate breeding-
in the Dobrudscha. 367
places. The Marsh Harrier seemed to be cock of the walk in
default of any nobler bird. I found a new nest of this species
in some reeds, and an old nest in a low blackthorn bush by the
water's edge. There is another Harrier also pretty numerous
here, the same which is so extremely abundant on the uplands.
I presume it to be Circus cineraceus, but not having succeeded
in shooting one, could not undertake to say for certain.
The old Turkish town of Kustendje covers the low promon-
tory which partially protects the harbour. The new town is
built higher up, on the edge of the undulating plateau of the
Dobrudscha — an open treeless tract of country very much like
what the downs of Newmarket and the heaths of Suffolk may
have been in former times. Trajan's wall runs across from here
in a westerly direction to the Danube. Besides the wall of
Trajan, there are many interesting remains of antiquity at this
place, which occupies the site of ancient Tomi. If Ovid had been
a sportsman and naturalist, he might have found abundant con-
solation in his exile ; but having been in all probability indifferent
to the advantages of Bustard-hunting, and totally unable to ap-
preciate the ornithological riches of the country, he seems to
have found the place very dull. In the face of a ravine on the
edge of the new town, recent excavations have laid bare some
Roman temples and other remains. These the railway autho-
rities, with more zeal for the improvement of the harbour than
for the conservation of antiquities, are using up in the formation
of the new breakwater. Thus unhappy Tomi is being disinterred
only to be re-entombed in the waves. A facetious acquaintance
observed, that when the breakwater is finished, a monument
should be erected at the extremity with " Here lies Tommy" by
way of epitaph ! Wheatears and Hoopoes frequent the old stones
that are lying about. The latter bird is very tame, and a great
ornament to the place ; but I fear that, as far as Kustendje is
concerned, his epita})h too may shortly be wanted. Numerous
tumuli, attributed, with what reason I do not know, to the Tar-
tars, occur on the plateau ; to some of these the Ruddy Shelduck
is very partial.
The birds of the plateau or open down- country come next
under our observation. Here it must be remembered that there
368 Mr. W. H. Simpson's Fortnight
is not a tree or fence of any kind to break the uniformity of the
scene. From some points along the height of land the sea
bounds the view on the east : all else is the land of grass, with
here and there a patch of corn, according as the fancy of some
enterpi'ising individual may have sown it. Not grass, however,
in the sense of our English turf; nowhere in the East is such
a thing to be found; but yet a goodly supply of herbage such as
might feed thousands of sheep. A few low blackthorn bushes
occasionally dot the surface. Towards the end of April they are
just coming out into blossom, giving a pleasant air of spring as
one passes by. To believe that such bushes, sometimes only a
foot in height, will hold an Eagle's or Harrier's nest, requires a
considerable amount of faith ; yet this is undoubtedly sometimes
the case. Generally, however, the Eagle [Aquila navia), which
mostly haunts these downs, has its nest upon the ground. I
found, or was directed to, no less than four, two of which were on
the ground, under the shelter of bushes ; two were on the bare
plain. Out of the whole four I only got two eggs, and these very
poorly-marked specimens. From some cause to me inexplicable
the eggs were geneially broken, the fragments being sometimes
trailed several yards from the nest, which is itself a slight struc-
ture composed of a few sticks with a lining of wool carelessly
arranged. In one was a piece of coloured cloth. The old bird,
of course, sees any one approaching a long way off, and may, in
consequence, attempt to carry away the eggs. There are, how-
ever, several Grey Crows [Corvus comix) on the look-out for waifs
and strays, and these may be at the bottom of the mystery.
The Spotted Eagle is generally a tree-building bird, but here it
seems to confine itself to the open country, where probably it
feeds largely upon the lizards and small animals that are so
numerous. I made several attempts to procure a specimen, but
without success ; neither could I obtain one of the Harrier (sup-
posed to be Circus cineraceiis), which is perpetually hawking the
Grey Partridge on these downs. One of the favourite breeding-
places of this bird is along the banks of Trajan's wall so called,
but which is really a system of mounds and ditches more or less
perfect.
The westward slope of the height of land in the neighbour-
in the Dohrudscha. 369
hood of Trajan's wall is also favourite ground for Bustards,
especially for the Little Bustards. These latter arrive from the
south rather before the middle of April, in flocks of consider-
able size, many staying to breed here whilst others are moving
further north. The male birds are particularly demonstrative
at this time of the year, and being often occupied in parading
their attractions in groups of ten or a dozen to the females which
are crouching somewhere in the grass, they are not so wide
awake as at other seasons, and thus afford a better chance to the
gun. On foot, even with a rifle, it is not easy to reach them ;
but with an araba judiciously managed, very fair sport may be
had. After a few months' experience of the stony mountains
and dense coverts of Greece, nothing can be more exhilarating
than a gallop in an araba over the breezy downs of the Do-
hrudscha in early spring. It is true that at starting you expect
concussion of the brain must necessarily ensue, as there are
no roads, and your driver dashes over all minor inequalities of
the surface ; but this feeling soon goes away, and you get on
famously until a wheel comes off, or until you make the un-
pleasant discovery that your powder-flask has been rattled out
of the cart, in which latter case you face about and retrace your
track till it is found. In these expeditions I and my friend R. B.
used to take it in turns to drive and shoot. But supposing all
these little mischances are overcome and Bustard-ground fairly
reached, a wild yet pleasing scene it is, on a sunny spring
morning, such as those which we had the good fortune to enjoy.
On all sides an undulating prairie, solitary in the extreme, yet
not destitute of bird-life. The traveller on his way back from
the south will here see the well-known Skylark [Alauda arvensis),
breeding plentifully in the midst of A. cristata and A. brachij-
dactyla. The Grey Partridge keeps pretty close, but occasionally
one will get up, in spite of the numerous Harriers that contri-
bute further to enliven the landscape, which also is seldom free
from the presence of one of the grass-breeding Eagles [Aquila
navia). Occasionally Vultures may be seen soaring aloft. Both
Gyps fulvus and Vultur monachus have been noticed : once I shot
at an individual of the latter species with a pistol. Now and then
passes a troop of Ducks or Wild Geese, a flock of Waders, or
370 Mr. W. H. Simpson's Fortnight
perhaps a few stray Terns and Gulls, on their way to the marshes.
Often too the Ruddy Shelduck may be seen, watching its op-
portunity for popping unnoticed into its hole in a mound or
tumulus. Presently some Bustards are descried on the opposite
slopes, and away we gallop towards them. It may so happen
that they take the alarm and fly before we are within a quarter
of a mile. The Great Bustard almost invai'iably does ; but the
Little Bustard, besides being more plentiful, is less wary, and
often takes no notice of the araba. Arrived within 200 yards,
we commence "great circle sailing," gradually shortening tl^^
distance, though, to the flock, we seem ever going away from
them. The pace is now a good trot, and the great thing is to
pull up dead when about 40 yards ofi^, firing the instant the
birds rise, which they are pretty sure to do as soon as the ma-
chine stops. We found by experience that 40 yards was about
as close "shaving" as the birds would stand ; and at that distance
it was not always a kill, especially if the horses were not per-
fectly quiet. If a bird was hit, but not brought down, we gal-
loped after him at full speed, when, finding he could not get
away from us, he would often crouch, and under these circum-
stances it was very difficult to find him. We used to get down
from the araba and almost walk over them before they would
get up. They ai'e slow risers generally, but when once fairly
on the wing, go at a slashing pace. On getting up, the Little
Bustard makes an odd rattling noise, very similar to that pro-
duced by a bird-scarer, such as is used in gardens. In this
description of sport only one person can shoot at a time; but,
in fact, there is as much fun to be had, and more skdl to be dis-
played, in managing the horses so as to place the araba in a
favourable position, than in shooting the game. Our best bag
in one day was seven brace, of which number eleven birds were
males in splendid plumage. The flesh is dark, and at this sea-
son rather strong, but in a hungry country like the Dobrudscha
one is not apt to be particular.
Those portions of the country towards the west which are
skirted by the Danube are most abundant in species, and in
birds usually accounted rare, that is to say, but seldom met with
in Western Europe. The same treeless character prevails here
in the Dobrudscha. 371
as in the uplands^ which probably do not differ much in their
ornithological character from the district nearer the Black Sea.
The change is principally to be noticed in the bottoms of the
valleys communicating with the great valley itself, which, being
below the level of high-water mark of summer floods, are con-
verted into chains of small lakes and marshes stretching some
way back from the rivers. Here also there are trees, mostly
willows, few in number, and small in size compared to the mag-
nificent trees which fill the islands of the Danube on the Wal-
lachian side, where an immense territory of alluvial forest-clad
plains presents a marked contrast to the open and undulating
Dobrudscha. Throughout this region, including also the lateral
valleys. Herons, Storks, and allied genera are especially nume-
rous. The Common Stork {Ciconia alba) abounds, and may be
seen wading deliberately on the edge of every pool. All the
villages, particularly in the Turkish quarters, are full of their
nests, from which they keep up a perpetual clapping with their
mandibles, the only sound they seem capable of producing. On
the 1st of May, passing through a village inhabited by Walla-
chians, I saw several very tempting nests, and being desirous of
securing a sitting, mentioned my wish to a wily Greek, whose
services had been engaged for the day. We called at a house to
obtain a boat upon the adjoining lake, and whilst Demetri drew
off the attention of the owner, 1 placed a ladder against the wall,
ascended, and, before the man had time to turn round, was down
again, with the Stork's eggs in my pocket. There were four of
them slightly incubated. This was the only nest ever taken by
me, out of scores in that neighbourhood. The reeds on the lake
were much frequented by Herons. A nest of the Purple Heron
had been taken the day before, and the eggs of course eaten,
much to my annoyance. The Little Egret {Herodias yarzetta)
was also numerous, but had only arrived lately, as I should
imagine from their being there in small flocks moving about
from one place to another. Later in the season the Glossy
Ibis [Falcinellus igneus) is here to be met with ; but there was
no account of the Great White Egret [Herodias alba) breeding
in these parts, though doubtless they are to be met with on some
of the swampy wood- covered islands of the Danube.
372 Mr. W. H. Simpson's Fortnight
The circumstances attending the discovery of the nests of Aq.
imperialis and Faico sacer have been ah'eady narrated {' Ibis/
vol. ii. p. 375). In addition to the Raptorial birds previously
mentioned as occurring here, a single specimen of a bird, be-
lieved to have been Bonelli's Eagle {Aquila bonellii), vv^as ob-
served upon a low cliff overlooking one of the small lakes. These
low cliffs which flank the lateral valleys, and occasionally the
stream of the Danube itself on the Bulgarian shore, are favourite
places for the larger birds of prey. It was supposed that the
Cinereous Vulture {Vultur monachus) might be found breeding
here, as the bird is not at all uncommon, especially during the
summer. No nest of this species was, however, discovered, though
we found one or two of the Griffon [Gyps fulvus) . As an instance
of the closeness of this bird's sitting, I may mention that, on my
being lowered by means of a rope to a nest in a cliff overhang-
ing the Danube, the old bird was actually touched by my foot
before she would move. The nest contained a young one lately
hatched, which was of course left. This sudden popping out of
the huge Griffon so upset my equilibrium that I should certainly
have fallen into the river if not upheld by the cord. The
Egyptian Neophron [Neophron percnopterus) also frequents these
cliffs : fresh eggs were to be had towards the end of April.
Birds of prey are not the sole tenants of these rocks. The
Black Stork [Ciconia nigra) also breeds here; at least we disco-
vered one nest in a very peculiar position for a bird which has
the reputation of breeding in the densest thickets of impervious
morasses. The cliff in this case was about sixty feet high, the strata
being horizcmtal or nearly so. In the face of the upper ledge
there had been at some time, artificially excavated in the soft stone,
a chamber having a sort of antechamber, which communicated
by means of a couple of steps with a crack in the rock. This
crack was not difficult to reach from the top when the exact path
was once known. The chamber itself had much the appearance
of a hermit's cell ; but as the aperture in the face of the cliff was
the entire width of one side, the apartment was airy and cheer-
ful, commanding a fine view of the valley below. Altogether it
was a place where one could have had no objection to put up
for a few days in case of necessity. Here it was that a pair of
in the Dobrudacha. 373
Black Storks had taken lodgings for the season, as we found out
one morning about the 27th of April. Some little time elapsed
before we discovered the secret of the entrance from the top, a
fact of which the Black Storks were probably not cognizant.
At the time of our first visit there were no eggs, nor indeed was
there anything exactly worthy of the name of a nest. But in the
floor of the chamber was a circular depression about the size and
shape of a large dinner plate, not far from the edge of the aperture.
For what singular purpose this depression, evidently artificial,
had been made, was to us as' great a mystery as the origin of the
entire excavation. The Black Stork had evidently thought she
could put it to some use, for it was here, upon a few dry sticks
which partially filled the depression, that she meant to lay her
eggs. As it was necessary for me to leave Turkey altogether
about the 4th of JNlay, it was agreed not to approach the
place again till the day before my departure. In the interim I
used occasionally to take a stroll down the valley, and seat
myself on the opposite hill, where, through the telescope, I
could see the Black Stork sitting composedly on her make-
shift of a nest, looking like some spirit of darkness in its cave.
Already I was counting the eggs, which would undoubtedly
have been mine but for the evil curiosity of a Transylvanian
shepherd, who had noticed me spying into the hole, and had per-
haps seen us entering it. On the appointed day I rode over with
my friend R. B. Dismounting at the edge of the clifi", we crept
down to the crack in the rock, and thence through the artificial
passage into the chamber itself. Neither bird nor eggs were
visible ; some great catastrophe had happened, and the eggs I had
counted on, though laid, were missing. It transpired that the
Transylvanian hud done the deed, having probably sucked the
eggs on the spot. We sought him everywhere in the desperate
hope that he miglit have preserved them, perhaps also with the
view of taking the change out of him in some other way in the
extremely probable event of their not being forthcoming. For-
tunately for the Transylvanian he was not to be found.
Through the kindness of my friend I was not wholly disa])-
pointed after all. The Black Stork returned to her nest and
laid two more eggs, which he secured and brought over to Eng-
374 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
land the following summer. These are now in my collection.
They ai'e smaller than eggs of Cic. alba, from which also they
may be distinguished by a very faint greenish tinge to be noticed
on closer inspection.
XLII. — Abstract of Mr. J. Wolley's Researches in Iceland re-
specting the Gare-fowl or Great Auk (Alca impennis, Linn.).
By Alfred Newton, M.A., F.L.S.
As from various causes some time must pass before I can hope
to find leisure to arrange the mass of information respecting
the Gare-fowl or Great Auk [Alca impennis, Linn.) collected by
Mr. John Wolley, and continue the inquiries commenced by
him on that subject, so as to publish the details in a fitting
manner, several of my friends have urged me not to delay
making known more fully than has been done the results of, that
gentleman's researches when in Iceland, in vtrhich researches I
had, to some small extent, the pleasure of assisting him. In-
dependently of these recommendations, I am influenced by the
consideration that I ought not to withhold from naturalists what
is likely to be interesting to some of them ; and, still more, that,
were I to do so any longer, I should run the risk of losing to my
late friend's reputation the credit which, from his labours, of
right belongs to it. But I trust it will be understood that, in
this paper, I make no pretence of giving anything like a complete
history of the bird ; for that is a task for which, at the present
moment, I am certainly not competent, however much I may
hope some day to achieve it. I only wish to place on record
certain facts which Mr. Wolley was able to ascertain.
As long ago as the year 1847, Mr. Wolley's attention was
directed in an especial manner to the Great Auk, and during 1851
and 1 852 he bestowed much pains in investigating its history from
the works of old naturalists and travellers. When I was with him
in Lapland in 1855, we often discussed the chances of its con-
tinued existence, finally pledging each other to make a joint expe-
dition to Iceland as soon as it could be conveniently performed.
At the same time, I have no wish to underrate the impulse given
to my friend's enthusiasm, and through him to my own, during his
in Iceland respecting the Gare-fowl. 375
visits to Christiania and Copenhagen the following year, when he
first heard of the discoveries of the late Herr Peter Stuvitz and
Professor Steenstrup, and besides made the personal acquaint-
ance of the last-mentioned illustrious naturalist, who soon after
published so valuable a contribution to this bird^s history*.
In this paper, therefore, I do not mean to refer much to the
bird^s appearance in other localities, except in one instance to
correct a very prevalent misapprehension. But, on the other
hand, I do not claim entire novelty for several of the statements
I have to make. Some of them have already found their way
into one book or another — sometimes rightly reported, sometimes
wrongly. Nor do I profess to be sure that the account I have
to give is always the true one. It must be remembered that the
results here recorded are the main points of evidence deduced
from many authorities, and offered by nearly one hundred
living witnesses ; and though I do not doubt that the greater
number of these latter are persons of eminently truthful habit
(for such is the natural characteristic of the Icelander), yet some
few there are who may have wilfully told falsehoods. Nor
should it be forgotten that it is, humanly speaking, impossible for
any two persons, however honestly disposed, to give identically
the same version of the same events, though most generally in
such cases the variations will be unimportant. Add to this that
much of the evidence, though written down at the time by Mr.
Wolley (whose note-books I have carefully consulted) in a most
painstaking manner, had to pass through an interpreter ; and,
as nearly all of it referred to a period of many years ago, it will
not be surprising if some inaccuracies have crept in.
The particular misconception to which I wish to draw especial
attention is, that the Great Auk is, or was, a bird of the far
North — indeed, of the Polar regions. That such an opinion
prevails, one has only to refer to authorities generally received by
ornithologists of all countries. Professor Steenstrup, in the
paper to which I have alluded, has conclusively shown it to be
unfounded, without, however, having been able to trace the error
satisfactorily to its source. For myself, I imagine it to have ori-
* Videnskabelige Meddelser for Aaret 1855. Kjobenhavn. 1856-1857,
pp. 3ii-116.
376 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
ginated in the inadvertence of naturalists, which, in the case of
northern locahties, leads them to speak of Spitzbergen, Green-
land, and Labrador as if they were synonymous, or at least in-
terchangeable terms. Regarding it in this light, long before
we had heard of Professor Steenstrup's conclusions, Mr. WoUey
and I had satisfied ourselves that statements like Temminck's,
that the Great Auk " vit et se trouve habituellement sur les
glaces flottantes du pole arctique, dont il ne s'eloigue qu'acci-
dentellement '^ (Man. d'Orn. ii. 940), were entirely contrary to
fact. There is, I believe, but one reliable instance on record of
the Gare-fowl* having occurred within the limits of the Arctic
Circle. This is the example said to have been killed on Disco in
182], and which, after changing hands several times, is now in
the University Museum at Copenhagen. The fact has been for
the first tin)e recorded in the present volume {' Ibis,' 1861,
p. 15), and my friend Professor Reinhardt there expresses his
belief that " the accounts of other instances, in which the bird is
said to have been obtained in Greenland, are hardly to be con-
fided int."
There is, I take it, nothing which should really lead us to infer
that the Great Auk ever visited Spitzbergen %• The first English
writer to whom I can trace the report is Mr. Selby (Brit. Orn. ii.
p. 433) ; and that distinguished ornithologist has lately most
kindly informed me that the making mention of that locality
was a mistake, which would have been rectified had another
edition of his work been required. As to Norway, the only sup-
posed instance of its occurring there within the Arctic Circle is that
mentioned by Professor Steenstrup [I.e. p. 95, n.), and is doubtful
* It may seem somewhat pedantic to revive this ancient and almost
forgotten name. In using it I am chiefly influenced by the fact that Mr.
WoUey had intended to have employed it.
t I have spoken of the above as a " reliable instance " of an Arctic Great
Auk ; but I am not sure that even this is free from doubt ; for in a letter
Professor Reinhardt tells me he has " had some suspicion " whether the
reported Disco specimen of 1821 has not been confounded with one asserted
by the late lamented Governor HolboU (Kroyer's Tidsskrift, iv. p. 457) to
have been obtained at Fiskernaes [South Greenland) in 1815. If this
suspicion be correct, the Gare-foiol has probably never once occurred within
the Arctic Circle. J Cf. Ibis, 1859, pp. 173, 174.
in Iceland respecting the Gare-fuwI. 377
enough. Herr Lanrenz Brodtkorb, of WardcE, in 1855, told Mr.
Wolley, repeating the story afterwards in my presence, that in
1848 he shot a large diving-bird, of which he did not know the
name, on a flat rocky skerry off Keenoe. He felt very certain that
it was not a Great Northern Diver [Cuhjmbus glacialis) ; but he
assured us that its beak was lika a Guillemot's {Uria) — that is,
narrow and pointed — and not like a Razor-bill's {Alca), thick and
truncated. He was equally sure that there was still a pair or two
of his species to be found among the Guillemots which breed on
this spot. Mr. Wolley, in a letter I received from him about this
time (1855), naively remarks, "I could not see one; but some of
the birds were off their eggs ;" and I feel bound to say that,
though Herr Brodtkorb has a practical knowledge of ornitho-
logy, I cannot consent to his opinion that the bird he shot was
a Great Auk*.
Were I about to give a full and detailed account of the Gare-
fowl, I should think it best to divide the evidence collected into
two classes : (I.) that which may be considered documentary,
and (II.) that which is merely oral; again separating this latter
into (1) what is only traditional, and (2) what has actually come
to my informant's personal knowledge. In the present case, how-
ever, I believe it will be most convenient to take the various
matters as far as possible in the order of the time to which they
refer. But I must first enter upon a brief description of the
localities to which I shall have to allude.
Any person who will take in hand the beautiful map of Ice-
land, executed by Herr 0. N. Olsen from the surveys of the
veteran Bjorn Gunnlaugsson, and published in 1844 under the
auspices of the Icelandic Literary Society t, will find the name
* I mav arid, that near Wardcehuns, between the fortress and the shore
of the inlet ( Vest-Vaagen), on a raised sea-beach, is a vast bed of bones,
chiefly those of birds, but mingled with them a few Seals'. We brought
away a considerable quantity of specimens ; and on some other occasion I
may probably give an account of them ; but I am sure that they do not
include a single fragment which could possibly be a Gare-fowl's.
t Uppdrattr I'slands, a fjorum blo^um gjii'Sr at? fyrirsogn O'. N. O'lsens,
gefinn lit af Enu I'slenzka Bokmentafelagi. Reykjavik og Kaupmanna-
hofn, 1844.
VOL. III. 2i;
378 Mr. A. Newton on IMr. J. Wolley's Researches
' Geirfuglasker ' (Gare-fowl skerry) occurring in three different
places. The most eastern is situated some thirty miles from the
coast, off the island of Papey, and the entrance of Berufjor"Sr,
about lat. 64° 35' N., and long. 26^ W. (of Greenwich), and
is commonly known to Danish sailors as Hvalshak (Whalers-
back), The most southern is one of the Vestmannaeyjar (West-
man Islands), in about lat. 63° 20' N., and long. 33° 5' W. The
most western is off Cape Reykjanes, in about lat. 63°40'N.,
and long. 35° 50' W. It was accordingly our first object to
ascertain how far these spots now deserved the name they boi-e.
On making all the inquiries we were able on our arrival at
Reykjavik, we could obtain no recent information respecting the
eastern skerry, of which we had, at starting, entertained most
hopes. It appeared also that, of the travellers who in the last cen-
tury had published accounts of their journeys in Iceland, Olafsen
and Olavius only had alluded to this isolated rock as a station for
the bird*, though another of them, the Fferoese, Mohr, was in
1781 for no less than two months at Djupivogr, on the mainland
opposite, engaged in the pursuit of natural history f. We there-
fore decided we would not attempt the journey thither, at the
risk of missing what seemed a better chance — that of finding the
object of our search in the neighbourhood of the western locality,
where examples of the bird were known to have been last ob-
tained. At the same time, we thoiight it highly desirable that
this eastern Geirfuglasker should be visited, and through the in-
tervention of several kind friends, we at last met with a gentle-
man who was willing, for a suitable recompense, to undertake the
toilsome, not to say dangerous, expedition. To dismiss this part
of the subject at once, I may here say that our envoy, Herr Can-
didatus-Theologife Eirikur Magnusson, a native of that district,
reached BerufjorSr in the month of June, and then, taking a
boat, proceeded to the island, round which he rowed, quite close
enough to satisfy himself tliat there were no Gare-fovvls on it ;
* Reise igiennem Island, &c. af Eggert Olafsen. Soroe, 17/2, p. 750.
Oeconomisk Reyse igiennem de noidvestlige, nordlige, og nordostlige
Kanter af Island ved Olaus Olavius, &c. Kjobenhavn, 1/80, ii. p. 547.
t Forsog til en Islandsk Naturhistorie, &c., ved N. Molir. Kiobeuhavn,
1/86, p. 383.
in Iceland respecting the Gar e- fowl. 379
but he was prevented by the unfavourable state of the weather
from landing. On his return next month to Reykjavik, he in-
formed us that there were no traditions in that part of the country
of the bird ever having been there. Respecting the second
Geirfuglasker I have mentioned, that which forms one of the
Vestmannaeyjar, we heard on all sides that it was yearly visited
by people from the neighbouring islands, and, though we were
told that some fifteen years before a young bird had been ob-
tained thence*, it was quite certain that no Great Auks resorted
thither now.
Of the third locality I have now to speak. Lying off Cape
Reykjanes, the south-western point of Iceland, is a small chain
of volcanic islets, commonly known as the Fuglasker, between
which and the shore, notwithstanding that the water is deep,
there runs a Rost (Roost), nearly always violent, and under
certain conditions of wind and tide such as no boat can live in.
That which is nearest the land, being about thirteen English
miles distant, is called by Icelanders Eldey (Fire Island), and by
the Danish sailors Meel-ssekken (the Meal-sack), a name, indeed,
well applied ; for, seen from one direction at least, its appearance
is grotesquely like that of a monstrous half-filled bag of flour,
the i-esemblance, too, being heightened by its prevailing whitish
colour. Not very far from Eldey lies a small low rock, over
which it seems that the sea sometimes breaks. This is known
as Eldejjardrangr (Eldey's Attendant). Some ten or fifteen
miles further out are the remains of the rock formerly known to
Icelanders as the Geirfuglasker proper, and to Danes as Lade-
gaarden (the Barn-building), in former times the most consider-
able of the chain, but which, after a series of submarine dis-
* Of course it does not follow, even if the story be true, that this bird
was hred there. Faber states (Prodromus der islandischen Ornithologie,
Kopenhagen, 1822, p. 49), that he was on the "Westman Islands in July
and August 1821, and that a peasant there told him it Was twenty years
since a Great Auk (and that the only one of the species he had ever seen)
had occuri'ed there. He adds, that this bird and its egg, upon which it
was taken, remained a long time in a warehouse on one of the islands, but
had vanished before his arrival. We may, with Professor Steenstrup
{I. c. p. 76, note), infer from this that the Gare-fowl, even about the year
1800, was a great rarity in the neighbourhood.
2 c2
380 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
turbances, beginning on the 6th or 7th of March 1830, and con-
tinning at intervals for about a twelvemonth, disappeared com-
pletely below the surface ; so that now no part of it is visible,
though it is said that its situation is occasionally revealed by
breakers. Further out again, perhaps some six-and-twenty
English miles from Reykjanes, rises another tall stack, called by
Icelanders Geirfugladrangr, and by Danish sailors Greenadeer-
huen (the Grenadier's Cap). All these rocks have been long re-
markable for the furious surf which boils round them, except in
the very calmest weather. Still more distant is a rock to which
the names Eldeyja-bodi or Blinde-fuglasker have been applied
by Icelanders. This is supposed to have risen from the sea in
1783, the year of the disastrous volcanic eruption in Skaptafells-
sysla, and soon after to have sunk beneath the waves*.
Icelandic records show that, at the beginning of the thirteenth
century, various changes took place among the islands off Reyk-
janes just enumerated. It is stated that a rock, then known as
Eldey, disappeared ; but another being thrust up close by, the
old name was transferred to the new-comer, and has since been
borne by it. No notice is taken in manuscripts of that remote
time of the birds found on these islands ; but doubtless they were
even then, weather permitting, visited by the inhabitants of the
adjoining coast. Indeed, it is asserted in Wilchin's ' Maldaga-
bok' (which dates from 1397, and has not, I believe, been printed),
that half the Geirfuglasker belonged to Mary Church in Vogr,
now represented by Kyrkjuvogr, and one- fourth to St. Peter's,
Kyrkjubolu, of which the church at Utskala is the modern equi-
valent— claims which were still looked upon as extant until the
submergence of the skerry put an end to them. It has been
suggested that the remaining quarter was shared by the church
of StaSr in Grindavik ; but most likely it was left to reward the
bold adventurers who resorted thither. In 1628, twelve men
were drowned at the Geirfuglasker, no doubt in a fowling expe-
* I should have wished to have given, in explanation of the above
description, a sketch map of these localities, but I have not the means of
doing so accurately. From our own observations, Mr. WoUey and I had
reason to doubt whether the bearings of these islands have been correctly
laid down either in Gunnlaugssou's map or the Danish Admiralty chart.
in Iceland respecting the Gare-fowl. 381
dition ; and in 1639 * four large boats (three from Su^rnes, the
district between Skagen and Osar, and one from Grindavik) pro-
ceeded thither; two of which, those from Stafnes and Mars-
buSum, were lost at the skerry, while the other two, from
Hvalsnes and StaSr, only returned with difficulty. It might
have been some such disaster as this that prompted a metrical
eflPusion composed by Sera Hallkiell Stephansson, the clergyman
of Hvalsnes, w4io flourished between 1655 and 1697, of which it
is feared only two lines have been preserved to posterity. In
these the poet says that he has never trusted himself to Geir-
fuglasker, as, on account of the surf, boats were broken by the
waves there. In 1694, a French vessel was wrecked on the
island, but the crew landed in their boats at Mi-Snes.
Soon after our arrival at Reykjavik, we were pleased to learn
that the public library there contained a short but beautifully
written manuscript account of the Reykjanes Geirfuglasker. For
a knowledsre of its existence we were indebted to the kindness of
Professor Konrad Maurer of Munich, well known as one of the
most distinguished Icelandic scholars, and the pleasure of whose
company we enjoyed during our voyage to the North, and part of
our residence in the capital. The liberality also of the librarian
in allowing us the free use of, and permission to copy, this
curious document, must not pass unnoticed here. From the
penmanship and the paper on w^hich it is written, it is believed
by good judges whom we consulted to be probably a copy. From
internal evidence, which need not now be detailed, I venture to
express my opinion that the original must have been composed
within a few years of 1760. It commences abruptly by giving a
somewhat minute description of the rock and its unquestionably
volcanic origin; making, however, no reference to its neighbouring
islands. It then proceeds to relate the marvellous numbers of
birds found upon the rock, adding that the "Gare-fowl is there
not nearly so much as men suppose ;'^ that the space he occupies
* There is an apparent misprint of " l43fj " for the above date in Pro-
fessor Steenstrup's reference to this event {I. c. p. 83, note). The parti-
culars mentioned in the text were supplied to us by Sera S. B. Sivertsen, the
clergyman at Utskala, to whom we were indebted for many similar acts of
kindness.
382 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wollej^'s Researches
" cannot be reckoned at more than a sixteenth part of the
skerry/' and this only at the two landing-places ; " further
upwards he does not betake himself, on account of his flightless-
ness." The writer then goes on to speak of the extreme danger
of landing on account of the surf, saying that to go there is to
place life and death on an even chance ; and after mentioning
the report, which is even now current, that a successful expedi-
tion to the skerry was equally profitable with a summer's hiring
of two hundred fishes' value in the north country, and citing the
statement from the Maldaga, to which I have before referred,
concludes with Sir Hallkiell's couplet mentioned above. Besides
this, there are appended two foot-notes. In the first, the writer
says that in the year 1732, after a lapse of seventy-five years, the
skerry was visited, and two huts, three birchen staffs about two
ells long, and some withered human bones, were found thereon ;
adding, by way of comment, that three men had been known to
have supported themselves on the rock by eating sun-dried birds,
and drinking rotten eggs for half a month before they were taken
off. The second note gives a very accurate description of the
Gare-fowl and its peculiarities, including its eggs, which the
writer describes as if he had been an enthusiastic oologist,
though he considers it worthy of remark that he has '* known
Danes give eight to ten fishes* for an empty blown egg," the
climax being the apostrophe " Rara avis in terris ! " Not the
least singular part of the manuscript is an inserted leaf, on which
is drawn a very quaint sketch of the skerry. Two boats are seen,
anchored with large stones, according to the Icelandic custom
still prevalent. In one of these are seated three, and in the other
two men, waiting the return of three comrades, who are on the
rock, hunting what appear to be Gare-fowls, of which upwards of
sixty are represented.
Now, it has been above stated that in 1732 expeditions to the
skerry were resumed after being long discontinued, and, in con-
* I much regret not being able to give, in explanation of this and the
passage mentioned a few lines above, the worth of a fish at the period
when I suppose this manuscript to have been written. It was, and in the
secluded parts of the country still is, the unit of the Icelandic currency,
but, of course, a unit of very variable value.
in Iceland respecting the Gare-fowl. 383
nexlon with this fact, it may not be amiss to observe that Ander-
son, some time Burgomaster of Hamburg, in his account of Ice-
land, remarks* on the occurrence of many Great Auks the
year before the death of King Frederick IV. (of Denmark), which
took place in 1730. Hereupon Niels Horrebow, whose prin-
cipal object was to contradict all Anderson had said, with some
reason ridiculesf his predecessor's notion of that event being
thus heralded, and asserts that no more birds were seen in the
year mentioned than previously. But it seems to me improbable
that Anderson should have no grounds for his statement, though
of course I do not admit the portentous inference, and, if so, it
is not unlikely that the renewal of visits to the Geirfuglasker, in
1732, may have been prompted by the report the last-named
author mentions of the bird's abundance three years before. On
the other hand, I atn unable to connect this reported abundance
with any other physical phenomenon. I do not find that the
period just previous to 1729 was marked by any volcanic out-
bursts, or the presence of any extraordinary amount of floating
ice, either of which events might be supposed to affect the bird's
movements.
In 1755, Eggert Olafsen and Bjarne Povelsen, to whose accu-
rate account of Iceland I have already alluded, explored the
Gulbringu Sysla, which comprehends the south-western corner
of the island, and they passed the following winter at Vi^ey
{op. cit. pp. 848, 849), during which time it is mentioned that
they saw both the bird and its egg, which had been obtained from
the Reykjanes skerry by some SuSnes boats (p. 983). A few
years later, Mohr in his work, which I have also before mentioned,
says {op. cit. p. 28) that he was assured by the peasants that the
bird was blind when on land, a notion not entertained by the
Fseroese, but which still prevails in Iceland. He was also told
that in former days people had filled their boats with its eggs from
the Reykjanes station, and though he does not expressly say so, I
think we may infer from these authorities that about the middle
* ' Herrn Johann Anderson, &c. Nachvichten von Island, Gronland und
der Strasse Davis, &c.' Frankfurt u. Leipzig, 1747, p- 52.
t ' Tilforladelige Efterretninger cm Island, &c.' Kjobenhavn, 1752,
pp. 175, 176.
384 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
or towards the end of the last century this Geirfuglasker was
constantly visited by fowling expeditions. Local tradition makes
the same assertion, assigning the leadership of these adven-
turous exploits to one Svenbjorn Egilsson, born in 1700, and
Hannes Erlendsson, born in 1705 ; but later their place was
taken by one Hreidar Jonssou, whom people now living can re-
member as a blind pauper some eighty years of age, with a long
beard. This hero was born, as it appears, in 1719, and used to
go yearly to the skerry on behalf of Kort Jonsson, a rich farmer
at Kyrkjubol, who flourished between 1710 and 1760. Hreidar
is even reported to have made during one summer three expedi-
tions, in which he acted as foreman. After his time the
practice seems to have died out ; but one witness informed us
that, to the best of his recollection, people had made voyages
between 1784 and 1800. Faber, who was in Iceland in 1821,
and then attempted to reacli the skerry (of which exploit I shall
presently speak), tells us [op. cit. p. 48), that for a long period
these perilous expeditions had been relinquished — probably be-
cause the results from repeated performance fell short of the
risk incurred. But the birds were not wholly banished ; for
Thorwalder Oddsson, born about 1793, told us, that when he
was a boy, some nine or eleven years old, he found one on the
shore at Selvogr, and a few years later, probably between 1808
and 1810, two were killed at Hellirsknipa, between Skagen and
Keblavik. Erhndur Gu^mundsson, an old man with a most
retentive memory, showed us the gun with which he shot one of
them. He was in a boat with his bi'other- in-law, A'sgrimur
Stemonsson, who died in 1847, and the occurrence happened in
the month of September. The Gare-fowls were sitting on a
rock : A'sgrimur fired first, and killed one ; the other took to the
water, and was shot by Erlendur. They each ate their re-
spective birds, and very good meat they found them. A third
is said to have been shot a few years later, near the same spot,
by one Jacob Jonsson, now dead ; this also was eaten.
The cause, however, of the most wholesale destruction of
Great Auks in modern times must be sought elsewhere. In
1807 hostilities commenced between England and Denmark.
The following year, the * Salamine,' a privateer of twenty-two
in Iceland respecting the Gare-fuwl. 385
guns, under British colours, and commanded by one John Gil-
pin, but probably owned by Baron Hompesch, who was also on
board, appeared at Thorshavn, the capital of the Faeroes, which
her crew almost entirely plundered, ending by carrying off a
certain Peter Hansen, whom they forced to pilot them to Ice-
land. Arrived at Reykjavik, July 24th, 1808, they repeated
their outrages, and before they finally quitted the island paid a
visit to the Geirfuglasker, where they remained a whole day,
killing many birds and treading down their eggs and young.
After this they sailed away, August 8th, and deposited Hansen
again in the Fseroes. On February 7th, 1810, at the solicitation
of Sir Joseph Banks, an order in council was set forth by the
British Government, exempting the northern possessions of the
Danish Crown from any molestation on the part of English
cruisers, and permitting the inhabitants of the same to ti-ade
with either London or Leith, though not with the mother-
country. The Court of Copenhagen met this act of common
humanity by issuing decrees, strictly prohibiting, on pain of
death, all intercourse with the British*. The consequence was,
that the unfortunate Fferdese were nearly reduced to a state of
starvation; and in 1813, as a last resource, their Governor,
Major Lobner, determined to send a vessel to Iceland to obtain
some necessaries. This vessel, the schooner ' Fseroe,' of twelve
guns, he placed in charge of Hansen, as one already acquainted
with the coast. When they came off Cape Reykjanes, they were
becalmed ; and a boat being lowered, a party went off to one of
the skerries, on which, as their Captain expected, they found
abundance of birds, and among them many Great Auks. They
killed all they could, and loading the boat quite full, yet left
many dead ones on the rock, intending to return for them ; but
the wind springing up, Hansen made sail for Reykjavik, where,
about a week later, they arrived on the 29th of July, having
then on board among their victims no less than twenty-four
Gare-fowls, besides others which were already salted down. One
of these birds is said to have been given to the Bishop (Vidalin),
and by him sent to a friend in England. Mr. Wolley conversed
* Journal of a Tour in Iceland in the Summer of 1809. By William
Jackson Hooker, F.L.S. &c.. 2nd ed. London, 1813, vol. ii. pp. 57 etseqq.
386 Ml'. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
with one of the two survivors of this voyage, Daniel Joensen, in
1849*; and on July 25th, 1858, through the kind attention of
Herr Sysselmand H. Miiller, we had an interview with the other,
a clear-headed old man, Paul Medjord by name. The accounts
of these two witnesses differ from each other in no material
point; but it does not seem quite certain whether the rock on
which they landed was the Geirfugladrangr or the Geirfuglasker
proper. Many of the above particulars, including the exact
dates, which I believe have never before been published, were
most obligingly furnished us from the official records by Herr
Dahlerup, the Governor of the Fa?roes, and Herr V. Finsen, the
By-fogden of Reykjavik ; but Faber, in 1822, briefly mentioned
this massacre, and in 1839 the late Etatsraad Reinhardt t added
some further information, which notices have been copied into
various other works.
In 1814, according to Faber {loc. cit.), seven Great Auks were
killed on a little skerry at Latrabjarg, on the north shore of
Breidifjor"Sr. I do not know any other reported instance of its
occurrence there or elsewhere in Iceland so far to the north.
Olafsen {op. cit. p. 562) gives a lengthened description of the
locality and the birds which frequent it, but makes no mention
of Alca impennis. The only notice of the place I can find besides
is in Mr. Metcalfe's amusing little book, just published J. This
gentleman tells a story to show that spiteful spirits dwell in some
part of the cliff, but does not suggest that they are the ghosts
of departed Gare-fowls.
Faber further informs us {op. cit. p. 48) that on the 25th of
Jime, 1821, he started on an excursion to the Reykjanes skerries.
He was accompanied by a Danish merchant, a Swedish count,
and the latter's servant §. Of the Icelanders who were on
* Contributions to Ornithology, 1850, [edited] by Sir William Jardine,
Bait., &c. Edinburgh, 1850, p. 116.
t Kroyer's Naturhistorisk Tidsskrift, i. p. 533.
X The Oxonian in Iceland, &c. By the Rev. Frederick Metcalfe, M.A.,
&c. London, 1861, p. 260.
§ I am not so fortunate as to possess a copy of Faber's other work,
' Ueber das Leben der hochnordischen Viigel ' (Leipzig, 1825) ; nor have
I seen the paper in the ' Isis ' for 1827 (p. 633), in the latter of which I
am informed be gives the fullest particulars of his expedition ; I therefore
in Iceland respecting the Gare-fowl. 387
board the vessel, the ' Villingar/ a cutter belonging to one Jon
Danielsson, only one survives. He, by name Olafr Palsson,
gave us an account of the voyage, closely agreeing with Faber's,
which he had never seen. They came first to the Geirfuglasker,
and sailed between it and the ' drangr/ where the Count, whose
name I have been unable to ascertain, landed and gathered
some sea-weed. Then the weather became fair, and they pro-
ceeded to the skerry itself, where they arrived in the evening.
Faber remained on board, but the Count again landed, and pre-
sently fell into the water. They picked him up, and his servant
shot a good many Gannets [Sula bassana). Later in the evening
they returned, and some of them went on shore, but could find
no way up. Jon Danielsson declared he was ready to stop a
week ; the Count, howevei-, seemed to have had enough of it,
and " Fugle Faber thought as the Count did.^^ They were out
two days and two nights at the rocks. They did not go near
Eldey, saw no Gare-fowls, and their opinion was that they must
have been all killed by the French sailors, as they had heard a
vessel of that nation had been seen there two summers before*.
Jon Jonsson, son of the owner of the ' Villingar,^ then a lad
about twelve years old, who assisted in putting the foreigners on
board her, and had often heard his father and elder brother
speak of the expedition, also corroborated Olafr Palsson's nar-
rative.
It is clear, however, that at this very time there were Great
Auks in the neighbourhood ; for, a few days later in the season,
two birds were seen sitting on a low rock, close to the place
where I have before mentioned that two or three were shot, and
were killed with a sprit or gaff by another Jon Jonsson (now
have to content myself with the translated extracts therefrom contained
in a paper " On the Great Auk," communicated May 19, 1859, by Dr.
Edward Charlton to the Tyneside Naturalists' Field Club, and published
in their ' Transactions,' vol. iv. pp. 1 13 et seqq. This paper has also been
reprinted in the ' Zoologist ' for i860, p. 6883.
* It does not seem to me at all impossible that there should be some
truth in this report. Mr. Scales has kindly informed me that he obtained
the tine Great Auk's egg, now in his possession, from M. Dufresne, who
had one or two others in his collection, in 1816 or 1817- It was said to
have come from the Orkneys, which, however, I think is extremely unlikely.
o
'•88 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
dead) and his son SigurSr, who related the circuoistance to us.
This witness is certain that it was about the beginning of July
of the same year as that of Faber's visit. They sold the skins,
which our informant himself took off, commencing the operation
by making a hole transversely across between the legs, as he
would do in the case of a quadruped. They afterwards ate the
bodies, and sold the skins to the A'sgrimur before mentioned*.
The occurrence of so many examples of this bird nearly in the
same locality may perhaps be accounted for by the fact that
the tide runs in very strongly round Skagen, and sets along
Holmsbergf. The Auks^ after fishing on that side of the pro-
montory, may have found themselves unable to make head
against the current, and so have betaken themselves to the shore.
I may here observe that we failed to gather any further infor-
mation respecting a bird said by Dr. Kjserbolling (Danmark's
Fugle, p. 415) to have been killed in 1818 on a place in South
Iceland, where many had been observed ; but Etatsraad lleinhardt
records [loc. cit.) the death of one in 1828, and I think the Doctor
is altogether mistaken in the assertion that " Apothecary Mech-
lenburg of Flensborg possesses a pair which were killed on the
Gare-fowl skerries in 1829, where they were courageously de-
fending their two eggs.'' But of this last supposed capture I
shall say m(n-e presently.
* The Icelandic skins of Foxes (Canis la ff opus) are all flayed in the way
above described. I cannot help suggesting that these may have been the
two Great Auks' skins stated by the late Etatsraad Pvcinhardt {loc. cit.)
as being received in 1823 from Oerebakke (Eyrarbakki), though they were
said to have been killed there in that year by a boy with a stick. Faber,
when in the district, lived for some weeks in A'sgrimur's house, who was
])robably thus aware that he wanted them. On leaving it he went in the
direction of Kyrarbakki, on July 9th he was five miles to the east of Ke-
blavik, and in the end of that month and in the next was on the West-
n an Islands (Prodr. pp. 38 & 49). Some persons we saw declared that he
had three specimens, but ])e himself says somewhere (I think in the ' Isis ')
that he never procured any of this species. Possibly, therefore, they were
sent after him to Kyrarbakki, and thence some two years afterwards to the
Museum at Copenhagen.
t We obtained information respecting the tides from a manuscript ac-
count of Gulbringe-sysla, written about 1784, by the then Land-foged
Skule Magnusen, which was kindly lent to Mr. WoUey, and the account
was confirmed by the statements made to us by fishermen.
in Iceland respecting the Gare-fonl. 389
We now come to the most modern period in the Great Auk's
history. In 1830, as I have before said, the Geirfuglasker off
Reykjanes disappeared beneath the waves. Whatever motive
prompted him, it is certain that in that year one Brandur
GuSniundsson, an inhabitant of Kyrkjuvogr, who died in 1845,
bethought him of making an expedition to Eldey, or the Meal-
sack, the high rock which stands between the sunken island
and the Cape. All the dwellers in the district concur in saying
that before that time no rumour of the birds breeding there had
ever reached them. It seems that in that year he led two
voyages to this new-found locality, in one of which twelve or
thirteen, and in the other eight examples were captured. Six
of these were purchased by Adnor Gunnarsson, and as many
more by Holgeir Jacobseus, two merchants living at Keblavik,
while the remainder are unaccounted for. On the first occasion
the weather was fine, and all the party but two landed. Besides
the Gare-fovvls they took a great many other birds, Razor-bills
and Guillemots. The second time the weather was bad, and
only four men went up. They had to come away very quickly.
These and many other particulars of interest which I could give,
were I not afraid of extending these notes to an unreasonable
length, were related to us by two men (bi'others), Stephan and
Jon Gunnarsson, the only survivors of those who were present.
The following year another voyage was undertaken by the same
foreman, and whether that the birds were more numerous, or
that their persecutors had learned experience (for on the pre-
vious occasions several had escaped), twenty-four were captured,
of which one was brought off alive, and so taken to Keblavik,
where, however, it was killed, or at least died. These two dozen
Gare-fowls were all skinned by one person, a woman, Sigrida
Thorlaksdotter, who told us that she perfoi-med the operation
in her accustomed way, opening them under the right wing,
and stuffing the skins with fine hay. The same merchants as
before, with the addition of Dethlef Thomsen, shared them.
It is not very easy for me to reconcile the various conflicting
statements about the captures of the next two years, but in 1833,
thirteen birds were probably taken, and in 1834, nine birds,
with eight eggs, seem to have been obtained, of which one
390 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
bird was given to the Crown Prince (the present King of Den-
mark), who then happened to be in Iceland, and subsequently-
passed into the possession of the late Herr Mechlenburg. The
remaining eight were purchased by Herr Thomsen, just men-
tioned, whose son most obligingly showed Mr. Wolley an
account of the transaction in his father's books. They were
skinned by Madame Thomsen and her sister, Jomfrue A. C.
Lewer, who informed us that they were opened under the wing,
and the skins stuffed with hay, the bones being wrapped I'ound
with hemp. The eggs were quite fresh, and were blown by the
two ladies. All these specimens were disposed of to Herr De
Liagre, a dealer at Hamburg, and, I may add, I think that one
of the eggs now in my possession belonged to this lot. In
August 1840 or 1841, three skins, as many eggs, and the body
of a bird in spirit were bought of Factor Chr. Thase, now living
at Copenhagen, by Herr S. Jacobsen, who told us that he
parted with them either to Herr Seining, a naturalist at Ham-
burg, or to Mr. Jamrach, the well-known dealer. Two of
these birds, or else two more some other year, were obtained
by one Stephan Sveinsson of Kalmanstjorn, whom the good
people of Kyrkjuvogr seem to look upon as a kind of poacher
on what they consider their rightful domain. Certain it is
that on one occasion Herr Thase bought two birds of this
Stephan, as the latter informed us, but the exact date is not so
clear.
The last Gare-fowls known to have occurred in Iceland were
two in number, caught and killed in 1844 by a ])arty, of which
our excellent host at Kyrkjuvogr, Vilhjalmur Hakonarsson, was
the leader. They were bought, singularly enough, by Herr
Christian Hansen, son of th^t Hansen I have before alluded to
as having been (though, in the first instance, against his will) so
dread a scourge to the race. From him they passed to Herr
Miiller, then the apothecary at Reykjavik, who, previously to
having them skinned, prevailed upon M.Vivien (a French artist)
to paint a picture of one of the dead birds, which picture now
hangs in the house of his successor, Herr Randrup, the present
apothecary in the capital of Iceland. As many persons may
regard these birds as the latest survivors of their species, I may
in Iceland respecting the Gare-foivl. 391
perhaps be excused for relating at some length the particulars
of their capture, the more so as this will serve to explain the
manner followed on former occasions.
The party consisted of fourteen men : two of these are dead,
but with all the remaining twelve we conversed. They were com-
manded, as I have just said, by Vilhjalmur, and started in an eight-
oared boat from Kyrkjuvogr, one evening between the 2nd and
5th of June, 1844. The next morning early they arrived ofif Eldey.
In form the island is a precipitous stack, perpendicular nearly
all round. The most lofty part has been variously estimated to
be from fifty to seventy fathoms in height; but on the opposite
side a shelf (generally known as the " Underland^') slopes up
from the sea to a considerable elevation, until it is terminated
abruptly by the steep cliff of the higher portion. At the foot of
this inclined plane is the only landing-place ; and further up, out
of the reach of the waves, is the spot where the Gare-fowls had
their home. In this expedition but three men ascended : Jon
Brandsson, a son of the former leader, who had several times
before visited the rock, with SigurSr Islefsson and Ketil Ketils-
son. A fourth, who was called upon to assist, refused, so
dangerous did the landing seem. As the men I have named
clambered up, they saw two Gare-fowls sitting among the num-
berless other rock-birds {Uj-ia troile and Alca tarda), and at
once gave chase. The Gare-fowls showed not the slightest dis-
position to repel the invaders, but immediately ran along under
the high clifi", their heads erect, their little wings somewhat ex-
tended. They uttered no cry of alarm, and moved, with their
short steps, about as quickly as a man could walk. Jon with
outstretched arms drove one into a corner, where he soon had
it fast. SigurSr and Ketil pursued the second, and the former
seized it close to the edge of the rock, here risen to a precipice
some fathoms high, the water being directly below it. Ketil
then returned to the sloping shelf whence the birds had started,
and saw an egg lying on the lava slab, which he knew to be a
Gare-fowl's. He took it up, but finding it was broken, put it
down again. Whether there was not also another egg is uncer-
tain. All this took place in much less time than it takes to tell
it. They hurried down again, for the wind was rising. The
393 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
birds were strangled and cast into the boat, and the two younger
men followed. Old Jon, however, hesitated about getting in,
until his foreman threatened to lay hold of him with the boat-
hook ; at last a rope was thrown to him, and he was pulled in
through the surf. It was " such Satan's weather,'' they said,
but once clear of the breakers they were all right, and reached
home in safety. Next day Vilhjalmur started with the birds
for Reykjavik to take them to Herr Carl F. Siemsen, at whose
instance this particular expedition had been undertaken ; but on
the way he met Hansen, to whom he sold them for eighty Rigs-
bank-dollars (about £*d). According to Professor Steenstrup
{op. cit. p. 78), the bodies are now preserved in spirit in the
Museum of the University of Copenhagen, but respecting the
ultimate fate of the skms I am not quite sure.
Several other expeditions besides those to which I have here
adverted no doubt took place between the years 1830 and 1844',
but I cannot at present give either the dates or the results.
Herr Siemsen informed Mr. Wolley that twenty-one birds and
nine eggs had passed through his hands; but this account
contains other details which are certainly inaccurate. If all the
stories we received can be credited, the whole number would
reach eighty-seven. I should imagine sixty to be about the
real amount. Of these a large portion went to the Royal
Museum at Copenhagen, as is stated by the late Etatsraad
Reinhardt {loc. cit.) ; a good many more passed into the hands
of Herr Brandt, whose son informed Mr. Wolley that, in or
since the year 1835, his father had had nine eggs, and I suppose
birds to match. Two eggs were also purchased by a certain
Snorri Ssemonasson then living at Keblavik, but what became
of them I do not know. I have also learnt, on undoubted
authority, that the late Herr Mechlenburg has had in all eight
birds and three eggs*. From this naturalist, in April 1844,
Mr. John Hancock, by the intervention of Mr. John Sewell
of Newcastle, received a bird and an egg, which are now in his
collection, with the information that they were taken together
with another bird and another egg, a year or two previously,
* Herr Pastor W. Passler has some remarks on these in the ' Journal
fiir Ornithologie,' 1860, p. 59.
in Iceland respecting the Gare-fowl. 393
on an island " at the north-east side of Iceland." A wrong
locality was probably furnished on purpose to mislead HerrMech-
lenburg ; but the fact of his never having had more than three
eggs, of which two came into his possession in, or shortly before
the year 1844, entirely disposes of Dr. Kjserbolling's assertion
to which I have before alluded*. Thus it is pretty evident that
most of the specimens of the Great Auk and its eggs, which now
exist in collections, were obtained from Eldey between the years
1830 and 1844t.
From what has been ah*eady stated, it will be seen how great
Mr. Wolley's industry in collecting information was; yet I
must add a few more words. In former days, the Gare-fowls
were, in summer time, so constantly observed in the sea by the
fishermen, that their appearance was thought but little of. The
people from Kyrkjuvogr and Su^rnes used to begin to see them
when they arrived off Hafnaberg, and from thence to Reyk-
janes-rost. We were told by many people that they swam with
their heads much lifted up, but their necks drawn in ; they
never tried to flap along the water, but dived as soon as alarmed.
On the rocks they sat more upright than either Guillemots or
Razor-bills, and their station was further removed from the sea.
They were easily frightened by noise, but not by what they saw.
They sometimes uttered a few low croaks. They have never
been known to defend their eggs, but would bite fiercely if they
had the chance when caught. They walk or run with little,
short steps, and go straight like a man. One has been known
to drop down some two fathoms off the rock into the water.
Finally, I may add that the colour of the inside of their mouths
is said to have been yellow, as in the allied species.
In 1846 Eldey was visited by Vilhjalmur and a party, and
* The additions which, in the last edition of his work, Mr. Yarrell made
to his account of this bird (B. B. 3rd ed. vol. iii. pp. 482- 3), are copied from
Mr. Lloyd's ' Scandinavian Adventures' (ii. pp. 496-7), having been origi-
nally taken from Dr. KjserboUing's book, and are very inaccurate.
t Lists of these, which are in the main correct, though I know of a few
that are omitted, have lately appeared in the ' Zoologist ' for the present
year (pp. 7353 & 7386), and almost simultaneously in the ' Field ' news-
paper (Nos. 423 & 424, pp. 93, 114). P'urther remarks on them will be
found in the former journal (pp. 7387 & 7438).
VOL. III. 2 D
394 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
no Gare-fowls could be found. In 1858 Mr. Wolley and I re-
mained at Kyrkjuvogr, with two short intervals^ from May 21st
to July 14th. Our chief object was to reach not only Eldey, but
the still more distant Geirfugladrangr, on which, probably, no
man has set foot since the Swedish Count, in 1821, with so
much difficulty reached it. Boats and men were engaged, and
stores for the trip laid in; but not a single opportunity oc-
curred when a landing would have been practicable. I may
say that it was with heavy hearts we witnessed the season
wearing away without giving us the wished- for chance. The
following summer was equally tempestuous, and no voyage could
be attempted. Last year (1860), on the 13th of June, Vilhjal-
mur successfully landed on Eldey, but he found no trace of a
Great Auk, and the weather prevented his proceeding to the
outer island. Later in the year a report reached Copenhagen,
which was subsequently published in the newspaper ' Flyve-
posten' (No. 273), to the effect that two eggs of this bird had
been taken on one of the skerries and sold in England for fabu-
lous prices. Through the kind interest of several friends, I
think I am in a position to assert that the statement is utterly
false. The last accounts I have received from Iceland, under
date of June the 20th in the present year (1861), make no
mention of any expedition this summer. I am not very san-
guine of a successful result, but I trust yet to be the means of
ascertaining whether, at the sinking of the true Geirfuglasker,
some of the colony, deprived of their w^onted haunt, may not
have shifted their quarters to the Geirfugladrangr, as others, we
presume, did to Eldey, and to this end I have taken and shall
continue to take the necessary steps.
But to sum up the account of Mr. WoUey^s personal re-
earches. The very day after our arrival at Kyi'kjuvogr he
picked up from a heap of blown sand, two or three birds' wing-
bones {humeri)*. He was at once struck with their likeness
to the figure illustrating Professor Steenstrup's paper — that
valuable paper to w^hich I first of all referred, and which has
* They were trom the side of a channel blown out by the wind from a
heap formerly drifted there, such as in the eastern counties of England
would be called a " Sand-gall."
in Iceland respecting the Gare-fowl. 395
been constantly at my side while compiling this abstract of
Mr. Wolley's notes. A little comparison, not only with the en-
graving, but with the corresponding bones in other species, a
good supply of which there was no difficulty in procuring, soon
showed that he had not been mistaken, and accordingly bone-
seeking became one of our recognized occupations. Yet I can-
not say that even here we were very successful ; curiously enough
where the chances seemed the best we never found anything.
Thus the old Geirfuglasker having formerly been shared by the
churches of Kyrkjubol and Mariu-Kyrkja-i-Vogi, we naturally
thought that the " Kjokken-moddinger" (Kitchen-middens) at
those places would be likely to yield the best supply. Yet at
what we were told was the site of the latter not a vestige of a
bone could be found. The ground was covered everywhere with
great stones — the little soil there was between them seeming as
if it had drifted into its present position, while the sea may
have completely washed away the rubbish-heaps, if houses ever
stood there. At the former place — Gammall Kyrkjubol — though
there was a very large grass-grown mound entirely composed of
ancient refuse, and into which we made a deep excavation, we
did not recover a single fragment of a Great Auk — scarcely, I
think, of any bird — fi'om it. Nor was our luck much better at
Stafnes, where we dug down through a large heap, coming upon
fishes' bones in great abundance, but little of interest excepting
a stratum of broken egg-shells, apparently those of Guillemots
and Razor-bills, with perhaps a few Eider Ducks', though I
have not yet examined them very closely. It was remarkable that
such of the fragments as had any markings retain them still,
after so long a burial, quite as brightly as specimens I have often
seen in cabinets, when the collector has not been careful to exclude
air and light. At Kyrkjuvogr we were more fortunate; in the
wall of the churchyard we found two or three Great Auks'
bones sticking in the turf, which is used instead of mortar to
keep the stones in their places. On inquiry the turf was found
to have been cut from a small hillock close by. This we pretty
thoroughly searched, and among a vast number of the bones of
other Alcida, there were several of the large species.
But our most profitable digging was at Bsejasker. Mr. Wolley
2 D 2
396 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
one day as he was riding along called out to me that he saw
two Gare-fowls' bones lying on the ground. On getting off his
horse he found them to be the distal ends of the humeri, and
apparently a pair. Going to the spot, I picked up a radius,
also of a Gare-fowl, the first we had found anywhere. We care-
fully examined the locality on two other occasions, and found
remains which must have belonged to at least eight individual
birds. Many of them bore marks of the knife, and nearly all
were in good preservation. They were chiefly lying under stones,
which seemed once to have formed an old boundary- wall, and
had probably been contained in the turf from some still more
ancient rubbish-heap with which the wall had been built up.
Just on this spot the sea appears to have encroached, and in this
manner laid bare the two bones whose discovery led to the de-
tection of the rest. Among the specimens we collected there
are several in which certain differences, probably the result of
age or sex, are observable. I do not intend to describe them
now. I will merely remark that the Great Auk is rendered
incapable of flight by the modification of the extremities only
of its wings. ^^Tiile its humerus is in proportion with the bulk
of the body, and fully twice the length that it is in the Razor-
bill, the ulna, radius, and metacarpus are nearly the same length
in both species, only much thickened in the Gare-fowl *.
It will be gathered from what has been above said that I
think there is yet a chance of the Great Auk still existing in
Iceland. At all events until it is proved that he is not to be
found on the Geirfugladrangr, I think he must not be despaired
of; but T know of no other locality where he is likely to be.
The numerous islets in the Breida-fjor'Sr which have been sug-
gested as affording him possibly a last station, are, I believe,
visited every year by people from the neighbourhood. Those
who imagine he may be on the opposite coast of Greenland are,
* Mr. Edward Blyth gives a few interesting particulars about some
bones of Alca impennis in the ' Proceedings ' of the Zoological Society for
1837 (p- 122). I think it is likely enough that the specimens he ex-
amined were extracted from the skins prepared in 1834 by Jomfrue Lewer,
which I have mentioned. At all events, that lady seems to have left more
of the bones in the skins she prepared than is the custom with other per-
formers in Iceland.
ill Iceland respecting the Gare-fowl. 397
I aui sure, doomed to disappointment. That shore is almost
always beset with ice, and dive admirably as the bird may, I
have yet to learn that he can remain under water aa long as a
Seal or a Walrus. His then would be a poor sort of existence
among closely-packed floes and crashing mountains of ice.
Along the coast of Labrador nothing has been lately heard of
him that I know of, and yet, if I am rightly informed, it is
pretty generally every year visited by fishermen of various na-
tions. The formerly known breedmg-places in the Gulf of St.
Lawrence and off" the coast of Newfoundland are ascertained to
be abandoned, and no wonder when we think of the annual mas-
sacres which used to be committed there *. Yet there may be
still " some happier island in the watery waste " to which the
Penguins of the western seas may have escaped ; but then, we
may rely upon it, there is left a scanty remnant only.
I have been informed by my good friend Colonel Drummond-
Hay, that in December 1852, in passing over the tail of the
Newfoundland banks, he saw what he fully believes to have
been a Great Auk. At first he thought it was a Northern Diver ;
but he could see the large bill and white patches, which left no
doubt on his mind. The bird dived within thirty or forty yards
of the steamer. The same gentleman also has sent me a letter
received by him in 185J< from the late Mr. J. MacGregor, of St.
John^s, Newfoundland, in which he encloses a succinct account
of the former wanton destruction of these birds by the fishermen
— the heaps of bones and the '^ pounds ' now to be seen on some
of their old breeding- places — and states that in the preceding
year (1853) a dead one was picked up in Trinity Bay. My in-
* I am under the necessity of dissenting from the opinion expressed by
Professor Owen, in a lecture deUvered at the Royal Institution. April 12,
1859, and repeated in his article on ' Palaeontology,' as republished in a
separate form from the ' Encyclopaedia Britannica' (p. 400). To the de-
struction which the Great Auk has experienced at the hands of man, must,
I am confident, its gradually increasing scarcity be attributed. Granting
that it does require very peculiar breediug-places to be fit and favourable
for it, we only know of the disappearance of one such in the whole extent of
its range, which in comparatively modern times reached from Cape Cod to
Papa Westra, while on every other known breeding-place it has, from tlie
earliest date, been the especial object of search.
398 Mr. A. Newton on Mr. J. Wolley's Researches
quiries about this specimen have not yet resulted in obtaining
any further information respecting it *.
I am well aware that nothing but the extraordinary interest
that attaches to this bird warrants me in occupying so much
space. It must be remembered that it is not merely a matter
with which ornithologists only are concerned, but is one of far
higher and more general importance. " A consideration of such
instances of modern partial or total extinctions," says Professor
Owen [loc. cit.) in reference to this very case, " may best throw
light on, and suggest the truest notions of, the causes of ancient
extinctions." If this be not sufficient excuse for me, I must
urge the great difficulty I have had in condensing the numerous
particulars of information which Mr. Wolley's labours have
placed at my disposal. It would have been far easier to have
been more diffuse. In Iceland all, with but one exception, were
eager to tell us all they knew, and that in the most careful
* While on the subject of the bird's occurrence in this part of the world,
I wish to remark on Mr. Cassin's statement in Prof. Baird's ' Birds of
America' (p. 901), touching the Great Auk " figured by Mr. Audubon, and
obtained by him on the banks of Netofoundland," &c. Now in 1857 I was
assured by Mr. Bell, the well-known taxidermist at New York, who knew
Mr. Audubon intimately, that he never possessed but one specimen of this
bird ; and if we turn to Prof. MacGillivray's ' History of British Birds '
(vol. v. p. 359), we find him saying that he never saw but two examples of
the species, one in the British Museum, and " the other belonging to Mr.
Audubon, and procured by him in London." I have also to set right a
mistake made on this side of the water. In their Catalogue of Norfolk
and Suffolk Birds, printed in the 'Linnean Transactions' (xv. p. 61),
Messrs. Shepherd and Whitear say, they had been told by Sir William
Hooker that a Great Auk had been " killed near Southwold " in the latter
county. That eminent botanist, however, has most kindly informed me
that not only has he no recollection of any such occurrence, but, having
taken some trouble to inquire about it, be is satisfied that the statement
originated in error. I must add further, that the reported instance of a
bird taken near Marlow in Buckinghamshire, on the estate of Sir William
Clayton, first ])ublished, I think, by Dr. Fleming (Brit. Anira. p. 130), on
Mr. Bullock's avithority^, seems to me very unlikely. On the other hand, I
may mention that Sir William Milner tells me that within the last few
years he has become possessed of a fine Great Auk, which he has reason
to believe was killed in the Hebrides. This bird, I am informed, was
found to have been stuffed with turf.
in Iceland respecting the Gar e- fowl. 399
manner. I have already mentioned several persons from whom
we obtained valuable intelligence, and unjust as it may appear
to the rest, I must forbear from naming more. The chief au-
thorities both in church and state afforded us every facility, and
all orders and degrees of men and women followed their exam-
ple. From the Governor surrounded by the comforts of modern
civilization through every grade to the unhappy leper, dwelling,
as his ancestors may have done centuries ago, amid filth and
scarcity, we received an amount of attention, of which it is diffi-
cult to express the full value without seeming guilty of exag-
geration. Alas that it is left to me only to make this state-
ment ! To all those concerned, then, I have to return our
acknowledgments, and to no one more than to our honest and
intelligent guide and interpreter Geir Zoega of Reykjavik, who for
more than two months was our constant and willing attendant.
Whether the Gare-fowl be already extirpated or still existing in
some unknown spot, it is clear that its extinction, if not already
accomplished, must speedily follow on its rediscovery. I have
therefore to beseech all who may be connected with the matter to
do their utmost that such rediscovery should be turned to the best
account. If in this point we neglect our opportunities, future
naturalists will justly reproach us. The mere possession of a
few skins or eggs, more or less, is as nothing. Our science de-
mands something else — that we shall transmit to posterity a less
perishable inheritance. I have to urge, in no spirit of partiality,
but purely in the cause of knowledge, the claims of our own
country in this event. Our metropolis possesses the best-stocked
vivarium in the world. An artist residing among us is un-
questionably the most skilful animal draughtsman of this or any
other period. By common consent the greatest comparative ana-
tomist of the day is the naturalist who superintends the nation's
zoological collection. Surely no more fitting repository for the
very last of the Great Auks could be found than the Gardens
of the Zoological Society of London, where living they would be
immortalized by Mr. Wolf's pencil, and dead be embalmed in a
memoir by Professor Owen's pen.
Elveden, August 8, 1861.
400 Recent Ornithological Publications.
XLIII. — Recent Ornithological Publications.
1. English Publications.
We have been much pleased with Mr. Atkinson's little work on
"British Birds' Nests and Eggs*." It is essentially a 'Boy's
own book/ and well intended to train up a youthful oologist
in the way he should go. Tlie author has been a life-long ob-
server of a good school, and this is nearly sufficient for his pur-
pose. It is, therefore, of comparatively little moment to his
readers that, when he quotes from other works, his information
is sometimes defective. Mr. Atkinson makes no show of learned
acquirements, but he is far above the common run of popular
writers, to whom a Latin name is an abomination. After a few
judicious remarks on the necessity of, and the vulgar objections
to, anything like scientific terminology, he observes well enough
(p. 4), " No one was ever the worse for learning habits of orderly
and systematic arrangement, even though he had to pay the
price of doing a little puzzling headachy work, and had to
bother himself with a good many ugly-looking, ill-sounding,
jaw-cracking words." The illustrations are quite as good as
could have been expected for the price, but being only woodcuts
are not extremely characteristic. The printing we hope may be
improved in a future edition, when a little more care may well
be bestowed in hunting up later authorities than those cited.
2. French Publications.
It is only lately that we have succeeded in seeing a copy of
M. Morelet's work on the Natural History of the Azores f, which
is of much interest, as containing the first and only detailed ac-
count that has as yet been given of the zoology of this little-
known group of islands. True it is they have been visited by
several travellers, who have placed on record various facts of
greater or less interest concerning their geology and botany ; but
hardly any one, except Mr. Darwin (who touched at Terceira in
* British Birds' Nests and Eggs, popularly described. By the Rev. J. C.
Atkinson, &c. Illustrated by W. S. Coleman. London : Routledge & Co.,
18(51 . Post 8vo. pp. 120. Price One Shilling !
t Notice sur I'Histoire Naturelle des A9ores, suivie d'line description des
MoUusques terrestres de cet Archipel, par Arthur Morelet. 1 vol. 8vo.
Paris, 1860.
Recent Ornithological Publications. 401
the "Beagle"), and Dr. Tarns and Dr. Albers, who subsequently
collected a certain number of mollusks in these islands at two
diflFerent epochs, has even alluded to their zoology. M. Arthur
Morelet, already well known to science for his labours in con-
chology, and for the collections in other branches of natural his-
tory with which he has enriched the French National Museum
in the Jardin des Plantes, visited the Azores in 1857, in com-
pany with M.Drouet, with the object of studying the Malacolo-
gical fauna of the Archipelago, and passed six months in this
occupation. The volume now published contains the results of
their investigations into this branch of zoology, and at the same
time gives a general sketch of the whole fauna, though M.
Morelet acknowledges with regret that they did not pay much
attention to other objects besides those to which they particu-
larly devoted themselves.
It is well known that when the Azores, so named from the
abundance of hawks {Aqores, Latine Astures) met with upon
them when first visited, were occupied by the Portuguese in
the sixteenth century, these islands did not possess any human
inhabitants. What is still more surprising, is that, with the
exception of birds, they were also destitute of any species of
vertebrated animal, and that at the present moment the only
indigenous mammal is a species of Bat [Vespertilio leisleri) , itro-
bably imported from the North of Europe. The Avi-fauna of
the Azores embraces, according to M. Morelet, about 30 species
of residents and regular visitors, which are all strictly of the
European type. The Woodcock [Scolopax rusticola), the Bed
Partridge (CaccaSw rw/fl), the Quail [Coturnix dactylisonans) , the
Wood Pigeon, and certain Water-fowl, are common, and render
to the islanders an abundant supply of game in the season.
The other birds are mostly, as far as M. Morelet can tell us, of
common and well-known species; though, singularly enough,
the only two of which, as we believe, M. Morelet brought home
examples, are of great interest, being, one, a new species of true
Finch [Fi-ingiUa moreleti), and the other the larger European
Bullfinch, named by M. de Selys Pyrrhula coccinea. We have
already* noticed Dr. Pucheran's notes on these two species, which
* Ibis, 185f), p. 322, et 1860, p. 93.
402 Recent Ornitholoyical Publications.
have been published in the ' Revue et Magasin de Zoologie/
But we wish to urge the prosecution of a further investigation of
the zoology of the Azores^ and of an accurate comparison of spe-
cimens of the resident species with their European correspondents,
as it is far from improbable that other instances may be found of
specific or quasi-specific differences between them and the pre-
sent iuhabitants of the adjoining continent.
3. German Publications,
We owe apologies to our readers as well as to the author for
not having already redeemed our promise of giving some notice
of Dr. Hartlaub's elaborate account of the Ornithology of Ma-
dagascar and the adjacent islands*, as it has been now issued in
its complete and amended form.
" Naturalists/^ says Dr. Hartlaub, in his introduction to this
work, " as well botanists as zoologists, have been long accustomed
to consider Madagascar as a land of wonders and promise. The
genera Ouvirandra, Ravenalia, and Angracum of the former are
rivalled by the anomalous forms Chiromys, Eupleres, Euryceros,
Mesites, and Atelornis of the latter. Indeed the peculiarity of
the animals that people this island, considered in relation to its
geographical extent, is so great that we cannot be surprised when
Isidore Geoffroy St.-Hilaire looks upon it, in respect of the idio-
syncrasy of its fauna, as a fifth continent, and Hombron declares it
to be one of the centres of creation of the African plateau. We
are now aware that, out of about 50 species of mammals known
to us from Madagascar, one or two only are met with also in
Africa, and that of the 203 birds, of which the following work
will make mention, not less than 97 are to be treated of as ex-
clusively confined to the island.'^
Flacourt, in his ' Histoire de la grande isle Madagascar,'
published at Paris in 1661, is the first author who treats of the
birds of Madagascar, and gives us a list of 60 species said to be
found there, the greater number of which, however, being un-
accompanied by descriptions, are now irrecognizable. On the
* Oinithologisclier Beitrag zur Fauna Madagascar's, mit Beiiicksich-
tignng iler Inseln Mayotta, Nossi-be und S. Marie, so wie der Mascarenen
und Seychellen, von l>r. G. Hartlaub. 1 vol. Pvo. Bremen, ISfil, 8S j)p.
Recent Ornithological Publications. 403
other hand, the worthy Brisson's descriptions of the 38 species
of birds from Madagascar, principally taken from specimens
sent by Poivre to the Reaumurian collection, are, as is always
the case with that author, very full and complete, and may be
relied upon as indicating valid species, though some of them
have not been found again up to the present time. Sonnerat,
in his 'Voyage a la Chine,' Desjardins in the 'Proceedings' of
the Societe d'Hist. Nat. de I'isle Maurice, and Dr. A. Smith in
the ' South- African Quarterly Journal,' were the next succeeding
contributors to the ornithology of Madagascar, but none of
them to any very great extent. But about twenty-five years
ago a new and happier era for our knowledge of this ornithology
began with the labours of several French travellers and savants.
Victor Sganzin, at one time Commandant of the French island of
St. Marie, on the eastern coast of Madagascar, who has published
his notes on the mammals and birds observed during his resi-
dence there, in the Memoirs of the N. H. Society of Strasburg,
was one of the earliest of these. Bernier, Goudot, and Rous-
seau, three well-knbwn names among those of the Naturaliste-
voyageurs who have contributed so largely to the enrichment
of the French National Collection, succeeded Sganzin in his
explorations. Their many brilliant discoveries have been made
known to the world by the scientific labours of I. GeofFroy
St.-Hilaire, de Lafresnaye, and Pucheran. In 1848 Dr. Hart-
laub turned his special attention towards the ornithology of
Madagascar, and published a complete resume of what was then
known on the subject in the fii-st volume of D'Alton and Bur-
nieister's ' Zeitung fiir Zoologie.' As it will be observed that
Dr. Hartlaub has in his present work nearly doubled his list of
species, it will be evident that our knowledge of this peculiar
fauna has been considerably increased since that period. This
has been effected partly by the labours of the Austrian botanist
Bojer and Madame Ida Pfeiffer, whose specimens have been de-
posited in the Vienna Museum, and critically examined for Dr.
Hartlaub's work by A. v. Pelzeln, partly by small collections
made by William Jardine (son of Sir William Jardine) at Bo-
janna Bay, and by Prof. Peters at St. Augustin's Bay, and partly
by closer investigations of the Museums of Paris, Vienna, Leyden,
404 Recent Ornithological Publications.
Stuttgardt, and Philadelphia, which have been made by Dr.
Hartlaub himself, with the assistance of Jules Verreaux, v. Pel-
zeln, Schlegel, Krauss, Heuglin, and Cassiu.
We have already noticed the fact, that out of the 203 INIada-
gascar bii'ds enumerated by Dr. Hartlaub, 97 are exclusively con-
fined to the island. The eccentricity of this fauna is, however,
still further demonstrated by the fact that no less than 29 of
the genera to which these birds are referable are also forms purely
Madagascarian, and not met with in the adjoining continent
or elsewhere. Some of these genera, it is true, may be said to
be founded upon slight peculiarities ; but others, such as Bra-
chyjjferacias, Atelornis, Falculia, Philepitta, Oriolia, Euryceros,
Mesites, &c., are possessed of such ambiguous characters that
their position in the natural series is still in many cases un-
settled. That Madagascar has something in common with
Africa may be inferred from the fact that 42 of its species of
birds also occur on the mainland of the continent. But, on the
other hand. Dr. Hartlaub points out that the families Muso-
phagida, Lamprotornithida, Bnphagida, Budkrotida, and others,
besides many genera which are especially characteristic of Afri-
can ornithology, are not met with in Madagascar. With regard
to the views of Geoffroy St.-Hilaire and Pucheran, that this
fauna has something in common with India, Dr. Hartlaub re-
marks on the occurrence in Madagascar of Ninox, Ploceus, Co-
psychus, and Hypsipetes, as well as of several well-known Indian
species. But it has always remained a doubtful point to us,
whether the presence of some of these may not be attributable to
introduction by man's agency or some other means.
After giving this imperfect account of the many interesting
statements contained in Dr. Hartlaub's introduction to his little
book, we have only to say, in conclusion, that the Synopsis of
species is worked out in our author's usual accurate and pains-
taking style, and forms a worthy companion to his well-known
volume on the Birds of Western Afi-ica. Short but well-
drawn diagnoses are given of all the birds peculiar to the island,
as also ample synonymy and references, and, in fact, every par-
ticular which such a handbook of the ornithology of a local
district ought to embrace. We sincerely hope this may not be
Recent Ornithological Publications. 405
the last local Avi-fauna Avhich Dr. Hartlaub may treat in a
similar manner.
A continuation of the third part of " Museum Heineanum/'
by Dr Cabanis and Herr F. Heine, jun., lately issued, for an
early copy of which we are much indebted to Herr Heine,
completes the enumeration of the Strisores in this fine collection,
and contains a portion of the Index of genera and species.
The eighth ' Lieferung' of Dr. Reichenbach's ' Handbuch der
Speciellen Ornithologie ' completes his account of the Colum-
baria— a group composed of Columba, the family Cracidce (of
the order GallincE), and the Cariamas (belonging to the Grallce),
according to Dr. Heicheubach's fantastical arrangement.
The plates issued herewith form a continuation of the series of
illustrations of the Trochilida, a portion of which was published
some time ago. The work, as far as it is a compilation, is some-
times useful, as one of reference, but we cannot conscientiously
say much in favour of such portions of it as are founded upon
original research.
Besides the account of the new Cassowary, to w^hich we have
already alluded {antea, p. 312), the first number of the 'Journal
fiir Ornithologie ' for the present year (the last w^e have received)
contains an article on the breeding of the Nutcracker by Baron
Richard Konig-Warthausen, which will be interesting to many
of our readers. The author seems to think it a well-ascertained
fact that this bird breeds regularly in the Black Forest *, though
he has not yet been able to get authentic eggs from this locahty
in spite of many efforts. Baldamus states that it breeds in
Transylvania ; but the only egg brought back by him from his
expedition into that country proves, according to Baron Konig-
Warthausen, to be that of a Jay [Garrulus glandarius). Abbe
Caire, however, has obtained eggs of the Nutcracker in the
French Alps, " of undoubted authenticity," of which the Baron
has compared together six examples — four belonging to his own
* See Landbek's Systeraatische Aufzahlung der Vogel Wiirtembnrg's,
p. 19.
406 Recent Ornithological Publications.
collection, two to Dr. Baldamus, and one to Herr Badeker. The
latter specimen has already been described and figured by Herr
Badeker in the 'Journal fiir Ornithologie ' (1856, p. 32, pi. 1).
While on this subject, it may be remarked, that we cannot
believe that any active Englishman going early enough to Swit-
zerland would have much difficulty in obtaining eggs of this
bird. We have never failed to see it in abundance during our
somewhat frequent visits to the higher Alps (for example, in the
upper valley of Lauterbriinnen, and on the Riffelberg near Zer-
matt), and we have been assured by the Swiss guides that it
breeds there eveiy spring, nesting in the Arven-trees {Pinus
cembra). In these localities it is so much devoted to the cones
of this Pine as to have obtained the name of " Arven-vogel."
4. American Publications.
Mr. G. N. Lawrence has kindly furnished us with copies of
two ornithological communications to the Lyceum of Natural
History of New York, which have been reprinted from their
' Annals.^
The first is a Catalogue of Birds collected along the Panama-
Railway route by Mr. M'=Leannan. It enumerates 142 species,
amongst which are several described as new. The occurrence of
a Barbet {Capito) so far north has not been previously recorded,
and we hail with pleasure the acquisition of a new and appa-
rently brilliant addition to the genus. Several species are also
noted that have been lately described by Mr. Cassin in his ac-
count of the birds collected during the Darien expedition by
Lieut. Michler. Mr. Lawrence having kindly offered to send us
a series of the species, as here described, for examination, we
hope to be able to give some further remarks on receipt of the
specimens. Taking this collection in connexion with that of the
Darien expedition and Dr. Hoffman's collections in Costa Rica,
which are now being worked at by Dr. Cabanis, we may soon
hope to arrive at a more perfect knowledge of the Avi-fauna of
the Central-American isthmus, which has as yet been left com-
paratively uninvestigated.
Mr. Lawrence's second paper contains a description of two
new birds from Panama [Grallaria perspicillata and Polioptila
Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, S^c. 407
superciliaris) and of a Humming-bird from Venezuela — Chloro-
stilbon nitens.
Mr. D. G. Elliott of New York, F.Z.S., has lately published
the first part of an illustrated Monograph of the genus Pitta, of
which we shall give a notice in our next Number.
The second portion of M. Le Moine's little book on the
Ornithology of Canada * has reached us. That this work has
attracted attention in Canada is evident from the fact that the first
edition is out of print, and that M. Le Moine has already issued
a second edition of part 1, of which we have also received a copy.
XLIV. — Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, S^c.
Dr. F. Hochstetter informs us that he has been busy in
arranging the series of bones of the Moas {Dinornis, &c.) which
he collected in New Zealand during his sojourn there with the
Novara-expedition. Dr. Gustav Jager has completed the resto-
ration of the skeleton of Palapteryx ingens, and prepared sets of
plaster casts of all its bones, complete sets of which may be ob-
tained on application to him at Vienna for about ^61 2. The
bird stands about 6| feet in height. Drs. Hochstetter and
Jager have also prepared for exhibition skeletons of Dinornis
giganteus, D. robustus, D. elephantopus, and D. didifoiinis.
" Palapteryx ingens," says Dr. Hochstetter, " (which is four-
toed, like Apteiyx), has certainly been exterminated but few
generations ago. I am of opinion that when New Zealand was
first peopled from the Tonga Islands, about 600 years ago, seve-
ral species of these giant birds (among which was Palapteryx
ingens) were still in existence ; that these large birds were
hunted by the natives and supplied them with flesh, as their
songs and traditions abundantly testify ; and that the failure of
this supply induced them, about 100 years ago, to resort to
the disgusting practice of cannibalism, which Cook found so
prevalent there." ■
The following are extracts from Mr. Blyth^s letters : —
" Calcutta, April 14th, 1861.
" My genus Nitidula, of which I sent a description some time
* Ornithologie de Canada, par J. M. Le Moine. Quebec, 1861, 12mo
398 pp.
408 Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c.
ago *, seems to be founded on the Nemura hodgsoni, Moore,
which, however, is no Nemura (i. e. lanthia, nobis ; Nemura
having been ah'eady used in Entomology), but a distinct generic
form/'
" The Comte de Castelnau (French Consul at Bangkok), writes
me word that he has a new species of Argus from Camboja, and
also a new true Gallus, I believe from the same country."
"Maulmein, May 10th, 1861.
" Here I am in the enjoyment of a sea voyage to recruit my
health. I have visited Akyab and Rangoon, and next start for
Tavoy, Mergui, and the Andaman Islands, thence reversing my
former voyage back to Calcutta. Glorious hill-scenery here —
jungle-clad and pagoda-capped everywhere, with splendid views
and novelty in every shape and form.
" The Common Sparrow of this country is Passer mo7itanus,
but more rufous above and more whitish beneath than the bird of
Britain, Sikhim, and China, from which countries examples are
utterly undistinguishable. The note also is a sharp 'chip chij},'
different from that of the British bird, which I remember per-
fectly, and most readily distinguishable from that of the British
and Indian House-Sparrows. At Akyab I observed both spe-
cies, but not intermixed — the so-called Tree-Sparrow becoming
a House-Sparrow, and so tame that it would hardly get out of
your way. At Rangoon we have only the P. montanus (?) , The
house in which I now sit is full of them, and they fly in and out
through the rooms and maintain an incessant chirping."
" I have many novelties to describe, received from my late
host Col. Phayre, before I left Calcutta. One of the most re-
markable is a beautiful second species of true Crypsirhina ; an-
other is a new form of Turdmus-\\\ie birds with straight claws —
Merulanthus phayrii, nobis."
The following extracts are from Mr. R. Swinhoe's last
letters : —
" British Consulate, Amoy, March 9, 1861.
" I have just procured a specimen of Phalacrocorax bicristutus,
* See P.Z. S. 1861, p. 201.
Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, i^c. 409
Pallas, the second species noted in the 'Fauna Japonica/ This
bird is not usually found at Amoy, but its occurrence here is
probably due to the unusually cold and high winds that have
lately occurred on this coast. My specimen is partially moulted
into the plumage of the adult, and has a few white filamentous
feathers on the head and neck.
" The Common Crane {Grus cinerea) occurs every winter at
Swatow, lower down the coast than Amoy, in flocks of 100 or
so. They live during their stay chiefly on sweet potatoes (the
tuber of Batatas edulis). I have procured a partially moulted
specimen from that port.
" The Dutch Consul at Amoy has lately made, an excursion to
the tea-districts at Hing-yang, some 150 miles inland of this,
and has brought back the following birds not found near Amoy :
Urocissa sinensis, Emberiza cio'ides of the ' Fauna Japonica,'
Enicurus schistaceus (?), Ruticilla fuliginosa, and my Hypsipetes
holtii. These specimens are at present in the hands of Mr.
G. Schlegel at Amoy, and will eventually grace the Leyden col-
lection."
"Amoy, May 4,1861.
" Referring to my letter of 20th February *, I must tell you
that I have this summer procured a couple of Larvivora gracilis,
one similar to the one described, and the other of the same form
and size, but blue on the upper parts and j^wre ivhite on all the
under parts. This last was a male, and the former a female.
Therefore the bird described in the letter referred to was a male
in the ' livree de passage,' and not in full plumage, and the
species may yet prove to be L. cyanea of Hodgson.
" Of the Common Cormorant that winters on this coast, I have
lately procured a full-plumaged male. It resembles the bird of the
' Fauna Japonica,' except that its cheeks are not white, as there
represented, but of a uniform bronze with the rest of the head
and neck, which are thickly sown with thick white filaments.
" The Brachypternus from Foochovv is much larger (nearly
double the size) than B. badius of Java, of which Mr. Blyth has
favoured me with a pair. It is of a much richer brown, but
would appear o hervvise similar.
* See anteu, ]>. 2(52.
VOL. III. 2 E
410 Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c.
" Among some dozens of Cohjmbida lately procured, a few
have red markings on the throat. This would therefore prove
our bird to be C. septentrionalis, unless the new species, C.
adamsi, is also so marked.
" I have to note Botaurus stellaris from Swatow, and the fol-
lowing procured for the first time at Amoy : —
" Emberiza cidides (of the ' Fauna Japonica ') from the main-
land in February.
" Ruticilla fuliginosa (of a uniform smoke-grey, except the
red tail), from the neighbouring main in February.
" Enicurus schistaceus, also from neighbouring hills on the
main. Examples of the latter bird were met with on the margins
of pools. They frequently repeated a series of twittering notes
not unlike those of the Tringdides hypoleuca, while they moved
their tails up and down violently. The specimen procured agrees
exactly with one from Burmah sent to me by Mr. Blyth.
" Carho hicristatus, Temm. et Schl. One immature specimen
of this bird was brought to me on the 8th March. It was
shot in this harbour, and agrees precisely with the figures in the
* Fauna Japonica.'
" Calliope kamschatkensis. Several of these have been pro-
cured this spring, both mature and with the white throat.
" Limosa lapponica seu 7^ufa. One was brought in 12th April,
1861.
" Xanthopygia leucophrys, Blyth (?).
" Among several of X. narcissina, one bird has pure white
eyebrows, is more slightly built than the rest, has black upper
parts, with golden lower parts, and no flammeous on the throat.
I conclude it to be the Malayan species.
" I have lately procured several dozens of females of X. narcis-
sina, and I would therefore venture to correct my description of
this one given in the Birds of Canton {antea, p. 41). The throat
is very rarely golden, and there is no black on the cheeks or
white on the wings.
"Tu7'dus sibiricus. A fine mature male was brought in 19th
April.
"Emberiza rutila, Pallas. A fine male, received 20th April,
agrees well with the description in the ' Fauna Japonica.'
Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, &^c. 411
"Numenius minor, Miiller. A pair of Whimbrels, brought in
at the close of April, are certainly referable to the bird of the
* Fauna Japouica/ and not to N. phceopus of Linnaeus.
"Chibia hottentotta (Linn.). I was truly astonished to receive
one of this species on the 29th April. A reference to Gray's
* Genera' at once told me what it was. Its gizzard contained
the remains of wasps.
"Porzana erythrothorax, Teram. et Schl. A male brought in
on 1st May. It is very similar to, but rather larger than,
P. fusca of Bengal, but the differences are hardly sufficient to
warrant a separation.
" Gallicrex cristata (L.). A fine male, brought in on 2nd May.
" Dicrurus cinerascens, $ . Brought in on 3rd ]\Iay.
''These acquisitions add fourteen more to the Amoylist of birds.
" I have at last succeeded in procuring mature specimens of
our Budytes. The pair brought to me have both grey heads,
with white eyebrows and chins, and iu other respects answer
most minutely to B. flava of Linnseus.
'' Anthus thermophihs, Hodgson (?), still puzzles me. In
summer the spots on the breast disappear, and give place to a
deep rosy-buff tinge. Mr. Blyth thinks the Chinese species is
identical with his A. rufo-superciliaris from the Andamans, but
further comparison is required.
" I have lately received several specimens of our Tchitrea.
They all have bright purple-red backs ; and I cannot agree with
you in referring them to T. principalis of the ' Fauna Japonica.'
" Dr. Hanse, the botanist, writes me that a friend of his shot
three Parrakeets near Canton. I must therefore acknowledge
my ignorance, and allow that the specimens of Loriculus puni-
culus in the British Museum, which Mr. Fortune purchased at
Canton, were probably procured in that neighbourhood.
"I have lately received from Foochovv a fine specimen of
Megalama virens (Bodd.) . It was brought down, according to the
accounts I received, from the hilly regions of Yunnan, alive. I see
this uncouth-looking bird has already been noted from China."
"Amoy, May 18, 1861.
"My shooters have just brought in several birds new to this
place ; namelv, of
2 E 2
412 Extracts from Cori'espondence, Announcements, S^c.
" Lobipes hyperboreus, three specimens, in nearly full summer
plumage.
" Tringa cinclus (?). One specimen, I think, of this species,
with olive-green legs.
" Two of a new Lusciniopsis, perhaps referable to Cassiu's new
species fi-om Japan.
"And a very diminutive Locustella, allied to L. raii."
The following letter from Mr. Swinhoe has been forwarded to
us for publication by Prof. Schlegel : —
Amoy, June 1, 1861.
Sir, — I have no doubt you will be much pleased to hear that
one at least of the doubtful species of the ' Fauna Japonica ' has
been confirmed. Your son and I have been most assiduous in
our endeavours to hunt up the Biophorus paradisiacus, having
heard that that truly wonderful species was originally brought
to Japan from China, but our exertions have hitherto been fruit-
less. The other species, however, the Pitta nympha, we hardly
expected to discover, as its habitat is marked Corea. Imagine
my joy then this morning when my shooters brought in a bird
which I at once recognized as the redoubted Pitta nympha. I
at once communicated the glorious intelligence to your son, and
borrowed his coloured plate. The following notes were the re-
sults of our comparison, and, should you think them worth print-
ing, are at your service.
The man who brought me the bird this morning told me
that he had shot it while it was sitting on a tree at the foot of
the highest hill on this island. Its ovary contained numerous
eggs, but none in a very developed state, and its crop was nearly
empty ; it is therefore natural to suppose that the individual had
merely dropped on the island in its migration.
Length 8| inches ; wing 4y\, ; tail ly^, of 14 rectrices ; tarse
Ij^^. Bill blackish brown, paling towards the tip. Inside of
mouth light pinkish orange. Tongue sagittate, slightly bulging
at the sides, concave, horny, and split at the tip. Eye-rim black-
ish brown ; iris hazel. Ear small and somewhat ovate, orifice
hidden. Legs, toes and claws light brownish flesh-colour.
The Appendix to the ' Fauna Japonica ' says of this species.
Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, 8^c. 413
" Cette Breve ofFre beaucoup d'analogie avee la Breve k Queue
Courte, Pitta cyanura (P. brachyura, L. V}, clu continent de I'lnde,
dont elle ne parait se distinguer que par les caracteres suivants.
Le vert des parties superieures est plus clair, et les parties in-
ferieures sont blanc grisatre, au lieu de jaune brunatre. Le
beau rouge qui se borne dans la Breve h, Queue Courte, au bas
ventre, se prolonge dans celle de la Coree jusqu'a la poitrine. Le
noir enfin, qui occupe les cotes de la tete, s'etend dans cette
espece sous le menton."
Our bird is a female, and answers well to the figure given in
the ' Fauna Japonica,' which, from analogy, we should suppose
to be a young bird of the species ; for the under parts of our bird
are of a fine buff, with the exception of the chin and sides of the
nape, which are of a pure white. The blue on the wing-coverts
is extended throughout the whole of them, — a few of the feathers
still remaining partly green, and indicating such to be the
actual colouring of the juvenile garb.
On comparing ours with a skin of P. brachyura from India,
kindly provided by Mr.Blyth, I notice the followingdifferences: —
The bill of our bird is much larger and deeper, and consider-
bly more corvine, than that of brachyura. The occipital band
that passes through the eye is much broader, and extends to
beneath the bill. The medial coronal stripe is brown instead of
black, and does not quite unite with the occipital. The back,
scapulars, and tertiaries are of a darker, clearer green. The
rump and wing-coverts are of a beautiful azure-blue with a pink-
purple gloss, some of the feathers being patched with green.
The white is much more extended on the quills, some of the
inner quills being entirely white to their tips. The axillary
coverts are black, without any white. The tail is similarly co-
loured in both, and the lovely crimson of the under tail-coverts
extends up the centre of the belly to the breast. The bird is
much larger and much more robust than P. brachyura, but
bears considerable resemblance to that species. Indeed, were it
not for the ventral crimson stripe and its large bill, one would
feel almost inclined to look upon it as merely a large variety of
the Indian bird.
The measurements of my skin of P. brachyura of India are as
follows : —
414 Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, i^c.
Length 7-^ inches; wing 4^ ; tail ly^^; tarse 1^.
I think, on perusing the above, you will agree with me that
we have at last discovered the Pitta nympha — a species so long
established from a Japanese design, but one whose existence was
seriously questioned by practical ornithologists. And to think
that this Corean wonder should be first met with in the flesh in
this barren island of Amoy !
As you will probably give publicity to these notes, I will add
my remarks on dissecting its body : —
Qjlsophagus about ^ in. wide, contracting before the proven-
triculus, which starts with a breadth of ^^ in., and gradually en-
larges as it joins the stomach. The proven triculus measures ^o^^-
and is S7woo//i-coated. The stomach is heart-shaped, with stout
lateral tendons, and broadly marked exteriorly with perpendicular
rings. The epithelium was bright yellow, moveable and rugose;
containing only the remains of one spotted field-bug. Intes-
tines ISg in. long, and varying in thickness from -~-q in. to y^ in.,
marked exteriorly with a sprinkling of hard granules, and having
a large round nodule, g in. broad, about 4 inches from the anus.
This latter is probably the result of disease. Cseca yo i^i* loQgj
ovate and aduate, the right one being 1^ in., the left one l-p^ in.
from the anus. Ovary containing quite a bunch of small eggs.
Yours, &c.,
Robert Swinhoe.
Dr. Schlegel, Leyden Museum.
Mr. Tristram writes to us, that in looking over his collections
he finds that in his "Catalogue of the Birds of the Sahara,^^
as given in the two preceding volumes of ' The Ibis/ he has
accidentally omitted two very interesting species : —
1. Cyanecula ruhecula, of which he has two examples in winter
plumage, one a female, the other with the sex undetermined.
2. Anthus spinoletta, of which he has one specimen, shot,
out of a small flock, in the marsh at the edge of the oasis of
Laghouat in November 1856. He believes also that he saw a
flock of this bird (if not of A. obscurus) in January 1857, in the
swamps near Tuggurt.
Mr. Tristram also remarks, —
" Had I to rewrite my notes on the Larks of the Sahara, I do
'Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, ^c. 415
not think I should now speak so positively as I have done of the
specific distinctness of Galerida ahyssinica, isabellina, and areni-
cola. Not that I should unsay what I said, but I am not now
so clear as to the specific rank of races inhabiting areas so very
closely conterminous as those of the difi'erent districts of the
North-African Sahara."
Kilmory, Lochgilp Head, N.B., August 18, 1861.
Mr. Editor, — I regret that I can give you no further par-
ticulars about the Gyrfalcon which I submitted to you in the
summer, further than that it was shot in the month of October
last, on the island of North Uist, belonging to my father ; the
keeper thinks it was about the ]Oth or 12th. I observe it is a
much darker specimen than that killed, not five miles from the
same place, in March of the previous year, 1859 *, That had all
the tail-feathers white, except the two centre ones, though the
shafts of the others are of a brown tinge — paler, I have little
doubt, from bleaching before found, as it was not secured on the
day it was shot.
Believe me, yours truly,
J. W. P. Orde.
" Of the gigantic Struthionida, bones of many species occur all
over the islands of New Zealand. Feathers have also been found,
and fragments of egg-shells ; also one perfect egg, taken out of
the grave of a native in 1856. It is believed by many natives
that none of the species are entirely extinct. They give tolerably
minute descriptions of many species ; but it is impossible from
their descriptions to define the number formerly existing. Pro-
fessor Oweu has detected fourteen distinct species, from the
various bones which have from time to time been sent to England.
Wherever the bones of the larger species are found, there exists
about a quart of pebbles, used doubtless to assist digestion. I
can only give the native names and descriptions of a few extinct
species. All these birds were hunted by the natives for food.
" Moa. The largest species stood 16 feet high. Colour red-
» See ' Ibis,' 1859, p. 469.
416 Extracts fi'om Correspondence, Announcements, t^r.
brown. Fed on leaves of forest-trees ; their legs were too long-
to allow them to eat off the ground. Bones full of marrow.
" Kiwi Papa IVhenua. 7 feet high. One of the last birds to
disappear. There are still living men who have hunted it.
" Tokoeka. 3 feet high. Bright red [!]. Inhabited only the
snowy mountains in the neighbourhood of Otago.
" Po-waka-i. 10 feet high. Lived on carrion as well as
plants. Peculiar to the Middle Island.
" Kiwi Mokemoke. 3 feet high. A solitary ash- coloured bird,
with a long curved bill. These are all the traditions of the pre-
ceding five birds to be relied on. It is highly probable that this
species and other smaller ones yet exist among the wild unex-
plored mountain-ranges of the Middle Island.
" Great Apteryx (Kiwi Parure), Ajjteryx major. Inhabits
forests and mountains. A night bird. By imitating its call, it
is attracted, and then caught with dogs. It is also caught by
lighting a large fire, which is sure to attract them. Native report
says that this and the next-described species do not sit on their
eggs, but cover them up with leaves, the decomposition and
fermentation of which, at the expiration of one year, hatches the
egg. Probably this report is mere fiction, and the bird always
covers its egg on leaving the nest. This species lays only one
egg. Its legs are very powerful, sufficiently so as to break the
leg of a dog. The egg is white, and 3 inches in length.
" Little Aptei-yw (Kiwi Hoihoi). Smaller than the preceding.
My dogs have caught this bird. Lays two eggs. Habits similar
to the preceding." — J. B. Ellman in ' Zoologist,' p. 7464 (1861).
Since the publication of our last Number three members of
the British Ornithologists' Union have left our shores. Mr.
O. Salvin and Mr. F. D. Godman have departed, to continue
Mr. Salvin's researches in Guatemala, and thence intend to de-
scend along the Pacific coast to Panama, paying particular
attention to the fauna of Costa Bica. Mr. A. F. Sealy has pro-
ceeded to India, being about to become a permanent resident at
Madras.
INDEX.
Acanthylis caudacuta, 205.
nudipes, 205.
Accentor modularis, 81.
Accipiter collaris, 19.
cooperi, 209, 317.
erythrocnemis, 140.
exilis, 75.
fringilloides, 209.
fuscus, 209, 317.
gimdlacliii, 209.
minullus, 74, 75.
nisus, 75, 221, 327.
pectoralis, 313, 314.
perspiciUaris, 75.
pileatus, 209, 355.
sphenurus, 74.
unduliventris, 75,
virgatus, 263, 264.
Acridotheres cristatellus,
44, 48.
roseus, 365.
tristis, 115, 231, 273.
Acrocephalus magniros-
tris, 32, 329.
Actitis glareola, 239, 240.
hypoleiicos, 239, 240.
ochropus, 239, 240.
.iEgialites cantianus , 51 ,342.
falklandicus, 155.
geoifroyii, 51.
hiaticula, 299.
homeyeri, 299.
indicus, 295.
lesclienaultii, 342.
philippmus, 342.
pusillus, 51.
Agapornis cana, 273.
Agelaeus perspicillatus, 7.
Aix galericulata, 208.
Alauda ai'vensis, 83, 369.
bracliydactyla, 255,
333, 369.
ccelivox, 46.
cristata, 369.
japonica, 257, 333.
leautungensis, 256.
magiia, 178.
— mongolica, 256.
— semitorquata, 299.
— tartarica, 299.
VOL. III.
Alca impennis, 15, 374,
396.
pica, 2.
torda, 15, 391.
Alcedo bengalensis, 31,
205, 228, 328.
ispida, 205, 305.
Alectroeuas nitidissima,
277.
Alethe castanea, 304.
Alsocomus hodgsonii, 233.
Aiupelis cedroruin,94, 107.
garrulus, 92, 93, 94,
103, 306.
Anas acuta, 3, 13.
boschas, 13, 91, 249,
345.
cai'oKneusis, 13, 15.
caryopliyllacea, 249.
claugula, 91, 300.
crecca, 13, 15, 91.
cristata, 160.
falcaria, 263.
fidigida, 91, 198;
glacialis, 91.
glaucion, 1.
iopareia, 107.
mollissima, 91.
nigra, 91.
oxyura, 107.
penelope, 13, 91.
pcBcilorhyncha, 249.
specTilaris, 107.
tadorna, 90.
Anastomus oscitans, 244.
Anoiis stolidus, 182.
Anser albifrons, 4, 12, 90,
111, 344.
bracbyi'hynchus, 247.
cinereus, 247.
cygnoides, 344.
domesticus, 12.
erythropus. 111.
ferus, 344, 366.
hyperboreus, 12.
minutus. 111, 247.
segetum, 344.
Antliropoides virgo, 243.
Anthus agilis, 36, 333.
aquaticus, 83.
Anthus arboreus, 83.
cervinus, 297.
correndera, 153.
japonicus, 333.
ludovicianus, 3, 6.
obscurus, 415.
pratensis, 6, 83.
richardi, 36, 205, 333.
spinoletta, 414.
superciliaris, 411.
thermophilus, 36,
411.
Antrostomus ?, 64.
cubanensis, 209.
vociferus, 64, 209.
Aphantocliroa roberti, 354.
Aprosmictus amboinensia,
311.
dorsalis, 311.
vubieratus, 348.
Aptenodytes chrysocome,
164.
demersa, 163.
pennantii, 163.
Apteryx major, 416.
— — owenii, 215.
Aquila albicUla, 4.
bellicosa, 129.
boneUi, 372.
brehraii, 295.
canadensis, 319.
chrysaetos, 112, 226.
imperialis, 226, 372.
megaloptera, 23.
nsevia, 118, 221, 368,
369.
nsevioides, 221.
ossifraga, 2.
Arboricola torqueola, 236.
Archibuteo ferruginous,
318.
lagopus, 318.
sancti johannis, 318.
Arctica alle, 16.
Ardea cinerea, 9, 51, 244,
245, 343.
goisagi, 344.
goliath, 244.
herodias, 296.
purpurea, 244.
2r
418
INDEX,
Ardeola leucoptera,52,245.
prasinoscelcs, 52.
speciosa, 52.
Arcletta cinnamomea, 53.
sijiensis, 53.
Artaraus perspicillatus,
348.
Asio brachyotus, 226.
otus, 127.
Astur atricapillus, 316.
cooperi, 313.
melanoleuciis, 135.
palumbarius, 74, 226.
trivirgatus, 226.
virgatus, 226.
Asturina nitida, 59, 68.
Athene ?, 25.
brama, 226.
brodiei, 227.
cuculoides, 227, 265.
noctua ?, 227.
Attagis malouinus, 154.
Barbatulachrysocoma,124.
formosa, 124.
leucolfema, 121.
pusiUa, 124.
Basilornis celebensis, 284.
corythaix, 284.
Baza lophotes, 226.
Bernicla antarctica, 159.
brenta, 12.
indica, 247, 248.
leucopsis, 3, 12.
Biophorus paradisiacus,
412.
Blagrus leucogaster, 226.
Bombycilla caerulea, 105.
Botaurus st-ellaris,246,410.
Brachypternus aurantius,
229.
badius, 267, 409.
sylvaticus, 203.
victorini, 203.
Branta rufina, 250.
Bubo arcticus, 320.
beugalensis, 226.
maximus,27, 28, 227,
254, 327, 365.
oi-ientalis, 227.
umbratus, 227.
vii'gmianus, 320.
Bueco aurovirens, 187.
barbatula, 124.
cayennensis,var.,185.
chrysocomus, 124.
elegans, 187.
erythrocephalus, 185.
margaritatus, 124.
peruvianus, 186.
pictus, 187.
Buceros birostris, 227.
buccinator, 133.
ruficollis, 285.
Bucorax abyssinicus, 132.
Budytes cinereocapillus,
210.
flava, 36, 333, 411.
rayi, 210.
viridis, 232.
Buplius coromandus, 52.
russatus, 296.
Butaetus leucurus, 76.
Buteo anceps, 76.
augur, 76.
boreaUs, 318.
erythronotus, 151.
eximius, 76.
ferox, 76.
jacal, 76.
japonicus, 24, 326.
minor, 75, 76.
pectoralis, 313.
poliosoma, 151.
rufinus, 76, 222.
rufipeunis, 76.
swainsoni, 317.
tachardus, 75, 76.
varius, 151.
vidgaris, 24, 75, 76,
226.
Butorides atricapilla, 275.
bruiinescens, 275.
javamca, 52.
Cacatua sequatorialis, 311.
cristata, 311.
moluccensis, 284.
sulphurea, 311.
triton, 311, 286.
Caccabis chiikar, 222, 236.
rufa, 236, 401.
Calamodyta aquatica, 208.
cariceti, 208.
phragmitis, 208.
Calandrella brachydactyla,
231.
Calidris arenaria, 3, 11, 342.
Calliope camtschatkensis,
329.
kamschatkensis, 410.
Calcenas cruenta, 215.
Campephaga ?, 42.
nielanoptera, 42.
Campylopterus cuvieri,
354
Capito amazonicus, 186.
aurantiicollis, 189.
aurifrons, 186.
aurovii'ens, 187.
bourcieri, 188.
capistratus, 189.
Capito cayennensis, 185.
erythrocephalus, 185,
186, 187, 188.
flavicolUs, 186.
glaucogularis, 190.
hartlaubi, 189, 190.
maynanensis, 187.
melanotis, 190.
najvius, 185.
peruvianus, 186.
pictus, 187.
punctatus, 186, 187.
ricliardsoni, 189.
sulpliureus, 189.
tschudii, 188.
Caprimulgus ?, 30.
atrovirens, 296.
chmaciu'us, 296.
europseus, 235.
jotaka, 263, 327.
monticola, 263.
swmhoei, 263.
virginicus, 296.
Carbo bicristatus, 410.
cormoranus, 92.
cristatus, 92.
Carduelis orientaUs, 295.
Carpodacuserythrinus,lll
Carpophaga chalybura,
286.
luctuosa ?, 285.
perspicillata,285,290.
sundevalii, 290.
Casarca rutda, 249, 344.
Cassidix oryzivora, 353.
Casuariua bennetti, 197,
312.
bicarimculatus, 312.
kaupi, 312.
uuiappendiculatus,
312.
Cathartes aura, 149.
Centropus ?, 48.
afEnis, 48.
hgnator, 48.
phOippensis, 230.
sinensis, 49.
Centurus santacruzi,59,67.
Cephalopterus penduhger,
57.
Cercoleptes caudivolvulus,
141.
Ceriornis satyra, 234.
Certhia borbonica, 359.
chloronotos, 359.
himalayana, 233.
Certhilauda mongohca,
333.
Certhiola mexicana, 352.
Ceryle guttatus, 227.
rudis, 31, 228.
INDEX.
419
Chgetiu'a vauxi, 147.
Chalcopsitta rubiginosa,
290.
Charadrius hiaticula, 9, 86.
hy|jomelanus, 299.
morinellus, 86.
pardela, 299.
philippinus, 260.
pluvialis, 9, 86, 238.
virginicus, 9, 51, 238,
342.
Chera prognc, 133.
Chettusia gregaria, 238.
leucura, 210.
Cliibia hottentotta, 411.
Cliionis alba, 154.
Cliloepliaga luagellaiiica,
157, 159.
polioeephala, 159.
rubidiceps, 158.
Chloroenas flavirostris,355.
Chrysomitris magellanicus
154.
pistacina, 295.
spinus, 267.
Chrysomma hypoleucum,
232.
Clnysotis xantholora, 354.
Cicinnurus regius, 287.
Ciconia alba, 244, 270, 371.
leucocephala, 244.
nigra, 372.
Cinclodes antarcticus, 154.
bifasciatus, 199.
patachonicus, 154.
Cinclus aquaticus, 80.
asiaticus, 232.
interpres, 9.
— — mexicanus, 206.
pallasii, 206.
Cinnyris Solaris, 350.
Circaetus fasciolatus, 130.
gallicus, 131, 220.
thoracicus, 131.
zonurus, 130, 212.
Circus, sp. ?, 263.
8eruginosus,220,222.
ciiierascens,220, 297,
367, 368.
cinereus, 152.
cyaneus, 226, 326.
hudsonius, 319.
melanoleucos, 220.
pallidas, 76, 297.
swain souii, 220.
uliginosus, 263.
Cisticola ciirsitaus, 329.
— — tintinuabulans, 32.
Cistothorus platensis, 153.
Clangula albeola, 14.
glaucion, 345.
Clangula histrionica, 14.
islandica, 14.
Coccothraustes abeillii,352.
maculipennis, 352.
melaniu'us, 45.
vulgaris, 105, 336.
Colaptes auratus, 8.
Collocalia francica, 271.
Columba domestica, 8.
erytlxrothorax, 355.
gelastes, 305.
leucozonura, n. sp.,
259.
Uvia, 233, 259, 350.
cenas, 233.
Colymbus adamsii, 268,
410.
arcticus, 91, 268.
glacialis,14,268, 345,
377.
septentrionalis, 14,
92, 410.
Contopus bracliy tarsus,354
Conurus aymara, 200.
brvinniceps, 200.
Copsychus sauiaris, 33.
Coracias affinis, 228.
garrula, 228.
indica, 228.
Corvus collaris, 108, 206,
365.
corax, 7, 85.
cornix, 85, 368.
culmiuatus, 230.
dauricus, 206, 257,
296, 337.
japonicus, 337.
littoralis, 7.
monedula, 108, 206.
neglectus, 259, 337.
ossifragus, 296.
pastinator, 336.
pectoralis, 43, 337.
pica, 85.
splendens, 230.
umbriuus, 295.
violaceus, 283.
Corydalla richardi, 265.
sinensis, 265.
Coryphisteraalaudina, 201.
Corythaix ei'ytlu'olophus,
309.
Coturnix argoonda, 116.
chinensis, 50.
coromandelica, 237.
dactylisonans,50,260,
341, 401.
vulgaris, 236.
Cotyle cahirica, 295.
riparia, 328.
scrripennis, 61.
Crax globieera, 143.
Crithagra canicollis, 272.
clirysopyga, 272.
Cuculus canorus, 85, 113,
229, 259.
mindanensis, 46.
striatus, 259, 340.
teniiirostris, 46.
Cuniica cinerea, 32.
Cursorius chalcopterus,
134.
coromandelicus, 237.
Cyanecula rubeciila, 414.
suecica, 232, 329.
Cyanocitta crassii'ostris,
353.
uielanocyanea, 63.
Cyanopica cyanea, 336.
Cygnus coscoroba, 159.
ferus, 13.
minor, 344.
musicus, 3, 4, 366.
nigricollis, 159.
Cymindis wilsoni, 209.
Cypliorinus pliilomela,352.
Cypselus affinis, 24, 30,
263.
leuconotus, 205.
subfurcatus, 263.
vittatus, 254, 328.
Dafila acuta, 250, 345.
urophasianus, 160.
Dendrocitta rufa, 230.
Dendrocygna arcuata, 248.
major, 248.
Dendroeca sestiva, 208.
albicollis, 209.
pctecliia, 208, 209.
ruficeps, 208.
vieilloti, 208.
Dendromanes homo-
chrous, 353.
Dicnu'us cineraceus, 265,
411.
macrDcercus, 43, 265,
340.
megalornis, 286.
Dinornis didiformis, 408.
elephantopus, 407.
giganteus, 407.
robust us, 407.
Diomedea melanophrys,
165.
DilDliyllodes magnifica,
287, 291.
D ry moica extensicauda, 32.
Dysporus mclauui'us, 296.
Eclectus cardinalis, 310.
linnsBi, 286, 310.
2 F 2
420
INDEX.
Elainea riisii, 208.
Elanoides fiii-catus, 148.
Elauus melanopterus, 220.
Emberiza aureola, 305,
334.
calcarata, 83,
caiiesceus, 334.
cioides, 409, 410.
citrinella, 84.
fucata, 45, 334.
miliaria, 305.
nivalis, 83.
■ personata, 45, 334.
pusilla, 334.
rustica, 255.
rutila, 334, 411.
schoeniclus, 83.
sulphurata, 334.
Embernagra chloronota,
353.
Einpidonax brachytarsus,
354.
Enicurus raaculatus, 232.
scbistaceus, 409, 410.
speciosus, 265.
Eos atra, 291.
cyanostriata, 311.
reticulata, 311.
rubra, 118, 284.
squamata, 311.
Epimachus magnus, 287.
Erismatura ferruginea,294.
vittata, 107.
Erythacus akahige, 34.
Erythropus vespertinus,
253.
Erytlu'ostema mugimaki,
330.
Esacus reeurvirostris, 237.
Estrelda asti-ild, 272.
Eubucco aui'antueollis,
189.
aurifrons, 186.
bourcieri, 188.
erythrocephalus, 188.
glaucogularis, 190.
hartlaubi, 189, 190.
pictus, 187.
richardsoni, 189.
Eudi'omias urvillii, 155.
Eudynamys orientalis, 46,
230.
ransomi, 283.
Eudyptes antarcticus, 164.
chrysolopbus, 163.
— ■ — diadematus, 163.
nigrivestis, 163, 164,
166.
papua, 163.
Eulampis chorolsemus,
208.
Eumomota superciliaris,
59, 64.
Euplocomus albocristatus,
235.
Eupodotis edwardsii, 237.
Eupsychortyx albifrena-
tus, 209.
sonninii, 208.
Eurynorhynchus pyg-
mseus, 296.
Eiu-ystomus orientalis, 31 .
Euspiza aureola, 45.
sidpliurata, 46.
Eutolmaetus bonelUi, 226.
Falcinellus igneus, 214,
243, 371.
madagascariensis,
272.
Falco sesalon, 70, 79, 327.
albicilla, 78.
alopex, 69.
anatum, 5, 315.
arcadius, 108.
ater, 306.
babylonicus, 218,
219, 220.
barbarus, 131, 218,
219.
131.
biarmicus, 219.
calidus, 219, 225.
candicans, 4.
chicquera, 220.
columbarius, 315.
communis minor,
— concolor, 108.
— deii'oleucus, 354.
— eleonorse, 108.
— erytbropus, 70.
fuscus, 1.
— haliaetus, 79.
islandieus, 4.
jugger, 218.
lagopus, 79.
lanarius, 218, 219.
melanogenys, 131.
milvus, 305.
minoi", 131.
— miilleri, 76.
musicus, 73.
peregrinator,219,225.
— peregriuoides, 131,
218, 219, 296.
peregrinus, 2, 4, 5,
24, 79, 131, 219, 225.
pvmctifjennis, 200.
rufus, 305.
rupicola, 71.
rupicoloides, 69, 71.
— rusticolus, 2.
Falco sacer, 225, 372.
semitorquatus, 346.
sparverius, 296.
tanypterus, 219.
tinnuncidus, 69, 70,
71, 79, 327.
timetanus, 131.
vespertinus, 327.
Ficedtila borbonica, 360.
Foi-micarius moniliger,
353.
Foudia erythrocepbala,272
Francoliuus madagasca-
riensis, 274.
perlatus, 50.
ponticerianus, 275.
vulgaris, 236.
Fratereula arctica, 15.
cii'rbata, 16.
glacialis, 15.
Fringilla boreaUs, 84, 335.
canescens, 3, 7.
carduelis, 114.
cbloris. 111.
domestica, 84.
linaria, 7, 335.
montana, 335.
montifringilla,45,84,
335.
montium, 84.
moreleti, 401.
serinus ?, 113.
sinica, 335.
spinus, 335.
Fulica americana, 12.
atra, 246, 250, 344,
cbloropoides, 157.
FuKgida affinis, 15.
cristata, 3, 14, 251,
345.
ferina, 250.
marila, 13, 15, 345.
nyroca, 251.
rufina, 214.
Galerida abyssinica, 415.
arenicola, 415.
— cristata, 231.
isabelliua, 415=
Gallicrex cristata, 56, 267,
411.
GaUinago gallinula, 241.
magellanicus, 156.
major, 134.
— ' media, 3, 4, 11.
megala, 343.
nemoricola, 241.
scolopacina, 241.
stenura, 56, 241, 343.
uuiclava, 56, 343.
Gallinula ?, 116.
INDEX.
421
Gallinula chloropus, 56,
116, 246, 275.
crex, 90.
galeata, 116.
minor, 201.
piimila, 201.
pyrrliorrlioa, 275.
Grallus feiTugiueus, 231.
gallorimi, 9.
GraiTiilax albogularis, 230.
leucolophus, 230.
perspicillatus, 38.
sinensis, 38.
Garriilus glandarius, 405.
gularis, 230.
ornatus, 267.
Gravia, sp., 345.
— kittlitzii, 345.
ridibunda, 345.
roseiventris, 166.
Gazzola typica, 107.
Gecinus ?, 267.
canus, 838.
flavinuchus, 229.
vii-idis, 267.
Geobaemon rufipennis,201
Geocichla, n. sp., 37.
Geococcyx afiinis, 59, 67.
Geoffroius jukesii, 348.
Geopelia striata, 116, 182,
274.
Geronticus spinicollis, 198.
papillosus, 243.
Glareola melanoptera, 297.
orientalis, 237, 342.
Glaiix javanica, 227.
Goura victorise, 215.
Graciila intermedia, 230.
Graculus carbo, 19.
pygmseus, 247.
Gracupica nigricollis, 44,
47, 48.
Grallaria guatemalensis,
354.
■ mexicana, 354.
perspicillata, 406.
Grus antigone, 242.
cinerea, 243, 409.
leucogeranos, 243.
Guiraca cserulea, 352.
Gymnoglaux newtoui, 209.
nuclipes, 209.
Gypaetos barbatus, 225.
Gypohierax angolensis,
304.
Gyps bengalensis, 225.
fulvus,226, 369, 372.
indicus, 225.
riippellii, 295.
■^Haematopus ater, 155.
Hsematopus leucopu8,156.
ostralegus, 2, 86, 261,
342.
— — palliatus, 115.
Hsematornis cheela, 226.
Halcyon coromanda, 228.
gurial, 227.
smyrueusis, 31, 227,
228.
Haliaetus albicilla, 4.
leucocephalus, 296,
319.
leucoryphus, 223,299.
macei, 222, 223, 299.
ossifiagus, 4.
unicolor, 299.
Haliastur indus, 224.
Halieus africanus, 295.
sulcirostris, 294.
Harelda glacialis, 14.
Harpagus circumcinctus,
200.
Hemiclielidon femigiiiea,
40.
fuliginosa, 330.
griseitincta, 330.
latirostris, 40, 330.
Herodias alba, 245, 344,
371, 374.
bubulcus, 245.
egretta ?, 51.
egrettoides, 261.
garzetta, 52, 245,
344, 371.
intermedia, 51, 245,
344.
melanopus, 245.
Hiaticula cautiana, 238.
Hieraetus pennatus, 226.
Hierax eutolmos, 226.
Himantopus candidus,
238, 366.
leucocephalus, 350.
Hirundo capensis, 296.
daiii-ica, 328.
gutturalis, 25, 30.
nudipes, 205.
rufa, 5.
rustica, 85, 233, 254,
328.
senegalensis, 296.
sinensis, 233.
urbica, 233.
Hoplopterus cayanus, 155.
ventralis, 237.
Hydrochelidon indica,246.
javanica, 345.
Hy drophasianus chirurgus,
242.
Hypotriorchis castauono-
'tus, 346.
Hypotriorchis deiroleucus,
354.
severus, 225.
subbuteo, 220.
HyjDsibates leucocephalus,
295.
Hypsipetes holtii, n. sp.,
266, 409.
maclellandii, 266.
olivacea, 271.
lanthia rufilata, 329.
lanthcenas halmaheira,290.
metallica, 348, 359.
Ibis ?, 261.
nippou, 261.
Icterus gularis, 59, 62.
mentalis, 59, 62, 69.
Ictinaetus nialayensis, 221,
Ictinia mississippiensis,
355.
plumbea, 140, 146,
148, 355.
Ixos obscurus, 297.
Ketupa ceylonensi9,27,227.
fkvipes, 227.
javanica, 27.
Kittacincla macroura, 212.
Lagopus grcenlandicus, 9.
montanus, 201.
mutus, 201.
reinhardti, 9.
Laimodon albiventris, 121.
unidentatus, 121.
Lanius bucephalus, 340.
hard^vickii, 232.
lahtora, 232.
lucioneusis, 43, 255,
340.
■ schach, 43.
superciliosus, 215.
tscbagi-a, 297.
Larus affinis, 17, 18.
albipennis, 312.
arcticus, 16.
argentatoides, 18.
argentatus, var., 1.
argentatus, 17, 18,
92, 108, 345, 365.
bracliytarsus, 18.
cachinnans, 108.
canus, 92, 299, 345.
chalcopterus, 17.
cinerarius, 1.
dominicanus, 165.
fuscus, 92, 365.
glacialis, 16.
glaucotes 312.
glaucus, 16.
422
INDEX.
Larus heinei, 299.
leucopterus, 1, 3, 17.
maculipemiis, 312.
marinus, 16, 92.
■ melanurus, 261, 345.
ininutus, 246, 362,
363, 366.
occideutalis, 17.
ridibundus, 1, 246.
roseiventris, 166, 312.
scoresbii, 165.
tridactylus, 17, 107.
warnecki, 107.
Larvivora, sp. ?, 24, 34.
cyanea ?, 262, 409.
gracilis, 11. sp., 262,
409.
Leptoptila, sp., 355.
albiii'ons, 355.
rufaxilla, 355.
Leptoptilus argala, 225,
244, 268.
javanicus, 269.
Lepus sinensis, 323.
Lestris antarctica, 165.
richardsonii, 92.
Leucocirca albofrontata,
233.
Leucodiopti'Oii canorum,
38.
Leucosarcia picata, 172,
198.
Ligurinus siniciia, 45.
Limosa Eegocephala, 11,
240.
hudsonica, 156.
lapponica, 240, 410.
rufa, 410.
Linota horneinanni, 7.
Lobipes hyperboreus, 412.
Lobivanellus cinereus, 238.
goensis, 237.
Locustella, sp. nov., 412.
raii, 412.
rubescens, 32, 329.
Lopliophorus impeyauus,
235.
Lophorina snpcrba, 287.
Loriculus punicidus, 411.
Lorius domieella, 118, 283,
311.
tricolor, 311.
Loxia cui'virostra, 336.
leucoptera, 8.
recurvirostra, 45.
Lusciuiopsis, sp. nov.,
412.
eanturians, 32, 328.
Lusciola (Nomura) cyanu-
ra, 206.
Lvncornis cerviniceps, 30.
Macrorliamphus griseus,
11.
Malacirops borbonica, 361.
Malacocercus bengalensis,
232.
Mareca chiloeiisis, 160.
penelope, 250, 345.
Megalsema leucotis, 121,
124.
pbilippensis, 229.
vii-ens, 229, 411.
Megalaima bilineata, 121.
" capistratus, 189.
Melierax metabates, sp.
nov., 72.
■ musicus, 73.
' polyzonus, 73.
Melophus lathami, 46.
Melopsittacus undidatus,
198.
Menura alberti, 167, 173,
175.
superba, 174, 175,
198.
Mergus albellus, 251, 344.
castor, 251.
merganser, 1, 91,300,
344.
serrator, 14, 91.
serratus, 344.
Meropiscus miilleri, 303.
Meropogon breweri, 303.
Merops apiaster, 305.
nubicus, 70.
philippinus, 228.
saviguii, 132.
vii-idis, 228.
Morula boulboul, 232.
dactyloptera, 279.
vinitincta, 281.
Meridantlius pliayrei,
408.
Metopidius indicus, 242.
Micronisus ?, 25.
badius, 25, 221, 263.
gabar, 23, 74.
monogi'ammicus, 74.
niger, 74.
soloensis, 25.
Micropogon amazonicus,
186.
aureus, 186.
aurovirens, 187.
bourcieri, 188.
cayennciisis, 185.
flavicollis, 186.
liartlaubi, 189.
nsevius, 185.
Micropterus cinereus, 150,
161.
pataclionicus, 162.
Milvago albogularis, 23.
australis, 150.
caruncidatus, 19, 22,
23.
leiicurus, 150.
megalopterus, 22, 23,
199.
Milvus affinis, 226.
ater, 224,
govinda, 25, 224, 253,
326.
melanotis, 25.
migrans, 224.
— ■ — • parasiticus, 70.
Mimus gracilis, 59, 60, 61,
69.
Mniotilta americana, 6.
coronata, 5.
parus, 6.
rubricapilla, 6.
striata, 6.
virens, 5.
Molothrus seneus, 60, 61.
Momotus castaneiceps,
354.
Mormon cornicidata, 295.
Motacilla alba, 3, 6, 82.
boarula, 35, 232, 305,
333.
— flava, 82.
— lugubris, 35, 255,
333.
luzoniensis, 35, 215.
madagascariensis,
358.
— maderaspatensis,231.
melanocephala, 108.
ocularis, 35.
Munia acuticauda, 263.
malacca, 45.
minima, 45, 263.
oryzivora, 45, 115.
punctularia ?, 115,
277.
rubronigra, 45.
striata, 263.
Museicapa cinereo-alba,
40.
griseola, 228.
luctuosa, 80.
Muscisaxicola macloviana,
154.
Mycetes palliatus ?, 146.
Mycteria australis, 197,
244.
Myiagra azurea, 263.
Myiarchus f)anamensi8,
209.
Myiophonus ca?ruleus, 36.
temminckii, 232.
Myiozetetes texensis, 64.
INDEX.
423
Nemoricola inclica, 333.
Neniiu'a lioclgsoui, 408.
rufilata, 206.
Neophron percuopterus,
225, 372.
Nettapus coromandelicus,
248.
Niltava cyanomelffiua, 41.
Ninox scutellatus, 227.
Noctua cuculoides, 25.
Numenius arcuatus, 86,
240.
borealis, 10, 356.
brevirostris, 156.
hudsouicus, 10.
major, 343.
melanorhynchus, 10.
minor, 411.
phseopus, 3, 4, 10,
87, 240, 276, 411.
Numida cristata, 120.
plumifera, 303.
vulturina, 120.
Nyctea nivea, 5, 320.
Nycterodius violaceus,
294.
Nycticorax americanus,
312.
gardeni, 157, 312.
griseus, 53, 245, 344.
obscurus, 312.
violaceus, 357.
Nymphicns novse-hol-
landiffi, 198.
Ocyalus wagleri, 141.
Ocydi'omus australis, 137.
(Edemia perspicillata, 14.
CEdicnemus bistriatus, 68,
356.
crepitans, 237.
vocifer, 59, 68, 356.
Oreocincla aurea, 305.
heinei, 305.
whitei, 333.
Oreotrocliilus leucopleu-
rus, 199.
Oriolus acrorhynchus, 38,
206.
chinensis, 38, 340.
cochinsinensis, 206.
kimdoo, 233.
melanocephalus, 233.
sinensis, 38, 206
Orthotomiis phyllorra-
phcus, 32.
Ortygometra Carolina, 12.
— — crex, 11.
porzana, 12.
Ortyx afRnis, 115.
leylandi, 209.
Ortyx sonninii, 114, 115.
virginianus, 114.
Otocorys alpestris, 8.
bicornis, 295.
cornuta, 8.
Otogyps calvus, 221, 224.
Otus bracliyotus, 5, 26,
152, 327.
Oxylophus cororaandus,
230.
Oxynotus ferrugineus, 272.
Pacbycephala pectoralis,
101.
Pacbyrhamphus aglai8e,59,
64, 69.
Pagophila brachytarsa, 18.
ebiu'nea, 18.
nivea, 18.
Palseoruis alexandi-i, 218.
cyanocephalus, 218.
eques, 115.
torqiiatus, 218.
Palapteryx ingens, 407.
Pandion earoUnensis, 320.
haliaetus, 24, 222.
Panterpe insignis, 108.
Pauurus biarmicus, 214.
Paradisea apoda, 289.
atra, 310.
papuana, 287, 289,
291.
— regia, 291.
rubra, 211, 287, 288,
290.
superba, 310.
Parotia aurea, 287.
Parra jacana, 294.
Parus atricapillus, 296.
bicolor, 1, 296.
cinereus, 35.
cyanus, 305.
lapponicus, 306.
minor, 34, 332.
• palustris, 82, 331,
340.
sibiricus, 306.
Passer domesticus, 231.
indicus, 231.
montanus, 45, 255,
408.
russatus, 45.
Pastor coi'ythaix, 284.
roseus, 113, 231.
Pavo cristatus, 234.
Pelecanoides berardi, 164.
Pelecanus crista tirs, 1.
javauicus, 247.
mitratvis, 135, 296.
onocrotalus, 366.
rufescens, 135.
Penelope purpnrascens,
145.
Perdicula asiatica, 236.
Perdix cinerea, 236.
ponticeriana, 236.
Pericrocotus cantonensis,
n. sp., 42.
cinereus, 42, 43, 340.
Peristera bistrionica, 198.
lugens, 296.
semitorquata, 296.
Pernis apivora, 222, 226.
cristata, 226.
Petrocossyphus manil-
lensis, 38, 333.
Petronia flavicoUis, 231.
Phaeton flavii'ostris, 116,
181, 276.
rubricauda, 180.
Phalacrocorax bicristatus,
408.
capillatus, 264.
carbo, 261, 263, 264,
345.
carunculatus, 166.
filamentosus, 263,
264.
magellanicus, 167.
sinensis, 264.
Phalaropus fulicariuS; 11.
hyperboreus, 11.
Plialcobsenus carunculatus,
22.
montanus, 23.
Pharomacrus paradiseus,
59, 66, 69, 138.
Phasianus torquatus, 49,
341.
wallichii, 222, 235.
Phasidus niger, 303.
Phedina borbonica, 116,
271.
Philomachus cayanus,155.
pugiiax, 241.
Phlogopsis macleaunani,
209.
Phodilus badius, 227.
Phcenicopterus audinus,
199.
Phrygilus melanoderus,
153.
xanthogrammus, 153.
Phylloscopus coronatus,
330, 331.
fuscatus, 32.
plumbeitarsus, 330.
regidoidcs, 205.
rufus, 112.
superciliosus, 205.
sylviciiltrix, 331.
trochiius, 112.
424
INDEX.
Pica beecheyi, 353.
cooki, 206.
cyanea, 206.
scricea, 43, 336.
Picolaptes affiuis, 353.
lineaticeps, 353.
Picus cabanisi, 46, 267,
339.
goulcli, 46.
hardwickii, 340.
himalayanus, 229.
kisuki, 340.
major, 46, 339.
mandarinus, 46.
medius, 305.
tridactylus, 85.
varius, 8.
viridis, 113, 305.
Pionus hsematotis, 147.
Pitangus derbianus, 62,63.
Pitta brachyiira, 413.
cyaniira, 413.
nympha, 412, 414.
Platalea ajaja, 157.
leucorodia, 244, 344.
tenuii'ostris, 134.
Platycercus amboiDensis,
285.
Plectrophanes lapponicus,
7, 334.
nivalis, 7.
Plectropterus gambensis,
294.
Plotus melanogaster, 247.
Podiceps arcticus, 297.
aui'itus, 344.
cabpareus, 162.
cornutus, 3, 15.
cristatus, 250, 251,
344.
griseigena, 15.
. bolboellii, 14, 15.
pliilippensis, 251.
pbibppLaus, 344.
roUandi, 162.
Podoces panderi, 295.
Poecilonetta babamensis,-
160.
erytbrorbyncba, 134.
Pogonias diadematus, 124.
leucocepbalus, 123.
melanocepbalns, 123.
melanopterus, 121.
rolleti, 123.
Pogonorbyncbus bidenta-
tup, 123.
bifrenatus, 123, 127.
diadematus, 124, 126,
127, 128.
dubius, 125.
ducballui, 124.
Pogonorbyncbus leucoce-
pbalus, 123, 126.
roUeti, 123, 125.
saltii, 122, 123.
undatus, 122, 123.
uuidentatus, 124.
vieiUotii, 122, 123.
PoUliierax semitorquatus,
346.
PoHoptila albiloris, 59, 61,
69.
superciliaris, 407.
Poliornis teesa, 221.
Polopbilus sinensis, 267.
Polyborus carunculatus,
19.
montanus, 19, 199.
tbarus, 67.
Poniatorbinus stridubis,
n. sp., 265.
Pontoaetus icbtbyaetus,
226.
Porpbyrio madagascarien-
sis, 116.
' poliocepbabis, 246.
Porzana erytbrothorax, 57,
411.
fusca, 411.
maruetta, 246.
pboenicura, 57, 246.
Pratincola ferrea, 33.
indica, 33, 329.
rubicola, 329.
Prinia sonitans, 32.
ProceUaria assimilis, 182.
gigantea, 164.
glaciaUs, 16.
minor, 16.
Progne dominicensis, 61.
PseudocheUdon eurysto-
mina, 322.
Psilorbinus occipitaHs,
230.
Psittaeodis stavorini, 290.
Psittacus pennantii, 119.
Pterocles arenarius, 235.
exustus, 235.
Ptilonopus ciuctus, 348.
flavicollis, 348.
gularis, 348.
prasinorrbous, 286,
290.
pulcbellus, 290.
superbus, 285, 290.
vu-idis, 285, 286.
viridissimus, 349.
Pucrasia macrolopba.
235.
Puffinus anglorum,
181, 365.
assimilis, 116.
16,
Puffinus cblororbyncbus,
181.
major, 16.
Pycnonotus cbi'ysorrboi-
'des, 39.
jocosus, 39, 261.
occipitaHs, 39, 266.
sinensis, 266.
Pygosceles wagleri, 163.
Pyranga erytlu-omelsena,
147.
Pyrrbula coccinea, 401.
Qvierquedida circia, 250.
crecca, 250, 345.
creccoides, 160.
cyanoptera, 161.
falcaria, 345.
glocitans, 344.
multicolor, 263.
Tersicolor, 161.
Eamphastos carinatus,142.
Recurvu'ostra avocetta,
343.
rubricoUis, 119.
Eeguloides cliloronotus,33,
330.
proregidus, 32, 33,
330.
Rcgulus calendida, 5.
ignicapillus, 305.
Ebinochetus jubatus, 137.
Eliodostetbia rosea, 18.
Rbyncbeea bengalensis,
242.
variegata, 295.
Rbyncbaspis clypeata, 57.
Rbyncbops albicoUis, 246.
sinensis, 267.
Rissa tridactyla, 18.
Ruticilla, sp. nov. ?, 33.
aurorea, 33, 329.
fuligmosa, 409, 410.
leucocepbala, 232.
rufiventi'is, 233.
Salicaria (Calamodyta)
maackii, 208.
Saltator midticolor, 201.
Sarcidiornis melanotus,
248.
Sarciophoi'us bilobus, 237,
238.
Saxicola oenantbe, 3, 4, 5,
82.
rubetra, 82.
rubicola, 305.
Sclerurus guatemalensis,
352.
mexicanus, 143.
INDEX.
425
Scolopax gallinago, 89.
gallinula, 90.
major, 87, 89.
rusticola, 56, 87, 241,
343, 401.
Scops ?, 29.
bakkamaena, 226.
flammeola, 355.
lempiji, 29, 227, 265.
Scopus umbretta, 117.
Scytalopus magellanicus,
154.
Semioptera wallacii, 212,
310.
Sericulus aureus, 287.
Sialia wilsoni, 58, 60.
Sitta uralensis, 297.
Sittasomus sylvioides, 353.
Somateria mollissima, 14.
spectabilis, 14.
Spatula clypeata, 249.
Speirops lugubris, 361.
Spbeniscus magellanicus,
163.
Sphenocercus cantillans,
233.
Sphenorbynchus abdimii,
70.
Spiza ciris, 294.
Spizaetus coronatus, 129.
kieneri, 226.
limnaetus, 226.
nipalensis, 226.
ornatus, 313, 314.
Spizixos caniirons, 266.
semitorques, n. sp.,
266.
Squatarola belvetica, 9, 51,
342.
Stercorarius buffoni, 3, 16.
catarrhactes, 16.
parasiticus, 16.
poraarinus, 3, 16.
Sterna arctica, 92.
cantiaca, 362.
caspia, 345.
cassinii, 166.
birundo, 246.
javanica, 224, 247.
macroura, 19.
minuta, 244, 345.
velox, 345.
Stoparola melanops, 233,
263.
Strepsilas collaris, 86.
interpres, 342.
Strix aluco, 305.
brachyotus, 80.
flammea, 201,
305.
fonerea, 80.
VOL. III.
226,
Strix noctua, 305.
pratincola, 201.
Sturnella bippocrepis, 179.
ludoviciana, 176, 178,
179.
meridionalis, 179.
mexicana, 179.
militaris, 153.
neglecta, 179.
StiuToia pagodarum, 231.
Sturnus cineraceus, 257,
338.
contra, 231.
ludovicianus, 178.
pyrrbogenys, 338.
sericeus, 338.
vulgaris, 7, 85, 231.
Sula bassana, 19.
Surnia ulula, 320.
Sylvia annulosa, 358.
arundinacea, 305.
bippolais, 82.
locustella, 305.
luscinia, 305.
pbragmitis, 82.
sarda, 297.
suecica, 82.
titbys, 113, 305.
trocbilus, 33, 82.
Synoecus sinensis, 116, 275.
Sypbeotides auritus, 237.
bengalensis, 237.
Symium indranee, 227.
nivicolum, 227.
sinense, 227.
Syrrbaptes paradoxus, 306,
341.
Tacbypetes ?, 182.
Tadoma rutila, 365.
vulpanser, 344.
Talegalla latbami, 169.
Tanysiptera dea ? 118, 283.
Tcbitrea borbonica, 271.
cseruleocepbala, 263.
paradisea, 233.
principalis, 39, 330,
411.
Temenucbus cineraceus,44.
sericeus, 44.
turdiformis, 44.
Terekia cinerea, 240.
Tetragonops rampbastinus,
184.
Tetrao canadensis, 207.
falcipennis, 207.
franklinii, 207.
lagopus, 9.
saliceti, 85.
tetrix, 85.
urogallus, 85.
Tbalassidroma ?, 164.
leacliii, 3, 16.
nereis, 164.
wilsoni, 164.
Tbalassomis leuconotus,
198.
Tbresciornis melanocepba-
lus, 243.
strictipennis, 189.
Tinamus boucardi, 356.
major, 356.
meserytlu-us, 356.
robustus, 355.
robustus?, 59.
sallffii, 356.
Tinnunculus alaudarius,
24, 72, 220.
alopex, 69, 71.
cencbris, 72, 220.
pimctatus, 271.
rufescens, 72.
rupicola, 72.
sparverioides, 209.
sparverius, 209.
vespertinus, 72.
Toccus coronatus, 133.
Totanus ?, 276.
caUdris, 87, 239, 343.
cbilensis, 199.
flavipes, 11.
fuscus, 239.
glareola, 343.
glottis, 238.
glottoides, 343.
guttifer, 295.
bypoleucus, 87.
ocbropus, 343.
pulveruleutus, 343.
stagnatUis, 239.
Tracbypbonus margarita-
tus, 121, 122, 124, 125,
127, 128.
squamiceps, 121, 125,
127.
Treron cblorogaster, 233.
Tribonyx ventralis, 198.
Tricbas pbdadelpbia, 6.
Tricboglossus euteles, 349.
bsematodus, 350.
bis, 349.
nigrigularis, 311.
versicolor, 284.
Tricbopborus flavicaudus,
118.
Tringa bonapartii, 156.
canuta, 11.
canutus, 1, 3, 240.
cmclus, 3, 11, 240,
412.
maritima, 3, 11, 90.
mmuta, 3, 241, 342.
2 G
426
INDEX.
Tringa pectoralis, 11.
schinzii, 3, 11.
subarquata, 240, 342.
temiuinckii, 90, 241,
342.
variabilis, 90.
Triiigoides hypoleuca, 134,
276, 342, 410.
Trochilus leucopleurus,
199.
Troglodytes fmnigatus,
296.
palustris, 5.
Trogon massena, 146.
Tropidorhynclius subcor-
nutus, 283, 285.
Turacoena )iianadensis,348.
modesta, 348.
Tm-dus ?, 37.
albicollis, 282.
albiventris, 282.
albocinctus, 279,280.
alicise, 281, 282.
apicalis, 281.
assimilis, 282.
atrigularis, 278, 279.
atrosericeus, 282.
— — aui'antius, 282.
boulboul, 279, 280.
cardis, 37, 38, 278,
279, 332.
castaneus, 279, 280.
cbiguanco, 282.
clu-ysolaus, 37, 278,
279.
crotopezus, 282.
dactylopterus, 279.
daiilias, 37, 278, 279.
dissimilis, 279, 280,
332.
282.
dubius, 278.
erytbropterus, 281.
eimomus, 278.
falklandicus, 152,
282.
flavipes, 282.
flavirostris, 282.
fulviventris,277,282.
fimiidus, 280.
faniigatiis, 282.
fuscater, 282.
fuscatus, 278, 279.
fu8cesceiis, 281, 282.
gigas, 282.
• grayii, 60, 282.
■ guttatus, 281.
gymnophtbalmue,
— bodgsonii, 232, 279,
280.
— hypopyrrbus, 280.
Turdus ignobilis, 282.
iUacus, 6, 81, 277,
278, 279.
infuscatus, 282.
• jamaicensis, 282.
— javanicus, 280.
— kiniiisii, 279, 280.
— leucaucben, 282.
— libonyanus, 281, 295.
— luniilatus, 305.
— mandarinus, 38, 278,
279.
merula, 38, 81, 277,
279.
migratorius, 277,281,
282.
minor, 6.
modestus, 279.
musicus, 277, 279.
musteUuiis, 281, 282.
mutabilis, 280.
nffivius, 281, 282.
nanus, 281, 282.
naumanni, 278, 279,
332.
nest or, 281.
nigrescens, 282.
nigripQeus, 279, 280.
obvaceo-fuscus, 281.
olivaceus, 281.
oHvacinus, 281.
obvater, 282.
paUasi, 281, 282.
paUens, 37, 278, 279.
pallidus, 332.
peUos, 281.
pelodes, 279, 280.
pbseopygvis, 282.
pilaris, 80, 277, 279.
pinicola, 282.
plebeius, 212.
i-nfieollis, 278, 279.
rufitorqnes, 282.
rufiventris, 282.
rufulus, 279, 280.
scblegelii, sp. nor.,
208.
serranus, 282.
sibiricus, 37, 278,
279, 280, 410.
silens, 282.
simensis, 281.
simillimus, 279, 280.
sinensis, 39.
smitbii (obscurus).
281.
279.
swainsoni, 281, 282.
torquatus, 81, 277,
Turdus vanicorensis, 281.
vinotinctus, 281.
viscivorus, 80, 232,
277, 279.
wardii, 279, 280.
wilsoni, 277.
xantbopus, 281.
xantbosceles, 282.
unicolor, 279, 280.
ustulatus, 281, 282.
Turnix dussumieri, 341.
joudera, 50.
Tvu'tur auritus, 234.
cbinensis, 49.
gelastes, 205.
biuniUs, 49.
orientalis, 49, 234,
341.
risorius, 234.
rupicola, 305.
senegalensis, 234.
suratensis, 234.
Tyrannula martinica, 208.
pusilla, 7.
Tyrannus cooperi, 7.
melancbobcus, 63.
Ulula nebulosa, 296.
Upucertbia atacamensis,
199.
Upupa epops, 227, 254,
328.
Uragus sibiricus, 296.
Uria bruennicbii, 1, 16.
carbo, 295.
grylle, 16, 92.
bi'ingvia, 297.
leucopbtbalmos, 16.
ringvia, 2, 16.
troile, 16, 92, 391.-
Urocissa sinensis, 43, 267,
409.
Urubitinga antlu-acina, 59,
68.
Vanellus cristatus, 9, 238,
342.
Vespertilio leisleri, 401.
Vii'eolanius pulcbellus, 147.
Vireosylva oHvacea, 7.
Volvocivora fimbriata, 42.
lugubris, 42.
melanoptera, 42.
Vultvu- monacbus, 225,226,
369, 372.
Xantbopygia leucophrys,
410.
nareissina, 41, 410.
Xema sabini, 1, 3, 19.
Xenops mexicanus, 353.
Yunx torquilla, 229, 338.
Zenaida carolinensis, 295.
Zonotrichia leucoplirys, 3,
7.
Zosterops abyssinica, 358.
borbonica, 277, 360.
capenais, 358.
cliloronotus, 207,272,
359.
cinerea, 361.
citrina, 360.
INDEX.
4
Zosterops ciirviro8tris,359.
Zosterops lateralis, 358
dorsalis, 207.
lugubris, 361.
eiiryophthalma, 357.
raadagascariensis,
flava, 360.
358.
flavigiila, 358.
pallida, 359.
gouldi, 207.
poliogaster, 357,
heesitata, 359.
359.
icterovirens, 360.
senegalensis, 360.
japonicus, 35, 207,
rirens, 360.
331.
427
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Bv John James Audubon, F.R.S. &c. &c., and the Rev. John Bachman, D.D. &c. &c.
155 Coloured Plates. 3 vols, royal 8vo, pp. 1078. New York, 1854. .£12 : I2s.
BAIRD.— MAMMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. The Descriptions of Species
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BzlIED.— THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA : the Descriptions of Species
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BINNEY — THE TERRESTRIAL AIR-BREATHING MOLLUSKS OF THE
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CASSIN. — MAMMALOGY AND ORNITHOLOGY OF THF ttmttrt*
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GIRARD.— HERPETOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATPc^' pvpr r,T3Txir.
LXPEDITION UNDER CAPTAIN WILKES^ dmbl 18?9-46 Jv Chah^J^^^^t ^
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LE MOINE -ORNITHOLOGIE DU CANADA. Qudques Groupes d'apres la
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^;^ Partie: Les Oiseaux de Proie et les Palmipedes. "sTo. Pp. 96,'s'J;l''SuYbectS;
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Now ready (price 10s. each), Nos. I., II., III., IV. and V. of
OSTEOLOGIA AVIUJM
r A- \7- ?• ^^.™^' E^^' FLS-' FZS., F.G.S.,'
Corresponding Member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.
, , , ,^ Published by the Author,
0 whom, and to Mr. Prince, at John GouLd, Esq.'s, 26 Charlotte Street, Bedford Square
London, applications may be made for Copies. square,
In One Vol. 8vo, price £2 : 2s., with 45 Coloured Plates.
A MONOGRAPH OF THE BIRDS
FORMING
THE TANAGRINE GENUS CALLISTE
By PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A.,
Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. '
John Van Voorst, 1, Paternoster Row.
Also, by the same Author,
A SYNOPSIS OF THE FISSIROSTRAL FAMILY
BUCCONID^,
Accompanied by Four Coloured Plates of hitherto unfigured Species.
1 Part, sewn, price 4s. 6d.
John Van Voorst, 1, Paternoster Row.
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SUGGESTIONS FOR FORMING COLLECTIONS OF
BIRDS' EGGS.
By ALFRED NEWTON, M.A., F.L.S.
London : E. Newman, 9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, N.E., and all Booksellers.
A PERFECT AND UNEXCEPTIONABLE COPY OF
RAY AND MITCHELL'S GENERA OF BIRDS
Very handsomely bound, is offered at the low price of i?18. '
Trubuer and Co., 60, Paternoster Row, London.
COiNTENTS OF NUMBER IX.
Page
I. List of the Birds hitherto observed in Greenland. By Dr. J.
Reinhardt, Professor at the Royal Museum of Copen-
hagen, Foreign Member Z.S.L., &c. &c 1
II. Note on Milvago caninculatus and its allied species. By
Philip Lutley Sclater. (Plate I.) 19
III. Notes on the Ornithology of Hongkong, Macao, and Canton,
made during the latter end of February, March, April, and
the beginning of May, I860. By Robert Swinhoe, of
H.B.M.'s Consular Service 23
IV. '^ote ow the k^a?i.iovay oi Cephalopterus penduUger. ByT.C.
Eyton, F.Z.S 57
V, On the Nesting of some Guatemalan Birds. By Robert
Owen, C.M.Z.S. With Remarks by Osbert Salvin, M.A.,
F.Z.S. (Plate II.) 58
VI. On new or little-known Birds of North-Eastern Africa. By
Hofrath Theodor VON Heuglin. (Part II.) (Plate III.) 69
VII. Notes on the Birds observed at Bodo during the Spring and
Summer of 1857. By Frederick and Percy Godman . 77
VIII. Particulars of Mr. J. Wolley's Discovery of the Breeding of
the Waxwing {Am^ielis garrulus). By Alfred Newton,
M.A., F.L.S. &c. (Plate IV.) 92
IX. Recent Ornithological Publications : — 106
1. English Publications : — Biee's ' Birds of Europe.'
2. French Publications : — Revue de Zoolooie : Des Murs and Ver-
reaux on the Birds of New Caledonia, &c.
3. German, Dutch, Scandinavian, and Russian Publications: —
Archiv fiir Naturgesehiclite : Lindermayer'sVogelGriechenlands :
Museum Heineanum : De Philippi's Reise durcli die Andeu-
wiiste Atacama : Schlegel and Westennan's Touracos : Sunde-
val's Svenska Foglarna : Nordmann's Birds of Finland and Lap-
land : v. Schrenek's Birds ofAmoorland.
4. American Publications : — Le Moine's Ornithologie du Canada.
X. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements, &c.. . 112
Letters from Mr. Gould, Mr. J. W. P. Oide, and Mr. G. D. Rowley :
Mr. A. Newton on the Ortyx of St. Thomas : Mr. E. Newton's
letters from the Mauritius : Mr. Wallace's collections and last
letters: Occurrence of J (/J/iZa nceviu in England: Birds of Nor-
folk Island : Note on Nttmida vidturina : Mr. Layard's proposed
Svnopsis of South-African Ornithology.
• ♦
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APRIL 1861.
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A MAGAZINE OF GENERAL ORNITHOLOGY.
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AGASSIZ.— CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE
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AUDUBON.— THE BIRDS OF AMERICA, from Drawings made by John James
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each Number containing 10 full-coloured subjects, on 7 sheets double elephant paper, 27 inches
by 40. Delivered to Subscribers at ^2 ; 2s. per Number.
AUDUBON.— THE BIRDS OF AMERICA, from Drawings made in the United
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AUDUBON.— ORNITHOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY ; or, an Account of the Habits
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AUDUBON. — SYNOPSIS of the BIRDS of NORTH AMERICA. By John
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America. 8vo, pp. 35.9. Edinburgh, 1839. £l:Us.6d.
AUDUBON and BACHMAN.— THE QUADRUPEDS OF NORTH AMERICA.
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the Text is in 3 vols, royal 8vo. Philadelphia, 1843 to 1849. €84.
AUDUBON and BACHMAN.— THE QUADRUPEDS OF NORTH AMERICA.
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BAIRD.— MAMMALS OF NORTH AMERICA. The Descriptions of Species
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Spencer F. Baird, Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. With 87 Plates of
Original Figures, coloured and plain, illustrating the Genera and Species, including details of
External Form and Osteology. 4to. Pp. xxxiv. aud 764. Philadelphia, 1859. £4 : 4s.
BAIRD.— THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA : the Descriptions of Species
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F. Baird, with the cooperation of John Cassin and George N. Lawrence. I vol. of
Text, 4to, pp. Ivi. and 1006, and 1 vol. of 4to Coloured Plates. Philadelphia, 1860. £6 : 6s.
BINNEY.— THE TERRESTRIAL AIR-BREATHING MOLLUSKS OF THE
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BLYTH and SPEKE.— REPORT ON A ZOOLOGICAL COLLECTION FROM
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BREWER.— NORTH AMERICAN OOLOGY ; being an Account of the Geogra-
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LE MOINE.— ORNITHOLOGIE DU CANADA. Quelques Groupes d'apres la
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P* Partie : Les Oiseaux de Proie et les Palmipedes. 8vo. Pp. 96, sewed. Quebec, 1860.
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A MONOGRAPH OF THE BIRDS
FORMING
THE TANAGRINE GENUS CALLISTE.
By PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A.,
Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
John Van Voorst, 1, Paternoster Row.
Also, by the same Author,
a synopsis of the fissirostral family
BUCCONIDtE,
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SUGGESTIONS FOR FORMING COLLECTIONS OF
BIRDS' EGGS.
By ALFRED NEWTON, M.A., F.L.S.
London : E. Newman, 9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, N.E., and all Booksellers.
TO NATURALISTS.
Mr. RIPPON, of Reading, a gentleman who is deeply attached to the study of Natural History
and a great lover of nature, and has been some years a collector in this country, is very desirous
of proceeding to the Andes of South America to collect Natural -History specimens, and not
having sufficient means of his own, is anxious to raise ,^200 for the purpose, to be repaid by
specimens. Gentlemen who would kindly assist in the undertaking may send their sub-
scriptions to Mr. Samuel Stevens, Natural-History Agent, 24, Bloomsbury Street, London, W.C.
Mr. Rippon intends to devote the whole of his time to collecting Insects, Shells, Bird and
Animal Skins, Reptiles, and also living and dried Plants (should Subscribers desire them), and
will leave as soon as the required amount is obtained.
The following Gentlemen have already kindly put down their names : —
— Taylor, Esq., for Shells , £ 25
H. Cuming, Esq., for Shells 25
P. L. Sclater, Esq., for Birds 10
J. H. Gurney, Esq., for Birds 10
R. F. Tomes, Esq., for small Mammals . . 10
H. T. Stainton, Esq., for Microlepidoptera £10
S. Stevens 10
J. Gray, Esq., for Heteromera 5
W. C. Hewitson, Esq., for Butterflies. ... 5
A Friend 5
CONTENTS OF NUMBER X.
Page
XL On new or little-known Birds of North-Eastern Africa. By
HofrathTHEODOR von Heugltn. (Part III. The Barbels,
Capitonidce.) 121
XII. On some additional Species of Birds received in Collections
from Natal. By John Henry Gurney, M.P., F.Z.S.. . 128
XIII. Notes on a living specimen of a singular Grallatorial Bird
from New Caledonia. By Dr. G. Bennett, F.Z.S 136
XIV. Quesal-shooting in Vera Paz. By Osbert Salvin, M.A.,
F.Z.S 138
XV. Notes on the Birds of the Falkland Islands. By Capt. C. C.
Abbott, late in command of Detachments in the Falkland
Islands 149
XVI. Narrative of a Shooting Excursion to the Mountains of the
Richmond River, New South Wales, in quest of Prince Al-
bert's Lyre-bird. By A. A. Leyc ester 167
XVII. Notice of the occurrence of the American Meadow-Starling
(^Stu)-)iella ludoviciana) in England. B)' P. L. Sclater. . 1/6
XVIII. Ornithological Notes from Mauritius. By Edward Newton,
M.A., C.M.Z.S. No. I. A Visit to Round Island 180
XIX. On the American Barbets {Capitonidcie) . By P. L. Sclater. 182
XX. On the Possibility of taking an Ornithological Census. By
Alfred Newton, M. A., F.L.S 1 90
XXL Recent Ornithological Publications : — 196
1. English Publications : — Tristram's 'Great Sahara:' Bennett's
' Gatherings of a Naturalist :' Walker's Notes on Arctic Zoology.
2. German and Dutch Publications: — Philippi's 'Desert of Atacama:'
' Journal fiir Ornithologie : ' Badeker's ' Eggs of European Birds :'
Schlegel on Black Cockatoos and Paradise-birds.
3. Scandinavian and Russian Publications: — Victorin's S. African
* Zoological Notes : ' v. Schrenck's Birds of Amoorland.
4. American Publications : — Cassin's Birds of St. Thomas : Annals
of the Lyceum of Natural History of New York : Lawrence's
Notes on Cuban Birds, &c. : Le Moine's List of the Birds of
Quebec.
XXII. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, &c 210
Letters from Mr. J. Cavafy, Mr. Beaven Rake, Mr. A. R. Wallace,
and Mr. Blyth : English Singing-birds in Austi-alia.
TO OOLOGISTS AND ORNITHOLOGISTS.
Mr. J. C. STEVENS begs to announce that he has received instructions to Sell by
Auction, at bis Great Room, 38, King Street, Covent Garden, on Tuesday, April 23,
at half-past Twelve preciselv, the SUPERB AND UNIQUE COLLECTION
OF BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS belonging to the Museum of a late celebrated Phy-
sician, amongst which will be found the only specimen known of the Swallow-
tailed Kite from Mariposa. The Golden Eagles and nearly all the Raptores were
taken in the Isle of Arran, and constitute a large and valuable British series.
An Egg of the Brambling is from Mr. Dashwood's garden at Beceles (the only
instance on record of their breeding in England), and one from the same nest
IS figured in Hewitson : there is also an undoubted sjiecimen of the Greenland
Falcon. The whole Collection is most valuable, and is unrivalled for the authen-
ticity, the labour and care which its owner had bestowed u])on it. The majority
were taken in his own presence, except a few from Wolley and from Thienemaiui.
Also the whole of the verv EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF BRITISH
AND FOREIGN BIRD SKINS, many of them beautifully stuffed to lie in
drawers. The Raptores are particularly fine and are very extensive. Catalogues
are preparing, and will be ready ten days before the Sale.
-C/,*
IP Vol. III. No. 11.
JULY 1861.
Price 6s.
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A MAGAZINE OF GENERAL 0ENITH0L06Y.
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LONDON:
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AUDUBON.— THE BIRDS OF AMERICA, from Drawings made in the United
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BAIRD.— THE BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA : the Descriptions of Species
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BINNEY THE TERRESTRIAL AIR-BREATHING MOLLUSKS OF THE
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Historical Sketch of Geographical Exploration.
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journey.— XVIII. Climate.— XIX. Plants.— XX. Animals.— XXI. Minerals.— XXII. Inhabit-
ants : Orochoa, Manyai-g, Daurians, Chinese, Manchu, Golde, Olcha or Mangun, Orochi,
Oroke, Gilyak, Aino, &c. — XXIII. Commercial. — Appendix. Index and Glossaiy.
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A MONOGRAPH OF THE BIRDS
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THE TANAGRINE GENUS CALLISTE.
By PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., F.R.S.,
Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
John Van Voorst, 1, Paternoster Row.
Also, by the same Author,
A SYNOPSIS OF THE FISSIROSTRAL FAMILY
BUCCONIDtE,
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John Van Voorst, 1, Paternoster Row.
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CONTENTS OE NUMBER XL
Page
XXIII. Notes on Birds observed in Oudh and Kumaon. By Capt.
L. Howard Irby, 90th Regt. (Plate VII.) 217
XXIV. Notes on the Birds observed about Talien Bay (North
China), from June 21st to July 25th, 1860. By Robert
SwTNHOE, of H.M.'s Consular Service 251
XXV. Letter from Mr. Swinhoe on the Ornithology of Amoy
and Foochow 262
XXVI. Note on the Calcutta ♦ Adjutant ' {Leptoptilus argala). By
Edward Blyth, Curator of the Asiatic Society's Museum,
Calcutta 268
XXVII. Ornithological Notes from the Mauritius. By Edward
Newton, M.A., C.M.Z.S.— No. II. A Ten Days' Sojourn
at Savanne 270
XXVIII. Remarks on the Geographical Distribution of the Genus
Turdus. By P. L. Sclater. (Plate VIII.) 277
XXIX. On the Ornithology of Ceram and Waigiou. By Alfred
R. Wallace. (Plate IX.) .' 283
XXX. On the Diversity in the Estimate of the European Ornis,
and its Causes. By Dr. J. H. Blasius ' 292
XXXI. Recent Ornithological Publications :— 302
1. English Publications -.—Richardson's 'Polar Regions:' Du
Chaillu's ' Equatorial Africa.'
2. French Publications :—' Richesses Ornithologiques de Midi de
la France : ' Salle's and Parzudaki's Sale-Catalogues.
3. Russian and Scandinavian Publications :— v. Wright's Birds of
Finland : Reinhardt's Ornithological Papers.
XXXII. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, &c 307
Letter from Mr. Beaven Rake ; Extracts of letters from Mr. J. J
Monteiro and Mr. A. R. Wallace ; Note on the Nomenclature of
some Falkland-Island Birds : A new Cossowary.
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OCTOBER 1861.
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A MAGAZINE OF GENERAL ORNITHOLOGY.
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By PHILIP LUTLEY SCLATER, M.A., F.R.S.,
Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
John Van Voorst, 1, Paternoster Row.
Also, by the same Author,
A SYNOPSIS OF THE FISSIROSTRAL FAMILY
BUCCONID.^,
Accompanied by Four Coloured Plates of hitherto unfigured Species.
1 Part, sewn, price 4s, 6d.
John Van Voorst, 1, Paternoster Row.
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SUGGESTIONS FOR FORMING COLLECTIONS OF -
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CONTENTS OF NUMBER XII.
Page
XXXIII. On a rare Species of Hawk, of the Genus Accipiter, from
South America. By P. L. Sclater. (Plate X.) . . 313
XXXIV. On Birds collected and observed in the Interior of British
North America. By Capt. Blakiston, R.A. (Parti.) 314
XXXV. On a new Bird from Western Africa. By Dr. G. Hart-
LAUB, F.M.Z.S. (Plate XL) 321
XXXVl. Notes on Ornithology taken between Takoo and Peking,
in the neighbourhood of the Peiho River, Province of
Chelee, North China, from August to December, 18G0 323
XXXVII. Note on the Hypotriorchis castanonotus of Dr. Pleuglin.
By P. L. Sclater. (Plate XII.) 346
XXXVIII. Notes on the Ornithology of Timor. By Alfred Russel
Wallace " 347
XXXIX. A List of Species to be added to the Ornithology of Cen-
tral America. By Osbert Salvin, M.A,, F.Z.S. .. 351
XL. On a new African Species of the Genus Zosterops. By
HoFRATH Theodor VON Heuglin. (Plate XIII.) 357
XLI. A Fortnight in the Dobrudscha. By W. H. Simpson,
M.A., F.Z.S 361
XLII. Abstract of Mr. J.Wolley's Researches in Iceland respect-
ing the Gare-fowl or Great Auk {AIca impenniSy Linn.).
By Alfred Newton, M.A., F.L.S. 374
XLIII. Recent Ornithological Publications : — 400
1 . English Publications : — Atkinson's ' British Birds and Eggs.'
2. French Publications: — Morelet's 'Natural History of the
Azores.'
3. German Ptiblications : — Hartlaub's ' Ornithology of Madagas-
car :' ' Museum Heiueamim,' part iii. : Reichenbach's ' Hand-
biich der Speciellen Ornithologie :' ' Journal fiir Oruitliolo<^ie,'
1861, pt. i.
4. American Publications : — Annals of the Lyceum of Natural
History of New York : Elliot's Monograph of Pitta : Le
Moine's Ornithologie du Canada.
XLIV. Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Announcements,
&c 407
Dr. Hochstetter's Restoration of Species of Dinornis : Extracts
from Mr. Blyth's Letters : Extracts from Mr. Swinhoe's Letters :
Letter from Mr. Swinhoe to Prof. Schlegel : Extract from a
Letter of Mr. Tristram : Letter from Mr. Orde : Mr. Ellman's
Remarks on the Extinct Birds of New Zealand : Departure
from England of some Members of the B. O. U.
Index 417
Title-page, Preface, Contents.
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