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VOLUME PTF.

VOL. IIIf.

ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

EDITED BY

GEORGE DAWSON ROWLEY, M.A., F.LS., F.ZS.,

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

VOLUME III.

LONDON:

TRUBNER AND CO., LUDGATE HILL, E.C. | BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY.
R. H. PORTER, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W.
1878.

FLAMMAM.

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS,
RED LION COURT. FLEET STREET.

DATES OF PUBLICATION OF VOL. II.

Part) XT.
Parr XII.
Parr XIII.
Part XIV.

N.B.—Subscribers are recommended to have the front wrapper of each
Part (containing the date of publication) bound up at the end

of the volume.

November 1877.
January 1878.
February 1878.

May 1878.

5
Eas:

hyo ae

NAMES OF THE CONTRIBUTORS,

WITH THE TITLES OF, AND REFERENCES TO, THE SEVERAL ARTICLES OF EACH.

VOLUME IIL

Boucarp, M. ADOLPHE. Page
Notes on Pharomacrus costaricensis é ‘ ; : : ; 21

GuRNEY, J. H., Jun.

On Flamborough Head : ; : ; : : ’ : 29
Meyer, A. B.
Description of two Species of Birds from the Malay Archipelago. 165

PryevALsky, Lieut.-Col. N.
On the Birds of Mongolia, the Tangut Country, and the Solitudes of
Northern Tibet. (Continued.) : ‘ ; : | AT, 87, 145

Row.ey, GrorGE Dawson.

On Flamborough Head : : : 5 : 11
On Columba livia. : : : 19
On Odontophorus cinctus (Salvin). : : : ; 39
On Geotrygon costaricensis (Lawrence). : : ; : 45
The late Robert Swinhoe, F.R.S. : : : j 55
On the Genus Ptilopus. (Continued.) . : ; é So) ASS aigal

iv NAMES OF THE CONTRIBUTORS.

Row.ry, Grorar Dawson (continued).
On Sussex Heronries : :
On Chlorenas subvinacea (Lawrence)
On Geotrygon rufiventris (Lawrence)
On Leptoptila cassini (Lawrence)
On Cotyle riparia :
On Macherirhynchus nigripectus (Schlegel)
On Domicella coccinea (Latham)
On the Genus Ciftura
A few Words on Fen-land
On the Breeding-places of two Members of a British eae
On Larus tridactylus

Remarks on the Extinct Gigantic Birds of Madagascar and New

Zealand : ; :
On Sceloglauax albifacies. (Continued.)
Conclusion

SciaTer, P. L.
On the American Parrots of the Genus Pionus

SnHarph, R. BowDLER.
A Note on the Genus Artamus and its Geographical Distribution

TWEEDDALE, ArtHUR, Marquis of.
On Poliohierax insignis

Wobpzicki, Count Casimir.
On Savi's Warbler

fobai

169

i)
bo
Shs)

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

VOLUME IIL.

Aipyornis &c., Fragments of Eggs of

Aipyornis maximus, Ege of

Chinese Kampong, or Quarter, in Menado, Celebes
Chlorenas subvinacea, Lawrence

Cittura cyanotis

sanghirensis :
Decoy at Friskney, Lincolnshire
Dinornis crassus, Egg of

ingens, Keg of

Domicella coccinea

Flamborough: Ramcliff-end; Ramcliff-end in the distance; West Scar; the

Rock-Pigeons’ Cave
Geotrygon costaricensis
-— rufiventris, Lawrence.
Great Sowden Wood, Sussex
Heronry at Great Sowden Wood, Sussex
Kingstown Harbour, entrance of: Kittiwakes
Leptoptila cassini, Lawrence
Lincolnshire Geese at Home

on their Journey

Cp AP pS

[ep)

vi LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Macherirhynchus nigripectus ;
Menado, with its Bay, and the mountains of Minahassa
Odontophorus cinctus

Pionus corallinus .

tumultuosus

Poliohierax insignis
Ptilopus miqueli, Von Rosenberg .
musschenbroeki

speciosus

Sand-Martin, Home oO :

Taylor, Mr. John, his Flock of Geese (No. 1 & No. PWV ig
Tondano, Celebes

Tufted Duck, Breeding-place of the

ERRATA IN VOL. TL

Page 62 :—

For “* Ptilopus rivolii, Prov.,” read “ Ptilopus rivolii, Prév.”

Page 76 :—

For ** July 5th, 1877,” read “May 1876.”

PART XI.

“The cormorant on high
Wheels from the deep, and screams along the land.
Loud shrieks the soaring hern; and with wild wing
The circling sea-fowl cleave the flaky clouds.”

Tuomson’s Seasons (Winter).

B 2

ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY

R Hanhart imp

PIONUS TUMULTUOSUS

ON THE AMERICAN PARROTS OF
THE GENUS PIONUS.

By P. L. SCLATER, M.A., Pu.D., F.R.S.
(Plates LXXX. & LXXXI.)

In spite of what certain Indian criticizers may say, Dr. Finsch’s ‘ Papageien’
is, in my opinion, one of the best bits of ornithological work of the present
day; and although it will no doubt be eventually superseded by a new
monograph, it will ever remain as the leading authority upon the subject up
to the time of its publication. Having constantly used Dr. Finsch’s work for
the determination of the Parrots in the Zoological Society’s Gardens during
the past ten years, I am able to bear good testimony as to its merits.; and I
may add a wish that we had many other ornithological monographs of the

same solid character.

But our knowledge of the American avifauna has been much increased
recently; and as regards the Parrots of the genus Pionus I am able to make
certain additions to what is given by Dr. Finsch in his work, from sources

that were not accessible to him ten years ago.

In the first place, I consider that the genus Pionus (founded by Wagler

6 THE AMERICAN PARROTS OF

in 1832) should be restricted to the American species for the reception
of which it was originally instituted—. e. Psittacus menstruus of Linnzeus and
its allies, which form the second division of Dr. Finsch’s genus Pionias
(Papag. ii. p. 373). From these, however, I would moreover exclude

Ps. accipitrinus as a peculiar form which should remain isolated under
Waegler’s title, Deroptyus.

There remain, then, according to Dr. Finsch’s views, eight species in
this section. But, as I shall presently show, Dr. Finsch has in one case
united two very distinct species under the same title. The true number of

species of Pronus at present known to science is therefore, according to my
views, nine.

Dividing these into two groups according to the colour of the primaries,

as proposed by Dr. Finsch, we may separate the nine species, by their most
obvious external characters, as follows ;:—

a. Remigibus viridibus.

a’. pileo czeruleo 1. menstruus.
2. maximiliant.
b’. pileo viridi 3. sordidus.
4, corallinus.
c’. pileo albo 5. seniloides*.
d’. pileo rubro 6. tumultuosus.
b. Remigibus ceeruleis.
e’. pileo dorso discolori, albo 7 7. senilis.
f’. pileo dorso concolori, fusco 8. violaceus.
g'. pileo dorso concolori, purpureo 9. chalcopterus.

The range of these species in the Neotropical Region may be conveniently
shown as follows :—

* Pionias gerontodes, Finsch, Papag. ii. p. 455, the name seniloides being rejected as a vor
hybrida.

THE GENUS PIONUS.

] |
1 2 3 4 5 6 . 8. | 9. | 10.| 11.] 12
fu 8 ES ;
Soe Seal le |e \2lelelels
ae] OQ) 8 3 s ie (oes - | Ay 3 3 Oe ict
SON is carl ty tats thes eh eel Uo ice) | tea |i is 3
= SMS eet Wee MMe Vl oy el cet) EN)
WSOPE MeENSITUUS sees sacleseisececee * * * * * 2 2k * * * * x |
2. P. maximiliani.......cceccceeeee eretielt salad liaerarediliccle stl: tipetetenal| ar sk atari ga arse all nse aur thsi
SUMP SORALAUS acide seltoceseicesiesiss zie Be rallieat Se ieee Sea | Messrs eccrine
4. P. corallinus ....ccceseceeeeees * |
5. P. seniloides.....sscesecescsseess ae ele neve *
6. P. tumultuosus............ee0eee we Sahl Reels |Weerocal lid ok
TPE SCNUIES eae setewecceewseccoseeces * |
8. P. violaceus ....ccececccesccecees Rea cea (Rese a RNTE eaU TEE ln Pree csi Leak |
9. P. chalcopterus ....c.cseeeeees Fopaiiiiosan hee |

In the preceding lists it will be seen that I have followed Dr. Finsch’s
arrangement very closely, except in giving an additional species, P. corallinus.
I will now say a few words on this subject, and as regards P. tumultuosus,
of which Dr. Finsch was unable to examine specimens.

First, as regards P. corallinus, as I have already had occasion to
remark, I cannot but consider this species perfectly distinct from
P. sordidus of Venezuela. So far as I can tell from what Dr. Finsch says,
it would appear that, at the time when he wrote his description of Pionus
sordidus (Papag. ii. p. 452), he had never met with examples of the Venezuelan
bird. His descriptions and notes seem to apply entirely to P. corallinus.

The true P. sordidus, of which I have a skin from Venezuela, collected
by Mr. Goering in 1868 +, is immediately distinguishable from P. corallinus
by the whole back, nape, and wing-coverts being of a sordid yellowish olive-
colour with the edgings of the feathers lighter, instead of a uniform green
as in P. corallinus. The abdomen is nearly of the same colour, only rather

+ See Proc. Zool. Soc. 1868, p. 169.

8 THE AMERICAN PARROTS OF

lighter, and there is less blue on the neck than in P. corallinus. Again, the
basal part of the upper mandible in P. sordidus is black, passing into
yellowish towards the cutting-edges, only the tip of it and the lower
mandible being red; in P. corallinus the whole of the bill is of a bright
coral-red, which renders Prince Buonaparte’s name for the species very
appropriate.

Besides my skin of P. sordidus, I have examined another similar
specimen from Venezuela in Mr. Spence’s collection; and in 1873 there were
two living examples of the same bird in the Zoological Society’s Parrot-
House*. I am therefore pretty confident that I am correct in discriminating
this species from P. corallinus.

Of this last-named bird (through Mr. Rowley’s kindness) I am now
enabled to give a good figure, of the size of life, taken from a specimen in
my collection obtained at Babahoyo, in Ecuador, by Fraser.

The true P. sordidus is sufficiently accurately figured by Edwards
(‘ Birds,’ iv. tab. 167).

As a companion figure to P. corallinus I am enabled to give, by our
Editor’s courtesy, a representation of another imperfectly known species of
this group of Parrots. P. ¢wmultuosus, originally described by Tschudi, in
his ‘ Fauna Peruana,’ from examples obtained in the wood-region of Peru,
was referred by Bonaparte and G. R. Gray to Chrysotis. After an
examination of the typical specimen in the Museum of Neufchatel, I was
enabled to assure Dr. Finsch that this determination was incorrect, and that
Tschudi’s bird was undoubtedly a species of Pionus. It was accordingly so
arranged by Dr. Finsch, who had never himself met with an example of it.

* See List of Animals in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London (6th edition),
p. 259.

THE GENUS PIONUS. 9

Nor, so far as I am aware, have any specimens been more recently obtained
until Mr. Buckley’s expedition mto Bolivia in 1875, when, along with many
other new and interesting birds *, several new examples of this species were
procured. From one of these, now in my collection, the accompanying figure
has been prepared by Mr. Smit. A glance at it will be sufficient to show
how distinct P. twmultuosus is from every other known species of the genus.
It belongs to the green-winged section of the group, and may be most conve-
niently placed next to P. seniloides ; but it is immediately distinguishable
from this and every other known species of the genus by its rosy-red head.
This colour pervades also the sides of the face and throat, but is there varied
by purplish margins to many of the feathers. As regards size there is
apparently little difference between the two species.

* Cf. Sclater & Salvin, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1876, pp. 253 et 352.

VOL. IIf. Cc

ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY

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ON FLAMBOROUGH HEAD.

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

(Plates LXXXII.—LXXXV.)

“They told how sea-fowl’s pinions fail,
As over Whitby’s towers they sail,
And, sinking down with flutterings faint,
They do their homage to the Saint.”
Marmion.

FramBorovueH Heap is perhaps one of the most enjoyable places in
England to the ornithologist, now that it is no longer a scene of slaughter.
To this spot Mr. Keulemans went from London at my request; and I
here set the results before the reader.

The lithographs are from faithful sketches taken by him, June 5th and
6th, 1877, for this work.

Yorkshire has always been famous for its birds and the interest taken
in them by its inhabitants; for even the “fair ladies’? of York formerly
wore the blown eggs of Hedge-Sparrows as earrings. This we read in
Ray’s ‘ Willughby’ (Preface), a.p.1678. It may be believed that diamonds

were scarce in those days.

But these northern belles were surpassed in their love of birds by the
c 2

12 ‘ FLAMBOROUGH HEAD.

Vicar of Morwenstow, the Rev. Robert Stephen Hawker, of whom it is
related by Mr. 5. Baring-Gould that, in order “to obtain Rooks, he went
into his chancel, and, kneeling before the altar, besought God to give him a
rookery where he wanted.”

One is curious to know if he did get it—when, reading on, we find that
“the colony of Rooks subsists to this day.”

Perhaps one would hardly go the length of the vicar; but then, having
always lived under a rookery, the writer is hardly able to judge of the
intensity of the desire for such a thing.

The vicar, however, is quite beaten by those Christians in Persia who
turned Mahometans for the sole purpose of being allowed to keep Pigeons,
which as Christians they were not permitted to do. This is quoted by
Mr. Harting (‘ Ornithology of Shakespeare,’ p. 182) from Tavernier, 1677.

In Allen’s ‘ History of the County of York’ (vol. ii. p. 312) we find :—

“The cliffs at Flamborough are of tremendous grandeur, and from a
hundred to a hundred and fifty yards in perpendicular height. They are
composed of a mouldering limestone rock, of a snowy whiteness, and
periodically covered with an astonishing number of birds, remarkable for the
variety and brilliancy of their plumage.”

At the foot of the cliffs are certain caverns :—the principal is Robin
Lyth’s Hole, thought to have been named after a smuggler or pirate;
Dovecot, the breeding-place of Rock-Pigeons; Kirk-hole, said to extend
from the shore under the church (but this is doubtful) ; &c.

Of the spires of rock, the most remarkable are ‘‘the Matron” and the

“ King and Queen.’

According to Murray, the birds choose the north side of the cliff to

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD. 13

breed on by preference, because it is that best sheltered from the sun’s rays.
. The eggs are never nearer the ground than one hundred feet.

The northern portion of the east coast of England is associated with
numerous legends of more or less poetic beauty, relating to birds as well as
other things; and the ocean has always been closely allied to sacred
and profane song. Thus Longfellow also, in ‘The Secret of the Sea,’
speaks of

“ Telling how the Count Arnaldos,
With his hawk upon his hand,
Saw a fair and stately galley
Steering onward to the land ;—

“ How he heard the ancient helmsman
Chant a song so wild and clear,
That the sailing sea-bird slowly
Poised upon the mast to hear.”

It is not, however, necessary to enter into these well-known tales, such
as that of St. Cuthbert and his Duck, &c.

Perhaps the Guillemot (Uria troile) is one of the most characteristic
birds of Flamborough. The mode by which the young bird, unable to fly,
arrives safely at the sea, used to attract the attention of visitors, Waterton
among others. It seems to be done in two ways—by the old bird taking
its offspring on its back, and also between its mandibles.

In the ‘ Zoologist,’ 2nd ser., 1875, p. 4342, Mr. F. Boyes, Beverley,
describes this circumstance, which he saw at Flamborough. The Guillemot
“did this almost perpendicularly, and with very quick beating of its wings.
My attention was attracted to it by the squeaking, or rather whistling, of the

14 FLAMBOROUGH HEAD,

young one, as if it were much afraid. . . . I could not see the chick;
but as soon as the old bird reached the water it dived, leaving the little
one on the surface. . . . Now, as the old bird and its burthen reached the

water within twenty yards of the boat, I had a good opportunity of seeing
what took place.”

Mr. John Cordeaux has a series of remarks on Flamborough and its
birds, with Guillemots among them (cf. ‘ Zoologist,’ 1867, 2nd ser. vol. i.
p- 1008 eé seg.; continued, 1868, vol. ili. p. 1025; and again, 1871, vol. vi.
p- 2822).

In ‘Birds of the Humber District,’ p. 185, Mr. Cordeaux says of the
common Guillemot (“ Flamborough Scout ’’) :—

“ During the nesting-season it flies daily immense distances to and from
its feeding-grounds, Flamborough birds going as far south as the Norfolk
and Suffolk coasts, and northward to the Durham coast halfway between
the Tees and Tyne, where they are joined by the Farn-Island birds.”

In ‘ Land and Water,’ July 21, 1877, p. 49, we have the following :—

“ Departure of Guillemots.

“The fishermen tell me the Guillemots are already leaving this coast
by hundreds ; they are coming off with their young, and going to sea; they
generally take a southerly direction. It is wonderful to see them bring down
their young from the cliffs so great a distance. Now, when the tides have
been great—that is, high spring tides—the sea approaches higher up the
cliffs. You will then see them come down by wholesale. Those already off
will not pay the cliffs 4 visit any more this season.

‘«Matruew Battery (Flamborough Head).”

Mr. Henry Stevenson and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun,, have an interesting

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD. 15

joint article (‘ Zoologist,’ 2nd ser. vol. vii. 1872) —“ Ornithological Notes
from Norfolk ;”’ and the latter writer says (p. 3227) :—

‘Guillemot (Sept. 1872).—In the beginning of the month some young
were seen off Cromer by a fisherman. It appears that some of the young
Alcade wander down here from Flamborough long before they are able
to fly.”

Mr. Robert Gray and Mr. Thomas Anderson remark (‘Birds of
Ayrshire and Wigtownshire,’ p. 48) :—

“Towards the close of summer large companies of these birds
occasionally congregate near the shore, and remain there for days in calm
weather, over the sandbanks where their food is obtained.”

Mr. Robert Gray also (in ‘ Birds of the West of Scotland,’ p. 421) says,
at Ailsa Craig the keeper “has seen the parent birds daily taking” the
young ‘‘down upon their backs to the sea, and unceremoniously pitching
them off when within a few feet of the water. He has also observed them
seize their young ones by the hind neck, as a cat would do its kittens,
and, after a moment’s hesitation, launch from their high perches, and
descend with an unsteady flutter till they could drop them with safety.”

It will be observed in one of the lithographs that boys are descending
by a rope; this was the case at the time. It is needless to repeat a thing
so often described.

Waterton mentions, in his article on the Guillemot, that while at
Flamborough “one of the climbers grinned purposely, and showed his
upper jaw ...; a stone falling had driven two of his teeth down his
throat.”

Lives are lost at times. In Anderson’s ‘Guide to the Highlands and

16 FLAMBOROUGH HEAD.

Islands,’ it is stated:—‘‘ On Foula (or Fughloe, or Fowl-Island), one of the
Shetlands, it was formerly said of the Foula man—his gutcher (grandfather)
guid before, his father guid before, and he must expect to go over the sneug

too,’ —‘‘ guid before’’ standing for “falling over the cliff.”’

If a person wishes properly to understand how a Guillemot acts under
water, he need not go to Flamborough, or any other place than the Brighton
Aquarium. I confess, when I first heard of these birds I did not think it
worth while to look at what I supposed I had so often observed at sea. But
once there, I soon changed my opinion. The spectator is at the bottom of
the water, under the bird; and the whole body of the diver appears to be
in a mass of silver air-bubbles or iridescence ; and a stream of such remains
in its track. In swimming it uses its legs, in diving its wings only; and the
motion does not seem rapid—nothing like the rapidity of the several species
of Penguin (Spheniscus) which I have observed at the Zoological Gardens.
The eye can hardly follow Spheniscus demersus, for mstance, as I noted
May 31, 1872. This bird takes a fish across.

During the time of moulting, as is the case with many other birds,
the Guillemot is unable to fly. Cf. ‘Zoologist,’ 1873, 2nd ser. vol. viii.
pp. 3454 & 3455; here Mr. Cecil Smith, of Lydeard House, Taunton,
remarks :—‘‘ In September 1871 Mr. Gurney, jun., and myself had a chase’
after one in the same predicament. ... I have found common Scoters,
off Dawlish, in October and November, quite unable to fly.”’

In the ‘ Zoologist,’ 1874, 2nd ser. vol. ix. p. 3907, Baron A. von
Higel calls attention to a ‘“‘curious habit these birds have of flying
through the waves.” We says, “I do not know if this has been noticed
before.”’

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD. 17

It is needless to go through all the sea-fowl. Perhaps, however, the
Cormorant might have a word—
“ As with his wings aslant,
Sails the fierce cormorant,
Seeking some rocky haunt,
With his prey laden.”
Lonerettow: Skeleton in Armour.

A curious anecdote is mentioned in the ‘Transactions of the ‘Tyneside
Naturalists’ Field-Club,’ 1864, vol. vi. part il. p. 160. Under the head of
Johnston’s Hump-backed Whale (Megaptera longimana, Rudolphi), we read
that. a female was thrown up on Holy Isle fifty-eight feet in length. ‘On
opening the stomach six Cormorants were found in it, and another in the
throat ; so that it was presumed that the whale was choked in the attempt
to swallow the bird.”

VOL. Ifl. D

COLUMBA LIVIA.
(The Rock-Pigeon.)

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

«Then it came to pass that a pestilence fell on the city,
Presaged by wondrous signs, and mostly by flocks of wild pigeons,
Darkening the sun in their flight, with nought in their craws but an acorn.”
Lonerettow: Evangeline.

EVANGELINE did not receive any addition to her troubles from Columba
livia, the original of our dovecot birds. It, however, once caused me
some; for, shooting this species in my earlier days, at Mingaree Castle
(a ruin on the coast of Argyle, in the Sound of Mull), I had such a tumble,
from rocks concealed in long grass, as kept me quiet for a time.

Still worse was the bad luck of Edward Barttelot, of Stopham, who is
stated, in the pedigree of that ancient Sussex family, to have been disinherited
for eating a Pigeon on Good Friday (cf. ‘Sussex Archeological Collections,’
vol. xxvii. p. 52).

The speed of the Pigeon has often been noted; but the following is of
interest, taken from ‘ Land and Water,’ July 21, 1877 :—

“ Race between a Pigeon and an Express Train.

‘A most interesting race took place last week, from Dover to London,
Dp 2

20 COLUMBA LIVIA.

between the Continental mail express and a Carrier Pigeon bred by Messrs.
Hartley and Sons, Birmingham. As the train moved from the Admiralty Pier
the bird was tossed into the air; and for upwards of a minute it continued
swooping round at a great altitude, and then sailed away in the direction of
London. By this time the train had got to full speed; and going at sixty
miles an hour, the odds were evidently against the bird. But ‘the race
was not to the strong ;’ and by the time the train reached Cannon Street the
bird had been home twenty minutes.

“This is a truly wonderful feat, and well worthy to rank with the
‘Antwerp fly’ and the toss from St. Quentin in May 1874, in which a bird,
with the wind in its favour, accomplished ninety miles in ninety minutes.”

The illustration of the ‘‘ Rock-Pigeons’ cave”’ is from a sketch made by
Mr. Keulemans for this work on the spot.

The birds are not always safe in these places; for Lieut.-Col. Irby
mentions, in ‘Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar,’ p. 105, that, “in a
cave at the back of the rock, which can only be entered by landing from a
boat in fair weather,” and is ‘‘ very large and open, with sand at the bottom,
sloping upwards for a considerable distance at a sharp angle,” the floor is
covered with ‘‘tail-feathers and pinions of numbers of Rock-Martins”’
[ Cotyle rupestris (Scop.) |, “‘ mingled with those of a good many Swifts, Rock-
Doves, and a few Lesser Kestrels.”’

Mr. Gurney, jun., has provided me with an article on the birds of
Flamborough; and he has been there so recently that I now leave the
subject in his hands.

NOTES ON

PHAROMACRUS COSTARICENSIS.

By M. ADOLPHE BOUCARD#*, C.M.Z.S. &c.,
AuTHor oF ‘Catatocus Avium’ &c.

Order COCCYGES.

Suborder HETERODACTYLZ.
Family TROGONID/E.

+ PHaromacrus mocina, La Llave, var. cosTaricEnsis, Cab.

Quetzal, Mexican name.

Long-tailed Trogon, English name.

This fine bird is found in the Republic of Costa Rica, and also in the
Province of Veragua, near Panama. I have never yet heard that specimens
had been seen in either of the Republics of Nicaragua, San Salvador, and
Honduras ; it would be very interesting to know if the species occurs also in
these countries. In Guatemala it is found in the highlands of the country,
chiefly in the Province of La Vera Paz. It is also seen in the Province of
Quezaltenango, now belonging to Guatemala. But in remote times this
province was a tributary of the empire of the Mexicans; and it is a well-

* [M. Adolphe Boucard, who has lately returned from a scientific expedition in Central
America, has kindly forwarded to us for publication some personal observations on Pharomacrus

22 PHAROMACRUS COSTARICENSIS.

known fact that the tribute paid to Moctezuma, or Montezuma, by this
province was composed chiefly of feathers and skins from the Quetzal and
other brightly coloured birds found abundantly in that country.

This Trogon was an emblem of royalty and deity among the Mexicans ;
and I have seen many antiquities, representing gods or kings, in which the
image of this bird was carved. With the feathers, the monarch and his
household used to adorn their regal dresses.

It is very curious to observe that after several hundred years the
plumes of these magnificent birds are again used for ornamental purposes
by the fair sex of the nineteenth century.

There is not any doubt that it is the finest species of bird found in
America; and it can well bear comparison with the most superb Birds of
Paradise from New Guinea. It was first described by La Llave (a Mexican
naturalist), under the name of Pharomacrus mocina*, which it still retains
by the law of priority. It has also been called Paradisea resplendens,
Couroucou resplendissant, &c.

It is rather a rare species, although you can procure easily a large
quantity of specimens; but this is due to the great demand in Europe, which
commenced a few years ago.

Some naturalists have been hunting the birds in their most inaccessible

costaricensis. Any fresh information respecting this magnificent Trogon must be interesting.
M. Boucard has a genuine love of ornithology—a fact which impressed itself very strongly upon us
in our conversations with him. He states that he has been very successful in the object of his
journey, which was chiefly to observe the habits of birds. He returns with fully 250 species and
some good notes, which are valuable, because every reliance can be placed upon the accuracy and
conscientiousness of M. Boucard as an observer.—Epitor or O. M.]

* Mocina, the name of a celebrated Mexican.

PHAROMACRUS COSTARICENSIS. 23

recesses, for the sake of a dollar or two (4s. or 8s.), which is usually paid
for a bird in the flesh. When skinned it fetches as much as 20s. or 25s.,
as foreigners always buy some specimens before returning home.

The hunting of these birds has been so extensive of late years that they
are rather scarce now; and I have not the least doubt that this species will
be totally extinct before long, if the Governments of Central America do
not adopt measures for their preservation.

This extinction would be greatly to be deplored, as it is, without
doubt, the handsomest ornament of the American forests.

In Costa Rica, hunters of Quetzals generally start on Monday for the
forest, and return on Saturday (the market-day). They bring sometimes
only one or two, sometimes ten or twelve of these birds, which represent the
hunting of the week. They sell them usually from one dollar to one dollar
and a half each. Then you have to find a naturalist to skin them. ‘This is
done by one or two persons living at San José; they charge from one dollar
to one dollar and a half for each skin. These same persons buy some of the
birds on their own account, skin them, and sell them to strangers at distinct
prices, from three to six dollars.

Perfect and adult specimens are very difficult to get; there is scarcely
one among twenty. During my stay in Costa Rica I procured a large
number of specimens, nearly all of them from the Volcan of Irazu, Navarro,
and Naranjo.

I have also seen the bird at Sarzero, Candelaria, and Cervantes, always
at the altitude of from 3000 to 6000 feet.

When feeding, they go in small bands of from ten to twelve birds.
They eat fruits, and are very fond of acorns. In May, these fruits being
plentiful, the birds are more easily got at than at any other time of the year.
Some of the specimens which I have skinned had acorns in the crop and in

24 PHAROMACRUS COSTARICENSIS.

the stomach. One of these, of a very large size, I found entire; and I
have kept it as a curiosity.

In the breeding-season they go in pairs (male and female), and keep
together. They fly about in the forest, perching on the branches of high
trees. Sometimes the female is alone; in that case she will call her mate
until he comes close to her and has a caress. After a little while the female
will fly further on, and call him again; and so on, the greater part of the
day. They inhabit the dense parts of the forest, principally along the
streams. What are called “ barrancas ”’—deep ravines, difficult of access—

are their chosen retreats.

These birds are rare; and it is only because of their being sought, as
they are, for the sake of their value, that quantities are sent yearly to
Europe.

However, what better shows the rarity of the bird is, that about
one hundred men, at least, are busily engaged all the year round in
hunting it, and through all their exertions they are not able to kill more
than about 500 to 800 specimens in one year, which gives a result of from
five to eight birds in one year per man. ‘This number of 500 to 800
includes all the birds sent from every part of Central America and Veragua.

They have two distinct cries—one dull, from the female, and one sharp,
from the male. It is by imitating the cry of the female that the men of the
country are able to entice males within shot.

The female lays its eggs in old nests of Parrots, Woodpeckers, or any
other hole found on the trunks of large trees, chiefly dead ones.

This species is not easy to detect. Some few nests obtained by natives
had one or two eggs in them, of the size of those of a Pigeon, and of

PHAROMACRUS COSTARICENSIS. 25

a uniform green, rather pale. I have seen one of them in the possession of
Mr. J. Zeledon ; he intended to send it to the Smithsonian Institution.

Although I tried very hard to get some, offering a high price and also
searching for them, I could not succeed in obtaining any.

The male sits on the eggs ; meanwhile the female goes out for food. The
position of the bird then is very curious: its head appears at the entrance of
the hole; and the long feathers of its tail are spread over its head, and are
seen outside the nest.

I have heard that sometimes the nests have two openings—one to
go in, and another to go out. But I do not believe it—first because it was
not told me by persons of any authority, and secondly because there is no
necessity for it. Besides, this bird could not dig a hole in the trunk of a tree
as Woodpeckers do; and it would be very difficult for him to find a nest in
such conditions already made. But it is possible that now and then they
build their nests in the forks of trees, as other species of Trogons do.

The young male at first does not differ from the female; but when
about one year old, green and red feathers appear at intervals on the breast
and on the belly. When one year and a half old it is quite a mixture of
green, grey, and red; the underside of the tail also is black and white. At
two years he is exactly like the old male, except that the long feathers of the
tail are short. Every year after, these grow longer, until the tail reaches
from one yard to one yard and a quarter.

I have collected over a hundred specimens of males; and every one of
them, including some very fine adult birds, agrees in having a long and
VOL. II. eee

26 PHAROMACRUS COSTARICENSIS.

narrow tail. I do not know if this character is sufficient to separate it as a
species from the Guatemala one; but I am of opinion that the name of
costaricensis may be retained for this bird as a curious local race, only found
up to this time at Costa Rica and Veragua.

These Trogons are seen all the year round in Costa Rica, where
they breed; and there is little probability that they emigrate to Guatemala.
Neither do those of the latter place go to Costa Rica, because they would
have to cross forests which are only a few hundred feet above the level of
the sea; and I am not aware that this bird has ever been seen anywhere
else except in the mountains not lower than 2500 feet altitude.

Excepting the four long feathers of the tail, which are much longer and
nearly as broad again in the specimens from Guatemala, the two races
are exactly alike.

It has been occasionally domesticated, and kept for several months in
private houses. Sometimes it used to go about in the yard with the
chickens ; or it would perch on a branch and stay at the same place for
hours. It was fed with seeds and fruits.

At the time of dissection I have found on several specimens a species of
parasitic Diptera, which I intend to describe shortly. It is very large and
peculiar.

In fact, there are few birds which are not infested with parasitic insects.
Unfortunately, for want of time, I have not been able to secure all of them ;
but scarcely any of the skins which I have prepared were without, and it
would be very interesting to make a collection of them. New species

PHAROMACRUS COSTARICENSIS. 27

would surely be abundant. Sometimes I have been greatly annoyed with
them. At the time of dissecting, these animals spread over me, went on
my body, principally on my beard and on my hair, and annoyed me for a
few days.

In conclusion, I have urged strongly upon several persons living in
Costa Rica and at Guatemala to do their utmost for the remittance of
some living specimens of this Trogon to me. They have promised me to
do so; and I am in hopes that before long Europeans may be able to

see this magnificent bird alive.

ON FLAMBOROUGH HEAD.

By Mr. J. H. GURNEY, Jun.

I HAVE made two visits to this noted headland to study the birds that
frequent it—once in the month of March, and once in June—and have noted
down a great many interesting facts, a few of which are partly new.

Flamborough is the largest nursery of our rock-breeding sea-fowl
in England. It is also the best-known, and, I may add, the most accessible.
Those of us who are naturalists and who have never seen it, would do well,
the next holiday that they get, to take the train from Bridlington, and from
there get over to the headland as best they can. A trap can easily be hired,
though it is nothing of a walk.

Yet it is not at the actual headland itself that the cliffs will be found to
be highest. It is more to the west, about Bempton, that they attain their
greatest elevation; and there (at Bempton), in the summer time, no one
who has come over to see the birds need fear that he will be disappointed ;
for all up the face of that grand precipice, reaching to the height of 400 feet,
will be seen a moving multitude of Guillemots and Puffins, Razorbills and
Kittiwakes. It is a scene that the painter’s brush alone can describe.

I should like to draw a picture of Flamborough on a stormy day, when

30 FLAMBOROUGH HEAD.

the sea spends its wild fury on the rocks—hard as adamant, not to be moved
by the force of the waters. In one place a tall column of spray, 400 feet in
height, bounds over the summit of the cliff, and, like the uncertain jet of a
fireman’s hose, plays upon the fields and sprinkles the sheep that graze on
the green pastures, perhaps also giving the unwary naturalist, who is not on
the look-out, a good wetting. In another the foam is borne on the wind, as
it were, miles into the air; and occasionally an unwise Guillemot, which has
miscalculated the distance, is whirled aloft, and for a moment or two there
seems no chance of its getting down the cliff again. Fitfully the wind howls
over the bleak old headland—now sinking, now dying almost away, and now
swelling forth again with unequalled volume. Faster and faster the sea-
horses scud across the horizon. ‘The shriek of the birds and the wail of the
Sea-mew are drowned in the uproar.

Amid this terrible scene of the elements, a weather-beaten seaman, small
but active, with sinewy arms, though slightly made, is seen standing with a
rope on the edge of the beetling crags ; it is a long one, and is passed round
an iron bar. He shakes his head. ‘The old man has not the hardihood to
venture down to-day; but you may see him if you come again, when the
storm has subsided, with his basket on his back to receive the eggs for which
he is thus jeopardizing his life. From ledge to ledge, with measured tread
and careful foot, and an eye that takes in all the peril of his situation, he
pursues his giddy way. Nothing daunts him: the narrow platforms,
which have blossomed in such various hues, are despoiled of their eggs in
quick succession, until enough have been gathered. Then comes the
part which it makes one’s blood run cold to see—when the old man
begins to ascend, with only two people to pull him up, and one of those
a woman; but he lessens their labour wherever he can, by helping himself
with his feet; and very soon we all breathe freely as we see him safe on
terra firma.

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD. 31

THE GUILLEMOT.

Let me first narrate my experience of the Guillemot (or “Skout,” as it
is called—a name which has been in use for centuries) as jotted down at
the time of my last visit, because it is par excellence the bird of these
limestone cliffs.

Craning over the verge of the mighty abyss, I perceived, hundreds
of feet below me, as it were a nation of people coming and going,
in an unceasing, endless stream. It was a sight so novel to me that in
a few minutes it made my senses reel. Dizzy with the Babel of sounds
and the maze of living forms, I was fain to cover my bewildered eyes,
and turn away; yet all the time I was so fascinated by the marvel of
those short, squat, dapper little Guillemots, with their abbreviated wings
(almost like fishes’ fins) bearmg them down, down, down, rapidly and
straight, until it seemed as if they had gone too far and all hope was over for
them, that the spectacle was focused in my mind for months after. Always
they recovered themselves just when it seemed as if they must be dashed to
pieces ; and in a few minutes there were scores and scores of them, which
had been sitting before on the ledges, carrying on an aggressive war with the
tribes of the deep.

Of some the fishing-ground lies near; but of many it is far away, beside
the distant Dogger bank; and there they fly, in little arrow-headed
regiments, one after another, like winged missiles directed against an unseen
and finny foe.

Many more sit expectant on their rocky platforms, making unmeaning
bows, or raising a shrill chorus of alarm as a successful fisher returns to his
ledge and bowls off a couple of the nearest to make room for himself.

Numbers swim in the water, in long meandering lines, in circles, stars,
and crescents—in short, in all manner of patterns.

There is an idea prevalent that they cannot fly upwards unless their

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD.

wings are wet ; but this is quite wrong, as any one may see by putting them

off. Some which I frightened from their places, and never took my eye off,

made one or two wide circuits and returned to the cliff below me without

touching the sea. It is true that they have a great objection to seeing any

thing under them except water; but they certainly are not unable to

fly over the land, although such good authorities as the Messrs. Strickland

stated, at one of the meetings of the British Association, that such was ©
the case.

When once on the level ground they are almost incapable of getting off
again, though not entirely so. For I know one reliable instance, at any rate, of
a Razorbill which deliberately rose from the earth and flew away in front of
the cliff-climber’s cottage-door ; and what a Razorbill could do, a Guillemot
could do.

Their position in the air, and the character of their flight, has always
seemed to me something remarkable. ‘The legs are very much used to steer
by, as may be observed when a Guillemot is turning round in the act
of alighting on the cliff. This is in default of sufficient tail*.

The Guillemots are much the earliest birds to come. Mr. Bailey, of
Flamborough, assures me that he now sees a few upon the cliffs as early as
New Year’s day. ‘They always used to make their appearance in February.
In March great numbers arrive; and a tempestuous sea at the end of that
month will drive hundreds and hundreds of them to the cliff.

All that I saw on the cliffs on the 21st and 22nd of March were in their
complete summer garb; but a specimen obtained on one of those days out
at sea had not begun to change at all +.

* Tf any reader wishes to know further the purpose for which Guillemots were made with
abbreviated tails, he may refer to the ‘ Zoologist,’ 2nd ser. vol. ix. p. 4119.

+ On the 5th of April I observed some which were in winter plumage, in a poulterer’s shop
at Newcastle. On the 27th of April, 1869, Mr. Cordeaux observed others in winter dress at Flam-
borough (‘ Zoologist,’ vol. iv. p. 1737).

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD. 33

The egging-season lasts five weeks, and ends about the 21st of June.
The climbers rather like wet weather, because when it is fine the Guillemots
often lay their eggs out at sea. I was informed that about a week before
my first visit a trawler had brought six into Burlington Quay, and that it
was a very common thing for them to find them in their nets*. ‘The eggs
are deposited on such narrow ledges that the old Guillemots often knock
them off; but I cannot seriously believe that when they begin to sit
they knock them off on purpose. I do not understand why they are
sometimes so dirty when brought up; for I believe that at Flamborough
they do not deposit them im foul places.

Let us now hear the evidence of old Lowney (the Methuselah of cliff-
climbers, the intrepid veteran of forty years), who has taken, perhaps, not far
short of amillion eggs. He tells off the ornithologists that he has sent eggs to
in his day, the Ringed Guillemot’s eggs (or “‘ Silver-eyed Skouts,”’ as he calls
them) that he has taken at their desire from under the birds themselves, the
three double-yelked Guillemot’s eggs+, and the fourteen red Guillemot’s eggs
which in seven consecutive years he took from one particular spot, known
only to him by a dip in the stone. Gravely the old man rebuts our statement
that the Great Auk has never been seen at his cliffs. It was at Flamborough,
he tells us, for two seasons following, and kept always near the same place,
but never mounted onto the cliff. Who will venture to say that he is not
right ?

Lowney has seen two Guillemots fight, like a pair of gladiators, until
the rocks which were their arena were dyed with their gore. He is quite

* We have, in our collection, an egg which was dredged up at Lowestoft at a depth
of 24 fathoms. i

+ He showed me a double-yelked Razorbill’s egg, which he had at his house, measuring
7 inches in circumference.

VOL. III. F

34 FLAMBOROUGH HEAD.

sure that the young Guillemots are carried down on their mothers’ backs
and in no other way (cf. ‘ Zoologist,’ s. s. vol. x. pp. 4342 & 4666).

Now for what Mr. Leng has to say. Mr. Leng is the professional
shooter who went to Lundy Island. He has been bred to a gun; and if any
one ought to know about sea-birds, he is the man. He tells me that all
Guillemots know their own young ones. It is not uncommon to see an old
Guillemot swim up to a young one which is not hers, immediately find out
her mistake, and swim away. He also affirms that they know their own
eggs; and that I believe: for what other purpose can so great a variety of
markings have been given to them? (Cf. ‘ Zoologist,’ vol. x. p. 3478.)
Questioned as to their mode of carrying their young to the water, he affirms
(like Lowney) that it is always done on the back. Asked if the descent is
not at too abrupt an angle for the little ones to stick on*, he explains that
at that time the descent is made at a less angle. It is not until dusk, he adds,
that the performance generally takes place, which may most likely account
for the discrepancies in the accounts even of those who have observed
it themselves. What he has said of the Guillemot applies equally to the
Razorbill—but not to the “ Parrot” or Puffin, whose young remain in the
holes and crannies until they are old enough to get down.

Having now done with these two authorities, I shall conclude my notes
on the present species by remarking that soon after my second visit to
Flamborough, viz. on the 16th of June, I received a white Guillemot from
Bailey. It was a hen bird, and seemed to have lately laid an egg. Strange
to say, the eye was yellow; the legs also were yellowish brown, darkest on
the hinder part.

* Cf. Macgillivray, ‘ British Birds,’ vol. v. p. 322.

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD. 35

THE GANNET.

Anybody who has handled a Gannet knows what a heavy bird it is,
and may judge with what force it would come down to the earth from
a great height in the air. The splash which it makes in fishing, when it
simply lets itself fall into the sea, and which is visible from, I should be afraid
to say how far, shows what a weight it is. Some years ago I remember
having a visible proof of this. I shot a Gannet, which happened to be flying
almost directly over my head; it was very high up, and it fell down onto
the rocks among which I was standing, only a few paces from me: on
going up to it, I found that its breast was completely rent open; and it was
with some difficulty that I sewed it up and cleaned it when I afterwards
prepared it for my collection.

Now the story which this leads up to was an adventure which happened
to a fisherman at Flamborough Head; and I will relate it as he told it to
me. He had gone out with his gun; and he saw two Gannets approaching
him. They came within shot; and he aimed at one, and killed it; and then,
without lowering his gun, he fired his second barrel at the other. It fell;
and at the same instant as it dropped in the air, the Gannet which had been
killed by the first shot tumbled on him, and its pointed beak passed through
the rim of his ‘‘sou’-wester” hat. The man’s name was Thomas Leng ;
and among all the escapes which that adventurous fellow has had, his
friends may well reckon this one of the closest. If his Gannet came down
with the force which mine did, I can readily believe that its beak would
have gone through a man’s skull; and if it had been an inch on one

side, Leng’s days would have been numbered.

36 FLAMBOROUGH HEAD.

THE KITTIWAKE

Liver of fish is the best bait for Kittiwakes. They can scent this afar ;
or perhaps their keen vision enables them to desery it. Boat-loads of them
used to be shot to it; and a great many are still. The smacks that go to sea
open their fish, and toss out the refuse; and the hungry birds come, and
are killed.

A Kittiwake will make two plumes, which are worth Is. each; and the
head and wings are useful for screens, penwipers, &c. ‘The supply does not
nearly equal the demand since the Act was passed ; and I was greatly amused
at the shifts to which the plumassiers have had to resort—Larks, Starlings,
and even Sparrows being cut up by them in default of any thing better.
Guillemots, Razorbills, and Puffins are of no use for plumes: these birds
ought soon to increase enormously.

I hope the Act has not come too late to save the much persecuted
Kittiwake, as it is almost the only sort of Gull which breeds at Flamborough ;
I believe that the common Gull never does. That the persons who were
making a rich harvest before should feel some animosity against those
who passed the Bill is very natural; but I am glad to say that all that
is now dying away. One man, now dead, told me that he used to take
£15 to £18 a week in feathers, and that with the money from that alone
he built three houses; but he confessed to me that, while he did it, he
always thought it was an “infamous shame to cut up so many good
birds.”’ Another said, “You gentlemen ought to stand us £1000 for the
damage you’ve done us.”” But there is a great deal of right feeling among
the Flamborough men; and I believe that many a one is secretly pleased that
the slaughter is put a stop to.

Boats full of excursionists from Sheffield, who could not hit a haystack,

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD. 37

might go out day after day and pepper away a pound or two of shot, and
pay for it handsomely ; but a different class will come now—not to shoot,
but to see—who will pay just as well, without endangering the lives of them-
selves and all who accompany them; and the beautiful birds will benefit by
the change. :

Mr. Bailey tells me that sometimes, when the fishermen are shooting
their lines, a Kittiwake will seize the bait and be pulled under with the
sinking cord, in which case no more is seen of him until fair weather permits
the fishermen to raise the lines again.

I forgot to ask in what state such a bird would come up; but probably
the anatomizers of the sea, with their busy nippers, would soon make
a skeleton of him, and he would return much in the condition of Montagu’s
Fulmar :—

“Here hangs I, John Down, for ever,
That often cross’d the bank for liver ;
Now to my sorrow and great surprise
Here I hang an’ anatomize.”

THE ROCK-DOVE

This is a characteristic bird of Flamborough; and the price set on its
head by Pigeon-shooters alone would be enough to make it greatly sought.

The most ingenious expedient I heard of was tried by Lowney, who
thought that by letting down a net, with rings on iron rods, he would entrap
them wholesale. Accordingly he selected a suitable night for the venture,
and let the net down over Bempton Pigeon-cote, as one of the large caverns
is called. Instantly it was full of Pigeons, and he made certain of getting

38 FLAMBOROUGH HEAD.

any quantity ; but though caught in a cage, it was another matter to get
hold of them ; and Lowney soon found that he could not catch them—at least,
not alive. But he knocked down fifteen with a stick.

The guano, which was once got out in large quantities, is not now worth

going for.

All the Pigeons on the east side of the north landing are Stock Doves.
This discovery was made by Bailey; and I confirmed it* by shooting
one. Bailey told me it was only about the third year that Stock Doves
had nested in their cliffs.

THE JACKDAW.

One of the most abundant breeders on the cliffs of Flamborough, and
a great enemy to the eggs of other birds. Before the Bird-Act, when
the Guillemots were much shyer, the descent of a man was generally
enough to frighten them off the ledges; and then, Lowney tells me, the
thievish Jackdaws made spoil of their eggs. I have seen the shells
which these knaves have carried to the top of the cliff and left there f.
Sometimes a Jackdaw more bold than the rest attacks a Kittiwake; and
then a hard fight ensues ; but the same authority tells me that the Kittiwakes
get the best of it. As an old cliff-climber of many years’ standing, he bears
a great spite against these feathered rivals; and the old chap never lets an
opportunity slip of destroying both them and their eggs.

* *Zoologist,’ s.s. vol. xi. p. 5040. + Of. ‘Zoologist, s.s. vol. xi. p. 4957.

4
Z

7 IT DAD al ~NT ye ra
WL N NOT L LU UO ae LE

ODONTOPHORUS CINCTUS (Salvin).

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.
(Plate LXXXVI.)

Tue following appeared in ‘ The Ibis,’ 3rd ser. vol. vi. (1876) pp. 379, 380 :—

“© XXXVI.— On two additional Species of Central-American Odontophorine.
By Ossert Satvin, M.A., F.R.S., &c.

“Through Mr. Boucard’s kindness I have lately been able to add to our’
Central-American collection of birds two species of Odontophorine— one of
which is the tolerably common South-American Eupsychortyx leucotis, the
other a species of Odontophorus which I do not hesitate to describe below
as new. ‘The two specimens (one of each species) were contained in two
collections evidently made by our late collector, Enrique Arcé, in Veragua,
one of which came directly, and the other indirectly into Mr. Boucard’s hands.
Both from the style in which the skins are made up, and from the birdskins
associated with them, there cannot be the slightest doubt as to their origin.”

[Here follows the description of the specimen of E. Jeucotis, Gould,
P. Z.5. 1843, p. 133, et Mon. Odont. pl. x. ]

‘‘ QDONTOPHORUS CINCTUS, 0. sp.

“ Capite, collo, dorso antico et pectore lete rufescentibus, auricularibus nigris: stria postoculari
indistincta e punctulis albis formata : dorso postico cinereo, albo et nigro minute vermicu-

40 ODONTOPHORUS CINCTUS.

lato: supracaudalibus rufescentibus, scapularibus externis nigris, scapis albis et pogoniis
externis rufescentibus : alis fuscis, secundariis rufo variegatis: gula et ventre medio albis,
hypochondriis et crisso distincte nigro transfasciatis : rostro nigro: pedibus fuscis: long. tota
cire. 7°5, ale 4°3, caude 1°'8, tarsi 1°3, rostri a rictu ‘6.

“ Hab. Veragua (Arcé).

“This species is quite distinct from any hitherto described. It is
smaller than even O. thoracicus, to which it is perhaps most nearly allied.
The white throat and belly, the strongly marked flanks, together with the
deep rufous colour which encircles the whole of the anterior part of the body,
neck, and head, render it a conspicuous species.”’

The bird figured in the Plate is a male, in my collection, killed at Agua
Dulce, December 1876.

“Agua dulce’? means “sweet water.” Perhaps the name was given to
‘this place from its proximity to the river Rio de Agua Dulce.

Round the place the hills are small; and the nearest mountain is
Calovevora.

This small village is situated about ten miles from Panama, on the
coast of the Pacific. In the ‘ Proceedings of the Zoological Society’ for
1870, between pages 174 and 175, there is a map of the State of Veragua,
belonging to Mr. Salvin’s well-wrought article on the birds of that place ;
none that I can find, however, marks Agua Dulce.

Mr. Boucard informs me that this species is found on the hills near the
sea, in tropical forests, and is scarce. Small numbers of both sexes are seen
together, always on the ground, feeding principally on worms, insects, and
larvee, perhaps also seeds. They run very quickly when frightened, and
sometimes fly, but not more than a few feet above the ground, making a

ODONTOPHORUS CINCTUS. 4]

great noise with their wings, “like Snipes ;’’ but they cannot stay long in
the air.

It is only by accident that they are discovered, as they always keep in
dense and dark forests. The eggs are laid upon the ground; but Mr.
Boucard did not find any. The flesh of these birds is splendid, solid and
white, capital to eat.

This skin was not sent by Arcé. It is hard work hunting for
specimens, as at Agua Dulce the forests are magnificent, the country quite
tropical, and the heat excessive.

Total length about 7 inches.

VOL. III. G

COSTARICENSIS, /Z

GEOTRYGON COSTARICENSIS (Lawrence).

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

(Plate LXXXVII.)

In ‘ A Catalogue of the Birds found in Costa Rica,’ by George N. Lawrence,
p. 136 (reprinted from the ‘Annals of the Lyceum of Natural History in
New York,’ vol. ix. April 1868), we find :—

“451. GEOTRYGON COSTARICENSIS, N. Sp.

‘“‘ Forehead and the forward part of the cheek next the bill of a brownish
salmon-colour ; cheeks and throat white; there is a bar of deep black on
each side from the eye to the bill; and a stripe of the same colour extends
from the upper part of the throat along each side of the neck, and borders
the white cheeks ; these black lines approach each other quite closely on the
throat ; across the middle of the crown and adjoining the salmon-coloured
front is a narrow band of greyish blue, which gradually merges into the dark
green of the occiput and hind neck; the lower part and sides of the hind
neck, and the upper part of the back, are of a lighter and yellowish green,
more lustrous and quite distinct from the deep green of the occiput ;
scapulars and upper part of back rich purplish violet; lower part of back,
rump, and wing-coverts of a cinnamon-brown; the upper tail-coverts are

G 2

Ad GEOTRYGON COSTARICENSIS.

darker, more of a vinous brown; two central tail-feathers dull purplish
brown, the two next of a duller brown, the outer three purplish black,
terminating with ashy grey; primaries and secondaries blackish brown ; the
tertiaries have their inner webs blackish brown, the outer brownish
cinnamon; the under wing-coverts of a dusky brown; neck and breast dark
greyish plumbeous; middle of abdomen testaceous white with a slight tinge
of pale rose-colour, sides chocolate-brown ; feathers of the flanks and under
tail-coverts brownish ash, ending in whitish; thighs ashy brown; bill hazel-
brown, the under mandible yellowish at the end; tarsi and toes yellowish
flesh-colour.

“ Length about 104 in.; wing 53, tail 32, bill 3, tarsi 7.
‘Received from Dr. A. v. Frantzius: precise locality unknown.
“Type in Mus. Smiths. Inst. no. 30431.

“ Remarks.—This beautiful Pigeon bears but little resemblance to any
species of which I can find an account. It is allied to the group represented
by G. caniceps, from Cuba. The colour of the breast, in each, is nearly the
same; but they are not alike otherwise. It has much longer and stouter
tarsi and toes than G. caniceps.”’

I have four specimens of this bird in my collection, received from
Mr. Boucard—male and female adult, and male and female young. ‘This
gentleman informs me that they were all killed on the mountain of Candelaria,
at an elevation of 2500 or 3500 feet, in the month of May 1877. He
considers that the young, obtained at the same time, show that the breeding-
season was over. He says :— :

‘“*T always found them on the ground, scratching the earth like chickens,
in search of insects. They have very much the same habits as Tinamide and

GEOTRYGON COSTARICENSIS. 45

Odontophorine, are very scarce; and it is only because | knew the great
rarity of the species that I was able to procure several specimens; I was
quite satisfied when I could bag one in a day’s hunting. The flesh is white,
and delicious to eat; it is one of the best birds for the table.

“When dissecting, I found the crop full of seeds; I am therefore more
certain about this kind of food than about insects, although the probabilities
are that they eat insects also. All those which I killed used to go singly in
the dense forests ; but it is usually the case that, where one is seen, the other
is not far off. :

«The Candelaria mountains begin about four miles from San José, the
capital; and their greatest altitude is 5000 feet. The birds were killed on
the other side of the mountains, at an elevation of 2500 or 3500 feet, but
perhaps are found still higher. The summit of the one on which they were
obtained is covered with a species of oak.

“‘On the side of San José the plantations of coffee-trees, Indian corn,
é&c. reach the summit. On the other side, where the birds were found, there
are dense forests of oaks, mixed with a great number of other tropical trees ;
orchids are very abundant. Many streams spring from the mountain, and,
some miles further down, form the Navarro river. ‘The country has a very
savage aspect, and deep, broad, hollow roads (called ‘barrancas’) are
frequent ; these are caused by the rain, which falls abundantly from May to
December.”

In Geotrygon costaricensis the sexes do not vary; I have therefore figured
an adult male and a very young male. The latter, as will be seen, differs

much in this stage from the adult.

Description of the young male.—The isabelline patch on the forehead has
not yet appeared. The feathers on the head, like those on the chest, are
brown, with black bars; the same applies to those on the rump. ‘The vivid
green and purple of the back in the adult are much fainter ; the wings, instead

46 GEOTRYGON COSTARICENSIS.

of being chestnut-brown, are mottled with black and brown. The legs, as
far as I can judge from a faded skin, instead of being bright red, are black.
The white patch on the throat is almost absent.

The young female is not in so interesting a dress, being too much
advanced. It differs slightly from the adult. The isabelline patch on the
forehead is rather smaller; the legs not red, but dusky; and a few mottled
feathers remain on the flanks.

Total length of adult male about 117 inches.

THE BIRDS

OF
MONGOLIA, THE TANGUT COUNTRY,
AND THE

SOLITUDES OF NORTHERN TIBET.

By Lirut.-CoLt. N. PRJEVALSKY.

{Continued from vol. ii. p. 438. |

Order VI. GRALLZ (continued).

220. Grus monacHa, Temm.

Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. pl. Ixxiv.

Is very numerous during the spring migration in S.E. Mongolia—z. e.
between Lake Dalay-nor and the town of Kalgan; further west it does
not occur. It is very common about Lake Baikal, and must consequently
migrate thither along the borders of the Gobi desert.

We saw the first migrants in S.E. Mongolia on the 15th of March; but
the principal flocks appeared about the middle of April. A few of these
Cranes were seen also about Lake Hanka in spring.

221. Grus LEUCOGERANUS, Pall. Juravl beley or sterch.

Temm. PI. Col. pl. ececlxvii.

Only once (on the 9th of October, 1872) a flock of some fifty specimens

48 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

was noticed by us about Koko-nor; whether it got there accidentally,
or not, I cannot state.

{In the neighbourhood of Lake Hanka it arrives towards the end
of March, in small flocks of from four to ten specimens, and is not
very common there, especially in summer, as only very few of them remain
to breed in that locality. Its voice is very harmonious.

222. AnrHROPOIDES viRGO, L. Juravl maley.

This is the only Crane that breeds in Mongolia, not only in the fertile
districts, but also in the deserts of Ala-shan, where they frequent the wells,
which they visit regularly to quench their thirst. This they usually do after
the Mongols have driven their cattle to drink, and when small puddles are
left by the latter at the edge of the well.

When living in deserts their food principally consists of a species
of Phrynocephalus, n. sp., which are very abundant there. ‘They arrive
in Mongolia in spring, about the end of March, and leave early in
September. Only a single flock appeared at Koko-nor on the 28th
of February, after which we never met with any there, but saw a large flock
of them, on the 16th of September, in Kan-su, migrating in company with
Grus cinerea. It does not occur in Ussuri country.

223. ARDEA CINEREA, L. Zaplia seraya.

Is tolerably abundant in Dalai-nor and in the Hoang-ho valley—i. e.
in localities where marshes can be found. It arrives in $.E. Mongolia
towards the end of March; and about Gu-bey-key we noticed it even on the
3rd of March. We did not meet with it at Koko-nor, but obtained a
specimen in Kan-su about the middle of May.

It is very common in Ussuri country, and arrives at Lake Hanka about

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 49

the 10th of March in small numbers, whilst the principal migration takes
place in the end of this month; at this time the birds keep together in flocks,
sometimes in company with Herodias alba, Grus leucogeranus, or Ibises.

They are extremely cautious, and choose for their nesting-places the small,
thick, reedy islands of the river Lefa, which runs into Lake Hanka. Here
the nests are very numerous, close to each other, all being built of the same
shape and very carelessly. Some twigs, without any lining, form the whole
structure, which is of a flat shape and not elevated beyond two or three feet
above the water-mark. It is difficult to understand how the eggs do not get
injured in these nests during a strong wind.

I visited the above-described locality in the middle of June, when the
young had partly left their nests, whilst the others were just at the point of
doing so.

During the autumnal migration (7.e. in September and beginning of
October) I met with many flocks of these birds on the coast of the Japanese
Sea.

224. Heropias asa, L. Zaplia belaya.

We observed this bird in 8.E. Mongolia only on one occasion, on the
marshes of the Hoang-ho valley, in large numbers; it apparently breeds
there.

The first migrants appeared in Tsaidam on the 18th of February,
notwithstanding the heavy snowfalls and frost of 12°C.

At Koko-nor we observed these birds only about the end of March,
singly or in pairs.

At Lake Hanka they are as common as the preceding species, and arrive
usually at the same time with it, about the middle of March.

H. alba does not form large flocks, but, as a rule, lives singly, in pairs,
or in small flocks. In the middle of April, those which stop here disperse

VOL. III. H

50 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

themselves over the islands at the mouth of the river Lefa, of which I have
spoken above.

After the young leave their nests, early in July, they wander about the
marshes, sometimes in company with White Storks.

225. Boraurus sTELLARIS, L. Vip.

We met with them only on the lakes of the Hoang-ho valley ; but in
the Lake-Hanka basin they are very numerous, and find there a great many
suitable localities in the impenetrable marshes, where they arrive about the
end of March and beginning of April, when their voice can be heard not
only at dusk but also at night and im the evening.

226. CrconiA BOYCIANA, Swinh.? Aist beley.

We only once noticed this species in the northern parts of Gu-bey-key ;
and, according to Dr. Dybowsky, it has also occurred in the Ussuri country.
During my whole stay there I could not obtain a single specimen of
C. boyciana; and when I first saw it I mistook it for C. alba.

At Lake Hanka these Storks arrive about the 10th of March, and
commence breeding early in April, usually on high trees, along the shores of
rivers and in the Sungatchin marshes. During the breeding-season, they
are extremely shy.

It is remarkable that a great many nests of the present species are
destroyed by Tibet bears (Ursus thibetanus), who climb up to the nests and
eat the young birds.

227. Ciconia niGRA, L. Aist cherney.

An occasional visitor to $.E. Mongolia, and perhaps breeds in the

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 51

wooded parts of Muni-ul. In Ordos and Kan-su it has been observed only
in limited numbers during migration.

At Lake Hanka these birds appear about the end of March in only
limited numbers, and apparently do not stop there to breed, but rear their
young in the more desolate parts of the Ussuri and Amur countries, returning
to the south in large flocks vid Hanka.

228. PLhaTALEA MAJOR, Temm. Kolpitza bolshaya.
Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. pl. Ixxv.

In the early part of April we met with some migrants at Dalai-nor ; and
in July we observed them in the Hoang-ho valley, where the bird probably
breeds. When travelling from Ala-shan to Urgey we met, in the midst of a
desert, four young birds at a well, which evidently had lost themselves.

In the Ussuri country we found P. leucorodia, and have brought home one
specimen from Lake Hanka. There they are very common from the end of
March until the beginning of April, and breed in similar localities at
the mouth of the river Jeffa, as do Herodias alba and Ardea cinerea. ‘he
young leave their nests towards the end of June or beginning of July, and
then commence to wander about on the marshes.

229. InIDORHYNCHA STRUTHERSII, Vig.

Gould, Birds of Asia, part viii. pl.

Falcirostra kaufmanni, Sey. Vert. i gor. raspr. Turk. Jev. pl. x. figs. 1 & 2.

This interesting bird (which was originally obtained in the Himalayas,
and, later on, about Pekin and in the Thian-shan) was met with by us only in
the Koko-nor and Kan-su mountains, keeping mostly to the brooks and

rivulets of the middle circle. Each pair occupies its particular district, where
H 2

52 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

they rear their young. In its habits it is rather shy. When taking wing, it
always utters a loud note, flying very low above the water, and following the
curves of the rivulet. When wounded, it very cleverly hides itself among
some loose stones, where, on account of its dull ashy plumage, it is difficult
to find.

This species is rather scarce in Kan-su; and I do not know if it stops
there for the winter, although Pére David states that, notwithstanding the
severe frosts, it often winters in the mountains north-west of Kalgan ; and on
one occasion we observed a specimen in the Koko-nor mountains in the
beginning of November, when the frost amounted to 23°.

230. Numenrus major, Temm. Croushnep bolskoy.

Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. pl. Ixvi.

Common in 8.E. Mongolia from the end of March (or beginning of
April) until the end of the latter month, on the shores of small lakes or in
the burnt-out steppes, where some puddles are found.

We found it breeding in the Hoang-ho valley in small numbers, and
noticed the arrival of the first migrants at Koko-nor on the 15th of March;
and at the end of that month numerous flocks of about fifteen or twenty-
five were seen there: whether they stopped to breed or not, I am unable
to state.

Besides the present species, we noticed also a smaller one in the
Hoang-ho valley, but did not succeed in obtaining a specimen. It may
have been N. pheopus.

About Lake Hanka these birds are rather common, arriving about the

end of March, and some of them stopping to breed, which they do about the
middle of April.

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 53

231. Limosa MELANUROIDES, Gould. Veretennic.

Gould, Birds of Australia, vi. pl. xxvii.

It passes S.E. Mongolia in large numbers at the end of April; and
flocks of several hundreds were seen by us there, on the shores of lakes.
We met with them also in the Hoang-ho valley, but only in August, in their
winter plumage.

At Koko-nor the first migrants were noticed on the 22nd of March ;
whilst in Kan-su and Halka we did not see them at all.

In the Lake-Hanka basin they are found breeding in rather small
numbers ; but large flocks were seen on the coast of the Japanese Sea, about
Possiet Bay, in the month of September. These birds were usually
frequenting the shores during the ebb, and seemed to have quite disappeared
in October.

[To BE CONTINUED. |

THE LATE
MR. ROBERT SWINHOE, F-.R.S.

WE cannot pass over in silence the loss which Ornithology has experienced
in the death of Mr. Robert Swinhoe, one of our contributors. It is not
within the scope of this work to notice at length the many valuable additions
to the science humbly advocated by us which have been discovered by
Mr. Swinhoe. These will probably be enumerated by our contemporary
‘The Ibis,’ and others ; but we think we have the general assent of those
best qualified to form an opinion when we say that not only Ornithology but
Zoology itself has suffered a chill, and sustained a check, by the removal from
our midst of the very painstaking and successful naturalist who has now been
taken away from us. Some scientific men have to contend with inadequate
pecuniary resources: the great Swedish naturalist, when a student at the
University of Upsala, was forced to put folded paper into his old shoes to
keep out the damp and cold—a state of things also not unknown to the
greatest of English lexicographers. Others are doomed to struggle against
ill health ; and Mr. Swinhoe, in consequence of his long residence in China,
was among the latter. His absence will be acutely felt, not only by the
Societies to which he belonged, and in particular by that one to whose
members this work is dedicated, but also by all those to whom the science
of Natural History is dear in every part of the world.

Eprror oF THE O. M.

VOL. III. I

PART XII.

“States fall; art fades; but Nature doth not die.’’
Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, Canto iv. stanza ii.

VOL. Ill. K

ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS

(PTILONOPUS, Swains.).

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.
{Continued from vol. ii. p. 351.]

PTILOPUS MIQUELI, Von Rosenberg.

Ptilopus miquelit, Schlegel, Ned. Tijd. voor de Dierk. iv. p. 22 (1873).

Ptilopus miqueli, Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Col. p. 26 (1878).

Ptilopus micqueli, Meyer, Sitzungsber. d. k. Akad. d. Wiss. Ixx. p. 128 (1874).

Ptilopus miquelii, Salvadori, Prodr. Orn. Pap. Col., Ann. Mus. Civ. d. Gen. ix. p. 196 (1876).
THE beauty of Pigeons is great; and our knowledge of the number of species
increases rapidly. Mr. Alfred R. Wallace (in his most interesting article in
‘The Ibis,’ 1865, N.S. vol. i. p. 365 et seqq.) puts those of the Austro-
Malayan subregion at fifty-four*; whereas Dr. Salvadori, in 1876 (Ann.
Mus. Civ. d. Gen.), enumerated ninety species. How many will have
been discovered fifty years hence? What the number would have been
if the world had not seen a monkey, we cannot tell; it is to this
animal that Mr. Wallace, with much reason, attributes their absence
in certain localities. As regards the genus under consideration, he says
(p. 367) :—‘‘ New Guinea is their metropolis, whence they diminish in every
direction, only one species occurring in Borneo and Sumatra, and the utmost

* At page 372, however, he makes them eighty-four species.

60 ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS.

limits of the genus being reached in the southern part of the Malay peninsula.
In the Pacific islands and in the Moluccas they abound, many even of the
smallest islands having their peculiar species. ‘These are the smallest and
most beautiful of the Fruit-Pigeons; their ground-colour is generally of a
rich grass-green, diversified with bands and spots, caps, and shoulder-patches
of the most vivid colours—crimson, pink, purple, white, or yellow, in endless
diversity.”

The bird before us was named by Von Rosenberg after F. A. W. Miquel*,
a learned Professor of Botany at the University of Leiden, where there is a
fine botanical garden. He was the author of more than eighteen considerable
works.

The following translations refer to this bird.

Schlegel, Nederl. Tijd. v. d. Dierk. iv. p. 22 (1873) :—
‘“‘PrILOPUS M1QUELII, Von Rosenberg, in litteris.

‘““M. von Rosenberg has recently sent us, under this name, a series of
specimens of a Ptilopus related to P. rivolii, but offering very obvious cha-
racters, and originating from other localities, where it appears to represent
P. rwolu. These localities are the islands of Meosnoum and Jobie, which
extend across the large Geelvink’s Bay. This fact is the more curious, as
this bird does not live on the other islands of the Geelvink’s Bay, viz.
Mefoor, nor on the group of Schouten (islands Soék and Biak), as the first
is inhabited, in addition to P. rivolii, by a species with a white cross band,

* « FW. Miquel was born on October 24th, 1811, at Neuenhaus, in Hanover (Germany),
studied in Groningen, became (1831) Physician at the Amsterdam Hospital, (1835) Master of
Botany at the Clinical School of Rotterdam, (1846) Professor of Botany at the Athenzeum of
Amsterdam, (1859) Professor at the University of Utrecht, (1862) Director of the Government
Herbarium at Leiden, died at Utrecht on the 23rd of January, 1871. Blume called after him the
genus Miquelia.”

J.GKeulemans lith.

PHEOPUS

MIQUI

Hanhart imp

ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 61

differing very much from P. rivolit and P. miquelii, a species which also
inhabits the island of Soék, where P. rivolit is not to be found: it is
P. speciosus, about which we shall treat immediately.

“ Ptilopus miquelii is distinguished from the other species by a white
cross band on the breast, by the constant want of red on the breast and belly,
these parts being coloured with the same green colour which occurs on the
other parts of the bird. We add that the abdomen and the under tail-coverts
are of a fine uniform citron-yellow, that the red on the upper part of the head
in the male is a little darker and of a deeper purple colour, and that the bird
in general is of a somewhat larger size.

“Wing 4" 6" to 4" 11", tail 2” 9", bill from the front 62.".”

Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Columba, p. 26 (1873) :—

“PTILOPUS MIQUELI, Von Rosenberg, in litteris; Schlegel, Obs. Zool.
in Nederl. Tijdschr. vol. iv. p. 22.

“This species approaches Ptilopus rivolt, from which it is distinguished
by the entire want of red on the breast, by its somewhat larger size, and by
the red on the head being darker and more purple. Add that the under
tail-coverts and the abdomen are constantly and in both sexes of a fine
yellow. It remains uncertain whether this species is identical with Pétilopus
strophium of G. R. Gray (List Columbe Brit. Mus. 1856, p. 6) or P. cinctus
of Gould Gn Jardine, Illustr. 1850, p. 105, fig.on p. 102). The bird bearing
this name comes from the Louisiade, and differs (judging from the figure of
Jardine) by the red on the head being restricted to the front and offering a
rosy tint.

“Wing 4" 6” to 4” 11", tail 2" 9" to 3”.

“Observed on the islands of Meosnoum and Jobie. (From Jobie two
males and two females, from Meosnoum three males and one female—all
killed in the year 1869.)”

62 ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS.

Dr. Meyer remarks, in a letter to me :—

“The Pigeons of the Eastern Archipelago belong to the choicest and
most interesting birds of the globe, in consequence of the variety which they
show as to gay colours and strange markings, and, from a scientific point of
view, as to the materials which they afford to prove the variation of species
effected by isolation through insular conditions.

«Among the very numerous species of Pigeons inhabiting the Papuan
archipelago, there are four nearly allied ones which present a special interest,
because, notwithstanding their being closely related to one another, they are
yet very distinct in marking and colour—the more obvious as they live in
close proximity; they, indeed, form a small natural subgroup within the
large group of the Ptilopi. These four species are, enumerated chronolo-
gically in the order of their discovery,

“1. Ptilopus rivoli, Prov.,
2. Ptilopus miquelu, Rosenb.,
3. Ptilopus speciosus, Rosenb.,
4 Ptilopus bellus, Sclater.

“ P. rivolii has a wide range over a part of the Moluccas, the islands in
the west and north of New Guinea, and New Guinea itself. In the following
diagram of the geographical distribution we only consider its occurrence
on New Guinea and the islands of the Geelvink Bay :—

“New Guinea. Mysore. Jobi. Mafoor.
“Piilopus rivolit . . . . 1 — — 1
Ptilopus miquelt . . . . — —_ 1 =
Ptilopus speciosus . . . ) — it “= 1
Ptilopus bellus 2. 1 — -= —

“The females of the four species are green nearly all over, differ a little
in size, but are difficult to distinguish one from another. The males are all
green on their upper parts, P. speciosus and P. rivoli shading a little more into
bronze. Except P. speciosus, they all have a red patch on the head; P. spe-

ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 63

ciosus shows only a small violet stripe; but the colours of their underparts
are such as to enable one to distinguish them at a glance. The most similar
to one another are P. speciosus and P. bellus ; they have a white breast-shield,
the upper part of which is citron-yellow. Besides, the belly has a large
patch in P. bellus rosy red, in P. speciosus violet; the abdomen and under
tail-coverts are yellow. P. rivolit is more like P. bellus, but has the white
breast-shield entirely without the yellow; the belly has a rosy-red patch, like
P. bellus ; the abdomen and under tail-coverts are sometimes yellow, some-
times green variegated with yellow. Lastly, P. miquelii has neither yellow
on the white breast-shield nor a red patch on the belly, notwithstanding it
has the red on the head; abdomen and under tail-coverts yellow. But a
small feature of P. miquelii, not to be overlooked or neglected, is a stripe of
bluish-green feathers bordering the white breast-shield below—a character
which contributes remarkably to the beauty of the species.

“Except P. miquelii, all have been figured :—P. rivolit several times,
- among others by Mad. Knip, Pig. ii. pl. 57, and by Des Murs, Icon. Orn.
pl. 4; P. bellus by Dr. Sclater, P.Z.S. 1873, pl. 57; P. speciosus by
von Rosenberg, Reistochten, pl. xv.

“The bird in the Plate accompanying Mr. Rowley’s paper was drawn
after a specimen killed on the island of Jobi, near Ansus, by myself in April
1873, now belonging to the Dresden Museum.

“'T’o characterize the four species better than words do, they ought to
be figured together on one plate. How Nature likes to vary the same
character, would be apparent to all observers as it is striking to every one
who sees the four birds together in skins. One cannot leave off speculating
how these differences may have originated. As they nearly coincide with
insular isolation, one might be inclined to connect these two circumstances ;
but at present we are totally at a loss to say why the males have altered in

64 ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS.

this manner, and the females not: I mean, we have no satisfactory idea about
the mode and process of the alteration of colour and marking.

“ By the above diagram of geographical distribution, it is to be seen
that on New Guinea itself occur Ptilopus rivolii and P. bellus; but they
have not, till now, been found together— P. bellus only on the Arfak mountains,
P. rivoliti on the coast of New Guinea, opposite Salawati. The Arfak
mountains can perhaps be considered equivalent to an insular elevation. On
the island of Mysore only P. speciosus occurs, closely allied to P. bellus; on
the island of Jobi only P. miquelit ; on the island of Mafoor P. speciosus and
P.rwoliti together. This is obvious, Mafoor being a smallisland. But it would
be premature to reason about the facts, as perhaps a more accurate know-
ledge of the fauna of these parts of the globe than we now possess will show
us that the real geographical distribution of these four interesting species of
Pigeons is different from what we now suppose.”

The bird from which the Plate is taken is a good specimen, which was
kindly lent to me for the use of this work by Dr. Meyer, Director of the
Dresden Museum. It is represented the size of life.

[To BE CONTINUED. |

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MISUBLLAN Y,

PMIVINE LIPO LUA LT

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SUSS]I

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SOWDEN

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(FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AUGUST 18, 1877.)

ON SUSSEX HERONRIES.

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

Ir was almost the last victory which the Scots gained over the English
(February 27, 1545, at “Ancram Muir’’), and Angus was about to charge
the shaken ranks of the invaders, when a Heron rose out of the moor.
Now, though that Earl (the grandson of old Bell-the-cat) knew a Hawk
from a Heronshawe, and was brother-in-law to Henry VIII., he had probably
read but little of Homer; or the happy omen of a similar circumstance,
since so well rendered by Pope, would have entered his mind. He did not
quote it, neither will I; but he shouted, “I would my good Gos-hawk were
here: we should all yoke together.”” (Cf. Froude’s ‘ History of England,’
vol. iv. p. 397.)

Leaving, however, that wintry day in 1545, and turning to the hot one
of August 18, 1877, when the photographer went from Brighton and took
the two photographs which have been reproduced, I will say a word on the
heronry at Great Sowden Wood, near Brede, the property of Mr. Edward
Frewen, of Brickwall, Northiam, Sussex, who kindly gave his permission,

and placed his keeper at my service for the purpose.

Mr. Harting puts the existing number of British heronries at more .
than two hundred, in a useful paper in the ‘Zoologist,’ 2nd ser. 1872,
pp- 3261-3272. Concerning Sussex he enumerates them as follows :—

“One at Windmill Hill, Hurstmonceux (Mr. Curteis); one formerly in

VOL. Il. L

66 ON SUSSEX HERONRIES.

Park Wood, near Brede (Lord George Cavendish), and now in Sowden’s
Wood, Brede (Mr. Frewen), consisting of about 400 nests upon oak and
aspen; and one at Parham.

‘Concerning the last-named, the owner was good enough to write to
me, in July last, as follows :—‘'The heronry here consists of 117 nests, up to
the 15th of April, mostly made of birch twigs, though they are built on fir
trees. After the first batch are able to fly, the old birds repair the nests for
a second incubation ; and the young birds one or two years old begin to make
new nests, which are not nearly so large as the old nests. They rob the
Rooks’ nests to build their own; and frequent battles ensue between the
Herons and the Rooks, who also rob the Herons when they can. The
ancestors of these Herons are said to have been brought from Coity Castle,
in Wales, by the falconer of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in Queen
Elizabeth’s time, to Penshurst, from whence they migrated, about sixty or
seventy years ago, to Mitchelgrove, near Worthing ;

t=)

and on the trees being

999

cut there, they came to Parham in 1832.

As regards the Parham one, Mr. Knox has described that colony so well
in his ‘ Ornithological Rambles’ that nothing more need be said.

In the ‘ Sussex Archeological Collections,’ vol. xxvil. 1877, pp. 110-116,
the Rev. F. H. Arnold, LL.B., has an amusing article on the heronries of the
county, with a woodcut of the “Heronry and Rookery at Windmill-Fill
Place, the seat of H. M. Curteis, Esq.” Here both species dwell in
harmony.

Of Brede, at Udimore, near Rye, the same gentleman says, “The owner
has kindly supplied the following information :—

«The heronry at Brede is situated in the north-east corner of the Great
Sowden’s Wood. About twenty years ago some 400 nests could be counted ;

ON SUSSEX HERONRIES. 67

but at present there are barely 200 nests. I cannot in any way account for
the decrease in their numbers, as the greatest care is taken to preserve them,
and no timber or underwood in proximity to the heronry has been cut for a
great many years, so as to avoid disturbing them. ‘The trees in which they
build are, for the most part, large oaks, under which nothing grows but
brambles. The wood is about eighty acres in extent, and lies on the side of
a hill facing the north. The Rye and Finchall turnpike-road runs along the
top of the wood; and by driving along the road, the birds can be plainly
seen on their nests in the spring-time. The Tillingham, well stocked with
fish, runs along the north side of the cover; and about half a mile to the
south the Brede river flows.
“¢ Yours faithfully,

« « Brickwall, Northiam, Sussex, “<< EpwARD FREWEN.’
“« December 1876. ”

Mr. Arnold adds a curious fact :—At Fyvie, near Turriff, Mr. Sim
states, ‘‘ Herons do sometimes have their nests in a rookery; one had its
nest two years in succession in the Fyvie rookery, no other Heron’s nest
being known within six miles.”

Rooks and Herons do not always live together in peace. Bewick states
(vol. ii. p. 39, note) that “at Dallam Tower, Westmoreland, the seat of
Daniel Wilson, Esq.,” in 1775, there was a violent contest, which cost many
lives and lasted two years. The Herons gained the victory; but it should
be observed that they were driven into the fight by their own trees being

cut down.

At Sowden Wood one very remarkable fact is stated by Mr. Frewen, in
a letter on the subject :—“ There is no underwood below the trees, as nothing
will grow but brambles, the Herons’ droppings being most destructive and

poisonous. It is a good find for a fox ; I expect they come there for fish &c.
L 2

68 ON SUSSEX HERONRIES.

which are dropped.” Perhaps also for the young ones, of which thirteen or
fourteen were blown out last year.

It would appear that the Heron does not condescend to pick up a fish
when lost, in which respect it resembles the Fish-hawk, or Osprey, of
America (Falco halizetus). Wilson mentions that one let fall a fine flounder,
which served a whole family for dinner (vol. il. p. 112). I say “‘ American
Fish-hawk,”’ because the ornithologists of England and America are divided
as to there being one or two species in the respective countries, and I always
listen to American naturalists. These Herons drop a great many fish.

The above is a case of foxes eating fish. In a book on the Country
between the Danube and Black Sea, by Henry C. Barkley, p. 82, we find :—

“On one occasion R—— and I determined to dig out an earth, with
the hope of getting a young fox totame. First the earth ran winding in for
about five yards, where there was a bolt-hole; and about three yards further
on was an oven-shaped room, as big as a large hamper, the sides and floor
of which were swept quite clean and free from dust. ‘There were several
rooms at the sides of the passages, in one of which we found the following
provisions, all quite fresh—a leveret, a turtledove, seven roach, and three
goose’s eggs. We were greatly astonished at the time; and to this day it
remains a puzzle to me how the foxes caught the fish, and how they could
carry such large eggs. The eggs were unbroken; and the fish had not a
mark upon them. We took them all home and eat them. I take it this was
the first time a man had taken a dinner from a fox !”’

The foxes probably obtained the fish in the same way that the Sowden
ones get theirs*.

* Foxes are not the only quadrupeds which assail breeding birds. We find the same done
by bears, badgers, wolves, &c. ; for Colonel Prjevalsky says of Ciconia boyciana (cf. antec, p. 50) :—
“A great many nests of the present species are destroyed by Tibet bears (Ursus thibetanus), who
climb up to the nests and eat the young birds.” Also Jacques Cartier, the discoverer of Canada, in
his ‘ Voyages’ (1534-1542), states, of the Polar bears (Ursus maritimus), that they will swim to an

ON SUSSEX HERONRIES. 69

A few Hawks and Carrion-Crows breed among the Herons; and the
Carrion-Crows are always masters. In the winter time the Pigeons associate
with the Herons, which go away to feed upon the Winchelsea and Pevensey
marshes. From Pevensey to St. Leonards you observe chiefly marshes full
of black cattle. The space between the sea and the firm land is locally

’

termed “the Swatchway ;” and it is on this Swatchway that the Herons get
their living. Here you may see “a sege of Herons,”’ to use the language of

old writers (¢f. Daniel’s ‘ Rural Sports,’ vol. iii. p. 314).

About forty-five years ago, George Noakes, the woodman, who has been
there sixty years, observed a strange circumstance :—Just where a small
stream or drain ran onto the mud or Swatchway, there were congregated eels
without number, on which some twenty Herons were feeding; he obtained
a rake, and raked up a vast many of the former. This place is now silted
up; and to the gradual reduction of the mud I should fancy the decline of this
heronry might be traced.

The woodinan considers that these Herons chiefly feed on eels; but the
Rev. Richard Lubbock, in ‘ Fauna of Norfolk,’ p. 137, says :—‘‘ The Heron,
in Norfolk, gets half his subsistence from the fry of this fish [7@. e. the Pike] ;

island fourteen leagues distant from the mainland to devour the Razorbills (Alca torda). Again,
we find in the ‘Times’ report of the Arctic expedition, October 31, 1876, as follows :—“<The
Greenland shore, off which the ship lay, was infested with Owls, whose nests the sailors were very
quick in discovering. When the spring set in they laid snares for the old ones, and determined to
carry home a large consignment of owlets; but when the young were all but fully grown, wolves
descended on them in nearly every instance, and eat them. This was very strange, as there were
not more than a couple of wolves seen in the neighbourhood of the ship. Robbing the nests was a
work of great danger, because the old Owls descended upon the men and darted at their eyes; and it
required no ordinary wariness to keep them off.”

The badger proves himself a member of the Urside in the same way; for Mr. Frederick
Swabey, of Conyton Park, says, in the ‘Times,’ October 26, 1877, in a letter headed “ Anti-
badger :’—Badgers “every year take a great many of my domesticated Wild Ducks’ eggs. This
year they took two of my Wild Ducks off their nests while sitting. Their tracks were very plain.”

70 ON SUSSEX HERONRIES.

those which were taken by Falcons at Didlington had always small pike in

their maws.”’

At Sowden Wood, in spring, the birds can be seen from the road
standing in rows, like a regiment of soldiers. But it would be impossible to
photograph groups of birds on the move; and even the young Heron which
may be observed in his nest in the lithograph, would perversely open and
shut his mandibles, to the annoyance of those taking his portrait ; while he,
on his part, wondered why his fond parent failed to disgorge the expected
eel from her own into his mouth.

Noakes says the Herons chiefly feed at night, in which he is confirmed
by Macgillivray (‘British Birds,’ vol. iv. p. 448), but adds:—“TI do not
think they see objects so well in the dusk; for I have known two or three
to pass overhead within shot whilst I was quite unconcealed. On another
occasion, when I was down amongst the rocks by moonlight, one alighted
close beside me (at not a dozen yards distance, I suppose), and did not seem
to be aware of me till I frightened it off.”’

When the Herons at Sowden Wood are sitting, you may pelt them with
stones, but they will not rise from the nest.

Noakes, the woodman, says that he has eaten a Heron in a dumpling,
all except the legs *, and reports it ‘‘ beautiful.’’ Now I have done the same,

* Noakes affirms that when the Heron stands in the water the greasiness of the legs attracts
the eels. But this is a very curious belief for a Sussex labourer to hold in 1877, because, if we turn
to Lloyd’s ‘ Scandinavian Adventures,’ vol. ii. p. 388, we find it stated that ‘‘the common people
in Sweden think that its legs have a peculiar odour, whereby fish are attracted to the spot.”
Pontopiddan says :—“ Its long legs are a great help to it to get provisions. On these legs are a
very few fine hairs, which play softly in the water; and that motion entices the fish, who are not
aware of the devouring beak.” Lloyd quotes this, and observes :—“The real attraction consists
probably in the droppings of the bird.” This is perhaps the true solution ; for there appears to be
something in so widely spread a belief ; and though Noakes has never read the work of the fine old
bishop, yet, being a practical observer, his observation means something.

ON SUSSEX HERONRIES. 71

and found it taste like hare, but do not wish to try the dish again: Our
ancestors must, I think, have partaken out of sentiment ; and the Jews lost
nothing by the Levitical prohibition, as it appears to me.

Nevertheless, in the ‘ Boke of Kervinge,’ printed by Wynkyn de Worde
(mentioned by Daniel, in his ‘ Rural Sports,’ vol. iii. p. 316), among other
good dishes of which the technical terms are given—such as ‘“‘ Unbrace that
Mallard,” “ Wynge that Partriche,’ “Thye that Woodcock,’—we have
“* Dismembre that Heron.”

To obtain a heronry is not easy. We find, in the ‘ Architecture of
Birds,’ p. 184 :—‘ Belon tells us that ‘the Heron is royal meat, on which
the French nobility set great value;’ and he mentions it as one of the
extraordinary feats performed by the ‘divine king’ Francis I., that he
formed two artificial heronries at Fontainebleau—‘ the very elements them-
selves,’ he adds, ‘obeying the commands of the divine king (whom God

999

absolve!) ; for to force Nature is a working partaking of Divinity.

A really wild heronry, not protected, and perhaps the last vestige of a
natural fen object of the kind, is mentioned by Pishey 'Thompson in his
‘History of Boston,’ p. 676.

He there gives an account of “a large tree, which formerly stood on
the western border of the parish of Leake, and nearly adjoining the high
road from Leverton.” This “was for a long time the resort of a very
considerable number of Herons.” The tree was “literally covered with their
nests ; it was taken down about twenty-five years ago”’ (i.e. from 1856).

This is the famous Heronshawe tree of Leake. I went to the spot, and
received an account of it from a person who remembers it well, and says it
was an ash, and had about twenty-five nests upon it. Fifty-five years ago
from March 1877 (i. e. in March 1822) an artist took a drawing of the tree ;
and his sketch was afterwards spun or woven into a tablecloth. It was
early in the morning, and the Herons were feeding their young.

“I
cos)

ON SUSSEX HERONRIES,

The number of nests on this ash is less than those on the celebrated oak
of Cressy Hall, Spalding, on which Pennant counted eighty. Trees were
scarce in the Lincolnshire fen; so the birds made the most of the one
at Leake. Heronshawe Hall is mentioned in Pishey Thompson.

Though British Herons prefer trees when they can get them, we must
not forget that these birds build their nests upon the ground at times. In
his account of this species (Ardea cinerea), Colonel Prjevalsky says (anted,
p. 49), they “choose for their nesting-places the small, thick, reedy islands
of the river Lefa. . . . Here the nests are very numerous, close to each
other, all being built of the same shape and very carelessly. Some twigs,
without any lining, form the whole structure, which is of a flat shape and
not elevated beyond two or three feet above the water-mark. It is difficult
to understand how the eggs do not get injured in these nests during
a strong wind.”

Our common Heron (Ardea cinerea) cannot hold his own with the bird
of Central America (Ardea cocoi, Linn.). Some years ago I received one of
the latter by ship, and presented him to the Zoological Society. Birds that
have made voyages are usually tame; the sailors soon make them so; but this
Heron proved an exception. Being placed in an aviary with an English bird,
arose, and the stranger soon laid the Britisher dead at his
feet. After this exploit he lived some years in the gardens of the Society ;
and I used to see him at times there, where he may be still for aught
I know.

“a difficulty

At the end of September 1877, outside Brighton, some clap-nets were
set by a pond; and a young Heron, having settled on the ground near, was
driven into one of them and caught. This was the only instance I ever knew
of this bird being so taken.

ON SUSSEX HERONRIES. 73

The Sowden-Wood heronry is illustrated by a woodcut by Mr. Pearson
and a lithograph by Mr. Keulemans, both copied from photographs taken for
this work.

In the woodcut the general aspect is given as the spectator stands
in the Rye-and-Finchall turnpike-road and looks down on the tops of
the trees, which are not allowed to be cut. In the left-hand corner, on the
opposite hills, may be observed certain hop-gardens, in which no “ pickers ”’
have yet arrived. Soon, however, will a quarter of a million* of such persons
carry off the hops to be “oasted”’ (@.e. dried by a charcoal fire) at the
oasting-house, of which every farm has one, some more. Here they will be
put into “ pockets ;” while he who treads them down comes out a “green
man, and the steam and smell can be perceived to a long distance.

In the lithograph, I am bound to say (for pictorial truth should be most
sacred, which it frequently is not!), the Herons had to be put in after-
wards: though they were there, they could not be photographed. It is
observable how late these nests of young Herons were. In a large wood,
however, it is not easy to photograph the nests ; standing out in a park, they
could be better seen.

In conclusion, if an ornithologist were to make out a list of birds
prominent in classical or modern superstition, both as respects water and
land (such as, notably, the Kingfisher and the Vulture} in the one, and the
Petrel or the Magpie in the other), he would perhaps enumerate the Heron
in both.

* This number is founded on an estimate in an article published in the ‘Times,’ Thursday,
August 30, 1877, where it is stated that from London alone at least 35,000 pickers start, and that
Kent and Sussex employ a quarter of amillion, The London, Chatham, and Dover Company takes
these people at reduced fares.

+ Romulus and Remus.

VOL. III. M

imp

Hanhart

CHLORGNAS SUBVINACEA. Lawrence
a Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

Tue following is from ‘ A Catalogue of the Birds of Costa Rica,’ by George
N. Lawrence, p. 135 (reprinted from the ‘ Annals of the Lyceum of Natural
History in New York,’ vol. ix. April 1868) :— —

‘448. CHLORG@NAS SUBVINACEA, Sp. 0.

“ Male. Head, neck, and under plumage light purplish vinaceous, darker
on the abdomen and sides; the throat paler, and of a fulvous tinge; back,
wing-coverts, and rump brownish cinnamon; tail of a fine dark brown,
slightly purplish, except the two central feathers, which are rather lighter
in colour and incline to olivaceous brown; the upper tail-coverts are of the
same colour as the central tail-feathers; the quills are dark brown, the
primaries blackish on the outer webs, which are narrowly margined with
pale cinnamon, the inner webs of the quill-feathers are broadly marked with
. dull pale cinnamon to near their ends ; the under wing-coverts are vinaceous,
varied with cinnamon; bill black; feet yellow.

‘“‘ Length (fresh) 133 inches, wing 63, tail 53, tarsi 3.

“ Habitat. Dota. Collected by F. Carmiol, February 26th, 1867. Type
in Mus. Smiths. Inst. no. 47575.

“The female is a little smaller, 124 inches in length, and differs in

M 2

76 CHLORGNAS SUBVINACEA.

plumage only in being less vinaceous on the lower part of the hind neck and
abdomen, where it is brownish cinnamon.

“‘ Remarks. There are four specimens of this species in the collection, all
agreeing in plumage. It differs from C. vinacea in being generally lighter in
colour, the back and rump being cinnamon-brown instead of dull dark
vinous; the wings of C. vinacea are of an olivaceous cast, and the inner webs
of the quills are not of a cinnamon-colour as in the present species.

“ C. nigrirostris, Scl., is either this or C. vinacea, and has the back and
wings dark olive-brown.”’

Mr. Boucard states to me that the specimen from which the Plate is
taken, now in my collection, was killed at an altitude of 7000 feet, on the
Volcan de Irazu, among a small flock of ten birds distributed on several
trees ; usually about two or four individuals rest on each tree. The species
keeps to the mountains, and feeds on seeds. When acorns appear, as they
do in May, this Pigeon is frequently seen in the oak forest ; and, Mr. Boucard
adds, here it lives.

The date on this skin, which is that of a male, is July 5th, 1877.

lees o

eae)

y LULL

GEOTRYGON RUFIVENTRIS, Lawrence.
By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

Tue following appeared in a reprint from the ‘Annals of the Lyceum
of Natural History in New York,’ vol. xi. February 1875 :—

“ 1X.—Description of Four New Species of Birds from Costa Rica.
By Grorce N. Lawrence. (Read December 21, 1874.)”

At p. 90 :—

“3. GEOTRYGON RUFIVENTRIS.

“ Front and a line under the eye, extending as far as the occiput, light
salmon-colour; crown, hind neck, upper part of back, throat, and upper
part of breast of a rather dull violet-purple, on the lower part of the breast
merging into brownish ash; lower part of back, rump, and upper tail-coverts
of a dull bronzy olive-green ; tail-feathers brownish black, the ends lighter
or ashy brown; abdomen, vent, and sides dull brownish rufous, on the
middle of the abdomen is a patch of white feathers just tinged with rufous ;
under tail-coverts dark brown, largely ending with rufous; wing-coverts,
secondaries, and tertiaries olive-brown, primaries brownish black, the shafts
of a reddish or hazel-brown ; under wing-coverts and axillars deep cinnamon-
red; inner webs of primaries at base dull pale cinnamon; bill black ; feet in
the dried specimen of yellowish flesh-colour.

“The sex is not given.

78 GEOTRYGON RUFIVENTRIS.

“Length about 9 inches; wing 54; tail 37; bill from front ?, from
rictus 1, tarsus 12.

“* Habitat. Costa Rica, Talamanca. ‘Type in National Museum.

““ Remarks. The number of handsome species of this genus discovered
in Central America within the last few years is quite remarkable, this making
the sixth; it is, however, much more sombre-looking than most of its allies,
the colour being darker and more subdued. It is so unlike all others of the
genus that no comparisons are required.”

Mr. Boucard informs me that the specimens from which the Plate is
taken came from Agua Dulce, Panama. The species inhabits the tropical
forests, and keeps on the ground, feeding on seeds and perhaps insects. It
is rather rare, and difficult to detect.

The natives are very fond of these birds to eat, and have applied the
name ‘‘ paloma del monte”’ (forest-dove) to them.

The skins are male and female, with date December 1876.

J Smit hth

LEPTOPTILA CASSINI, Lawrence.

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

Tue male bird from which the Plate is taken was shot by Mr. A. Boucard
at San Carlos, Costa Rica, February 1877. A curious fact is also stated by
by him, namely that he killed it on the nest, which circumstance made him
think that it was the female; but he says that he took care to note the sex
when dissecting the specimen, and he is quite sure about it. ‘The female was
very close to the spot; but no shot was obtained.

Although he killed this bird on the nest, yet the eggs remained
uninjured, and were two in number. These have passed into my collection ;
and very pretty they are. ‘The long diameter is 1;, inch, the short
diameter { inch, and the shape most elegant; while the colour is a delicate
cream.

Mr. Boucard informs me that the nest was built on the fork of a small
tree, and, being only about five yards from the ground, was reached with
facility. It was composed of small pieces of dry wood.

Mr. Boucard saw several other birds of the same species, but could not
obtain more than this specimen. He always observed them in dense forests,
on the ground and in pairs, and found them capital to eat.

San Carlos is a large valley which divides the Republic of Costa Rica
from that of Nicaragua, and is quite tropical. The rancho where he was
living is at the altitude of 500 feet ; and the valley itself is only inhabited by

80 LEPTOPTILA CASSINI.

four Costaricenses, or people of Costa Rica, who have made openings in the
magnificent virgin forests, and follow the occupation of fattening cattle.
The trees found here are mahogany, cedar, and india-rubber, with others ; but
these are the most conspicuous.

I have had some doubts as to the identity of my skin; it might possibly
be Leptoptila cerviniventris, Sclater and Salvin; ¢f. P. Z.5. 1868, p. 59, where
those ornithologists have a joint article; in it they say, under the head of

“L. CERVINIVENTRIS, Sp. NOvV.,

“ Sim. L. cassini, sed pectore dilutiore et vinaceo tincto et ventre summo saturate cervino differt.”

The two species appear to run rather close. The authors say, in the
above article, that they are acquainted with eight species of the genus
Leptoptila, which, they state, “may be easily distinguished from all other
genera of Columbide (except Peristera) by the peculiar acumination of the
outer primary. All of them have the under wing-coverts deep cinnamomeous
or chestnut, and the outer tail-feathers more or less terminated with white.”

In the ‘ Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium’ (1873), by the same two
ornithologists (pp. 133, 134), we find the eight species have become eleven.

The Plate represents the bird the size of life.

dane qreyre Ht NY

ANVITAOSIN, TVOISOTOHLINGO

2481 INN LZ
AVMTIVY NUAHLYON LVAYO 'NOLLVLIS AGNVS
(20002 27.4709) NILUYVW GNVS FHL JO SWOH FHL

Yqt[ Suwusta ney 4 ’[

COTYLE RIPARIA.

(The Sand-Martin.)

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

WuereE should we expect to find the Sand-Martin, if not at Sandy? There
are, however, not a great many; the publicity of the place and the want of
protection to the birds, together with the constant excavation going on for
railway purposes, keep the numbers down.

The lithograph is from a photograph taken on the spot, for this work,
on the 27th of June, 1877.

The colony established itself in 1877; and all the holes are fresh. The
birds are quite tame, and almost touch the men when digging, or settle upon
them. A pair take about a week to make a nest in the sand, which is here
about eighteen feet deep. his railway-station has long been famous for
Sand- Martins.

When the eggs have been incubated a little while, the fleas abound to
such an extent that I have seen them fall out like rain. White, of Selborne,
mistook this insect for the common bed-flea (Pulex irritans); whereas,
according to Mr. Harting’s note to his edition of the ‘ History of Selborne,’
p. 200, “it appears even to be distinct from the flea of the Swallow, Pulex
hirundinis (Stephens), and has been described as P. bifasciatus (Curtis).”

VOL. III. N

82 COTYLE RIPARIA.

The young of the House-Martin (Hirundo urbica) abound with what
seem to be lice (Anoplura); and Mr. P. J. van Beneden says, in ‘ Animal
Parasites,’ p. 121, that Martins ‘are usually infested by many vermin,
among which we find a fly of considerable size, which looks much like
a spider—the Ornithomya hirundinis. It moves about among the feathers
with astonishing facility, and is not always confined to the same bird; it
quits its host to establish itself upon another, and sometimes throws itself
upon man to suck his blood. Some years ago these insects penetrated, in
the middle of the night, through the open windows, into one of the
apartments of the Military Hospital at Louvain; and the next morning the
skin of many of the patients, and especially the bed-linen, were covered with
stains of blood. ‘The physicians sent me some of these insects, not knowing
whence they had come or whether they had been the cause of this
annoyance. During the night these Ornithomyie had quitted their hosts to
attack the soldiers.

Stenopteryx hirundinis. Ornithomyia avicularia*.

The woodcuts represent Stenopteryx hirundinis and Ornithomyia avicu-
laria—the former drawn from an example in the British Museum, the latter
from specimens obtained by me alive at Brighton, in August, taken off the
Brown Linnet (Linota cannabina, Linn.), and said by the birdcatchers also
to frequent the Stonechat and Yellowhammer. The two are very different,
as will be seen by the illustrations.

* Tn the ‘Insecta Britannica,’ by Walker, is a long description of this fly. It has been
described as O. viridis, Latreille and Meigen, and O. fringillina, Curtis.

COTYLE RIPARIA. 83

The agility and quickness of the latter fly is astonishing: it runs in under
the feathers about the shoulders ; and although the bird may flutter a good
deal, the insect is not disturbed; nor does its presence cause uneasiness,
though it is said to make quite a sore place at times, and red spots. When
driven out, which it is with difficulty, it resumes its position immediately.
Sometimes these flies, of which the body is hard, will slip through the fingers
and get into the men’s whiskers.

It is to be presumed that when the Swallow and the Linnet migrate
they take their respective parasites with them; but this I am unable to state
as a fact. They would seem to quit a dead bird very shortly after its life is
gone, and to have an immediate apprehension of something wrong when you
handle their living host. Both are figured and described in Francis Walker’s
‘Insecta Britannica’ (vol. ii. pp. 287—289, and pl. xx.); also in Curtis’s
‘ British Entomology’ (vol. xiii. pl. 585).

I have specimens of these flies found on the Starling, Wheatear,
Blackcap, Whitethroat, &c., but have not determined the species in each
case. All taken this season.

Two Whitethroats were caught, and put into a cage. One was
examined, and a fly came out, but escaped; instead, however, of going
in another direction, it immediately made straight for the other Whitethroat,
and went under its feathers. This bird was so marked as to be known,
and was allowed to depart on a Monday. Next Saturday it was again
captured ; and on it was seen a fly, supposed (but, of course, only supposed)
to be the very individual above mentioned. The bird was certainly the same.

As regards Sand-Martins, it seems strange that an insect-eating
species should be infested with external parasites to such an extent; but
they appear to do no harm, any more than internal ones, of which
Van Beneden mentions a most remarkable instance (pp. 90 & 91):—
**Nathusius speaks of a Black Stork which lodged twenty-four Filarie
lobate in its lungs, sixteen Syngami tracheales in the tracheal artery,

N 2

84 COTYLE RIPARIA.

besides more than a hundred Spiroptere alate within the membranes of
the stomach, several hundreds of the Holostomum excavatum in the smaller
intestine, a hundred of the Distoma ferox in the large intestine, twenty-
two of the Distoma hians in the cesophagus, and a Distoma echinatum in
the small intestine; yet the bird did not appear to be in the least
inconvenienced.”

Mr. John Wolley (in the ‘ Ootheca Wolleyana,’ edited by Alfred Newton,
M.A. &c., p. 19) relates an amusing adventure with the fleas of the Golden
Eagle, though he does not determine the species. He jumps into a nest of
that bird, and says :—‘“‘ Resting on my hands and knees, I felt, as I thought,
a lot of flies crawling on my hands. On closer inspection, I saw they were
fleas, and my arms and legs were swarming with them. I beat a retreat....
With the help of flint and steel a fire was made with moss and heather ; and
I stripped tothe skin. After an hour or two’s hard picking and smoking, the
clothes were handed over to me, one by one, as I sat at some distance, and I
extracted a few score more, but still put many around me.”

In one or two cases, at Sandy, the Sand-Martins had been obliged to
yield their habitations to Starlings; and a similar instance is mentioned in the
‘ Zoologist,’ 3rd ser. July 1877, p. 301, by Mr. C. Matthew Prior (Bedford) :—
‘‘T was greatly surprised one day, in passing a sand-pit, to find that Starlings
had taken possession of all the Sand-Martin’s holes. On coming again a
month later, most of the birds had young ones. It was very amusing to see
the way in which they entered the hole: on getting about 150 yards from
the entrance, they sailed gracefully into it, giving a few hurried flaps with
their wings on gaining the aperture.”

It is curious that a Robin should seize a Sand-Martin’s nest; but so
we find in Mr. Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe’ (part xxxii, September 1874,
Cotyle riparia, p. 6), on the authority of Mr. Cecil Smith, who has a quarry

COTYLE RIPARIA. 85

on his property, and says :—‘* When the earth was being taken off, a pair of
Robins were found to have taken possession of one of the Sand-Martin’s
holes, and had already laid three eggs in it.”

Mr. Dresser also states that the Sparrow will sometimes hold and
occupy a gallery*.

The bird under examination is a true miner; and if we examine its bill,
we see how well adapted it is for the work. Insects, such as sand-wasps
(Sphecide, Leach) and some bees, excavate galleries in hard sand—the
former with caliper-like mandibles; but the process is different. The bird’s
mode of mining has been so often described that it is needless to repeat it.

The range of the Sand-Martin is fully given in Mr. Dresser’s ‘ Birds of
Europe ;’ and Mr. Sharpe’s table of distribution of African Hirundinide may
be consulted with advantage (P. Z S. 1870, p. 320). ‘The same writer says
also (p. 297) :—“ Our well-known Sand-Martin only extends into North-
eastern Africa. Dr. von Heuglin states that it is rather rare in N.E. Africa

and Arabia.”

One thing is much to be wished, that in our country all classes of
people would protect such beautiful and harmless colonies as those of this
charming and useful little Swallow. Pallas says that ‘‘on the high banks
of the Irtish their nests are in some places so numerous that when
disturbed they came out in vast flocks, and filled the air like flies.” Why
should we not have such scenes as this? Kindness to poor little birds

ought to be a part of all religions, and ist.

* Tt does not appear that the nest of the Sand-Martin ever became a popular sign; the
“Martin’s Nest” at Thornhill Bridge, Normanton, mentioned in Larwood and Hotten’s ‘ Sign-
boards,’ p. 178, was probably the House-Martin’s.

+ Mr. L. Lloyd, in ‘Game-birds and Wild-fowl of Sweden and Norway,’ p. 175, mentions an
amusing instance of the way in which religion protects the Partridge in Sweden :—‘ On the last
Sunday in Lent the Governor’s order, prohibiting the capture or shooting of Partridges from
November to August, was notified from all the pulpits within the diocese of Gotland. Scareely was

86 COTYLE RIPARIA.

The maxim “Be merciful, because you have need of mercy,” is one
thing; but I would rather put it on this ground, “ Be merciful, because you
feel your Divine origin.” So Father Felician to Evangeline, in Longfellow’s
story—

“O daughter! thy God thus speaketh within thee ! ”

Before leaving the subject of Sandy station and its birds, I may say I
have rarely seen any place presenting so many interesting features. Here
you may dig up bones of extinct animals, Roman pots, coins, &c. pretty freely.
One day, having to wait some time for a train, I said, “‘ Let us spend the interval
in excavation ;”’ having, therefore, obtained a spade and man from a cottage,
we soon turned up a Roman coin, which I now have. While looking at the
Sand- Martins’ nests, the diggers brought me a human skull, which they had
just found; and I gave them a trifle to bury it again. Not a single stone
occurs in this fine bed, except perhaps a black pebble or so at the bottom.

church, when a fine cock Partridge,

the reading of the above announcement concluded in B
as if aware of the powerful protection just accorded him, boldly entered the sacred edifice, and,
marching up the middle aisle, stationed himself for a couple of minutes in front of the pulpit.
Here this unwonted church-goer was, for the time, carefully taken in charge, and afterwards
restored to liberty, it being contrary to the law just promulgated to detain him a prisoner.”

THE BIRDS

OF
MONGOLIA, THE TANGUT COUNTRY,
; AND THE

SOLITUDES OF NORTHERN TIBET.
By Lrevt.-Cor. N. PRJEVALSKY.
[Continued from p. 53. |

Order VI. GRALL (continued).

932. Toranus ocuropus, L. Ulit travnic.

Occurs throughout Mongolia, except the Ala-shan mountains, and seems
to arrive there about the middle of April, when it can usually be seen, either
singly or in pairs, on the shores of rivers or on marshes, but does not stop
to breed, although a few specimens have been noticed in the Hoang-ho valley
in the month of July. In Kan-su we saw it once in the end of September,
and never at Koko-nor, perhaps on account of our having been there only
late in autumn and early in spring.

T. ochropus is rather common in spring in Ussuri from about the 20th of
April, when we met with a few birds at Lake Hanka. The autumnal
migration takes place in August.

88 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

233. ToTANUS GLAREOLA.

Common in 8.E. Mongolia about the end of April, when migrating, and
is plentiful in summer in the Hoang-ho valley. We did not find it in
Kan-su and Koko-nor, but several times observed it in Gobi, about small
rain-puddles.

{s extremely common about Lake Hanka during the spring migration,
which commences in the latter part of April and lasts until the middle of
May. The autumnal migration takes place in August; and although 7.
glareola has been found breeding on the Ussuri, it never came under my
observation in summer anywhere about Hanka.

234. Toranus cauipris, L. Ulit nastojashchey.

Breeds sparingly in the Hoang-ho valley and about the shores of small
rivers in §.E. Mongolia, whither it migrates in the end of March, about which
~ time it was also numerous at Koko-nor, and in August, during migration,
about the rain-puddles in Gobi. We did not find it in the Ussuri country.

235. Toranus Fuscus, L. Uht temney.

We met with this species in S.E. Mongolia during the spring migration,
in the end of March. At Lake Hanka it arrives early in March, but is not
common until the beginning of April (when it for some time keeps in small
flocks), and does not stop here to breed.

236. Toranus Guortis, L. Ulit bolshoy.

Is an occasional visitor to the Hoang-ho, and a migrant through Gobi
about the end of August. We did not observe it anywhere else in Mongolia.

It appears in limited numbers at Lake Hanka late in April; and single

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 89

ones are to be met with throughout the summer there, as well as on the
Ussuri. In August it becomes again more abundant ; and in September and
the early part of October it was not scarce on the coasts of the Japanese Sea.

237. TRINGOIDES HyPoLEuCcos, L. Beregovnic serey.

Sometimes it breeds at the rivers of S.E. Mongolia, is more common on
the Hoang-ho, but does not occur in Ala-shan. In Kan-su and Halha it was
met with only on its autumnal migration. It is extremely abundant in the
Ussuri country, and arrives at Lake Hanka in the middle of April, leaving
again in September.

238. Recurvirostra AvoceTtTa, Bonn. Shilocluvka.

This is a tolerably common spring migrant to S.E. Mongolia, about the
end of March, when it principally keeps to the shores of saltwater lakes, in
small flocks of from five to fifteen individuals; and not being pursued, it
becomes tame.

We found it breeding on the Yellow River, and noticed that the first
birds arrived in spring in Koko-nor on the 17th of March, where they were
not scarce throughout the month.

It does not occur in the Ussuri country.

239. Himantopus canpipus, Bonn. AHudulochnic acatka.

H. candidus breeds on the Hoang-ho only about small lakes and in
marshes. Some birds were observed on the 23rd of April, although others
might have been there before that date.

The bend of the Hoang-ho most likely forms the northern limit of this
bird’s distribution, as it has not been recorded either from Lake Baikal or
from the Amur.

VOL. III. )

90 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

240. ‘'RINGA TEMMINCKII, Leisl. Pesochnic Temmincka.

During the spring migration, which commences about the middle of
April, this species is tolerably common in S.E. Mongolia; and in the
summer, in July, we met with it in the Hoang-ho valley, where it probably
breeds. In Gobi a few migrating individuals were observed during the month
of August; they kept mostly to the small rain-pools. It does not occur in
Kan-su; nor did we find it at Koko-nor ; but its absence im the latter place
might be accounted for by our being there only late in autumn and early in
spring.

241. Trinca suBMiInutaA, Midd.

T. subminuta inhabits the whole of 5.E. Mongolia, with the exception of
the Ala-shan. We did not observe it at all in Kan-su and about Koko-nor.

242. TrRinea suparcuatTa, L. Pesochnic crivonosoy.

A few birds were obtained in the Hoang-ho valley in summer ; it most
likely breeds there.
In the Ussuri country, one was seen by me near Lake Hanka.

243. GALLINAGO scoLopactNna, Bp. Becas barashec.

Is rather a rare breeding bird in the Hoang-ho valley, and probably also
in S.E. Mongolia, where great numbers were seen on migration. This
commences very late, namely about the 10th of April, and lasts until the
beginning or middle of May.

On account of the scarcity of marshes, G. scolopacina inhabits the shores
of lakes. When there are morning frosts (which last until the end of
April, and occasionally even until the beginning of May), the shores of

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 91

the lakes being slightly frozen over, these birds depart into the deserts,
or hide themselves between the clumps of moss in the marshes, and wait
until the sun has melted the thin ice, when they again return to the lakes.

We saw this species only once in Kan-su, in September. At Koko-nor
the first migrants appeared on the 23rd of March, and were very abundant
there in the end of that month. In crossing the Gobi desert we did not
meet them, as they most likely migrate, like so many other birds, along the
eastern edge of Gobi.

At Lake Hanka they appear early in April, and are very numerous
about the middle of that month. Few stop, however, to breed there,
most likely on account of the scarcity of suitable localities in the marshes,
which are usually overgrown with high grass.

It is remarkable that during the principal migration I several times
noticed, about Lake Hanka, small flocks of from five to ten individuals flying
northwards, about 200 yards high.

244. GALLINAGO soLiTARIA, Hodgs.

We met with G. solitaria on the unfrozen brooks in the mountains of
5.E. Mongolia, in Northern Tibet, about Burchan Budda at an actual height
of 12,000 feet, and also in Kan-su and about Koko-nor. It was scarce in
all the above places, and was usually found singly in the most solitary
localities, commonly on dry shores of mountain-brooks, but never on clayey
ones.

Its spring migration occurs at Koko-nor between the 27th of February
and about the middle of March.

In the Ussuri country I met with it on the brooks free from ice near
Japanese Sea.

245. GALLINAGO HETEROCERCA, Cab.

Is only scarce in S.E. Mongolia, during migration about the beginning
o 2

92 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

of May, and has not been seen in the Hoang-ho valley, where the following
species breeds numerously ; but as it is very difficult to distinguish it from
the latter when on the wing, we cannot state the above with certainty.

In Gobi we several times observed it during migration; but perhaps it
might have been G. megala. It is doubtful. Neither occurs in Kan-su and
about Koko-nor.

It breeds in tolerable numbers on the Ussuri, but is still more plentiful
during migration, about the 10th of April and in the end of August.

In the latter half of April the birds choose their nesting-localities in the
thinly overgrown marshes, and their peculiar courting commences. Rising
into the air, similar to our G. scolopacina, and describing large circles above
the spot where the female is sitting, it suddenly dashes downwards with
great noise (which is most likely produced by the tail-feathers, like that
made by our species, and somewhat resembles the noise of a broken rocket).
As the bird approaches the ground the noise increases, until it has got
within a hundred yards, when it suddenly stops the sound and quietly flies on,
uttering a note something like “ tiric, tiric, tiric.” Courtship lasts until the
middie of June, and is mostly heard or seen in the mornings and evenings,
but occasionally in the daytime, and even at night in clear weather.

246. GALLINAGO MEGALA, Swinh.

G. stenura, Radde, Reisen im Siiden von Ost-Sibirien, ii. pl. xiii.

Breeds abundantly on the marshes and lakes in the Hoang-ho valley.
We also noticed some of the present and preceding species in the western
portion of the Urot country, where they probably were breeding.

At Lake Hanka G. megala appears later than G. heterocerca, namely in
the end of April; but the principal migration takes place about the middle
of May. It stops to breed there only in very limited numbers, but becomes
again numerous in August during migration. In spring it keeps to the
burnt marshes, and in autumn to the damp steppes.

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 93

247. Scotopax rRusticoua, L. Valdshnepp.

Was observed by us only in the Muni-ul mountains, in the middle of
April 1872, when we several times met with them at dusk. They were all
flying northwards. ‘They breed in the Ussuri country; and, according to the
statements of the sportsmen, they are very numerous there during migration,
especially at the mouth of the Ussuri and about Vladivostoc.

248. RuyNcH#A BENGALENSIS, L. Pastuskoc zolotoy.

We met with a female for the first time on the 5th of May, on a small
marsh in 8.E. Mongolia, not far from the Kalgan-Kiachta road, and afterwards
found it breeding at Lake Tsaidemin-nor.

As far as I know, this species chooses for its habitat damp marshes, but
avoids very thick reeds. It only takes to wing in case of necessity, usually
moving for not more than a hundred yards; and its flight is heavy.

It does not occur in Kan-su, Koko-nor, and the Ussuri country.

249. Rattus inpicus, Blyth? Pastushek vodianoy.

It is very probable that this species, which inhabits the whole of Eastern
Asia and is so closely allied to the European R. aquaticus, was obtained
by us Gn November 1872) in Tsaidam, on the unfrozen wells amidst some
raarshes, where it was wintering. The bird shot by us was very much
knocked about, and therefore not preserved ; a second one we did not succeed
in killing, but later on observed it in the Hoang-ho valley in the beginning
of May. :

At Lake Hanka it arrives in the end of April, and also breeds there in
limited numbers.

94, THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

250. OrtyGoMETRA pyGma@a, Naum. Kurotchka vodianaya.

Is rather a common breeding bird in Ordos, on the marshy lake
Tsaidemin-nor, but does not occur in Kan-su or Koko-nor.

In August 1873 we saw one (an old female) in Gobi, near a small well.
On account of the want of marshes, it was flying about, together with some
Sandpipers, over the muddy ground, and on the approach of danger hid
itself in the plants that were growing there. How could this bird, with such
a weak flight, get into the centre of this desert? Most likely it had
got there by mistake.

It breeds tolerably abundantly in the Ussuri country.

251. GALLINULA CHLOROPUS, L. Camishnitza zelenonogaya.

Breeds at Lake 'I’saidemin-nor, in company with the preceding species.
In July the young could not fly, and were only about half as large as the old
birds.

We did not observe this species in Kan-su and Koko-nor; nor does it
occur in the Ussuri country.

252. Funica atra, L. Lisuha chernaya.

We met with this species at Dalai-nor during migration, on the Ist of
April, 1871, and found it breeding on the marshy lakes in the Hoang-ho
valley. Not being pursued at all by man, it is very tame. They were
very often swimming about at a distance of about a hundred yards from
our tent.

It does not inhabit Kan-su, Koko-nor, and Halha.

At Lake Hanka these birds arrive early in April, and breed numerously
on the lakes overgrown with reeds, which abound there.

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 95

Order VII. NATATORES.

253. ANSER CINEREUS, Meyer, var. RUBRIROSTRIS, Swinh. Gus
gumennic.

We found A. cinereus breeding in S.E. Mongolia and in the Hoang-ho
valley, where we discovered nearly fledged young on the Tsaidemin-nor, as
also adult birds—the males moulting so completely that they could not fly,
but tried to escape from our dog by running, when they performed all sorts
of tricks, making short turnings or suddenly stopping and running back-
ward, in order to mislead the dog ; and in the most hopeless cases they tried
to hide themselves in the uneven ground.

In spring these Geese arrive in 8.E. Mongolia about the middle of
March, or perhaps earlier, and in T'saidam about the 18th of February. At
Koko-nor they were rather common in the latter part of March; and in the
middle of October we also noticed there several migrating pairs. In the
Hoang-ho valley the autumnal migration commences in the end of August :
and in Kan-su it did not come under our observation; for we only noticed
six water-birds there, one of which (Anser indicus) stops to breed about the
sources af the river Tetunga.

Their migration to the basin of Lake Hanka takes place in the middle
of March, where they also remain to make their nest, but are not very
numerous in autumn, when all the other species of Geese are abundant.

It is not so shy and wild as its congeners, and usually keeps in small

flocks.

254, ANSER SEGETUM, Gmel. Gus pashemoy.

A male obtained by us at Dalai-nor does not differ in any respect from
European birds. But Mr. Swinhoe says (P.Z.S. Lond. 1871, p. 417) that

96 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

the East-Asiatic specimens are a race (var. serrirostris) which, with the
exception of China, are to be met with to the east of Lake Baikal. It is
very likely that this variety inhabits also Mongolia; but I am sorry to
say we have not a specimen in our collection to solve the question.

It is the most numerous representative of this family in S.E. Mongolia,
whither it migrates from the beginning of March to the end of April; whilst
the autumnal migration takes place from the end of August until the middle
of September.

In Northern China, near Kalgan, they appear in the end of February,
and inhabit, together with other water-birds, the flooded fields. On a clear
morning early in March, flock after flock can be seen migrating towards
Mongolia; but finding it cold there, these restless flocks come back again
towards the evening, and wait until the weather gets warmer.

It does not breed in Mongolia, and did not come under our observation
either at Koko-nor, in Tsaidam, or at Lake Hanka; but large migrating
flocks were noticed at Possiet Bay.

255. ANSER GRANDIS, Pall. ?

I think we saw Anser grandis in rather large numbers on Dalai-nor in
spring 1871, and on the flooded fields of the Hoang-ho valley in April of the
following year, although we did not succeed in obtaining a single specimen ;
but, by the large size and the peculiar bass voice, we could easily distinguish
these birds from A. segetum.

On Lake Hanka the present species is very common during migration
in spring (A. grandis, Pall. nec Midd.) from the middle of March until the
middle of April, where they usually keep in small flocks of from three to
seven specimens, and only very rarely are they to be seen in company with
other Geese ; they are also wilder. Very few pairs stop to breed in the
Hanka basin; and even those retire to the most desolate parts.

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 9%

256. ANSER INDICUS, Lath. Gus indeyskey.

Gould, Cent. of Birds, pl. Ixxx.

Anser skorniakowt, Sev. Vert. i gor. raspr. Turk. Jev. pl. x. fig. 4.

We found this beautiful Goose at Lake Koko-nor, where the first
migrants appeared on the 5th of March; and in the course of the whole
month small flocks of from five to twelve in number are to be seen frequently.
Also at the sources of the river Tetunga we saw some A. indicus, which were

breeding there ; and a female which we killed on the 6th of April was already
laying.

The voice of the present species is different from that of A. cinereus,
which two only are found at Koko-nor. In spring the male chases
the female on the wing, and occasionally makes peculiar darts, resembling
those of our common Raven; and when the female is shot, the male usually
flies long about its dead mate, until it shares the same fate.

This Goose is also very curious; and I several times shot it by
performing the following manceuvre :—As soon as I noticed a pair flying I
at once lay down on the ground and commenced waving my hat at them.
The Geese came usually quite close to me then. Altogether it is very tame;
but when pursued much by men it gets very shy.

As far as we can judge from our observations, the northern limit of the
distribution of this bird is formed by the Koko-nor basin and the river
Tetunga; and the same localities are probably also the eastern boundary, as
this species does not occur in China proper.

257. ANSER CYGNOIDES, Pall.

Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. pl. xxxi.

We met with a few birds at Dalai-nor in April, and in the Hoang-ho
valley and at Lake Tsaidemin-nor in summer, young as well as adult birds ;
the latter were moulting. In crossing the Gobi desert at the end of August

VOL. III. fi

98 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

we repeatedly observed migrating flocks. In ‘T'saidam and at Koko-nor it
does not occur.

It is very abundant during migration, especially about the beginning
of April, at Lake Hanka, where it usually assembles in flocks from twenty
to forty in number. When on the wing they often fly in a pattern, like
Storks and Ducks. It is the most common breeding species of the whole
genus on the marshes of Lake-Hanka basin, and rears usually from five to six
young, but rarely three or four. Early in June I found some young ones,
not exceeding a Duck in size, which, as usual, were accompanied by their
parents. It very often happens, also, that two or three families join together ;
and when approached by any one, the old birds make use of all sorts of
tricks in order to take off attention from their brood, which latter try to
escape by hiding in the reeds, or when on an open lake dive as well as any
young Ducks. This species, also, is very inquisitive; and on perceiving a
dog or a sportsman, if there are not more than two birds, they usually come

within range.

258. Cyanus musicus*, Bechst. Lebed clicun.

Is only a migrating bird in S.E. Mongolia, at Koko-nor, but may
perhaps stop to breed in the reedy marshes of Tsaidam, where the first
migrants were observed to arrive on the 14th of February, although they
appeared only in the middle of March in S.E. Mongolia. The principal
migration through Koko-nor takes place also in March.

* [In Mr. E. Delmar Morgan’s translation of Colonel Prjevalsky’s Travels (a work which should
be read in conjunction with this article), vol. ii. p. 4, we find, in the northern part of Ala-shan, an
account of an immense lake-bed of sedimentary salt, called by the Mongols “ Djaratai-dabas.” The
salt is from two to six feet thick. He adds that “the sparkling surface of Djaratai-dabas appears
like water in the distance, and resembles ice when you are near it. So deceptive is its appearance
that a flock of Swans, apparently attracted by the sight of water in the desert, descended before our
very eyes almost to the surface of the false lake, but discovering their mistake rose again in the air
with affrighted cry, and continued their flight.”—Epitor or rue O. M.]

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 99

It is the first bird to arrive in spring at Lake Hanka, as a rule either
late in February or early m March, whilst the principal migration occurs
about a month later. Only a few pairs remain to breed, in the marshes
overgrown with reeds.

259. Cyenus BEwickul, Yarr. Lebed maley.

Together with the preceding species it was noticed at Dalai-nor in
spring ; but it was also seen in the Hoang-ho valley, on Lake Urgun-nor.
In Ala-shan we also occasionally saw migrating flocks in October, which
were flying very high over a desert. At Koko-nor some flocks were seen,
which probably belonged to C. bewickit; and a few pairs evidently stopped
to breed there.

260. Cyenus otor, Gmel.? Lebed shipun.

This species is mentioned with a ? on account of our not being able to
secure a single specimen, although we met with it at Dalai-nor, as well
as the two preceding ones; the present bird very much differs from
C. musicus by its voice.

On the 11th of April, on a small lake not far from Dolon-nor, we found
a Swan’s nest containing one egg, which, according to its shape and colour,
belonged to the present species. It is an egg with a roughly grained but
tolerably smooth dirty-greenish shell: large diameter 3’°78, small diameter
2'°68.
Besides, in S.E. Mongolia, I think we saw C. olor migrating over the
Koko-nor basin early in March.

At Lake Hanka they appear much later than C. musicus, namely in the
beginning of April, and in larger flocks. They breed in similar localities as
the preceding Swan.

100 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

261. Taporna cornuta, Gmel. Utka peganca.

Inhabits all the saltwater lakes of Mongolia, and arrives in the south-
eastern parts of this country, in small flocks of from ten to twenty, late in
March. Very soon after their arrival they disperse in pairs, and probably
breed in holes on the ground. During the breeding-season the males
frequently fight, commonly making use of their wings and bills; the
conqueror expresses his satisfaction by nodding and bowing towards
the female.

At Koko-nor the first migrants appeared about the 14th of March, but
were rather scarce until the end of that month.

In Mongolia T. cornuta is not at all shy.

262. CASARCA RUTILA, Pall. Turpan.

Lama shubu, Mongols.

The Mongols consider this bird sacred. It is very common in the
country, and is found breeding about the lakes, rivers, and even at the
mountain-brooks ; whilst in Kan-su it has only been observed during the
spring migration, at the sources of the river Tetunga, in limited numbers,
but is abundant in spring and autumn at Koko-nor.

The earliest birds were noticed in Tsaidam on the 10th of February, and
in $.E. Mongolia early in March; but in the Hoang-ho valley they even
stop to winter, although in only limited numbers.

During migration these Ducks assemble in large flocks of over a hundred,
but never mix with any other kind. Each pair keeps very strictly to them-
selves ; and probably such a bond is formed for life. During the breeding-
season the males very often fight, and attack even drakes of other species of
Ducks. ‘They build in holes or clefts in the ground, and sometimes even in
the fireplaves of villages deserted by the Mongols; and in the latter places
the female birds, whilst hatching, get almost quite black with soot. The

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 101

male apparently does not assist the female in hatching ; but as soon as the
young are hatched, it most vigilantly watches them. The earliest young we
saw on the Suma-had mountains, on the 4th of June.

In Mongolia this bird is tame; but at Lake Baikal, where it has been
much pursued, it is very shy.

263. Mareca PENELOPE, L. Utka svias.

During migration we found these Ducks in rather limited numbers at
Koko-nor, where they arrived about the 21st of March.

At Lake Hanka they appear late in March or early in spring, and only
a few remain to breed.

264. Darina acuta, L. Utka shilohvost.

Is very common throughout Mongolia during migration—which takes
place in the end of March and the beginning of April, and late in August.

Very large numbers of the present species were observed by us in spring
at Dalai-nor, where most likely part of them remain to breed. It is also
abundant on the lakes of the Hoang-ho valley. In Tsaidam the earliest birds
were seen on the 18th of February, and at Koko-nor in the first days of
March; but towards the end of that month they had quite disappeared. At
Lake Hanka they arrive early in March; but the principal migration takes
place in the end of that month, about which time these Ducks are extremely
abundant and usually mixed together with other kinds in large flocks,
although only very few remain to breed.

265. Anas BoscHas, L. Utka kriakba.

Is the most common of the family in S.E. Mongolia, where it breeds in
all suitable localities, but most numerously in the Hoang-ho valley ; and

102 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC,

although we were at the latter place in the end of July, many young birds
were still unable to fly.

In Tsaidam it stops for the cold season on the unfrozen streams and
marshes. The migration there took place about the 13th of February.

At Koko-nor, where only very few migrants pass, we did not see
a single flock of Anas boschas consisting of twenty or thirty in number,
although it occurs there.

In Ussuri country Anas boschas is the commonest species, and is the
most numerous Duck not only during the breeding-season but also during
migration. About Lake Hanka the earliest migrants appear early in March;
but the principal migration takes place in the latter part of that month and
early in April, and at this time the numbers are astonishingly great.

For whole days, but principally in the mornings and evenings, one can
see everywhere large flocks of Ducks flying in a northerly direction. ‘They
stop in the middle of the day, for a short time only, in order to feed and rest
as quickly as possible, and then again resume their flight. Storms or cold
weather force them to interrupt their journeys, in which case they usually
settle down in some locality to wait for fairer weather.

We got the same results from our observations on Dalai-nor and in
Mongolia, where, during the cold and stormy weather, enormous flocks of
Geese and Ducks assemble; but on the appearance of the first clear day
every lake becomes quite desolate, until the arrival of fresh birds.

In Mongolia, as also about Lake Hanka, the wild Ducks leave in flocks
consisting of the present species, or also in company with others ; and on
several occasions we observed flocks of drakes only.

In Ussuri country it begins breeding about the middle of April; but
during that time we have here very often fires over large districts covered
by grass. These fires sometimes last all May, and even as late as the middle
of June. They destroy a great number of Ducks’ nests, which explains the
late broods met with so often in Ussuri country and about Lake Hanka,
where we saw young in down late in June or even in the early part of July ;

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 103

but in such cases the broods consisted very seldom of more than from three
to five specimens. These small numbers again show that it is a second
brood, the first having probably perished during a fire.

In Ussuri country large flocks of Ducks assemble in August, doing
great damage to the cornfields, whither they resort for feeding at night.

The autumnal migration at Hanka takes place in September and
October, a few birds remaining for the winter on the shores of the Japanese
Sea.

266. ANAS ZONORHYNCHA, Swinh.

Anas pecilorhyncha, Temm., nec Lath
Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. pl. Ixxxu.

_Tolerably common in S.E* Mongolia and the Hoang-ho valley, where
we also found it breeding. The first migrants appeared at Dalai-nor about
the Ist of April, although a few may have arrived even earlier. We did
not observe this species in Kan-su, Koko-nor, or 'T'saidam.

At Lake Hanka it is scarce, and only occasionally appears during
migration early in April; but whether it remains there to breed, or not, I do
not know.

Mr. Swinhoe’s opinion (P. Z. 5. 1871, p. 417) is quite correct, that the
present Duck forms a separate species, and is not the result of the inter-
breeding of 4. boschas and A. pecilorhyncha, as was supposed by Temminck.

267. QuERQUEDULA criroIA, L. Utka chiroc.

Like the preceding, this Duck is common in $.E. Mongolia, and was
observed by us there on the 11th of April. It breeds in the marshes and
near lakes in the Hoang-ho valley, but does not occur at Koko-nor.

At Lake Hanka it appears later than any other, namely in the end of

104 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

April and beginning of May. During migration it is not numerous at
Hanka, and is at least ten times as scarce as the following species, although
young birds are rather abundant there.

268. QuERQquELuLaA crecca, L. Utka chiranka.

During migration, in March, Q. crecca is extremely abundant in
S.E. Mongolia. At Lake Dalai-nor we fell in with large flocks, composed of
the present species and Eunetta glocitans, but did not find it breeding any-
where in Mongolia, though in winter some individuals were observed at
Tsaidam, where the migration commenced on the 15th of February. At
Koko-nor it was the commonest of all Ducks in the month of March.

At Lake Hanka, Q. crecca appears already early in March, but principally
at the end of the month, in such large numbers that, with the exception of
A. boschas, it is the most numerously represented species there. Only very
few remain to breed, as the extensive marshes do not offer them suitable

nesting-places.

269. EuNETTA FALCATA, Pall. Utka kosatchea.

In March and April it is common at Dalai-nor, and has been noticed by
us also in the Hoang-ho valley, where it also breeds sometimes, but apparently
does not occur at Koko-nor.

At Lake Hanka it appears early in March; but the principal migration
takes place late in that month or early in April, when this Duck is very
common, and usually forms flocks with other kinds, but very rarely alone.
Its voice is a tolerably loud and piercing whistle.

It breeds numerously at Lake Hanka, but, like its congener, usually

late.

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 105

270. Eunettra Guocitans, Pall. Utka cloctun.
Temm. & Schleg. Faun. Jap. pl. Ixxxi.

During migration, in the end of March and the beginning of April, we
met with it in large numbers at Dalai-nor, but did not find it further
west, although it can easily be distinguished from the other Ducks by its
voice. It also occurs about Lake Baikal, whither it most likely migrates
from China proper, probably crossing the desert in a direct line, or else
following its edge.

At Lake Hanka it is one of the most plentiful Ducks, and arrives there in
very large flocks from the 8th to the 15th of March.

When migrating, these Ducks fly very low, following the plains which
abound with lakes; and as soon as one is perceived that is not frozen,
especially in cold and stormy weather, they at once settle down on it.
The presence of such a flock is always known at a good distance, as the
drakes keep calling even when on the wing.

The abundance of this species on Lake Hanka continues during all the
time of its migration—i. e. all the latter half of March and the first week of
April; but after that time their numbers decrease quickly, and in the middle
of May there is not a single one to be seen.

271. CHAULELASMUS STREPERUS, L. Utka poluha.

We only fell in with a few migrating individuals in S.E. Mongolia early
in April, and but one single bird at Lake Hanka towards the end of the
same month.

272. SpatuLa cLyPKaTa, L. Utka socsun.

A few birds were seen on Lake Dalai-nor, where the earliest migrants
were noticed on the 30th of March; but some few may have come even

VOL. III. Q

106 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

earlier. In the Hoang-ho valley, on Lake Tsaidemin-nor, towards the end
of July, we killed a male bird, which was moulting very quickly. At
Koko-nor these Ducks appeared on the 14th of March, and were common
throughout that month.

It migrates to Lake Hanka early in March, and becomes most abundant
towards the end of that month, leaving the locality about that time in flocks,
together with other species of this genus; and only a few pairs remain to
breed.

273. Funrx cristata, L. Niroc chernet.

Is not scarce during the spring migration in Mongolia and at Koko-nor.
At the latter place Fulw cristata appeared on the 5th of March, and perhaps
even earlier still, and, together with Bucephala clangula, inhabited the river
Buhain-gol; but towards the end of the month most of them had left.

At Lake Hanka the migration takes place between the 20th of March
and the middle of April; and only a few pairs remain to breed.

274, AyTHYyA FERINA, L. Miroce crasnogolovoy.

We once met with some migrating pairs at the northern bend of the
Hoang-ho at the end of April 1872, and, another time, at Koko-nor in
March. It does not inhabit Lake Hanka.

275. BucrepHauus cLaneuta, L. Niroe gogol.

Tolerably common at the Dalai-nor at the end of March and beginning
of April, on those parts of the lake which are free from ice ; and when shot
at they rise, but very soon settle down again.

At Koko-nor they arrive about the 4th of March, and get rather

THE BIRDS OF, MONGOLIA ETC. 107

numerous towards the middle of that month, but are only singly distributed
in Kan-su, at the sources of the Tetunga.

We found them wintering at Lake Hanka, on the open parts of
the river Sungatch, in small numbers; but in spring, late in March and
early in April, they are very plentiful, but always in small flocks of from five
to twenty birds, and never mixed with other species.

The autumnal migration from Ussuri country occurs in September and
October; and in the latter month we often saw flocks of these Ducks on the
Japanese Sea; and in December some wintering ones came under our
observation at the port of St. Olga.

276. MeRGUS MERGANSER, L. Crahal bolshoy.

During the spring migration in March and April we noticed some
specimens at Dalai-nor, on the 14th of February at Tsaidam, early in March
at Koko-nor, on the Buhain-gol, and in April in Kan-su, on Buguk-gol.

On its autumnal migration this species was observed only on the river
Tola, near Urgey, in the first half of September.

At Lake Hanka it arrives early in March. The principal migration,
however, takes place at the end of that month and early in April; and by
May not a single specimen is to be seen there. When migrating they
usually form small flocks together with other species.

In its habits it is very shy, and therefore difficult to shoot.

277. Mrereus serrator, L. Crahal dlinnohvostoy.

Is scarcer even than the preceding species, having been observed by us
in Mongolia only on Lake Dalai-nor.
In Kan-su, also, only one young one migrating has been obtained ; and
Q 2

108 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

on Lake Hanka it is also the scarcest species of the whole genus, passing
there only during migration early in April, and a few individuals stopping
till the end of that month on the Sungatch.

278. Mercus auBeLuus, L. Crahal lutock.

We met with some birds at the end of March and beginning of April on
Dalai-nor, where it is commoner than the two preceding species.

At Lake Hanka it is very numerous towards the end of March, but does
not form large flocks, as we usually saw small numbers only, which consisted
of Smews and Teals. ‘They leave Lake Hanka early in April, and quite dis-
appear at the end of this month.

279. Popiceps cristatus, L. Niretz hohlatey.
A single migrating bird was met with in April near the lower Dolon-nor ;
and some, I think, were noticed on Lake Urgan-nor, in the Hoang-ho valley.

To Lake Hanka it migrates at the end of March, and breeds in small numbers
on the solitary ponds.

280. Popiceps auritus, L.
I think we saw this bird in April at Dalai-nor, and in the spring of the

following year in the Hoang-ho valley, but did not succeed in obtaining a

specimen. The present species is very rare in Mongolia, as is the pre-
ceding one.

281. Larus niveus, Pall. Chaika sizaya.
Larus canus, var. major, Middend. Sib. Reise, ii. part i. pl. xxiv. fig. 4.

We found ZL. niveus in April in the Hoang-ho valley and in S.E. Mongolia,

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 109

several times also-in the Ala-shan plains, whither they probably go in search
of lizards, as we often found in their stomachs the remains of these reptiles.
We did not find it either in Koko-nor or Halha.

282. Larus occipENTALIS, Aud. Chaika sapadnaya.

Extremely common during migration in $.E. Mongolia about the end of
March; and we repeatedly met with them about that time at Dalai-nor,
where they probably breed. We did not see any on the Hoang-ho valley in
summer, but came across a small flock in September about Din-hu. It does
not occur in any other locality traversed by us.

283. Larus 1cutTHyaitus, Pall. Chaika ribolov.

Obtained only at Koko-nor, where the earliest migrants appeared on the
5th of March, and became very abundant about the 15th of the same month.
They very often occupied themselves in large flocks, together with Graculus
carbo, in taking fish out of Lake Buhain-go!; and as soon as a fish was
caught a fight was certain to ensue. ‘The voice of these birds is very loud,
and highly disagreeable.

In China proper, as well as ov the Amur and all over Eastern Siberia,
these Gulls do not occur; and therefore not only the northern, but also
the eastern boundary of their distribution is formed by the Koko-nor.

284. CHROICOCEPHALUS BRUNNEICEPHALUS, Jerd.
Henderson & Hume, Lahore to Yarkand, pl. xxxii.

During the spring migration, which commences about the middle of
March and continues until the middle of April, we often met with these birds

110 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

on Lake Dalai-nor; whilst on the other lakes of Mongolia they appeared to
be rather scarce.

Many were in their winter plumage even as late as March ; 7. e. they
had at that time a white head. They breed plentifully on the lakes of the
Hoang-ho valley. At Koko-nor the earliest migrants appeared on the 5th
of March; and afterwards, from the 20th of the same month, they were
abundant, but not so numerous as the preceding species.

In Ussuri country the closely allied species of Chroicocephalus ridibundus
is very abundant. It commences to arrive at Lake Hanka about the middle
of March; but the principal migration takes place early in April. These
Gulls can be seen, high up in the clouds, flying in a northerly direction in
small flocks, or even singly. On the coasts of the Japanese Sea I often met
with C. ridibundus in October and November, and saw a few wintering birds
in December at St. Olga.

285. SterNA aneuica, Mont. Kratchka chernonosaya.

Inhabits Mongolia, Ordos, and Ala-shan, and breeds in the two latter
localities—i. e. in the Hoang-ho valley on Lake Urgun-nor, and in Southern
Ala-shan on a small marsh, Bayan-bulik. It does not occur in the Ussuri
country, and has not been observed in China proper.

[To BE CONTINUED. |

VOL. II.

PART XIII.

“T come from haunts of coot and hern ;
I make a sudden sally,
And sparkle out among the fern,
To bicker down a valley.”
Tennyson: The Brook.

‘(Acguasoy von) TYHOUANEHOSSAW SNdOTIId

dat 4reumxeyy ATL FUALG |

INVITSHOSIN. TVOIDOTIOHIINGO

ANY 1 low

ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS.
(PTILONOPUS, Swains.).

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

[Continued from p. 64.]
(Plate XCV.)

PTILOPUS MUSSCHENBROEKI, Von Rosenberg.

Ptilopus musschenbroekii, Rosenb. in litt.

Ptilopus viridis, stirps geelvinkiana, Schleg. Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk. iv. p. 23 (1871).

Ptilopus viridis geelvinkianus, Schleg. Mus. P.-B. Col. p. 23 (1878).

Ptilopus musschenbroekii, Salvadori, Aun. Mus. Civ. Gen. ix. p. 195 (1876).
Tue following is a translation of a notice of this bird (Schlegel, Nederl.
Tijdschr. Dierk. iv. p. 23, sub Ptilopus viridis, stirps geelvinkiana) :—

““M. von Rosenberg sent us, under the name of Ptilopus musschenbroekit,
a fine series of a Ptilopus observed by this naturalist and traveller on several
islands of the great Geelvink Bay—viz. on Mafoor, Meosnum, and Soek
(Mysore). This bird recalls perfectly P. viridis, observed on the Ceram
group, including Buru, Amboina, and the subgroup of Goram. ‘There are,
in fact, no other differences than the following :—The whitish grey colour of
the head is darker, and washed with green; the patch of the throat is of a
more vivid red and purple colour, lighter and less shading into brownish ; the

whitish grey on the wing above extends to the first scapularies ; finally, not
R 2

114 ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS.

only does each of the large wing-coverts close to the back present a grey
patch, but there is also a similar one on each of the tertiaries.

“We confess that these characters did not appear to us important
enough to separate this bird from P. viridis under a specific name; it is
therefore, in our view, only a local race, of this species.”

Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Col. 1873, p. 23, sub Ptilopus viridis geelvinkianus :—

“Very similar to Ptilopus viridis ; but the grey of the head is darker and
washed with green; the patch of the throat is more vivid, the red lighter
and shading less into brownish ; the whitish grey on the wing above and on
the tertiaries is more extended; the grey of the apical part of the tail is not
bordered with yellow, and passes more or less into green ; finally, it is some-
what smaller in size.

pVVimow 4! toy a2 lien tailed sO Us toner sues

Dr. Meyer sends me the following remarks :—

“There are four nearly related species of Péilopus, which represent each
other in different localities, viz.:—P. pectoralis in New Guinea and some
neighbouring islands to the west and north-west; P. musschenbroekii on the
islands of the Geelvink Bay; P. viridis on Ceram, Buru, and some islands
in the neighbourhood ; and P. ewgenie on the Solomon Islands.

‘“‘It does not appear at all probable to me that P. pectoralis also occurs
on Mafoor and Mysore, as stated by Von Rosenberg (Schleg. Mus. P.-B.
Col. 1873, p. 24), and that P. musschenbroekti also occurs on New Guinea
itself, as stated by the same traveller (/. ¢. p. 23). Should this be really the
case, these two species could not be looked upon as representing each other,
which I strongly believe they do. I got P. musschenbroeku only on Mafoor
and Mysore, and P. pectorals only on New Guinea itself—viz. near Rubi,
. Passim, and Andei, which last locality is also given to P. musschenbroekw by
Von Rosenberg.

‘“‘ As to the sexual coloration of the last-named two species, I have to

ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 115

make a few remarks. Schlegel (Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk. iv. p. 24, 1871)
says that the females of the four species enumerated above offer the same
coloration as the males. But of P. musschenbroeki, according to the Leiden
Catalogue (Mus. P.-B. Col. 1873, p. 23), there were only the males in the
hands of Prof. Schlegel; and the female specimen which I possess, from
Mafoor, has neither grey on the wing nor red on the throat, and appears to be
an adult. Further, of the two female specimens of P. pectoralis which I
possess, from Passim and Rubi, neither shows a trace of red on the throat, as
all males do (the younger less than the adult) ; but they have the grey on the
tertiaries. I therefore do not share in Schlegel’s view that the females of
these four species are all like the males, but restrict this opinion for the
moment to P. pectoralis and P. musschenbroeki, having no personal experience
as to the two others,”

Prof. Schlegel only separates Ptilopus musschenbroeki from P. viridis as
P. viridis geelvinkianus, therefore giving no full specific value to it. Salvadori
first did this, in his ‘ Prodromus Ornithologiz Papuasie et Moluccarum ;’
and it appears, according to his remarks, that Dr. Meyer also does so, and,
in my opinion, correctly.

Mr. 8. C. T. van Musschenbroek, after whom Von Rosenberg named
this fine species from the islands of the Geelvink Bay, has been for many years
a Dutch official in the East, and is a gentleman of high scientific attainments.
He served for years on the island of Java in different official positions, and
last at Buitengorz, near Batavia, as Assistant Resident. From there he
advanced as Resident (Préfet) to Ternate, the chief place of the Moluccas,
near Kalmahan, and a good starting-point to New Guinea. The Dutch
Government planned an expedition to New Guinea under his care; but the
war in Atchin, on Sumatra, prevented it. Mr. van Musschenbroek then
became Resident at Menado, in North Celebes—that is to say, Govermental
Chief of the Minahassa, the countries round the Tomini Bay (Gorontalo).

116 ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS.

the Sangi Islands, &c.; and at this moment he is in Europe, and occupied in
writing a book on Celebes in general.

Mr. van Musschenbroek was always remarkably ready to sustain and
help every scientific traveller in the Dutch possessions—he himself
being a very good zoologist, botanist, and linguist, and therefore knowing
the wants of such travellers by his own experience. ‘The Leiden
Museum possesses a good many of his collections made in the East; and
Mr. von Rosenberg, indeed, could not do better than attach his name to a
bird of the rich Papuan fauna.

As this bird has been named after Mr. Musschenbroek, a woodcut of
his residence (a large house in the town of Menado, situated on the right, in
the Chinese quarter) is here given, with an account of the attack upon it.
It may also be interesting, as this place is so often mentioned in these articles.
It is from a fine photograph of the spot. The Chinese “kampong,” or
quarter, contains about 1000 Chinese ; the rest of the population is about
3000.

“On Thursday, the 26th of August 1875, the chief place of the
Minahassa, in the north of Celebes, Menado, was attacked by a band of
mutineers.

“In the morning, at 8 o’clock, there arrived from the west three native
prauws in the roadstead of Menado, and forty-eight men came ashore, all in
white clothes, with red girdles and turbans, and armed with lances and swords.

“After having said a short prayer, the band entered the village, the
whole time dancing and shouting. All this did not much awaken the
attention of the inhabitants, as it is common in Menado that the rajahs
belonging to the district should pay a visit to the Resident in this style.
But soon the intention of the visitors became apparent ; for they killed and
wounded several persons in the market. They then tried to surprise the
small fort which Menado possesses, but were driven back by the soldiers

(IHOIY HHL NO SI HSNOH SANSCISHY HOLNG FHL)
SHCI1TIN ‘OGVNANW NI UALAVNOO YO DNOAMNVY ASUNIHO WHI

W)
Mi

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ee fe
eater)
+

ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 117

with shots, and now proceeded to the Resident’s house, which some years
since was left without military protection.

“The Resident, Mr. van Musschenbroek, was not at home, but in the
Government Office. About thirty men entered the house, and destroyed
every thing in their way. ‘The doors, hastily closed, did not keep them back
a long time; and no doubt they would have killed Mrs. van Musschenbroek
and her children, had not this lady contrived to keep them a short while
aloof by her calmness and firmness. Soon fourteen soldiers from the fort
arrived. ‘The band now turned against these, but were driven back and took
to their heels to reach the prauws, two of which had been taken in the
meanwhile by a Dutch captain. Now the inhabitants of Menado began to
pursue the rebels, and also captured the last prauw. ‘Twenty of the forty-
eight men were killed, and all the others made prisoners.

“The trial of the survivors proved that the whole band belonged to
Bool, in the south of the Minahassa, nearer to Gorontalo, and that they
intended to kill the Resident—not Mr. van Musschenbroek, who then had
not yet been a long time in Menado, but his predecessor, Mr. van der Crab.
They said that a larger force was en route; and the Government of Menado
therefore did every thing to protect itself and the country. But nothing
happened; and later Mr. van Musschenbroek visited Bool, to punish the
natives there, and then to make friends with them.”

The above little account, from a Java paper, shows that even a place like
Menado has its dangers ; and what with earthquakes, storms, snakes, fevers,
and sickness of all kinds, the life of a naturalist is not without great risk in

those regions.

The Plate is taken from a fine male in my own collection, and is of the

size of life.

ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY

ee = a
J.Smit ith Hanhart a

AFA CU WDIDBIUVNOCTUT ( TDEUC TITS ez Aer IN oR
MACHATRIRHYNCHUS NIGRIPECIUS, Sctéegel.) c.

MACH AIRIRHYNCHUS NIGRIPECTUS (SceAlegel).

(Black-breasted Flycatcher.)

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

f [Continued from vol. u. p. 59.]

(Plate XCVII.)

Wuen I published the Plate of this interesting species in the second volume,
I was unable to determine the sex—a thing always with me much regretted.
The male has now fallen into my hands; and I am able to state that the
one already figured, first by me and then by Mr. Gould (in his ‘ Birds of
New Guinea,’ part iv.), is a female, as is also the second example in Mr.
Gould’s plate, which he obtained from Dr. Meyer.

By comparison of the fresh illustration which accompanies this, the
difference of the sexes may be remarked.

With reference to the translations which I have caused to be made, and
which follow below, I may observe that I doubt if Prof. Salvadori is right in
saying that the adult female has a large black area on the breast like the
male. The females have a black shield on the chest, it is true; but this is
neither as black nor as large as in the male, nor has it any gloss. Besides
the other differences, the yellow of the underparts in the males is much
deeper and brighter than in the females; it is even deeper than in

VOL. III. s

120 MACHARIRHYNCHUS NIGRIPECTUS.

M. albifrons, except the deep-yellow patch on the throat behind the white
chin in M. albifrons.

The following translations refer to this bird.

T. Salvadori, “‘ Intorno al Genere Macherorhynchus, Gould,’ Nota estr.
dagli Atti della Reale Accad. delle Sc. di Torino, vol. x. pp. 369-379 (Jan. 24,
1875).

Page 378 :—

‘Sp. 4. MacH&RORHYNCHUS NIGRIPECTUS, Schleg.

“ Macheirhynchus nigripectus, Schleg. Nederl. Tijdschr. v. d. Dierk. iv. p. 43 (1871).
“ Macheirhamphus nigripectus, Schleg. op. cit. p. 58 (1871).

‘‘ Fronte grisea, gula flava, macula pectorali lata nigra.

“ Mas. Fronte grisea; pileo, cervice et supracaudalibus nigris ; uropygii plumis apice flavo, fasciam
uropygialem flavam constituentibus: loris nigris ; fascia superciliari, lateribus capitis, gula
cum gastreo reliquo, macula lata pectorali nigra excepta, flavis; alis nigro-fuscis; tectrici-
bus mediis et majoribus et rectricibus tertiariis late albo-marginatis, primariis exterioribus
et secundariis ultimis limbo tenui externo albido; subalaribus albis; tibis nigris ;. cauda
nigra apice albo, rectricibus duabus extimis utrinque etiam margine externo albo ; iride,
rostro pedibusque nigris.

“ Fem. Pileo fusco-cinereo; dorso et uropygio cineraceo, olivaceo-tincto ; fronte sordide grisea ;
loris et auricularibus fuscis ; fascia superciliari, genis et gastreeo toto ut in mari pictis;
alis fascis, tectricibus alarum mediis et majoribus apice tantum albis, remigibus primariis et
secundariis sordide griseo-limbatis, tertiariis albo-marginatis ; cauda nigro-fusca, apice albo,
rectricibus extimis duabus utrinque margine externo etiam albo; rostro pedibusque nigris ;
iride nigra.

“‘ Long. tot. 0°130 millim. ; al. 0°057, caud. 0:052, rostri 0:013, tarsi 0°017.

“« Hab. Nova Guinea, peninsula septentrionalis (Von Rosenberg) ; Atam (D’ Albertis).

“This species is at once to be distinguished from the others by the
large black patch in the middle of the breast and by the yellow throat, this
being of the same colour as the underparts; besides, the yellow is deeper
than in the other species.

‘The female differs from the male chiefly by the upper parts being of

MACHARIRHYNCHUS NIGRIPECTUS. 121

a dark grey colour, with a very slight olivaceous tint on the back, by not
having the yellow band on the uropygium, and by the dark ear-feathers.
“Schlegel has only described the female; the male was not known till
now. I have examined four specimens of this species (three males and one
female), collected by D’Albertis near Atam, on the Arfak Mountains.”

Salvadori, Ann. del Mus. Civ. di St. Nat. di Genova, x. p. 135 (1877) :—

“ MACHZRORHYNCHUS NIGRIPECTUS, Schleg.

“ Macheirhynchus nigripectus, Schleg. Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk. iv. p. 43 (Q) (1871).
“* Macheirhamphus nigripectus, Schleg. op. cit. p. 58 (1871).
“ Macherorhynchus nigripectus, Salvad. Atti R. Ac. Se. Tor. x. p. 878 (g et 9) (1875) ; id.
Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. vi. p. 768 (1875).
“ Macherirhynchus nigripectus, Dawson Rowley, P. Z. 8.1876, p. 414; Gould, Birds of New
Guinea, iv. pl. x. (1877).
“Schlegel has only described the female, which has the upper parts of
a dark ash-colour. I have also described the male, which has these parts
of a dark, somewhat glossy black colour. Gould, lastly, has given two
figures of this species, saying that he believes that they represent male and
female ; but in reality these are the same, and only represent the not quite
adult female, with the upper parts ashy and with some small black patches
on the middle of the breast: the adult female has on the middle of the breast
a large black area, as has the male. Gould, who has done me the honour of
quoting me, appears not to have paid attention to the sexual differences

which I pointed out

ARTE Ghaaailonl

DOMICELLA COCCINEA (Latham).
By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

Domicella coccinea, Finsch, Pap. ii. p. 800 (1868).

Lorius coccineus, Schlegel, Mus. P.-B., Psitt. p. 128 (1864) ; id. Mus. P.-B. Psitt. Rev. p. 58
(1874).

Lorius histrio, Briggemann, Abh. d. naturw. Ver. Bremen, v. p. 41 (1876).

TuovueHu this bird has been figured before, yet such a fine species deserves
an illustration corresponding to its beauty, which I hope has now been
effected.

The full synonymy is given in Dr. Finsch’s ‘ Papageien,’ vol. 11. p. 800 ;
I have not repeated it here.

The following translations refer to this species.

Briiggemann, “‘ Beitrage zur Orn. von Celeb. und Sangir ” (Contributions
to the Ornithology of Celebes and Sangir), in Abh. d. naturw. Ver.
Bremen, v. p. 41 (1876) :—

‘Fifteen specimens, two through Von Rosenberg. ‘Two specimens, in
the collection of Dr. Fischer, do not bear the mark ‘Sangir;’ and it is
therefore to be supposed that these two birds were shot on Celebes itself.
The others are all from Sangir.

“Male and female are alike. The last one has somewhat smaller
measurements ; the wings are, in the average, 10 millims. shorter. The blue
varies considerably as to its extent ; and in one female there is only one feather

124 DOMICELLA COCCINEA.

on the head blue. It is quite erroneous to consider the specimens with less blue
to be younger birds; on the contrary, it is in the highest degree probable
that these are very old individuals.

‘Very remarkable is the coloration of two males, which I take, without
hesitation, as young birds. The black of the back and of the wings is more
extended; the small upper wing-coverts have black patches on their tips;
the red feathers of the underparts are irregularly spotted with dirty violet ;
the band of the breast is also of the last colour. The whole upper part of
the head and the neck are violet-blue; on the front and in the neck the tips
of the feathers already begin to change into red. Vice versa, the upper part
of the back is carmine-red, and changes into violet. Uropygium dark
carmine-red (brownish red in the old ones). Bill of a light brownish horn-
colour (yellow in the old ones).

“Tt appears that blue juvenile dresses occur in all red species of
Lorius (Eos group). They are known already for ZL. ruber (as L. squamatus),
L. cyanogenys, and L. riciniatus. But that at the same time the blue of the
old bird is represented by red in the young ones, is, as far as I am aware,
not yet observed ; and it is a fact which can be placed as an analogous one
side by side with that mentioned above under the head of Tanygnathus

luzoniensis.”’

Under the head of Tanygnathus luzoniensus (.), Briiggemann says
(p. 38) :—

“From the series in my hands (six specimens), which contains different
stages, according to age, it is to be seen that the blue on the head increases
in intensity and extent with age; while the same colour fades away more
and more on the uropygium (the feathers being worn out by use), and at last
disappears entirely. This remarkable fact can only be understood in this
way—that we possess in the juvenile dress a stage of development of the
species.”’

DOMICELLA COCCINEA. 125

Dr. Finsch says (Papag. ii. p. 800) :—
“ DoMICELLA CoccINEA (Latham). Der blaubriistige Breitschwanzlori.

“ Variety. Wings green.

‘* Diagnosis. Carmine red. Breast, mantle, lower back of the neck,
stripe across the middle of the crown of the head, and on each side a stripe
from the eyes up to the region of the ear fine blue; tail, spot on the thigh,
and shoulders violet-black.

** According to a former note in the Leiden Museum, Halmahera would
be the fatherland of this splendid species. Dr. Forsten sent specimens from
there, but which were evidently bought. Neither Dr. Bernstein nor Wallace
saw this bird on Halmahera. But Wallace collected it on the small island-
group of the Sanghir Islands (Siao and Sanguir), about five geographical
miles north from Celebes; and this situation is to be considered the sole
certain locality to the present time. Professor Schlegel doubts it, because
he did not find a single specimen of D. coccinea in a large collection of
bird-skins which the Leiden Museum received in the year 1864 from there.
He supposes that the real habitat will be found to be more to the east,
perhaps on the group of Karekelang. But for me the reason that the Dutch
travellers did not find the bird on the Sanghir Islands is not a sufficient one
for considering Wallace’s notice erroneous. According to a communication
which I received in a letter from Mr. von Rosenberg, this bird inhabits
the Talaut Islands, in the north of Sanghir.

“Von Rosenberg formerly enumerated this species only from Hal-
mahera; but this island was not visited by himself. Dr. Bernstein has
already called this notice a totally erroneous one.

‘I prefer the somewhat later name of Latham (coccineus) to that of
Gmelin (indicus), because names which have a geographical signification
ought to be right, or they totally mislead.

“The ‘Indian Lory, var. a,’ of Latham, described in the ‘ General
History,’ I consider to be a variety of this species, notwithstanding the

126 DOMICELLA COCCINEA.

green colour of the wings is totally different. Latham saw the bird only

once living.”

Measurements (p. 810) :—“ Wings 5” 10" to 6” 2”, tail 4" 4” to 4" 7"".”

Schlegel, Mus. P.-B., Psitt. 1864, p. 128 :—

** LorIUS CoccINEus, Stephens.

“‘ Middle of the crown of the head, region of the ears, lower part of the
back of the neck, mantle, and breast cobalt-blue; feathers of the shoulder,
feet, and abdomen blackish, more or less cobalt-blue ; wing-coverts and
secondaries red, these last terminated with black. Wing a little more than
6", tail 4" 4’.

“‘ {nhabits the Sanghir Islands, between Celebes* and Mindanao.

“Collected by Forsten and Wallace.”

The same, Psitt. Rev. 1874, p. 58 :—
“Collected by Hoedt and Duyvenbode on Siao.”’

Dr. Meyer remarks :—

‘“* Domicella coccinea, from the Sanghi Islands, to the north of Celebes,
must be considered an outlying Moluccan form, no allied species occurring
on the Philippine Islands or on Celebes. It is true the bird has been
recorded several times as also living on the last-named islands ; and, no doubt,
it has been shot near Manado, in the north of the Minahassa. I myself got

* [The name Celebes has long been a puzzle to me. It is said to be derived from “ sula,” an
island, and “ besi,” iron, just as we have the Sula Islands east of Celebes. Some writers, knowing
the above, make it “ Selebes ” (but it is always better to retain the received spelling; so I have
kept to ‘‘Celebes”)—the iron island. Its strange and remarkable shape must strike every

observer.—Epitor or O. M.4

DOMICELLA COCCINEA. 127

several specimens in the plantations and forests near that town; neverthe-
less it is not a Celebesian species. It is a fact which I witnessed several
times myself during my half-year’s stay in that delightful part of Celebes.
that, I may say, any number of these handsome birds were brought alive
from the Sangi Islands to Manado by native sailors, traders, &c., for the
purpose of sale. The Sangi Islands are under the Government of Manado ;
and the chief trade of their inhabitants consists of cocoa-nuts, mats, hampers,
&c., and goes to Manado. Therefore communication, by small native prahus,
is always going on; and there seldom arrives a boat without bringing some
living birds or the like *.

“‘Every one must be fond of the genus Domicella (Eos) in captivity.
They are not lazy or grumbling, like the Cockatoos, but active and agile,
graceful and fondling, always ready to play, and inviting their master
to occupy himself with them. As, therefore, on Celebes itself no ‘ Lory ’
(as the natives call them) occurs, and as the Sangi ‘Lory’ is the nearest
(Ternate, with its Domicelia riciniata, being further off), one can understand
why masses of them are introduced. Many of them, no doubt, escape, and
live in freedom (but I suppose they do not thrive very well, because one can
seldom find them); and, according to my experience, most of the specimens
of Donucella coccinea procured from Celebes show that they have been in
captivity, their tail-feathers, for instance, not being in a perfect state, and
so on. Nevertheless it will not be wonderful if at some future time
Domicella coccinea should be considered a bird which has occupied Celebes :
and as the proof that it is not indigenous will be lost, I wish to record the
fact that it is introduced by men from the Sangi Islands.

“Another not quite similar fact of the recent extension of the
geographical range of a bird was asserted by myself in the case of Tanygnathus
megalorhynchus (Bodd.), a widely spread bird, from the Sangi Islands to New
Guinea, but which does not occur on Celebes, where we have Tanygnathus

* T even saw a pair of Domicella coccinea on the island of Cebu (Philippine Islands), whither

it had been brought by a Sangi man.
VOL. III. ab

128 DOMICELLA COCCINEA.

muller (Temm.)*; but quite in the neighbourhood of Manado are some small
islands, not more than an hour’s row (or less) distant from the mainland,
and there occurs Tanygnathus megalorhynchus. J shot it myself there, but
could not succeed in finding a specimen on Celebes itself on the near
opposite shore. JI suppose that if these birds on Mantrau (this is the name
of one of the small islands to the west of Manado) are not a colony which
established itself there, originating from one or two Gmpregnated female, or
a pair) escaped from captivity from Celebes, they must have come over from
the Sangi Islands, where they abound. This would be a case of extension
ef geographical range by natural circumstance. I have no doubt that
Tanygnathus megalorhynchus also will, after a time, be permanently established
in Celebes.

“To recur to Domicella coccinea, we had for a long time a living
specimen, brought over by a friend from Siao. It accompanied us to
Gorontalo, to Macassar, and almost as far as Manilla, dying on the passage
from Singapore to Manilla. It was quite tame, not liking me very much,
but being fond of my wife and always near her; it would bite every one
except her.

‘Most of the species of this genus, and some of the genus Trichoglossus,
have a very agreeable scent about them, like pine-apple and hyacinths.
I remember that, on my voyage to New Guinea, having hung up during the
night, in my small cabin on board the ship, a specimen of Domicella
cyanogenys (Bp.), to skin it the next morning, the whole room was scented
deliciously after it.

“These Lories learn to speak, but not so easily and well as the
Cockatoos and, for instance, the Eelectus. ‘They prefer to scream and cry,
and do not repeat those words or sentences which they learn as distinctly
as other Parrots. They are very delicate, and cannot stand cold or

* Briiggemann calls this bird Tanygnathus sumatranus (Rafil.) ; but I agree with my friend
Dr. Finsch that it is not advisable to retain a geographical name if it is not a right one. The
species does not occur in Sumatra.

DOMICELLA COCCINEA. 129

draughts ; and therefore they are rarer with us in Europe. Most die on
the passage ; I succeeded in bringing one specimen over to London in the
year 1872 (together with a new species of Loriculus, see P.Z.S. 1872,
p. 789), which perhaps still lives in the Zoological Society’s Gardens.

** Domicella coccinea inhabits Siao and the island of Great Sangi, from
which two localities I procured the bird) How far it is spread over the
smaller islands of the group I cannot say. The island Tagulanda is a
somewhat larger one, between Siao and Celebes ; it would be interesting to
know whether it also occurs there, or not.

“<The nearest allies of Domicella coccinea are D. riciniata (Bechst.), from
Halmahera, Batjan, and the neighbouring islands, and D. cyanogenys (Bp.).
from Mysore and Mafoor, besides some other, less-known species.

‘Natives of those islands sometimes tell curious stories about the
animals and birds of their countries. Thus I have noted down in my
diary one about D. coccinea and D. riciniata, related to me by one of
my best hunters, who was very familiar with the Sangi Islands and
Ternate. He said that these two species have this in common, that there
exist two different kinds of birds of each: viz., if the female has but one
egg there appears a large bird; if it has two, the birds remain small. He did
not speak of young and old ones, but of two different kinds. He was quite
convinced of the truth of his story, because the way in which the natives
get the birds is only this—that they rob the nests of the young ones and
rear them.

‘‘T abstain from investigating what may or may not be the truth of this
story, or what was meant by it.”’

The Plate represents a female in my own collection.

ayy ahite, .

ON THE GENUS CITTURA*.
By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.
(Plates XCIX., C.)

Mr. G. R. Gray, in his ‘ Hand-list,’ 1869, pt. i. p. 89, says: —‘‘ 296. Cirrura,
Reich. 1851.”

The genus Cittura, however, is not Reichenbach’s+}, but Kaup’s f.
Kaup described the genus in his ‘ Natiirliches System,’ Darmstadt, 1848, 8vo,
Familie der Eisvogel, p.8. Reichenbach says (1851), in his ‘ Handbuch der
speciellen Ornithologie,’ Alcedinee, p. 38:—‘“‘ Cittura, Kaup.” Therefore
** Cittura, Reich.,” is a mistake.

Gray took his date from Reichenbach, who cites Kaup without a year..

Mr. Sharpe, in his ‘ Alcedinide,’ p. xx, writes thus :—‘‘ Cittura, Kaup,
Fam. Hisv. p. 8 (1848). Type C. cyanotis.”

J. Kaup says, in “ Die Familie der Eisvogel (Alcedinide),” in ‘ Verhand-
lungen des naturhistorischen Vereins fiir das Grossherzogthum Hessen und
Umgebung,’ 2. Heft, Darmstadt, 1848, p. 68, ““Dacelo cyanotis, Temm., is the
type of my subgenus Cittura, with flattened Flycatcher-like bill and Magpie-
like tail.”

* Th. xirta,a Jay, and ovpd, a tail—é. e. having a tail long and graduated, like that of a Jay.

+ Dr. H. G. L. Reichenbach was Director of the Dresden Museum. He is still living in Dresden,
and was born in 1793, at Leipzig. He is a zoologist as well as a botanist, and has written a great
number of works.

t Dr. J. J. Kaup was Administrator of the Darmstadt Museum, and died some years ago.
He was born in 18038, at Darmstadt, and has written a long series of zoological and paleontological
works ; they fill more than two pages (pp. 620, 621) in the ‘Catalogue of Scientific Papers’ pub-
lished by the Royal Society of London, vol. ii. (1869).

132 ON THE GENUS CITTURA.

There is nothing more unsatisfactory to an ornithologist than to have to
describe and figure a bird of unknown sex; yet in many cases, as in unique
specimens quite new, it is impossible to do otherwise.

In my opinion Mr. Sharpe did good work in his ‘ Monograph of the
Alcedinide.’ ‘Io bring together so large and beautiful a group, and not
only put them before us by description, but also by portraiture, was a very
meritorious undertaking. Of necessity, with some of the birds, the facts
which the monographer could state were few, little being known; and so
it was with the genus Cittwra, with its two species. It struck me, there-
fore, that Dr. Meyer’s experience might aid in an attempt to glean some-
what closer as regards these two interesting forms.

I have here figured two females, both in my collection—one of Cittura
cyanotis, and the other of C. sanghirensis. ‘To figure the males would be a
work of supererogation, as it would only be repeating Mr. Sharpe’s two
fine illustrations. The sexes, however, were not differentiated by that
Alcedinidist ; they are now.

Mr. Wallace puts the metropolis of the Alcedimde in the eastern
half of the Malay archipelago, from Celebes to New Guinea (¢f. ‘ Geogra-
phical Distribution of Animals,’ vol. il. p. 315).

CITTURA CYANOTIS (Temm.).

Cittura cyanotis, Sharpe, Monogr. Ale. pl. 119, p. 301 (1868-1871).
Cittura cyanotis, Walden, B. of Celeb. Tr. Z. 8. viii. p. 44 (1872).

Dacelo cyanotis, Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Ale. p. 14: (1874).

Cittura cyanotis, Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. vil. p. 654 (1875).
Cyanotis cyanotis, Briiggemann, Beitr. Abh. N. v. Bremen, v. p. 54 (1876).

CITTURA SANGHIRENSIS (Sharpe).

Cittura sanghirensis, Sharpe, P. Z.S. 1868, pl. xxvii. p. 270, and Monog. Ale. pl. 118, p. 299
(1868-71).

Dacelo sanghirensis, Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Ale. p. 14 (1874).

Cittura sanghirensis, Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Ciy. Gen. ix. p. 53 (1876).

ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY

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ON THE GENUS CITTURA. 133

CiITTURA CYANOTIS.

This species belongs to that four-armed island, Celebes, with its
suggestive form and triple gulf, and particularly to the northern part of it,
Minahassa (which Mr. Wallace calls a “sweet native name’’)*. He describes
it as quite a garden, full of fine coffee-plantations and rice-fields, with capital
roads. In the ‘Malay Archipelago,’ vol. i. p. 387, is a map of Minahassa,
with Menado (the chief town) and the lake Tondano, near which Cittura
cyanotis occurs.

Dr. Meyer sends me the following notes as descriptions of these
woodcuts :— um

“The first is a view of Manado f, the chief town (if it can be called a
town) of the Minahassa, on the bay of Manado and on a part of the
mountains of the country—the part through which one generally enters
the ‘bovenlanden’ [t.e. the ‘highlands’]. The view is taken from a
little to the north of Manado, and it looks to the south. The more marked
houses or streets are not to be distinguished, they being partly covered by
the trees. To the right, near the sea-shore, is a group of cocoanut-trees, one
of the finest adornments of the tropical landscape t. To the left of this
group stands the bridge. Rarely do steamers come quite near it; in the
greater part of the year the winds blow so hard from the sea that the
Manado road cannot be used at all. The ships anchor near Kema, on the east
shore of North Celebes; and one goes on horseback from Kema to Manado
in some hours. The lower mountain in the background, to the left, is the
‘Empung’ (‘empung’ means‘ God’); the higher, to the right, is called the

* “ Minahassa” is compounded of asa, “one” (often pronounced esa) ; with maha the sig-

nification becomes ‘‘ to make one ” (or “‘ to be joined ”) ; and maha-assa is contracted into mahassa.
5B)

Putting in into the word, the signification becomes ‘“‘ made one ;”’ it is equivalent to “a league or

? and thus mahassa becomes minahassa. (It should have the double ss.)

confederation ;”
+ It is often written ‘‘ Menado;” but ‘‘ Manado” is more correct.
{ It is known that the cocoanut-tree only thrives well near the sea-shore, and does not grow
high up the mountains.

134 ON THE GENUS CITTURA.

‘Lokon,’ and it is about 5000 feet high. ‘This chain can be reached
from Manado within a few hours; and yet in this neighbourhood the
seasons differ considerably. Both mountains are volcanoes, as most of the
mountains of the Minahassa are (the volcano-chain coming from the east,
from the Moluccas, and continuing over the Sangi Islands to the Philippines) ;
but the last noteworthy eruption here took place in the year 1832.

“T mentioned before that the river of Manado comes from the lake of
Tondano. The view shows this outlet; it is taken from the side of the
lake, looking down the river—z. e. to the north. The large lake of Tondano
is at about 2000 feet altitude; and the country around it belongs to the
finest in the Minahassa. In particular, the south point of the lake (a place
called Kakas, where no European resides) is a garden of rose-bushes and
coffee-trees, the climate being cool and agreeable in consequence of the high
level above the sea and the neighbourhood of the lake. The only drawback
is the rain: water pours down nearly all the year; perhaps only two months
are without rain. I here took a longer sojourn, having chosen the place
as headquarters for my highland trips. The shores of the river of Tondano
are densely covered with tropical plants: among others, large tree ferus (to
the left) and bamboo (to the right) can easily be recognized. About one
hour from 'Tondano, near Tonsea lama (a small village), the river forms a
fine cataract about 100 feet in height, which many persons consider to be
the finest in the Dutch possessions; but I rather prefer the waterfall in the
neighbourhood of Maros, in South Celebes, which is not so high, but is
broader, and appears always to have a larger volume of water. The
Minahassa possesses many lakes; that of Tondano is the largest, and

contains many fish, but not of many species.’

Dr. Meyer tells me that the name which the natives of the Minahassa—
that is to say, the ‘‘ Alifuros” (not the Mahometan Malays, from the coast)
of the interior—give to Cittura cyanotis is “ Kikis talun,’’ talun meaning

[ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

| |

l |

TONDANO, CELEBES.

ON THE GENUS CITTURA. 135

“forest.” Like Dacelo princeps, this Kingfisher is only found in the forest,
not near the rivers of the coast or the sea-shore.

One thing strikes me in the genus Cittura, though not peculiar to it
(for the same is observable in Melidora, Dacelo, &c.); and that is the
enormous strength at the base of the upper mandible.

This reminds me of a specimen of a British Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida)
which I examined on the 5th of August, 1877. The circumstances of the
bird’s death were unusual. It had a small jack (Esox lucius), 43 inches
long, wedged into its mouth, head foremost. For a Kingfisher to be choked
by a small fish is not rare (various instances have been recorded); but in
this case the shock of the bird going one way and the fish the other (viz.
the flying impetus and the swimming one) was so great that the skull and
one of the mandibles of the Kingfisher were fractured. It was a bird of the
year; both mandibles were wholly black; perhaps, therefore, the more
solid skull of an old bird might have had a better chance.

It is probable, then, that great strength at the base of the upper
mandible may be a valuable factor in the structure of the genus Ciétura,
though, at: the same time, I am well aware of the difference of food and
habits of the various genera of the Alcedinide from those of our solitary

fish-loving species.

Without following the subject too far, I may say that Mr. Sharpe
(quoting Mr. Wallace), in his ‘Monograph of the Alcedinidz,’ p. xlv, says
of the genus Tanysiptera :—‘'They rest on branches three to five feet from
the ground, and dart down upon their prey, often with such force as to stick
their bill into the ground, as shown by its being often covered with mud.”

This habit must require considerable strength in that. organ.

Mr. Dresser has some remarks on this subject (‘Birds of Europe,’
part xlv., Alcedo ispida). Quoting Dr. Kiitter (J. f. O. 1866, p. 38), he says
VOL. III. U

136 ON THE GENUS CITTURA.

that, in digging, “the bird appears from choice to use the upper mandible

only; and ‘‘the upper mandible is fixed fast to the skull, whereas the

weaker under”’ one is ‘attached to the skull only by joints and sinews.”’
The whole is too long to give in full.

Dr. Meyer remarks :—

“‘T observe in my field-notes from Celebes the following remarks on
Cittura cyanotis :—

““« Mr. Wallace says that this species is a rare one; but I did not find
it so, and could procure as many as [| liked.

“Male and female are differently coloured, and easily to be distin-
guished by the colours of the wing-coverts: they are fine blue in the male,
black or black with a light bluish tinge in the female. The colour of the
eyes is rosy red. Jill and feet dark red; claws brownish black. I found
in the stomach insects, beetles, crustacea, worms, &c.

“<The bird mostly sits, apparently dreaming and nearly always alone,
on the branches of trees. Its cry is, five or six times, one after another,
kebekek. 1 only got it in the Minahassa, 7.e. in the north of Celebes, not
more to the south. Cittwra sanghirensis is certainly a different species, larger,
and coloured otherwise on the neck and breast. In the whole time which I
spent in the Minahassa, from December of the year 1870 till July of 1871, I
never got a specimen, among the large number of individuals, which had a
similar coloration as the Sangi bird. The young, also, were living in my
possession, and they already showed the characteristic sexual difference in
their colours.’ |

‘“‘ According to these notes, there can, in my opinion, be no doubt as to
the sexual difference in C. cyanotis ; but nearly all authors who have written
about the species either are not aware of this difference, or attribute another
sense to it. C. sanghirensis, from the Sangi Islands, offers a similar sexual

ON THE GENUS CITTURA.’ 137

difference, which likewise has not yet been clearly recognized by the various
authors. But before proving this assertion, I wish to state these differences
in these two closely allied yet conspicuously distinct species.

** Cittura cyanotis, from North Celebes.—The male has the sides of the
head deep blue, and no white spots on the superciliary feathers ; it has deep-
blue wing-coverts. The female always has white superciliary spots, and the
sides of the head and the wing-coverts black or bluish black. Already the
young, with bills still black, show these sexual differences in a marked
manner.

“ Cittura sanghirensis, from Siao and Great Sangi (both Sangi-Island -
groups ).—Both male and female have white superciliary spots; the male has
the sides of the head and the wing-coverts blue, the female black or blackish.
As in C. cyanotis, already the young birds with black bills show these sexual
differences. |

“‘ Authors do not agree about these points, as the following quotations
will show. First, as to C. cyanotis.

“Prof. Schlegel (Mus. P.-B. Alc. 1863, p. 22) enumerates male, female,
and young, without mentioning the differences. In his ‘Vogels van
Nederlandsch Indie,’ Alcedinide, 1864, p. 19, this author says that the young
males are coloured like the old birds, but with duller tints, and that the
young females appear to get the blue of the wing-coverts later than the males.
But, as my specimens prove, already the quite young birds show the
differences stated above. A male is figured by Prof. Schlegel on plate vi.
(fig. 1), and a young bird (fig. 2), without mentioning its sex; but it is a
young male.

‘In 1874 the same author (Mus. P.-B. Alc. p. 14) enumerates seven
more specimens of different sexes and ages, and recurs to the coloration,
under the head of C. sanghirensis, saying that the white superciliary spots
only occur in the adult of C. cyanotis. But it is the female which shows this

character, and as well the young as the adult.
U2

138 ON THE GENUS CITTURA.

‘*Mr. Sharpe, in his excellent Monograph (1868-71), figures on pl. 119
a male, without stating its sex. He does not mention at all (p. 301) sexual
or other differences in the coloration. But under the head of C. sanghirensis
(p. 300), some remarks are added by Dr. Finsch, who describes the female
of C. cyanotis (without knowing it to be the female) and a male of
C. sanghirensis, and comes to the conclusion that they are one and the same
species, the differences being caused by age. Mr. Sharpe therefore concludes
that C. sanghirensis also occurs on Celebes. This is not the case ; but the female
of C. cyanotis agrees with C. sanghirensis in having white superciliary spots.

‘‘ Lord Walden, in the year 1872 (Tr. Z.5. vill. p. 44), says :—‘ It is not
improbable that the differences whereon Mr. Sharpe founded his C. sanghi-
rensis will prove to be common to the Celebean bird in certain phases of
plumage.’ This sentence is not quite intelligible to me. Perhaps the author
meant that the two species are different, but that they have some characters
in common ; all the differences whereon Mr. Sharpe founded his C. sanghirensis
are never common to both species.

‘Count Salvadori (Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. vii. 1875, p. 654) first said that
it did not appear improbable to him that the white superciliary spots are a
sexual character; but he agrees with Prof. Schlegel, that by this character
the two species cannot be distinguished. This is partly true, as the female
of C. cyanotis bears the white spots, and male and female of C. sanghirensis ;
but the male of C cyanotis can be distinguished at once from C. sanghirensis
by the want of the spots.

“Mr. Briiggemann, in 1876 (Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen, v. p. 54),
speaks of two different stages, according to the season, relying upon the
view of Mr. van Duyvenbode, a native of the country; but one need only to
have been in the East to have experienced that no great stress can be laid
upon such views. The two stages which Mr. Bruggemann describes
correspond to the sexual differences.

‘From this summary it will appear that the sexual differences of

ON THE GENUS CITTURA. 139

C. cyanotis are not yet clearly recognized, and that the female has never been
figured.

‘Now as to C. sanghirensis :—

“This species was first figured by Mr. Sharpe (P. Z. 5. 1868, pl. xxvii.).
This author says (p. 272) that the figure has been drawn from the type
specimen in his collection, and coloured from a very fine example in the
Leyden Museum. As the same typical specimen was afterwards figured
in Mr. Sharpe’s ‘ Monograph’ (pl. 118), these two figures ought to agree;
but they appear to me not quite to do so, the first having the sides of the
head and the wing-coverts blackish, the latter blue. Can the Leiden specimen
be a female? Mr. Sharpe’s typical specimen decidedly is a male; but no
reference has been made to any sexual differences.

‘‘ Neither does Prof. Schlegel, in the year 1874 (Mus. P.-B. Alc. p. 14),
consider sexual differences, notwithstanding he enumerates five males and
three females.

“Nor does Count Salvadori, in 1876 (Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. ix. p. 53),
enumerating three specimens with blue wing-coverts and two with black
ones.

‘‘ Therefore, also, the sexual differences in C. sanghirensis have not yet
been noticed, as far as I am aware; and as at all events an authenticated
female specimen has not as yet been figured, we may look upon Mr. Rowley’s
Plate, which represents such a one, with satisfaction.

** At all events, the two species are very ‘ good’ ones, in the same sense
that all insular variations are, or even more so. Which of the two may have
been the parental form cannot be said in the present state of our knowledge ;
but perhaps other allied ones are still to be discovered somewhere on Borneo
or the neighbourhood, and will clear up this question.

‘* Prof. Schlegel and Count Salvadori knew only the habitat of the Great
Sangi for C. sanghirensis. I also got this species from Siao, in the south of
Great Sangi, north of Celebes ; and it is perhaps of value to remark that the

140 ON THE GENUS CITTURA.

Siao specimens quite agree with the Great-Sangi ones, and show no tendency
at all to approach the Celebean species.

‘Another fact is perhaps worth especial mention: it is this, that a
character in one species (viz. the white superciliary spots in C. sanghirensis )
belongs to both sexes, in the other (in C. cyanotis) only to the female. Also
the fact as to its genesis remains to be ascertained by any one who wishes
to know in which way the variation of species proceeds; but we cannot at
this time enter deeper into the subject.”

The following translations refer to these species.

Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Alc. 1864, p. 22 :—

* DacELO cYANoTis, Temm. Pl. Col. 262.

Wang 318" to 4" 2" tail3" to 3" 6", bill 13" to 145" Bill large siat-
tened above, reddish. Head and tail reddish yellow above. A superciliary
stripe and cheeks of a pale rosy colour. A very broad postocular stripe and
wing-coverts dark cobalt-blue, in the young blackish. ‘The other upper
parts of a yellowish-brown colour ; the underparts white, turning to reddish
yellow.

‘Observed on the island of Celebes.

** Collected by Forsten.”

Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Alc. 1874, p. 14 :—
“Collected by Von Rosenberg and Van Duyvenbode.”’
“* DACELO SANGHIRENSIS, Schlegel.

“ Cittura sanghirensis, Sharpe.

We owe this discovery to M. Hoedt. I had distributed, in the year

ON THE GENUS CITTURA. 141

1866, duplicates, under the name of Dacelo sanghirensis, some of which came
into the British Museum and to Mr. Sharpe. It reminds one nearly perfectly
of Dacelo cyanotis, but has the front and a spot at the base of the lower
mandible continued to the eye black, all the colours of the plumage much
more vivid, and the bird of a somewhat larger size. Wing 3" 9" to 4” 2",
tail 3’ 9". He adds that the character drawn from the white spots, which
ornament the black superciliary stripe, is also to be found in the adult of
Dacelo cyanotis.

‘*«'This bird has only been observed on the island of Great Sanghir, in
the north of Celebes.

“Collected by Hoedt and Van Duyvenbode.”’

Bruggemann, Abh. naturw. Ver. Bremen, v. p. 54 (1876) :—

‘**CirTuRA CYANOTIS (Temm. ).

‘** This species occurs in two different dresses, which are rather similarly
gaudy. It seems probable to me that also here a change in the coloration
takes place, according to the season; for we meet specimens in the dress
No. 1, which are apparently older than others in the dress No.. 2,
possessing evidently more slender bills. Besides, Sharpe got the commu-
nication, through Duyvenbode, that C. cyanotis varies very much according
to the season.

‘“‘ Dress No. 1 Superciliary stripe rusty yellow. Region of the ear and
small wing-coverts dark blue.

“ Dress No. 2. Superciliary stripe clean white. Region of the ear and
small wing-coverts deep black. In the dress of transition the white tips of
the feathers become smaller, and the blue on the wings appears.

Younger bird. Bill much shorter and more obtuse, blackish red. Bears
perfectly the dress No. 1.”

142 ON THE GENUS CITTURA.

Schlegel, ‘De Vogels van Nederlandsch Indié,’ Haarlem (Krusemann),
1864, 4to, p. 18 :—

“DacELo cyanotis. (Plate 6. figs. 1 & 2.)

“This species is readily recognizable by its lance-shaped feathers on the
head, by its rather short and flat bill, and by the colours of its plumage.

“Its length is about 9”, wing 3” 8” to 4” 2”, tail 3” 6”, bill 13”
to 14".

**The bill is red, rather short, broader than high, and above provided
with a flattened ridge, which protrudes only a little. The feet appear to
possess, in life, a yellowish-brown colour. The upper part of the head and
the tail-feathers are yellowish rusty. A stripe on each side of the head,
cheeks, and throat yellowish rosy-coloured, but lighter on the throat.
Behind the eye a broad dark-blue stripe, which continues (but much
narrower) above the eye to the nose, and also under the eye. Wing-
coverts of the same colour. Neck, mantle, feathers of the shoulder, and
back yellowish brown, changing into a rusty colour upon the upper tail-
coverts and into ochre-yellowish white on the outer web of the shoulder-
feathers. The wing-feathers are blackish brown, turning to blue on the
secondaries. Underparts, below the throat and under wing-coverts greyish
white, turning to rusty yellow.

“The not yet adult males show a plumage differmg only by somewhat
duller tints from the old ones; but the bill is for the greater part blackish.
The young females appear to get their full dress, especially the blue of the
wing-coverts, later than the males.

“This bird is found in the northern part of Celebes, and belongs to the
rare species.”

As regards the birds figured in the two Plates, C. cyanotis was collected
in March 1871 by Dr. Meyer, in the neighbourhood of Manado, in the

ON THE GENUS CITTURA. 146

Minahassa. There are, some miles from the town, several small rivers,
where he often shot tne species in the forest.

The Sangi bird, C. sanghirensis, is from Great Sangi, and was collected
in 1875 by one of his hunters, who remained in his service when he returned
to Europe in 1873. His name is Kamis; he accompanied Bernstein,
Wallace, and Von Rosenberg on some of their journeys, and later went with
Dr. Meyer. Kamis is a native of 'T'ernate, and is described as a most trust-
worthy, capital fellow—the best man Dr. Meyer had in his employ.

Small shot is used to kill the birds; and they are not difficult to find
in the forest, near rivers or small waters.

VOL. ITI. x

THE BIRDS

OF
MONGOLIA, THE TANGUT COUNTRY,
AND THE

SOLITUDES OF NORTHERN TIBET.
By Lievur.-Cot. N. PRJEVALSKY.
[Continued from p. 110. |

Order VI. GRALL (continued).

286. HypRocHELIDON NIGRA, L. <Kratchka chernaya.

We found it breeding on the marshy ‘l'saidemin-nor lake. The young
were not fledged towards the end of July. Some stragglers were also
noticed by us in Northern Ala-shan, but in no other locality visited by us
except the Lake-Hanka basin, where these birds breed in abundance.

287. HypRocHELIDON INDICA, Steph. Kratchka beloshekaya.

Gray, Illustr. Ind. Zool. i. pl. Ixx. fig. 2.

We met with it only in the Hoang-ho valley, where it was breeding
abundantly at the Tsaidemin-nor lake.

146 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

288. GracuLus carBo. Baclan bolshoy.

During the vernal migration, late in March, we saw large numbers of
these birds on Lake Dalai-nor, where they probably remain to breed, and
about the end of April in the Hoang-ho valley, from which they disappear
for the summer. At Koko-nor the earliest migrants appeared on the 12th
of March, and were very plentiful later on in the month, especially on the
Buhain-gol; but towards the end of March their numbers diminished consi-
derably, as only a few pairs breed here, on account of the want of high over-
hanging rocks.

At Lake Hanka they arrive early in March, and are very numerous
about the middle of that month on the Sungatch. For whole days their loud
hoarse voice and the fluttering of their wings are to be heard. After feeding
they perch on some overhanging willows; and often whole flocks can be seen
at night roosting on dead trees.

Not being pursued by man, these birds get very tame in Mongolia and
the Ussuri country, but are not very easily shot, as they can carry a heavy
charge ; and even when mortally wounded they very often escape by diving.

About the beginning of April almost all these birds leave Hanka for the
north; a few probably remain, but do not breed. On the coasts of the
Japanese Sea they have young on the rocky shores, and sometimes even stay
there for the winter.

989. PeLecanus crispus, L.? Pelican kudriavey.

Most likely it was Pelecanus crispus that Pere David discovered. We
saw it on the Dalai-nor and in the Hoang-ho valley: in the former place we
found only one, on the 29th of March; and in the latter, two in summer and
one in spring.

We did not come across any Pelicans in any other locality which we
visited.

147

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE SPECIES IN THE Loca .itirs

EXPLORED DURING THE ExpEDITION

pproximative and incomplete, as our observations

ity through a whole year.

did not extend in any local

Note.—These statements must only be accepted as a

breeding, i.e. migrating to breed.
wintering, 7. e. migrating to winter.

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148 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.
List of the Species, with their Geographical Distribution.
B n m Z. f=] .
Sa) 2 < . = PI 5
Names or Species. <E eel ai os P73 Fi = eS
is teal -Oo ° 1 J ro) a
SIS SPoo ey Viet ea yeere hs,
: ea 1 L p
f= n ie) <q =a) oH Zz
1. Gypaétus barbatus, Z............. Ss. s Cr s Si: Si: e Sh
DeAViUlGune Onachuss/ele le anceee ses s Sie © s Sia ine Si: e Ss
3. Gyps himalayensis, Hume......... 52 Se € e
4. Archibuteo hemilasius, Temm. & |
SACI ES acsantaiopeconn neo acnnne Ino flog va n. gt Aine i dye dat
5. Aquila chrysaétos, J. ............ S: Tin BP | |
6. imperialis, Bechst. ......... 2 Ss. h.
=== Ot, GA cccucosdacae et image Wg ils Se le | h.s?
8. Clan gay geal eae er pen eae ae |
9. Circaétus gallicus, Gmel. ......... rm |
10. Pandion haliaétus, Z. ............ ae te teen| |
Hdeektaliaétuspallbicrllay wy aus caaee Beal PAP HOUCA|Y lige | Ve aces |
12. TMACCIONGUUN Wee e eae eE a aeere Pits oe n: t t t.n?|
13. Falco hendersoni, Hume ......... Sie Ss. h:s? jh.s?
14. Hypotriorchis subbuteo, ZL. ...... WH | ie
165 Bost oven! pores nadoenechapsoace joa (lB In ie n ihe
16. Tinnunculus japonicus, Schley...) n. S: Se s S* s h.s?
17. Erythropus amurensis, Radde ...| ... n. ee n. n. |
18. Milvus melanotis, Temm.& Schleg., va: n: TO: mu: we |p kane |
19. Astur palumbarius, L. ............ me mo i |
20) Atccipiten misuss Wy. yasss. nase bs wy are mie
21. Circus spilonotus, Kaup ......... Me | we In yng tao |) ae t 1 G h:
22. Strigiceps cyaneus, L. ............ ae h. ae ae h:
23. Athene plumipes, Swinh.......... S: Ss. S: S Ske s Sie
94. Bubo maximus, S200. ............ ders ? Ss.
25. Caprimulgus jotaca, Temm.§ Schl. Ts = ial ¢
26. (QlUMIpess DeiS Ps. seca eeeee ee! Lt 900 mye
Ojon Cypselustapussyleussecs cesar BR mMe |) aa ti: n: i's
28. pacificus, Lath................ bo We || mS ae n: u
29. Cheetura caudacuta, Lath.......... oe i Wo |
30. Hirundo gutturalis, Scop.......... Te: n: n: n.
31. Cecropis daurica, L............... ? n: Mm ¢ ne n
Soe OOtyle riparia select cern asni ae: Giep ie |e m1: ms n:
33 MUP ESULIS WO.COMseeemseee ree me n. n:
834. Chelidon cashmirensis, Gowld...| ... |t.n?| ... n: n:
3 ben Uipulpa CpOps; eluent cee. erences ibe wie || “anh n: n: nD.
ye. Shae vallloca, db Wai bencacoosnae fe S$: S:
37 SINCHSIS HU SUI ACiI ieee eee Si. |
38. amurensis, Swinh.* ......... |
| 39. Certhia familiaris, LZ. ............ oak haces |
40. Tichodroma muraria, L. ......... Sc S Si Ss.

* Found only on the N.W. slope of Gubey-key, i. e. not actually in Mongolia.

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 149
Table of the Geographical Distribution (continued).
=a: z : a : S . &
Names or Specizs. a3 S| S 5 a a Z 4 A =
Seem stcy cae\ cia a eon leis meee 9
= n ie) < < ha a Z
41, Troglodytes fumigatus, Temm. ... n He a n.
oh a a? pekinensis, Swinh. . S: S. 8.
, var. B. major, nob.... La ae S:
43. Calamodyta orientalis, Schleg....| ... n: ms
44, Arundinax aédon, Pall............. (ie
45. Dumeticola affinis, Hodgs. ...... ee Hes ae n
46. Locustella certhiola, Pall. ...... The Moule ny; n. Mai? |
47, Sylvia curruca, Lath. ............ Wc n: n: ms |
48. aralensis, Hversm. ......... n:s?
49. Phillopneuste plumbeitarsa, Sw. n:
50. xanthodryas, Swink. ...... ver pbs n: |
51. borealis, Blas. ............... n: Be tes |
52. fuscata,y Blyth) ce. cnce n: te t. |
58. Abrornis armandii, Milne-Edw. . n.
54. affinis, Hodgs. ........... van #2: n:
55. Reguloides proregulus, Pall...... ah n.? |
56. superciliosus, Gmel. ......... t. Ty: |
57. Regulus himalayensis, Blyth Re ae ith |
58. Ruticilla aurorea, Pall............. n: ? ? |
59. rufiventris, Vieill............. n. Mela lnuaeeriee
60. frombalas Wag. ener seca n:
61 - schisticeps, Hodgs. ......... n:
62 hodgsoni, Moore ............ He n: |
63. alaschanica, n. sp. ......... n: die |
64. —- fuliginosa, Vig................ A n.
65 erythrogastra, Giild.......... 3 n. |
66. Cheemarrhornis leucocephala, |
VLG tide re lead cain tiaean ayaa a ah n: |
67. Larvivora cyane, Pail. ............ tie ie |
68. Nemura cyanura, Pall............. tie n:
69. Hodgsonius pheenicuroides,Hdgs |... an n
70. Cyanecula cerulecula, Pall....... tie tase Wile |
71. Calliope kamtschatkensis, Gmel.. te n: |
72 tschebatewi, 0. 8p........6.--. n. |
73. Grandala ceelicolor, Hodgs.......| ... A: na sah n: |
74. Saxicola cenanthe, L. ............ n: n. ? n. |
75. TINOTHO), SHOPS Seonoetnoacoanes: ? n: ile n. ? |
76. atrogularis, Blyth............ n. re a Dn: |
77 isabellina, Riipp. ............ n. n: n. mi mys |
78. Pratincola indica, Blyth ......... n. |
79. Accentor nipalensis, Hodgs....... des n:
80 montanellus, Pall. ......... see ah t: |
81 fulvescens, Sev. ...........- a le, fil a n: 8? ies) | bea ska

THE BIRDS OF

Table of the Geographical Distribution (continued).

MONGOLIA ETC.

2. Accentor multistriatus, David

rubeculoides, Moore ......

. Parus minor, Temm. & Schleg...
5 LEUAGH CHOU tly BIOS Gbncene soso:

superciliosa, . Sp.

: LEIS ea n. .Sp..

. Orites caudatus, ib rune canbe ads
. Suthora webbiana, CREM osanesose

150
Names or SPECIES.
82
83
84.
85
86.
87
88.
89
90
91

. Panurus biarmicus, £. .........
. Leptopecile sophie, Sev. ......
. Motacilla luzoniensis, Scop.

dukhunensis, Sykes ......
ocularis, Swink. ...........

. Budytes cinereo-capilla, Sav. ...

citreolahallaa hee

. Calobates melanope, Pall. ......
. Anthus spinoletta, L. ...........:

oes, JLe sebeagodanaces
rosaceus, Hodgs.............

2. Pipastes agilis, Sykes ............
. Agrodroma campestris, Bechst.
. Corydalla richardii, Vieill. ......
. Turdus naumanni, Temm. ......

fuscatus, Pall. Sten pen dares
QULILUS TI MVCTI esac
Mu collas 2 al he ee esas
allen JEG socuaacondavsoe

. Merula gouldi, J. Verr..........

[PMT Vly 3Psjaccscagsse0080

2. Oreocinela varia, Pall. .........
. Monticola saxatilis, Z. .........
. Hydrobata cashmirensis, Gould

sordida, Gould Roncaneeae

7. Trochalopteron ellioti, J. Verr..
. Oriolus chinensis, L.

. Erythrosterna leucura, Gmel..

. Hemichelidon sibirica, Gmel.
-eAmnpelistoarmila,eynnencccse- scene
2. Collyrrio sphenocercus, Cad. ...

pallidirostris, Cass..........

. —— tephronotus, Vig. ......... |

lee 3
Cosa 6
oSs|e Ss

fe Mme
S)

aeP| ao
x Nn
?s

S$:

mye

‘Grs)imies | eaate
ite ig

Gas 10), 8

ita n.

1B iis

ibaa

mens

ey wal, 9

lg caries

ibine

ALA-SHAN.

PS seb ar ac Ee oc | Kan-svu.

KoKko-Nor.

| TSAIDAM.

THE BIRDS

OF MONGOLIA ETC.

Table of the Geographical Distribution (continued).

8
a8
Namzs or SrEcizs. < 5
|
jan

125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
182.
133.
134:
135.
136.
137.
138.
139.
140.
141,
14:2,
143.
14.4,
145.
146,
147.
148,
149,
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
160.
161.
162.
163.
164,
165.
166.
167.

S.E. Mon-
GOLIA

Lanius pheenicurus, Pall. ...... t.
arenarius, Blyth ............
Garrulus brandtii, Hversm.

Podoces hendersoni, Hume......
humilis, Hume ............
Pica media, Blyth ...............
bottanensis, Deless. ..,...
Cyanopolius cyanus, Pall. ......

Coryusicorax t/a ine a ka Si:

Frugilegus pastinator, Gould...) .
Lycos dauricus, Pail. ............ n.
Pyrrhocorax alpinus, Vieill.

orientalis, Eversm.......... 8.

Fregilus graculus, L. ...... Beets S:

Temenuchus dauricus, Pail. ...
Sturnus vulgaris, LZ. ..........6.
cineraceus, Temm. .........
Fringilla montitringilla, L.

Chlorospiza sinica, L.............

Pyrgita petronia, LZ. ............ S:

Montifringilla adamsi, Moore...
Fringillauda nemoricola, Hodgs.
Onychospiza taczanowskii, n.sp.

Pyrgilauda davidiana, J. Verr.. s:

ruficollis, Blanf...........+.

Passer montanus, L. ............ S.

ammodendri, Sev. .........
Mycerobas carnipes, Hodgs. ...
Pyrrhula erithacus, Blyth ......
Carpodacus erythrinus, Pail. ...
rubicilla, Giild. ..........4.
——- rubicilloides, 1. 8p. ..+.++06
davidianus, Milne-Edw....
Carpodacus dubius, n.sp. ......

Erythrospiza mongolica, Swinh.| s .

obsoleta, Licht. ............
Uragus sibiricus, Pall. .........
Pyrrhospiza longirostris, 1. sp.
Linota brevirostris, Gould ......
Acanthis linaria, L.

Euspiza aureola, Pail............. n.

Emberiza spodocephala, Pail...
pityornis, Pall. ..........+.

ne tet:

nm:
5 .

ALA-SHAN.

10g

Bag

nN:

Dias

Koxo-Nnor.

| TSAIDAM.

VOL. II.

152

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

. Dryocopus martius, L.
. Cuculus canorinus, Miill. ......
. Columba rupestris, Pall..........

). Turtur rupicolus, Pall.

. Emberiza ciopsis, Bp. ... ......-.

godlewsku, Tacz.
TORE JEG cadasososnsoo on

eee eeees

. Cynchramus scheeniclus, L.

polaris, Midd. NaS

. Urocynchramus pylzowi, 1. sp. .
. Plectrophanes lapponicus, L. ...
. Otocoris albigula, Bp. ...........

NLGTU ONS, MW. SPacaeacsecere:

Al audaranvensiss 27. erwersccceceer
. Galerida leautungensis, Swinh.
. Alaudula cheleénsis, Swinh. ...

kukunoorensis, n. sp. ......

. Melanocorypha mongolica, Pall.

maxima, Gould

ee eccoeseees

. Picus mandarinus, Gould ......

leuconotus, Bechst.*

leuconota, Vig. ............

vitticollis, Temm. .........
humiliseydienaeeeeneraaecce

. Syrrhaptes paradoxus, Pall. ...

thibetanus, Gould .........

. Phasianus torquatus, Gmel.

vlangalit, D. SP. s.secereeees
strauchi, n. sp.

. Crossoptilon auritum, Pall. ...
. Ithaginis geoffroyi, J. Verr. ...
. Perdix barbata, J. Verr..........

SUGNICG= SPiaeeeeee eee ee

. Coturnix communis, Bonn.? ...

japonica, Schleg......+.+.++.

- Caccabis chukar, Gray. .......+.

DUGG) WSS aorasceqnsuooer

. Tetraogallus thibetanus, Gould
. Tetraophasis obscurus, J. Verr.
. Tetrastes sewerzowt, i. Sp. «+...

Hazua (lat
same as
Urga)

BSB
coe. -

S.E. Mon-

GOLIA,

—-— nn

wo:

ni:

"WwW

ALA-SHAN.

Kan-su.

N. Tiber.

* Found only north of Gu-bey-key.

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

Table of the Geographical Distribution (continued).

NaMEs OF SPECIES.

. Otis macqueeni, Gray? .........
. Vanellus cristatus, Meyer ......
. Chettusia inornata, Schleg. ...
. Charadrius fulvus, Gmel. ......
. Eudromias veredus, Gould......
. Agialites curonicus, Besck.

cantianus, Lath.............

3. Glareola orientalis, Leach ......
. Grus cinerea, Bechst. ............

nigricollis, N. Sp........0.0++
leucauchen, Temim.....ccces
monacha, Temm.............
leucogeranus, Pall..........

. Anthropoides virgo, L. .........
. Ardea cinerea, L.
. Herodias alba, L.
. Botaurus stellaris, Z. ............
. Ciconia boyciana, Swink. ? *

TaN a Hl Op oe Anarene coe

. Platalea major, Temm. .........
. Ibidorhyncha struthersii, Vig.

. Numenius major, Temm..........
. Limosa melanuroides, Gould ...
. Totanus ochropus, LZ. ............

slareolawly ane wee eet
Calladiish Ties Soe annas cn
FUSCUS BENE Urea Ne ea ae
slottis elit caer et cone

. Tringoides hypoleucos, L. ......
. Recurvirostra avocetta, LD. ......
. Himantopus candidus, Bonn. ...
. Trmga temmincki, Leis/. ......

subminuta, Midd. .........
subarquata, L. .......0....

. Gallinago scolopacina, Bp.......

solitaria, Hodgs.............
heterocerca, Cab. .........
megala, Swinh. ........+++-

. Scolopax rusticola, L.............
. Rhynchea bengalensis, L.......

DG
Ot.

S.E. Mon-
GOLIA

Somer Se at | ALA-SHAN.

| Kan-svu.

KoKo-Nor.

TSAIDAM,

silty

* Found only north of Gu-bey-key.

wwww
Or Or Or Or
wwrco

154

Go LO SO

Or or Ot Ot OF OF

WWW CW OW

on
S

288.
289.

. Mareca penelope, L.
. Dafila acuta, L.
SPAM asHbOschasse/as--n sere eeter rn:

. Querquedula circia, L.

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

Names or Species.

Hanna (lat.

same as
Urga.)
S.E. Mon-

. Ortygometra pygmiea, Naum. ..

Gallinula chloropus, LZ. .........
Huilicakatrasy saan eee race
Anser cinereus, Meyer, var.
rubrirostris, Swinh.............
segetum, Gmeél. v2.5. 500.
apynGliy Jee (cookoasnnse:
INCICUS WATE nena
eyenoides, Pall. ............
Cygnus musicus, Bechst.
bewicku, Yarr.
olor, Gmel. ?

. Tadorna cornuta, Gel. .........

Casarca rutila, Pall.

peciloryncha, Temm. nec
TOTTI see Sea petBin un eab cen oueeO nO

crecca, L.

. Bunetta faleata, Pall. ....:.......

glocitans, Pall. ............

. Chaulelasmus streperus, L.
. Spatula elypeata, L.
Po hiulixgeristatas lessee senccicerer
, Aythya ferina, L.
75. Bucephala clangula, L.
. Mergus merganser, L.

SCLLALO Dae) 7 penenenene eee

. Mergellus albellus, L.............
. Podiceps cristatus, L

auritus, L. ?

3 IURANS byes, JECE cocosscsaodonee

occidentalis, Awd. .........
ichthyaétus, Pall. .........

. Chroicocephalus brunneicepha-

INGE /GRUS asoacncnahsEsscecasoasee

5. Sterna anglica, Mont.............
3. Hydrochelidon nigra, L..........

TAVIS (STAD Ud adonoaseaneoce
Graculusicanbowiemnsseesseees:
Pelecanus crispus, L. ............

Gey

5 2

GOLIA.

CATE

Gr Gr Ge
0.0

teh f Bp BS

i 5
a #
lees
G is
1B 8
n.
bie
n. bie
tire AN
n Le 6
Big
iti
(Bo
1B 6
ic
n:
ee

| KoKo-Nor.

Table of the Geographical Distribution (continued).

TSAIDAM,

| N. Trser. |
|

THE BIRDS

OF MONGOLIA

ETC. 155

List of the Birds during Spring Migration.

Note.—The date given is the day on which the first specimen was noticed. The mark * means that

the species may have passed even earlier.

All dates are Old Style.

FEBRUARY 1873.

Tsaidam. | Tsaidam.
Feb. 10...) Casarca rutila. Feb. 17...) Vanellus cristatus.
has.

5, 18...) Anas boschas Dafila acuta

Turdus ruficollis. », 184 | Herodias alba.
», 144 | Mergus merganser. Anser cinereus, var. rubrirostris.

Cygnus musicus.
» 15...| Querquedula crecca. 9) 28...| Anthropoides virgo.

MARCH.
1871. 1872. 1873.
Mountains north of Pekin Ae
and S.E. Mongolia, as far K seal a aeahe Lake Koko-nor.
as Dalai-nor.
Var c Heise has Stent ceca cs canv cise) al P ue memunEeeiiann (unceyes Accentor rubeculoides.
Sees | CLCOMCRIULIT Emaar eeersey ae | Mer eistselsieeere assess eleite Bucephala clangula*.
Fuliz cristata*.
Larus ichthyaétus. |
Fes efile 6) eras | Rn Gata anserats aetatmre ele rstsiic steel ati il eel dace oncharaiatcinc walgeetare rarae? Chroicocephalus brunneice-
|| phalus.
| Anser indicus.
pay) k8inod [li Ins desasgoueneccneenbecees Anser segetum. Milvus melanotis.
Be ead LOUH | tal sa CONDE ACOSO AOE EeCOOREES Casarca rutila.
By Wood) | QRHERA CHI (BRACE o scodedod |. 1 Gcodoocodonododnbodenooe
55) d@sadh <3 = codacdoudsacsecsnccaband Cygnus musicus.
» L1...| Upupa epops.
Milvus melanotis .........
Palle eae Ih ions Walesteaisie clea sinsieic se araen Vanellus cristatus ......... Graculus carbo.
Larus occidentalis .........
13...| Ciconia boyciana? ............ Sazxicola morio.

Bucephala clangula*......
Vanellus cristatus *
Cygnus musicus *

ecoeeccce

VOL, ITI.

ee cree ccoesceeesessces

Tadorna cornuta.
Spatula clypeata.

156 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

List of the Birds during Spring Migration (continued).

Maxcu (continued).

1871. 1872. 1873.
Mountains north of Pekin Ser P
and 8.E. Mongolia, as far Spi AMON IO Me, Lake Koko-nor.

3 Kalgan to Hoang-ho.
as Dalai-nor. _ Tete)

(

GUS MONACNA .seeeeeeveee
| Motacilla ocularis.........
|| Dofila, acuta *® <......5.006
Aythya ferina.

Grus leucauchen......ce00e |
i . .
( Numenius major.

Eunetta glocitans .....++
Eunetta falcata* ......04.
Chroicocephalus brunnei-

| March 15 Saxicola isabellina......... {

GEN COIS acapododcbo090000
Larus occidentalis .....++..
Anser segetum * ...cecereres J

|
\
| Chettusia inornata.

5, 164 | Anser cinereus, var. rubri-
rostris. : |
§ | Grus cinerea.

Wfssdh!) “ ‘sonadasoacdacucboossdeed. ||. tundobsadaduenodencbaceod :
my lh U| Recurvirostra avocetta.
ERG See OPV eienre Seuinuasersecines sats Upupa epops.
9 ADbac) .. cdcustsosoncn0sobs0R6c Motacilla ocularis ............ | Mareca penelope.
Aoi) ood ie eaiedonoecccoaccaecnkencaca Ruticilla aurorea.
Haliaétus mace.
99 gialites cantianus.
sh. Sead! ogacadépadcbdccooocsccsde .. |p oabdodaoadadaooacadouode Te / dl
imosa melanuroides.
Totanus calidris.
Motacilla dukhunensis.
go Bee.) Grraculs CATDO ..ccccceeeeeees| cette eeeeeete eee enereees Gallinayo scolopacina.
| Graculus carbo.

24, Sazvicola isabellina.
i Anthus pratensis.

5) 29...| Saxicolu morio.

26 {| Tadorna cornuta ............ Anthus spilonetta +++... LV Vinten tinct
9» “"U| Numenius major ............ | Ardea Cinered .sers+eeeee s ;
| | Grus cinerea.
| | Anthropoides virgo.
Tadorna cornuta. |
50 | Aigialites cantianus. |
wl eee wee eee ete eee eerste

” 4 Recurvirostra avocetta.

| Chroicocephalus brunneice-
phalus*.

Cygnus bewickii*.

THE BIRD

S OF MONGOLIA ETC.

List of the Birds during Spring Migration (continued).

Marcu (continued).

1871.
Mountains north of Pekin
and 8.E. Mongolia, as far

as Dalai-nor.

S.E. Mongolia,
Kalgan to Hoang-ho.

1873.
Lake Koko-nor.

March28...

» 294

Fringilla montifringilla...

Collyrio sphenocercus ?

ec oeececcscoecesecescene

Coturniz japonica.

» 3805 | Spatula clypeata*......... | Totanus Calidris....scceceevees Grus nigricollis.
Recurvirostra avocetta ...
APRIL.
1871. 1872. 1873.
S.E. Mongolia, from Muni-ul mountains and aes
Dalai-nor to Kalgan. the Hoang-ho valley. | ze
|
Anas pecilorhyncha ...... |
April 1 en eae Raney 8) Chettusia inornata .........0 Sazicola isabellina.
Pulicd atrd...ecccccecceeeees
» 2&...| Mergus serrator *. |
3 Chaulelasmus streperus ... Cie |
2 Podiceps auritus? ......0+. Cetin eee |
45 | Anthus spilonetta ......... a Sloe al EI
5 af Anser cygnoides ® |... pil opebetbcpobechsegec crs Ruticilla rufiventris.
5 Pratincola indica.
nb Hon feral tsecresteaistsicals Acieiscice cle cea ime dl tial Maswteiccisceiote sainncessiauises Urocynchramus pylzowi.
» 7...| Lanius sphenocercus ......... LGrus NWEUS cececscevevereeces Ciconia nigra.
5: Sowa conusedaogoaobesooudacdd | |= -. soegansaddaeononcedonban Ruticilla frontalis.
Aigialites CUPONICUS .+....00 Cotyle rupestris.
» 9% | Limosa melanuroides ......... Saxicola cenanthe.
Gallinago scolopacina ...... Chaulelasmus streperus*.
ami (ale Wa aE we ceeie ra ele wialale tice closets Turdus ruficollis ...cccceceee Anthus rosaceus.
Querquedula circia® ....+. uae :
55 uf Budytes citreola. 10.0 Carpodacus davidianus .....+ Budytes citreola.
|

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

List of the Birds during Spring Migration (continued).

Aprit (continued).

April 12...

1871.
S.E. Mongolia, from
Dalai-nor to Kalgan.

1872.
Muni-ul mountains and
the Hoang-ho valley.

1873.

Kan-su.

13...| Podiceps cristatus* .........

14...| Totanus ochropus ........060.

UO sacl) edaaeadSgnoosancqcsa0600
Anthropoides virgo *.

17< | Tringa temminckit.
Herodias alba *.

18...| Totanus glareola.

QO seal, 0c adlesaesesesoncescsseeaes

21...) Hirundo gutturalis.........6+.

QQ COLLE TIDANtdrecercsoeas sess

23...| Agrodroma campestris os

Reece eee e eee eee aseenaes

seem eee eens ecesseeesees

Cypselus pacificus .....000
Reguloides superciliosus..

Se er
ee

eee ee ee ry

Emberiza pusilla.
Calobates melanope.

Hirundo gutturalis.
Agrodroma campestris.
Budytes citreola.

Budytes cinereo-capilla *
Charadrius fulvus .......4+
Tringa temminckii *
Graculus carbo *
Sterna anglica *

seeeee

se eeeeces

Cotyle riparia.

Chetura caudacuta.
Lanius phenicurus.

Pandion haliactus.

Ruticilla erythrogastra.

Chemarrhornis leucoce-
phala.

Emberiza pityornis.

Merula kessleri.

Accentor nipalensis.

Upupa epops.

Chelidon cashmiriensis.
Grandala celicolor.
Troglodytes fumigatus *.

Carpodacus dubius*.

Cotyle rupestris.
Nemura cyanura.
Calobates melanope.

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

159

List of Birds during Spring Migration (continued).

MAY.

1871.
S.E. Mongolia, from
Kalgan to the Hoang-ho.

Pel ste ss ae NAP Gre ate ara RE
3 ...| Chetura caudacuta .........
4 ...| Gallinago heterocerca* A
5 ...| Rhynchea bengalensis ......
6 ...| Euspiza aureola...............
7 ...| Charadrius fulvus.
coi [Wn een Shea e naan Berms yt
9 ...| Turdus pallens.
Cypselus pacificus* ......
10 Larvivora cyane* .........
Cuculus canorinus .........
13 f Cypselus apus.
U| Emberiza spodocephala.
A Ae oP! eels sero Aeetel gol pte at
ALS | Bane eete eee ines cletas a
UST NA Nee repre oS Sete eee a ESE

VOL.

1872.
Valley of the Hoang-ho
and Northern Ala-shan.

Cypselus apus.

Sylvia curruca.

Chelidon cashmiriensis * ...
Erythrosterna leucura

Monticola saxatilis *.

Calliope kamtschatkensis *

Cyanecula cerulecula.

Cecropis daurica.

1873.

Kan-su mountains.

Corydallus richardii.
Cuculus canorinus.

Cypselus pacificus.
Cecropis daurica.

Caprimulgus jotaca.

Ill.

160

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

List of the Birds during Autumn Migration.

Note.—The period of migration is reckoned at the time when the principal migration took place.

Aug. 10
to
Aug. 20

(
Aug. 20

| to 4

| Sept. 1

| L

Cypselus apus
Cotyle riparia
Cyanecula cerulecula
Carpodacus davidianus ...
Ciconia ign dace cee
Numenius major
Budytes citreola............

AUGUST.
1871. 1872.
Ordos ; the Hoang-ho eS
valley. 5 ;

Limosa melanuroides ......

res

Cypselus pacificus

Calobates melanope

Montifringilla adamsi ...
Cuculus canorinus ........
Tringoides hypoleucos ...

Chelidon lagopoda........

1873.

Road from Ala-shan to
Urga, through Gobi.

Cypselus pacificus.
Cyanecula cerulecula.
Reguloides superciliosus.
Totanus ochropus.
Totanus glareola.
Totanus calidris.
Budytes citreola.

Cypselus apus.
Upupa epops.
Cotyle riparia.
Circus spilonotus.
Motacilla ocularis.
Calobate melanope.
Anthus spinoletta.
Dafila acuta.
Casarca rutila.
Querquedula crecca.
Grus cinerea.
Tringoides hypoleucos.
Totanus glottis.
Gallinago heterocerca?
Anser cygnoides.
Anser cinereus, var. rubri-
rostris. |
Aigialites cantianus.
Otis tarda.

THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC. 161

List of the Birds during Autumn Migration (continued ).

SEPTEMBER.
1871. 1872. 1873.
Ala-shan Kan-su mountains. Northern Halha.

(desert and mountains).

Upupa epops ............... |
Larvivora cyane............ |

Hemichelidon sibirica
Euspiza aureola............
Emberiza pusilla ......... | Upupa epops Hirundo gutturals.
LONG HOMIES OEY cer Accentor nipalensis ...... ETS, ue LES Aa
ee carbo ate ( Fringillauda nemoricola .. Crs Maa es
nser cinereus, var. rubri- Anser segetum.
MOSLRUS) seer ced seco |
CANSCTISEOCLUMN eens ey ter |
Corydalla richardit ......
Charadrius fulvus ......... J

(| Cecropis daurica ......... H)
Archibuteo hemilasius ... | | Strigiceps cyaneus?

Ruticilla fuliginosa ...... t Turdus naumanni.

Grus\ cinerea) | | Monedula daurica.

Turdus pallens ............ J

(| Troglodytes fumigatus ... }
r

Grus Cimered ..........+++.-

Circus spilonotus.
Strigiceps cyaneus.
Haliaétus macei.

Accentor montanellus
Turdus ruficollis ......... ||

Vanellus cristatus ......... A / Soo tae
HEsonelba | | Chemarrhornis leucocephala.
sconrbeanihs : feist
Ruticilla alaschanica...... JED TLIO
Turdus ruficollis.

OCTOBER.

1871. 1872.
Ala-shan and Ala-shan mountains. Kan-su mountains and Lake Koko-nor.

(| Ruticilla alashanica.

Ruticilla erythrogastra.
| Urocynchramus pylzowi.
< | Bucephala clangula.
Mergus serrator. |

Monticola saxatilis \
Carpodacus dubius §

Grus leucogeranus.
Ciconia nigra.

162 THE BIRDS OF MONGOLIA ETC.

List of the Birds during Autumn Migration (continued).

OcroBer (continued).

Ala-shan and Ala-shan mountains. Kan-su mountains and Lake Koko-nor.

|
|
|
|

Totanus calidris.

Vanellus cristatus.

[We have now finished the task of setting the ornithological results of Colonel Prjevalsky’s
travels before our readers ; and we must thank Mr. Craemers for the efficient way in which he has
translated his author.

According to ‘ Nature’ (Jan. 17th, 1878, p. 234), this Russian officer has penetrated to Lake
Lob-Nor, in the very centre of Asia, and “ he reports that it is impossible to conceive the enormous
number of migratory birds which, on their journey from southern countries to the north (or vice
versa), select Lake Lob-Nor as a halting-place.”

It is much to be wished that these fresh and interesting discoveries should be, in the interests

of our science, made available to Englishmen.
Epitor or tue O. M.]

DESCRIPTION OF TWO SPECIES OF BIRDS
FROM THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO.

By A. B. MEYER, M.D., C.M.ZS.,

DIRECTOR OF THE Royat Zootocicat Museum or DRESDEN.

ZEOCEPHUS ROWLEYI, n. sp.
Schistaceo-cyaneus, subtus pallidior, albescens.

Upper parts bluish, brighter on the back; wing-feathers blackish grey,
margins of the outer webs greyish blue, of the inner whitish. Underparts
light pale blue, somewhat whitish on the belly ; wing-feathers beneath grey,
margins of the outer webs and under wing-coverts white. Rectrices bluish
grey above, outer webs blue, of the same colour as the back ; beneath grey.
Bill blackish, under mandible paler. Bristles very long, some reaching the
tip of the bill. Feet and claws greyish.

Total length 180 millims., bill 13, wing 96, tail 92, tarsus 21.

Hab. Great Sangi, Sangi Islands.

The Dresden Museum possesses one specimen of this apparently new
species, which may perhaps belong to the genus Philentoma, Eyton, or
another genus allied to Monarcha or Myiagra. The bill is rather short
for a Zeocephus, and rather broad for a typical Philentoma. The species
appears to agree in coloration with Zeocephus cyanescens, Sharpe, from the

VOL. III. 2B

164 DESCRIPTION OF TWO SPECIES OF

island of Palawan, Philippines (see Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Zoology, vol. i.
p. 328, plate 48. fig. 2, 1877); but it is smaller, the underparts are lighter,
and there is no black on the lores, the front, the chin, and the base of the
mandible.

Zeocephus rowleyt also reminds one somewhat of Hypothymis puella
(Wall.), from Celebes, and it may, perhaps, be regarded as representing this
species on the Sangi Islands. But I will not discuss this question now.

The specimen belongs to a collection of birds which one of the hunters
in my service made on the Sangi Islands. I hope soon to be able to give a
list of this collection, as it raises the number of the species known to inhabit
this island-group considerably, viz. to about 70; whereas, till now, it was
not much more than half that number—at least, from trustworthy sources.

The specimen is marked “male ;”’ but I, of course, cannot guarantee the
correctness of the sex. The exact locality is '‘l’abukan, on the island of Great
Sangi, which lies between Siao and Celebes, to the south, and Mindanao
(Philippines), to the north.

I cannot say any thing certain about the coloration of the bill, the feet,
and the eyes in life; the colours above mentioned are those which the dried
skin presents; but I suppose that these parts are blue, as is the case with
Hypothymis puella (Wall.), Zeocephus cyanescens, Sharpe, and allied species.

I take the liberty of calling this pretty species after the Editor of this
Journal, in acknowledgment of the services which he renders to science by
editing his ‘ Ornithological Miscellany.’

SURNICULUS MUSSCHENBROEKI, n. sp.
S. lugubri (Horsf.) similis, sed major.
Black, with greenish-blue metallic gloss on wings, mantle, and tail.
Head, neck, back, uropygium, and underparts black, but velvety, not

BIRDS FROM THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO. 165

glossy. Underside of the wing-feathers brownish, white spots on the basal
third of the inner webs forming a band. Tail of Dicrurus-like shape ; short
outer rectrices spotted, and partly banded with white. On the thighs a
thick plumage of splendidly white feathers with greyish base. (One white
feather on the neck appears not to constitute a specific character*.) Bill
black. Feet blackish above, light below.

Total length 265 millims., wing 140, tail 155, bill 19, tarsus 16.

Hab. Batjan, Moluccas.

The single specimen which the Dresden Museum possesses was procured
by one of the hunters in my service, on the island of Batjan. It is marked
“female.”

No species of the genus Surniculus was till recently known to occur
more to the east than Borneo, where the wide-spreading S. lugubris (Horsf. )
resides, which ranges from India, through Ceylon and Malacca, Java, and
Sumatra, to Borneo (see Schlegel, Mus. P.-B. Cuculi, 1864, p. 28, and
Salvadori, Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. 1874, v. p. 63). Sharpe has described a
new species of Surniculus from Malamaui, in the south of Mindanao (see
Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Zoology, vol. i. 1877, p. 320), viz. S. velutinus ; and
it is therefore not to be wondered at that we find the genus represented in
the Moluccas, which (viz. Halmahera) are not very far from Mindanao.

Surmculus velutinus appears to agree a good deal with S. musschenbroeki :
but the former is much (about 3 inches) smaller. S. musschenbroeki is also
remarkably larger than S. lugubris, the size of the wings of which species
Salvadori (/.c.) gives as 120 millims. (140 in S. musschenbroeki), of the
tail as 10 millims. (15°5 in S. musschenbroeki) ; Schlegel (/. c.) states that the
wings and tail vary between 4” 4" and 5" 2", and 4" 3" and 4" 11", respectively,

* Some specimens of Surniculus lugubris (Horsf.) also show a white neck-feather, which rises
to a real specific character in Caliechthrus leucolophus (Miull.), from New Guinea, with its white
crown and neck.

166 BIRDS FROM THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO,

in S. dugubris. From this species S. musschenbroeki, besides, differs in the same
characters as S. velutinus does—viz. the velvety black, not glossy, plumage
of the upper and underparts.

I call this species after my friend Mr. van Musschenbroek, the late
Resident of Ternate (Moluccas), and, no doubt, in every respect the best
acquainted with the Halmahera group. His rich collections from those islands
are yet undescribed; but it is to be hoped that he will soon favour the
scientific world with at least a catalogue of his zoological specimens, as this
is Just the thing we want now—complete lists of local faunas.

I am personally indebted to Mr. van Musschenbroek for his kind
reception on Ternate, when I returned from New Guinea, in the year 1873,
badly ill with intermittent fever; and I shall never forget his kindness then
bestowed upon me.

January 1878.

VOL. III.

PART XIV.

““To-night she’s mew’d up.”
Romeo and Juliet, Act. iii. sc. 4.

ai
Denis

a be ar
Pe Ate tt

POLIOHIERAX INSIGNIS.

By ARTHUR, Marauis or TWEEDDALE, F.R.S.

(Plate CIII.)

Polihierax insignis, Walden, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 627; Ibis, 1872, pp. 467* & 471.
Lithofalco feildeni, Hume, Pr. A. 8. B. 1872, pp. 70 & 71.

Poliohierax insignis, Walden, Sharpe, Cat. Accipitres, Brit. Mus. 1874, p. 370.
Polihierax feildeni, Hume, Str. F. 1875, pp. 14, 19, & 269.

Polihierax insignis, Walden, Sclater, Str. F. 1875, p. 417.

Poliohierax insignis, Walden, Blyth, Birds of Burma, 1875, p. 59. no. 14.

TueE subject of the accompanying Plate was first discovered by my friend
the late Major Lloyd, Assistant Commissioner at Tongoo, in British
Burma. Examples of both sexes were sent by him to me in the month of
August 1871. As I was unfortunately prevented from exhibiting them
myself at the next scientific meeting of the Zoological Society, on the 7th of
November, I intrusted them to Mr. Sclater, with a short description and a
proposed title—the designation adopted above. Mr. Sclater exhibited the
specimens, read my notes on them, and before the meeting announced the
title I proposed. In due course these facts were recorded in the ‘ Proceedings °
of the Zoological Society (/. ¢.).

In the month of May 1872 Mr. Hume, having received specimens of the

* In the British-Museum Catalogue (vol. i. Accipitres), page 200 is quoted in error.
2c 2

170 POLIOHIERAX INSIGNIS.

same bird from Captain Feilden, described them as belonging to an unknown
species, and bestowed the title of Lithofalco feildent.

‘T'o Captain Feilden we are indebted for valuable remarks on the various
phases of plumage this Falcon assumes, and for a full description of its
habits (J. ¢.).

Mr. Oates has also added to our knowledge of the species.

From a zoo0-geographical point of view, the occurrence of this bird in
Burma is of the highest interest. It belongs to a genus the type and only
other member of which occurs in Africa, P. semitorquatus (Smith).

At present, P. msignis is only known as an inhabitant of North Burma.

OLOGICAL

ORNITHOI

JSmuit lith,

=
op)
rH
—
7)
va
oO
3
O

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PT LOR Us

ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS.

(PTILONOPUS, Swains.).

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

[Continued from p. 117.]

PTILOPUS SPECIOSUS (Von Rosenberg)
AND

PTILONOPUS BELLUS (Sclater).
(Plate CIV.)

Ptilopus speciosus, Schlegel, Nederl. Tijdschr. v. d. Dierk. iv. p. 23 (1871) ; Meyer, Sitzungsb.
d. k. Akad. Wien, lxx. p. 128 (1874) ; Rosenberg, Reistochten, p. 143, pl. xiv. fig. 1
(1875) ; Salvadori, “ Prodr. Col.” Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. ix. p. 197 (1876).
Av the risk of tiring my readers, after having already figured several
Pigeons, I cannot refrain from taking one more; for the richness of the
Malay archipelago in this beautiful group appears to be inexhaustible, and
P. speciosus equals and perhaps exceeds every other by the extraordinary
arrangement of its lovely colours.

This bird is from the islands of Geelvink Bay, in the north of New
Guinea. It had already been discovered by Von Rosenberg, on the island of
Mafoor, in the year 1869; nevertheless it is still rare in collections, and the
male has been only imperfectly figured.

172 ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS.

Professor Schlegel first described the species, in 1871; and the
following is a translation of the description in his ‘Observations Zoo-
logiques :’—

“This species is the most beautiful of the genus. It has been discovered
on the island of Mafoor”’ [as was stated by Dr. Meyer, anted, part xii.
p. 64, under the head of P. miquExi*], “and also on the island of Soék,
where it appears to represent both P. rivoli and P. miqueli from the islands
of Meosnoum and Jobie,—though P. speciosus is smaller than either and is
distinguished in a remarkable manner by the fine and vivid citron-yellow
which occupies more than the upper half of the large white band of the
breast-feathers, further because the large red patch on the breast and belly
is much lighter than in the other species and offers, instead of a dark purple-
red or violet, a fine purple-lilac, also because its head, green and bronzed on
the sides, does not present any other trace of red than a dark violet patch on
the lores; finally it is known by the total want of blackish patches on the
scapularies. ‘The abdomen and the under tail-coverts are both of a fine
citron-yellow.

“The female is coloured exactly like the females of Pétilopus rivolii and
P. rosenbergu +, from which it is distinguished by its small size; the yellow
on the abdomen and the under tail-coverts is less pure than in the male; and
the green of the belly is varied with yellow up to the breast.

‘“*M. von Rosenberg has sent us a very fine series of this species, which
has the following measurements—wing 3” 11" to 4” 3”, tail 2" 1" to 2" 3",
bill from the front 6” to 63'”.”

The same author, in the year 1873, before he knew of Signor d’Albertis’s
discovery of Ptilopus bellus (Sclater) on the Arfak mountains (¢f. P. Z.S.

* By this name Prof. Schlegel designates Ptilopus prasinorrhous (G. R. Gray); P. rivolii
(Prévost), according to Salvadori (Prod. Col.), only occurs on Buru.
+ The author, no doubt, means Ptilopus miqueli.

ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 173

1873, p. 696, pl. lvii.), in the Catalogue of the Leyden Museum (Mus. P.-B.
Columbe, p. 27) writes :—

‘General tint green, slightly bronzed on the sides of the head. Least
primaries with a large apical patch of a green-greyish white colour. Under
tail-coverts and abdomen citron-yellow. Male adult easily known by the
following characters—breast and abdomen of a fine purple-lilac, a large fine
citron-yellow band on the breast, passing below into white, and a dark violet
patch on the lores.”

Herr von Rosenberg only gives the following note in his ‘ Reistochten,’
published in the year 1875, p. 143 :—

“ Male. Green; the halfmoon-formed breast-shield lively citron-yellow,
with a broad white band below; in the middle of breast and on the belly a
light-purple-lilac patch; on the lores a little dark-violet patch; abdomen
and under tail-coverts pale citron-yellow.

“* Length. Wings 3" 11" to 4" 3", tail 2” 1” to 2" 3",

“‘ Habitat. Mafoor and Schouten Ejilanden.”

In the letterpress of his interesting work the traveller says, in the
chapter on Mafoor, p. 37 :—

“ Among the two Parrot-Pigeons, the one of which I named Ptilopus
speciosus, the other P. musschenbroeku, the former is conspicuous by its grey
colour. It is related to P. rivoli, but has a golden-yellow shield on the
breast. P. musschenbroeki is unlike P. viridis from Amboina. According to
Prof. Schlegel, in Neder]. Tijdschr. v. d. Dierk. iv. p. 23, P. musschenbroeki
is only a variety of P. viridis *. Both species, which I again found on Soek,
together with my Lamprotornis magnus, are less common.”

* Later (Mus. P.-B. Columbe, 1873, p. 23), Prof. Schlegel called the species Ptilopus viridis
geelvinkianus, showing that he considers it, if not a species, something more than a variety.

174. ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS.

In his chapter on the Schouten Eilanden, Von Rosenberg says
(p. 47) :—

“To the series of species which this group has in common with Mefoor,
belong all species of Pigeons and Parrots which I mentioned as occurring on
this island—as Loris cyanonegia*, Ptilopus musschenbroekii and P. speciosus,
Lamprotornis magnus, &c.”

The figure of Ptilopus speciosus which Herr von Rosenberg published
(‘ Reistochten naar de Geelvinkbai op Nieuw-Guinea,’ plate xv. fig. 1) is one
third of the natural size, and does not give a sufficient idea of this extraordinary
species ; therefore I have had it figured to correspond with Mr. Sclater’s
bird from the Arfak mountains, to which it is closely allied (Péilopus bellus,
P. Z.S. 1873, plate lvii.), by the same artist.

I have specimens of both the male and female of this species now before
me. In the male I observe, behind the red on the head, a characteristic dark
bluish green tint}, which the plate does not show, and which is not mentioned
in the description ; perhaps the specimen I now examine may be in finer
plumage.

I also figure the female of Ptilopus speciosus. The difference of the
females of the five closely allied species, P. speciosus, P. bellus, P. rivoli,
P. prasinorrhous, and P. miqueli, is small, but not, therefore, less interesting.
It is an often repeated circumstance that the females of different. species are
much alike, while the males are not: among others, I may mention several
Birds of Paradise which show this in a striking manner. The females of
the other four species are not yet figured, as far as I know; and the female
of P. bellus is not yet described. I may therefore mention that it is quite
green, more or less bronzed on the upper parts; the head is darker than

* The author means Eos cyanogenys, Bp.

+ P. miqueli does not present a darker green behind the red cap, as does P. bellus and
P. prasinorrhous.

ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 175

the body, and of a somewhat blue-green, the same shade of green as on
the head of the male (just as is the case with the female of P. prasinorrhous :
cf. Schlegel, Nederl. Tijdschr. Dierk. iv. p. 22); and the belly and under
tail-coverts are variegated with pale citron-yellow, the edges of the feathers
being marked with that colour.

As to the affinities of Ptilopus speciosus, cf. antea, part xii pp. 62, 63
(Dr. Meyer’s remarks). I also reproduce Dr. Meyer’s contribution to his
fifth paper on the ornithology of New Guinea and the islands of Geelvink
Bay, in the Sitzungsb. d. k. Akad. of Vienna, Ixx. (1874) p. 128. He there
says, under the head of Pétilopus rivoli, Flor. Prév. :—

“ P. rwol and P. prasimorrhous, and the allied forms, present an interest
as to geographical distribution in this sense, that two such closely allied
ones as P. bellus, Scl., and P. rivoli occur together in New Guinea, and
both P. speciosus, Rosenb., and P. rivoli in company on the small island of
Mafoor—a remarkable fact ; whereas on the island of Mysore only P. speciosus,
Rosenb., appears, and on the other island, Jobi, only P. miqueli, Rosenb.,
has yet been found (according to Schlegel, after Von Rosenberg)—a fact
which my own researches affirm.

‘“‘ But whereas P. speciosus and P. rivoli indeed live together on the small
island of Mafoor, P. bellus, Scl., only has been found up to this time on the
Arfak mountains (D’Albertis and myself), and P. rivoli on the west coast of
New Guinea. It would be interesting to make out whether P. rivoli is
represented by P. bellus on the Arfak mountains, or whether they occur
together there (an analogous case to P. speciosus and P. rivoli on Mafoor).”

Dr. Meyer further informs me, in a letter, that he is not able to detect
the slightest difference between the specimens of P. speciosus from Mafoor
and those from Mysore; but he says that some of them from both localities
differ in the extent of the bronze-green tint on the head: there are examples
in which it occupies the whole head and spreads more or less to the back,

VOL. Il. 2D

176 ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS.

and even specimens where nearly the whole of the green of the bird is
slightly bronzed. Dr. Meyer supposes these differences to be nothing but
individual variations, depending on some unknown cause, and that they have
no reference to age or sex.

As to the appearance of the handsome adornment of the underparts, the
same gentleman tells me that his specimens teach that already the young
males show traces of the violet, yellow, and white colours, the violet of the
belly appearing first here and there, and gradually forming a patch, and only
in the quite adult bird occupying nearly the whole abdomen ; the yellow at
first does not form a band, but is only a patch in the middle; and the white
gradually develops itself below the yellow.

Dr. Meyer finally says that the yellow of the thoracic band in some
specimens of P. speciosus appears to be deeper than in P. bellus.

Mr. Sclater (P. Z. S. 1873, p. 696) remarks, under the head of Ptilopus
bellus :—

“This fine Pigeon belongs to the group of P. rivolii, P. prasinorrhous,
and its allies. It seems to resemble P. speciosus of Schlegel (Ned. Tijdsch.
Dierk. iv. p. 23) in having the upper part of the thoracic band yellow, but
differs much from that species in having the whole crown of the head of a
fine rosy red, like the patch in the middle of the abdomen.”

In the composition of this article, I have to thank Dr. Meyer for much
valuable assistance.

I conclude my remarks on the handsomest Pigeon in existence
(P. speciosus), with P. bellus, by expressing a hope that some traveller, urged

ON THE GENUS PTILOPUS. 177

by love of birds, may explore completely these marvellous regions, and clear
up, by a series of patient notes and numerous specimens, our misty ideas as
to the causes of these variations, and may also inform us concerning the
breeding, nestling-plumage, and other particulars.

The specimens of P. speciosus figured are a male and female in my own
collection; and the descriptions of P. bellus are also from a male and female

belonging to me.

2p2

oak

be eB

*
dh

A NOTE ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS AND
ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION.

By R. BOWDLER SHARPE, M.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S., &c.

Tue recent discovery of some fine Artami has directed considerable
attention to the genus; and I accede with pleasure to the request of
my friend Mr. Dawson Rowley to jot down a few notes on the Wood-
Swallows for the ‘Ornithological Miscellany.’ It would be supposed that
in the case of a genus of which the members are by no means rare, as
a rule, we should be in a position to speak very positively on the subject
of the species; but such is by no means the case, and there are several
points in regard to the Australian Artami to which I particularly invite
the attention of Mr. Ramsay and other workers at the antipodes.

In Mr. G. R. Gray’s ‘ Handlist’ we find 22 species included in the
genus Artamus alone, and in the Artamide are placed four genera, as
follows :—

1065. ARTAMUS.

a. Subgenus ArTAMus, with 16 species.

Of these I consider the following to be synonymous :—4269. A. leu-
corhynchus, L.; 4273. A. leucogaster, Valenc.; 4279. A. leucopygialis, Gould ;
and 4282. A. papuensis, Temm. A. arnouxi, Bp., | cannot make out from the

180 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

miserable description, “‘ entiérement grise.”’ A. albiventris, Gould, is doubt-
fully distinct from A. cinereus, from which A. melanops, Gould, will be also
with difficulty separated. To the number must be added the lately discovered
A. maximus, Meyer, and A. insignis, Sclater.

1066. 6. ————?
The only species placed in this unnamed section is A. minor, which is,
im my opinion, a small but true Artamus.

1067. ¢. ————?

Whether Mr. Wallace, whom I follow, is right in putting the Artamide
where he does, is a question to be settled later on (cf. Ibis, 1874, p. 412);
but I think there is no doubt at all that Mr. Gray was wrong in placing
such a bird as Leptopterus chabert in the Artamide at all. This is the sole
species he assigns to his unnamed section no. 1067; and why he did not
call it Leptopterus, Bp., of which L. chabert is the type, | am at a loss to
conjecture. A glance at the wings of this and the succeeding species will
show that they are more truly Laniine than Artamine in their affinities (cf.
Sharpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 282).

1068. d. ————_?

The usual name for the next two species is Artamia; but Mr. Gray
seems to show that a change is necessary. If, as is generally allowed now,
Orioha bernieri is the young of Artamia viridis, the former generic name must
be employed, and the species called Oriolia viridis. Of the second species,
A. rufa (.), I make a Vanga (cf. P. Z.S. 1871, p. 319).

1069. e. CyaANoLANntivus, Bp.

C. bicolor is no Artamus, but goes along with the other birds above
mentioned.

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 181

1070. f. Anats, Lesson.

A. clemencie, from Borneo, is the type; and I know nothing of the
species ; nor does Count Salvadori (Uce. Born. p. 142), to whom the Marquis
of 'l'weeddale suggests that it may be a manufactured bird.

1071. Ortoxta, Isid. Geoffr.

This genus is kept distinct, though the species is the young of Arfamia
viridis (vide antea). In justice to Mr. Gray it must be remembered that he
had not seen an example.

1072. PsEuDocHELIDON, Hartl.

I think Mr. Gray has found out the right position of this genus, which
is not far removed from Artamus.

1073. ANALCIPUS, Swains.

As I have endeavoured to show in my ‘ Catalogue of Birds’ (iii. p. 188),
this genus, containing the Blood-coloured Orioles, is not really separable
from Oriolus.

With these few preliminary remarks, I propose to give a short note on
the species of Artamus known to me, as represented in the British Museum.
The following species are unknown to me, or have been wrongly placed in
the genus Ariamus :—

ARTAMUS LEUCORHYNCHUS.

La Pie-griéche de Maniile, Briss. Orn. ii. p. 180, pl. xviii. fig. 2 (1760).

Lanius leucorhynchus, Linn. Mantissa, p. 524 (1771, ex Brisson); Gm. S. N. i. p. 305
(1788).

La Pie-grieche dominiquaine des Philippines, Sounerat, Voy. N. Guin. p. 54 (1776).

182 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

Lanius philippinus, Scop. Del. Flor. et Faun. Insubr. ii. p. 85 (1786, ex Sonnerat).
Lanius dominicanus, Gm. 8. N. i. p. 807 (1788, ea Sonnerat).

A species said to be from Manilla, concerning which vide infra.

ARTAMUS ARNOUXI.

Artamus arnouxi, Bp. C. R. xxxviii. p. 538 (1854) ; Gray, List B. Trop. Isl. Pacific Ocean,
p- 23 (1858) ; id. Handl. B. i. p. 289. no. 4284 (1869).

All that is known of this species is the statement that it is ‘‘ entierement
erise,”’ and that it was brought by Dr. Arnoux to the Paris Museum along
with a second species from New Caledonia; but whether A. arnouxi is from
the latter island we are not informed.

ARTAMUS, Sp.
Artamus leucorhynchus, Hartl. & Finsch, P. Z. S. 1868, p. 116, and 1872, p. 99.
Hab. Pelew Islands.

The question of the Pelew-Islands Artamus is discussed further on,
under the heading of A. leucogaster.

Artamus cucu.tatus, Nicholson, P. Z.S. 1851, p. 196, pl. xlin.

A species described as an Artamus from India, and figured by Mr. Wolf
with a thorough Artamus-like bill; but it is disposed of in the following
manner by Mr. Blyth (Ibis, 1865, p. 43), who says that is nothing but a
male of Sylvia orphea, “being founded on a bad native drawing, which Dr.
Sclater kindly showed to me.”

ARTAMUS.
Type.
Artamus, Vieillot, Analyse, p. 41 (1816) . . . . . A. leucogaster.
Ocypterus, Cuvier, Régne Anim. i. p. 339 (1817) . . A. leucorhynchus.

Leptopteryx, Horsf. Tr. Linn. Soc. xiii. p. 143 (1821) . A. leucogaster.

Range. Confined to the Indian and Australian Regions.

@. Uropygio imo et supracaudalibus puré albis: pectore albo.
a'. Dorso nigro vel brunnescente.

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBU TION.

Clavis specierum.

a, Capite undique cineraceo: dorso toto brunnescentiore .

b". Capite undique nigro.
a, Major, ala 6°38, nigerrima dorso concolori
b". Minores: ala 5:2, nigricante, schistaceo lavata.

a‘. Gutture circumscripte nigro: genis posticis, regione parotica
et colli lateribus concoloribus

6. Gutture nigro, genis posticis utrinque albis : regione parotica
tantim et colli lateribus concoloribus

b'. Dorso puré albo.

ce’. Capite undique, alis caudaque cinerascenti-brunneis

d". Capite undique, alis caudaque nigris .

4. Uropygio brunneo dorso concolori: supracaudalibus cinerascenti-albis : pectore

pallidé vinascenti-brunneo

c. Uropygio et supracaudalibus claré cinereis, dorso concoloribus.

e', Subtus vinaceo-castaneus : supercilio lato albo
f". Subtus pulchré cinereus: supercilio lato nullo

Uropygio et supracaudalibus nigris.

ce’. Subtiis cinerascens : mento nigro.
g'. Lined angusta frontali nigricante: gula summa et mento nigricantibus.

h". Lined angusté frontali nulla: mento ipso et angul

a", Multd major: supra brunneus, supracaudalibus nigris, uropygio

VOL. III.

el, Minor :

quam in preecedentibus nigra

tantum nigris.

modo quam laterales coloratis .

albo terminatis . Ae
ad’. Subtts sordidé brunneus: mento vix saturatiore.

dorso concolori : subalaribus albis O88
k". Multo minor: supra brunneus, supracaudalibus uropygioque nigris :
subalaribus pectori concoloribus vix pallidioribus .

cl", Major: subcaudalibus nigris laté albo marginatis
d", Major: subcaudalibus albis Be PeLeto ues Beate
subcaudalibus nigris angusté albo limbatis: facie latits

o anteoculari

fl". Major: rectricibus duabus medianis albo terminatis in eodem

g'"'. Minor: rectricibus duabus medianis omnino nigris: reliquis

183

leucogaster.

maximus.

melaleucus.
mentalis.

monachus.
insignis.

fuscus.

superciliosus.
personatus.

cinereus.
albiventris.

melanops.

perspicillatus.

venustus.

sordidus.

minor.

184

ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

1. ARTAMUS LEUCOGASTER.

Ocypterus leucogaster, Valenc. Mém. Mus. d’Hist. Nat. vi. p. 21, pl. vii. fig. 2 (1820).

Leptopteryx leucorhynchus, Horsf. Tr. Linn. Soe. xii. p. 244 (1821, nec L.).

Lanius leucorhynchus, Raffles, tom. cit. p. 386 (1821).

Leptopteryx leucogaster, Wagler, Syst. Av. Leptopteryx, sp. 2 (1827).

Ocypterus leucorhynchus, Kittlitz, Kupf. Vog. p. 23, Taf. xxx. fig. 1 (1832).

Artamus leucopygialis, Gould, P. Z.S. 1842, p. 17; Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 285 (1845) ; Gould,
B. Austr. folio, ii. pl. 33 (1848); Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p. 199 (1849) ; Bp.
Consp. i. p. 344 (1850) ; Reichenb. Vo6g. Neuholl. p. 171 (1850); Gould, P. ZS.
1863, p. 233 ; id. Handb. B. Austr. i. p. 154 (1865) ; Walden, P. Z.S. 1866, p. 555 ;
Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289. no, 4279 (1869) ; Masters, Pr. Linn. Soc. N.S. W. i.
p- 48 (1877) ; Castelnau & Ramsay, tom. cit. p. 380; Ramsay, tom. cit. p. 392; id.
op. cit. m1. p. 179 (1878).

Artamus leucorhynchus, Gray (nec L.), Gen. B. i. p. 285 (1845) ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 343 (1850) ;
Cab. Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 208 (1850) ; Cass. U.S. Expl. Exp. Birds, p. 140 (1858) ;
Gray, P. Z. 8. 1860, p. 354; Wallace, Ibis, 1860, p. 141; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289.
no. 4869 (1869) ; Walden, Ibis, 1872, p. 371; id. Tr. Z.S. vii. p. 67 (1872) ; id. Ibis,
1873, p. 309; Hume, Str. F. 1874, p. 214; id. Nests & Eggs Ind. B. p. 195 (1875) ;
Salvad. Uce. Born. p. 140 (1875) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1877, p. 21 ; Tweeddale, tom. cit. p. 313.

Artamus leucogaster, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 285 (1845) ; Bp. Consp. 1. p. 343 (1850) ; Horsf. &
Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E.I. Co. i. p. 161 (1854) ; Bernst. J. f.O. 1859, p. 268; Wallace,
P. Z. 8. 1863, pp. 28, 485 ; Sclater, tom. cit. p. 217; Beavan, Ibis, 1867, p. 324; Gray,
Hand-l. B. i. p. 289 (1869) ; Salvad. Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. vil. pp. 656, 770 (1875) ;
id. op. cit. viii. p. 877 (1876), ix. p. 28 (1876), x. p. 188 (1877).

Artamus papuensis, Bp. Consp. i. p. 344 (1850, ex Temm. MS. in Mus. Lugd.); Gray,
P. Z.S. 1858, p. 179, & 1861, p. 485; id. Hand-l. B. i. p. 289 (1869); Beccari, Ann.
Mus. Civ. Gen. vil. p. 709 (1875).

Artamus leucorhynus, Walden, Tr. Z. S. ix. p. 174 (1875) ; Sharpe, Tr. Linn. Soc. new ser.
1. p. 323 (1877) ; Tweeddale, P. Z.S. 1877, p. 544.

Ad. supra brunneus, vix chocolatinus, uropygio et supracaudalibus puré albis fasciam transversam

exhibentibus: pileo et collo undique cineraceis : loris et margine frontali magis nigricantibus :
corpore reliquo subtts cum subalaribus et axillaribus puré albis: scapularibus dorso conco-
loribus: ald saturaté schistacea, remigibus nigris: caud& nigra vix apicaliter pallidiore :
rostro pallidé eyanescente: pedibus pallidé plumbeis: iride saturate chocolatina. Long. tot.
7°5, culmen 0°8, alee 5°35, caudee 2°55, tarsi 0°75.

2 ad. mari similis: rostro cyanescenti-griseo, apicaliter nigro: pedibus viridiscenti-griseis : iride

brunnea.

Hab. S. Andaman Islands (Hume, Davison, Ramsay), Little Coco Island

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 185

(Davison) ; Sumatra (Raffles, Wallace), Lampong District (Buxton) ; Java
(Horsfield, Wallace). Philippine Islands: Luzon (Meyer), Negros (Meyer),
Guimaras (Meyer), Cebu (Everett), Dumalon, Mindanao (Steere). Mangsi,
Sulu archipelago (Peale); Labuan (Motley, Ussher); Borneo—Sibu, Santu-
bong Bay, Marup, Bruit, Bintulu (Hverett), Sarawak (Doria & Beccari),
Banjermassing (Motley); Bali (Wallace); Lombock (Wallace); Flores
(Wallace); Timor (Mus. Lugd., Wallace); Celebes—'l'ondano, Menado,
Macassar (Wallace); Batchian, Gilolo, Morty Island (Wallace); Bouru
(Wallace); Goram (Wallace); Ke Islands (Beccari). Mysol (Wallace) ;
New Guinea (Wallace) ; Sorong (D’Albertis), Arfak Mountains (D’ Albertis,
Laglaize), S.E. New Guinea (Ramsay); Port Moresby (Broadbent & Petterd);
Naiabui (D’ Albertis) ; Aru Islands (Wallace). Australia—Port Darling and
Port Essington, Gulf of Carpentaria, Cape York, Rockingham Bay, Port
Denison, Wide-Bay District, Richmond and Clarence-River District, New
S. Wales, Victoria, S. Australia (Ramsay), N.W. Australia (Hlsey), Peron’s
Peninsula, Shark Bay, W. Australia (Rayner).

This is the species called by recent writers Artamus leucorhynchus (L.) ;
but on carefully comparing the description, I believe it will be impossible to
recognize in the present bird Brisson’s “‘ Pie-griesche de Manille,’”’ on which
Linneus founded his Lanius leucorhynchus.

I think that the title of leucorhynchus cannot be retained for the Philippine
bird, as its colours are stated to be black and white; and any one examining
the ordinary Indo-Malayan Artamus, which is the species of the Philippines,
will find that Brisson’s description does not tally; nor does Sonnerat’s
account and figure (‘‘La Pie-grieche dominiqaine des Philippines,’ Voy.
Nouv. Guinée, p. 54). The question is somewhat complicated by the fact
that there are certain black-and-white <Artami, such as A. melaleucus
(Forster) from New Caledonia, and A. maximus, Meyer, from N.W. New
Guinea, &c.; but it is highly improbable that either of these species formed
the subject of Brisson’s or Sonnerat’s description. It appears, too, from the

2E 2

186 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

paper of Drs. Hartlaub and Finsch on the birds of the Pelew Islands, that
the latter group actually contain a black-and-white Artamus, which the above-
named authors identify with the Lanius leucorhynchus of Linnzeus (cf. P. Z. S.
1868, p. 116). It will be only fair to them to quote their exact words :—
“The fact is that there are two species of Artamus in the Philippines, and
more especially on the island of Luzon. One is the old Brissonian Lanius
manillensis, figured also by Sonnerat. This is the large species, black above
and white below. It is certainly this species which is found on the Pelew
Islands. The other is the well-known Javan species—a somewhat smaller
bird, with the upper parts of a more or less greyish or purplish brown. We
have examined many specimens from the island of Luzon, where it appears
to be more common than A. leucorhynchus. ... . ”” My own experience
goes with that of the Marquis of Tweeddale (cf. Walden, Tr. Z.S. ix.
p- 174), in so far that I have never seen but one Artamus from the Philippines ;
and that is the same as the ordinary Indo- Malayan bird, called in this paper
Artamus leucogaster (Valenc.). The reason why I adopt this title is that
it is the first recognizable description of the species. So long as there is a
doubt about the Brissonian bird from the Philippimes, I think that the name
ought to be discarded, though Lord Tweeddale says that he has “‘no doubt
that from it Brisson and Sonnerat took their descriptions.” Here I can only
say, “‘ Not proven!”

What the bird from the Pelew Islands really is cannot be determined
without a specimen.

Having examined a large series of this Artamus, from nearly every
locality mentioned above, I have come to the conclusion that only one species
can be admitted, under the title of A. leucogaster, with a record of certain
differences of size. Thus some examples from Celebes are larger, while the
Australian birds are generally the smallest. Even in the Celebesian specimens
the variation in size is more apparent than real, the length of the closed
wing being in a Bornean bird about 5°35. I find that a specimen collected by
Mr. Wallace at Tondano has the wing 5°3 inches; others from Macassar and

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 187

Menado respectively have it 5°25. Some individuals from N.W. Australia
(A. leucopygialis, Gould) measure only 4:95 inches in the wings; but there
is no corresponding difference in plumage.

As regards the distribution of the species in Australia, I have given
above the localities as determined by Mr. Ramsay in a paper on the birds
of that continent, with a proof of which he has favoured me. I also append
the note in Mr. Gould’s ‘ Handbook ;’ but it must be observed that this
Wood-Swallow does go to Western Australia, as is evidenced by the
specimen procured in Shark Bay by Dr. Rayner during the voyage of
H.M.S. ‘Herald.’ Mr. Gould writes :—‘‘ Tasmania and Western Australia
are the only colonies in which this bird has not been observed; its range,
therefore, over the continent may be considered as very general: in South
Australia and New South Wales it would appear to be migratory, visiting
these parts in summer for the purpose of breeding. Among other places
where I observed it in considerable abundance was Mosquito and the other
small islands near the mouth of the Hunter, and on the borders of the rivers
Mokai and Namoi, situated to the northward of Liverpool Plains; in these
last-mentioned localities it was breeding among the large flooded gum-trees
bordering the rivers.”’

Spec. in Mus. Brit.

a, ad. Philippine Islands (Cuming). 6, ad. Java (Horsfield). c,2. W. Java (Wallace). d, 3 ad.
Sumatra (Wallace). e, ad. Sibu Island, May 5, 1874 (Everett). f, 2 ad. Bali (Wallace).
g,h, $ ad.,i,juv. Lombock (Wallace). k, ad., 1, juv. Flores (Wallace). m,n, 0, p, ad.
Timor (Wallace). gq, 3 juv. Timor (Wallace). r, $ ad. Macassar, Celebes (Wallace).
s, 2 ad. Tondano, Celebes (Wallace). t, 2 ad. Menado (Wallace). u, v, ad. Batchian
(Wallace). w, ad. Gilolo (Wallace). «, ad. Morty Island (Wallace). y, 9 ad. Bouru
(Wallace). z,a',ad., b', juv. Goram (Wallace). c', ad.,d', juv. Mysol (Wallace). é, Sad.
Aru Islands (Wallace). f',ad. New Guinea (Wallace). g', ad. Island of Batanta (Laglaize).
h', i. Australia (Sir T. Mitchell). k', ad. Australia (J. Gould). Ul. Port Essington (Capt.
Chambers). m!. N.W. Australia (J. R. Elsey). n', ad. Mangrove Swamp, N.W. Australia
(J. R. Elsey). o’. Peron’s Peninsula, Shark Bay, May 1858 (F. M. Rayner).

188 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

2. ARTAMUS MAXIMUS.
Artamus maximus, Meyer, Sitz. Akad. Wien, Ixix. p. 203 (1874) ; Sclater, Ibis, 1874, p. 417 ;
Beceari, Ann. Mus. Civ. Gen. vii. p. 709 (1875) ; Gould, B. New Guin. part vi. (1878).
g ad. supra nigerrimus: uropygio et supracaudalibus tantim puré albis: alis omnino nigris :
rectricibus nigris, apicaliter angustissimé albido limbatis: capitis et coll lateribus, gutture
toto et prepectore nigerrimis, dorso concoloribus: corpore reliquo subtis purissimé albo :
subalaribus albis, extimis parvis nigris: remigibus infra cineraceis. Long. tot. 7-5, culmen

0:8, alee 6°3, caudee 2°8, tarsus 0°75.

Hab. New Guinea: Arfak Mountains (Meyer, Beecari, Laglaize).

This fine and distinct species has recently been figured by Mr. Gould
(l.c.); and the above description is taken from the type specimen; lent him

by Dr. Meyer.

Spec. in Mus. Brit.
a, g ad. Arfak Mountains, N.W. New Guinea (Laglaize).

3. ARTAMUS MELALEUCUS.

Lozia melaleuca, Forster, Icon. ined. 40 ; id. Descr. Anim. p. 272 (1844).
Leptopteryx melaleuca, Wagler, Syst. Av. Leptopteryz, sp. 1 (1827).
Ocypterus berardi, Bp. C. R. xxxvili. p. 538 (1854).
Artamus melaleucus, Gray, P.Z.S8. 1859, p. 163; id. List B. Trop. Isl. Pacifie Ocean, p. 23
(1859) ; Finsch, P. Z.S. 1877, p. 739.
Artamus melanoleucus, Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289. no. 4280 (1869).
$ ad. supra saturaté fuligmoso-brunneus, pileo toto nuchaque, capitis lateribus et gutture toto
nigris : uropygio et supracaudalibus puré albis: scapularibus dorso concoloribus : ala tota
schistaceo-nigra, remigibus intus cano lavatis: rectricibus nigris anguste albo apicaliter
limbatis : corpore reliquo subtiis cum subalaribus et axillaribus puré albis: remigibus infra
cinereis, ints cano lavatis. Long. tot. 7-2, culmen 0°75, alee 5-2, caude 2°8, tarsi 0°6.
2 ad. mari similis: pileo brunnescentiore, vix cucullato. Long. tot. 6:2, ala 5:15, caude 2:7,
tarsi 0°65.

Hab. New Caledonia (Forster); Loyalty Islands (Whitmee); Api,
New Hebrides (Murray).

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 189

Spec. in Mus. Brit.

a,b, 8,9 ad. Nu, Port de France, New Caledonia, May 13th, 1858 (J. Macgillivray, Esq. cc, ad.
Lifu, Loyalty Islands (Rev. S. J. Whitmee).

4. ARTAMUS MENTALIS.

Langrayen de Viti, Hombr. & Jacq. Voy. Pole Sud, pl. 9. fig. 1 (1843).

Artamus mentalis, Jardine, Ann. N. Hist. xvi. p. 174, pl. vii. (1845) ; Bp. Consp. Av. 1. p. 344
(1850) ; Cass. U.S. Expl. Exp. Birds, p. 141 (1858) ; Gray, List B. Trop. Isl. Pacific
Ocean, p. 23 (1858) ; Finsch & Hartl. Faun. Centralpolyn. p. 84, tab. 1. fig. 5 (1867) ;
Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289. no. 4281 (1869) ; Layard, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 434; id. Ibis,
1876, p. 392.

Ocypterus mentalis, Peale, U.S. Expl. Exped. 1848, p. 84, pl. 23. fig. 2; Hartl. in Wiegm.
Archiv, 1852, p. 98.

Artamus vitiensis, Hombr. & Jacq. Voy. Péle Sud, Zool. iii. p. 73 (1853).

3 ad. supra fuliginoso-niger, pileo vix saturatiore, scapularibus dorso concoloribus : uropygio imo et
supracaudalibus pure albis: rectricibus nigris, ints ad apicem conspicué albo terminatis :
ala tota nigra: facie laterali gulaque nigris: genis posticis, gutture imo et corpore reliquo
subtus cum subalaribus axillaribusque purée albis : preepectoris lateribus fuliginoso-brunneis :
remigibus infra sordidé cinereis, intis versts basin albis: rostro pulchré cyanescente, apica-

liter nigro: pedibus corneo-nigricantibus: iride brunnedé. Long. tot. 7:2, culmen 0°9, ale
5:05, caudee 2°8, tarsi 0°7.

Hab. Fiji Islands—Ovalau, Waikaia, Mokani, Vanua Levu, Taviuni,
Loma Loma, Mango, Viti Levu (Layard).

Spec. in Mus. Brit.

a, g. Island of Ovalau, August 1856 (F. M. Rayner). 6,c, 3. Island of Ngau, October 1853
(F. M. Rayner). d. Ndreketti, Fiji (2. L. Layard).

5. ARTAMUS MONACHUS.

Artamus monachus, Bp. Consp. Gen. Av. i. p. 343 (1850, ex Temm. MS. in Mus. Lugd.) ;
Wallace, Ibis, 1860, p. 141; id. P.Z.S. 1862, p. 340; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289.

no. 4272 (1869) ; Walden, Tr.Z.S. viii. p. 67, pl. vi. fig. 1 (1872) ; Gould, B. New
Guinea, part vi. (1878).

190 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

2 ad. Capite, nucha, facie laterali et gutture toto pallidé umbrinis, pileo summo saturatiore : collo
postico, dorso toto, scapularibus, uropygio et supracaudalibus pure albis: ald saturate
cinerascenti-brunnea, tectricibus minimis et medianis umbrino lavatis: cauda saturate
cinerascenti-brunne’: preepectore et corpore reliquo subtis puré albis: subalaribus albis ;
remigibus infra cineraccis, intis albis. Long. tot. 7-5, culmen 1:05, ale 6:3, caude 2°9,
tarsi 0°75.

Hab. Celebes, Menado (Wallace) ; mountain-districts of North Celebes
(Wallace) ; Sula Islands (Wallace).

For the opportunity of describing the above specimen I am indebted to
Mr. Gould, who received it in exchange from the Leiden Museum. It is
marked “ ¢. Celebes: Duyvenbode, 1866.” On comparing it with the Sula-
Island skins in the Museum, I can find no differences in plumage; but the
size is rather smaller, the wing measuring 5°75 to 5°8 inches.

Spec. in Mus. Brit.
a, b, ad. Sula Islands (A. R. Wallace).

6. ARTAMUS INSIGNIS.

Artamus insignis, Sclater, P. Z.S. 1877, p. 101, pl. xv.; Gould, B. New Guinea, part vi.
(1878).

$ ad. pileo toto nuchaque, facie laterali et gutture toto nigerrimis: collo postico, interscapulio

et scapularibus, dorso toto, uropygio et supracaudalibus pure albis: alis caudaque nigerrimis,

rectricibus inttis angustissimé albido limbatis: prapectore et corpore reliquo subtus puré

albis: subalaribus albis, minimis externis nigerrimis: remigibus infra cineraceis, intus ad

basin albis: rostro cyanescente. Long. tot. 7-3, culmen 1:0, alee 5°65, caudze 2°6, tarsi 0°8.

Hab. New Ireland (G. Brown).

The description is taken from the type specimen kindly shown to me by
Dr. Sclater; it is now in the Marquis of Tweeddale’s collection.

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIB UTION. 191

7. ARTAMUS FUSCUS.

Artamus fuscus, Vieill. N. Dict. @ Hist. Nat. xvii. p. 297 (1817) ; Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 285
(1845) ; Blyth, J. A.S. B. xv. p. 299 (1846) ; Gray, Cat. Mamm. &c. Nepal Coll. Hodgs:
p. 98 (1846) ; Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. 8. B. p. 199 (1849) ; Bp. Consp. i. p. 344 (1850) ;
Horsf. & Moore, Cat. B. Mus. E.I. Co. 1. p. 161 (1854) ; Cass. in Perry’s Exped. Japan,
Birds, p. 238 (1856) ; Gould, P. Z.S. 1859, p. 151; Jerd. B. Ind. i. p. 441. no. 287
(1862) ; Swinh. P. Z.S. 1863, p. 287; Beavan, P.Z.S. 1865, p. 692; Gray, Hand-l.
B. i. p. 289. no. 4270 (1869) ; Godwin-Austen, J. A.S. B. 1870, p. 100; Swinh. Ibis,
1870, p. 247; id. P.Z.S. 1871, p. 877; Holdsw. P. Z.S. 1872, p. 440; Ball, Str. F.
1874, p. 403; id. Str. F. 1875, p. 291; Hume, tom. cit. p. 102; id. Nests & Eggs
Ind. B. p. 194 (1875) ; Blyth & Wald. B. Burm. p. 126 (1875) ; Armstrong, Str. F.
1876, p. 321 ; Hume, tom. cit. p. 458, & 1877, p. 30; David & Oustalet, Ois. Chine,
p. 101 (1877).

Ocypterus rufiventer, Valenc. Ann. Mus. vi. p. 25, pl. vii. fig. 1 (1820).

Leptopteryx rufiventer, Wagler, Syst. Av. Leptopteryx, sp. 3 (1827).

Artamus leucorhynchos, M‘Clell. P. Z.S. 1839, p. 158 (nec L.).

Ocypterus leucorynchus, Jerd. (nec L.), Madr. Journ. x. p. 237 (1839).

Ad. supra sordidé brunneus, supracaudalibus grisescenti-albis fasciam transversam angustam
formantibus: pileo colloque undique claré cinereis: line&é angustissima frontali lorisque
nigricantibus: mento summo et genis anticis etiam nigro adumbratis: corpore reliquo
subtus pallidé vinaceo-cinerascente, subcaudalibus albicantibus : subalaribus albis, alé sordidé
schistaceé, remigibus nigricantioribus : cauda nigra sordidé albido terminata : rostro pulchré
pallidé cyaneo, apicaliter brunnescente: pedibus schistaceo-cinereis, unguibus saturate
corneis: palpebris cinereis : iride saturate brunnea*. Long. tot. 6-3, culmen 0°8, ale 5:3,
caudee 2°3, tarsi 0°65.

Hab. India generally and Ceylon (Jerdon) ; Nepal (Hodgson); Assam

(Jerdon) ; Arakan (Blyth) ; Tipperah (Jrwin) ; Khasi hills (Godwin- Austen) ;

Burmah (Blyth) ; Tonghoo and Karen hills (Wardlaw Ramsay) ; Upper Pegu

(Oates); Siam (Schomburgk) ; Cochin China (David § Oustalet) ; S. Hainan
(Swinhoe) ; Macao (Perry).

A more detailed account of the geographical distribution of the Indian
Wood-Swallow may be gathered from the writings of Jerdon and Hume.
* Tn adding the soft parts of the species of Artamus, I have taken the best field-notes I could

find. In the above instance the colours are derived from Mr. Oates’s observations ; and he adds :-—
“ Inside of the mouth black in some, bright yellow in others. I have not yet discovered the reason

of this.”
VOL. III.

192 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

It is not until one begins to study the distribution of Indian birds that one
becomes sensible of the great work which is being done in ‘ Stray Feathers’
by Mr. Hume and his coadjutors. ;

Mr. Jerdon writes :—“ This Swallow-Shrike is spread throughout the
whole of India and Ceylon, being very numerous in some localities, but
locally distributed ; for you may pass over large tracts of country, apparently
well suited for them, and not see one. It extends into Assam and Burmah.
It is most abundant in wooded districts, especially where palm trees abound,
more particularly the Palmyra palm, from which, indeed, it takes several of
its native names. Where they are numerous several may be seen seated on
the same branch; but they fly off independently of each other, and after a
flight of some few minutes return either again to the same perch or to another
tree. At times I have seen an immense flock in the air all together, hunting
for insects, and remaining on the wing for a much longer period. A small
party may occasionally be seen skimming over the surface of a tank, picking
up an insect now and then, and returning to a high bough of a tree over-
hanging the water. They live entirely on insects of various kinds. I have
found them most abundant in the Carnatic, the Malabar coast, the Northern
Circars, and Bengal, very rare in the Deccan and Central India. To my
great surprise I found them on the sides of hills at Darjeeling, on cleared
spots, up to above 4000 feet of elevation.”

Captain Beavan also met with it in the last-named place; and Hodgson
obtained many examples in Nepal.

Mr. Ball observes, in 1874 :—‘ The Ashy Swallow-Shrike is rather rare
in Chota Nagpur. My only specimen from the division was found in
in Sirguja. This bird also occurs in the Rajmehal hills, where it is, I think,
less rare. I have recently met with it in the Satpuras.” In a later paper
(1875) he writes :—‘It is perhaps not so rare as I stated. In November
last I came-across a large flock in Singbhum, out of which I shot some
specimens. From Mr. Levin I hear that he got a bird of the year in 1873,
and subsequently both nest and eggs, in Palamar.”’

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 193

In Ceylon, according to Mr. Holdsworth, it is “ generally distributed
over the low country, but is locally abundant at certain seasons. It is very
common at Aripo and in the neighbourhood of Colombo during the N.E.
monsoon. I have always found it in small parties, and easy of approach.”

Dr. Armstrong also met with the species, on the island of Ramesuram.

In a paper on the birds of North-eastern Cachar, Mr. Inglis says :—
‘‘The Ashy Swallow-Shrikes are often seen, in flocks, throughout the year.
I have not seen their nests.”

The range of the species in Burmah is given in the list of localities; and
it goes as far down as Upper Pegu, where Mr. Oates says that it abounds
throughout the plains. Eastward it extends through Siam to Cochin China
and Hainan, where Mr. Swinhoe got specimens.

The American expedition to Japan met with the present species at
Macao, in China, where, however, all Mr. Swinhoe’s efforts to procure the
bird proved futile.

Spec. in Mus. Brit.

a,b,c,ad. N.W. Himalayas (Pinwill). d,e,ad. Behar (Hodgson). f-i, ad., juv. Nepal (Hodgson).
k, ad. Darjiling (Jerdon). 1,m,n, ad. Madras (Baber). 0, ad., p, juv. Kandy district,
Ceylon (White).

8. ARTAMUS SUPERCILIOSUS.

Ocypterus superciliosus, Gould, P. Z.S. 1836, p. 142; id. Syn. B. Austr. part 1. (1837).

Artamus superciliosus, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 285 (1845) ; Reichenb. Vog. Neuholl. p. 169 (1848) ;
Gould, B. Austr. folio, 11. pl. 32 (1848) ; Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A.S. B. p.199 (1849) ; Bp.
Consp. i. p. 344 (1850) ; Cab. Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 169 (1850) ; Pelz. Reis. Novara, Vég.
p- 82 (1865) ; Miiller, P. Z.S. 1869, p.279; Gray, Hand-l. B.i. p. 289 (1869) ; Ramsay,
Proc. Linn. Soe. N. 8. W. i. p. 179 (1878).

3 ad. supra schistaceus, uropygio et supracaudalibus cinerascentibus: alé cineraced, remigibus
omnibus nigro terminatis: rectricibus cineraceis albo terminatis et fasciam apicalem exhi-
bentibus : supercilio lato albo ab oculo antico usque ad nucham ducto: loris, facie laterali
et gutture toto schistaceo-nigris, hoc infra clarits schistaceo: corpore reliquo subtus

D4 iy

194 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

vinascenti-castaneo: tibiis claré cinereis: subalaribus albis, margine alari schistaceo :
remigibus subtis pallidé cineraceis inttis canis : rostro cyanescente, apicaliter nigro : pedibus
saturaté plumbeis: iride nigricante. Long. tot. 7°5, culmen 0°75, ale 5°05, caude 2°85,
tarsi 0°8.

? ad. mari similis sed pallidior: dorso magis brunnescente, et capite schistaceo nec nigricante :
corpore subtis pallidiore vinaceo, et gutture toto schistaceo distinguenda. Long. ale 4°75,
caudze 2°8, tarsi 0°8.

Juv. adultis dissimilis : cinerascens, plumis omnibus angusté albo striolatis : remigibus albo termi-
natis : rectricibus vix albo apicatis : loris et regione parotica fuscescenti-schistaceis : corpore
subtiis cinerascente, plumis albido striolatis, abdomine fusco marmorato, plumis hdc colore

limbatis.

Hab. Australia.

Mr. Gould gives the following note on the range of this species :—

“‘T am unable to say what is the extent of its range; but I am induced
to believe that it is confined to Australia, and that in all probability it
seldom leaves the interior of the country—the extreme limits of the colony
of New South Wales, particularly those which border the extensive plains,
being the only parts where it has yet been observed. I first met with it at
Yarrundi, on Dartbrook, a tributary of the Hunter, where it was thinly
dispersed among the trees growing on the stony ridges bordering the flats.”

Mr. Ramsay’s list of localities are the following :—‘* Wide- Bay district ;
Clarence-and-Richmond-Rivers district; New 8. Wales; Interior; Victoria;
South Australia.”

Spec. in Mus. Brit.

a,b, 6, 2. S. Australia (Sir G. Grey). c,d,d,2. Australia (Si T. Mitchell). e, 2 ad. Sydney,
N.S. W., November 1876 (Sydney Museum). f, 5 ad.,g, 2 juv. Homebush, N.S. W.,
January 1877 (Sydney Museum). h, 3 ad. Bankstown, N. 8S. W., December 1876 (Sydney
Museum).

9. ARTAMUS PERSONATUS.

Ocypterus personatus, Gould, P.Z.S. 1840, p. 149.
Artamus personatus, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 285 (1845) ; Gould, B. Austr. folio, ii. pl. 31 (1848) ;

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 195

Bp. Consp. Av. i. p. 344 (1850) ; Reichenb. Vég. Neuholl. p. 170 (1848) ; Cab. Mus.
Hein. 1. p. 208 (1850) ; Gould, Handb. B. Austr. i. p. 150 (1865); Pelz. Reis. Novara,
Vog. p. 82 (1865) ; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289. no. 4277 (1869).

3 ad. supra saturaté schistaceus, dorso postico et uropygio magis canescentibus : tectricibus alarum
dorso concoloribus : remigibus nigricanti-schistaceis angusté albo apicaliter limbatis, omnibus
subterminaliter conspicué cano adumbratis: rectricibus canis albo terminatis fasciam latam
formantibus : fronte lorisque, facie laterali tota et gul4 nigris, vertice quoque nigro adum-
brato: corpore reliquo subtus cimerascente, torque gutturali indistincté a regione postauri-
culari ducté: tibiis cinerascentibus: subalaribus et axillaribus albis: remigibus subtus
cinereis, versus apicem nigricantibus, ints basaliter albis: rostro cyanescente, apicaliter
nigro: pedibus lactescenti-plumbeis : iride nigricanti-brunnea. Long. tot. 7-2, culmen 0°75,
alee 4°9, caudee 3°15, tarsi 0°8.

2 ad. mari similis sed sordidior : dorso alisque brunnescentioribus : subtus brunnescenti-cinerascens,
torque gutturali indistincta cinerea: facie laterali gulaque sordidé schistaceis. Long. tot. 7,
culmen 0°75, alee 4°85, caude 3°05, tarsi 0°75.

Hab. Australia.

Mr. Gould observes :—‘‘ My knowledge of the range of this species is
very limited. A single specimen was sent me from South Australia; while
fine examples were killed by Gilbert in the colony of Swan River.”

Mr. Ramsay has the following list of localities :—‘*‘ Wide-Bay district :
Richmond- and Clarence-River districts: N. 5S. Wales: Victoria: South
Australia: West Australia.”

Spec. in Mus. Brit.
a, b, $, 2.ad. South Australia (Sir George Grey). c, 2 ad. West Australia (J. Gould). d, 2 ad.
Between the Avon and Salt Rivers, W. Australia (J. Gould). c,d. Central Australia (Capt.
Sturt).

10. ARTAMUS CINEREUS.

Artamus cinereus, Vieill. N. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. xvii. p. 297; Gray, Gen. B. 1. p. 285 (1845) ;
Gould, B. Austr. folio, ii. pl. 29 (1848) ; Reichenb. Vég. Neuholl. p. 168 (1848); Bp.
Consp. i. p. 344 (1850) ; Gould, P. Z.S. 1863, p. 233; id. Handb. B. Austr. i. p. 147
(1865) ; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289 (1869) ; Ramsay, P. Z.S. 1875, p. 584.

Ocypterus cinereus, Valenc. Mém. Mus. vi. p. 22, pl. ix. fig. 2 (1820).

Leptopteryx cinerea, Wagler, Syst. Av. Leptopteryx, sp. 4 (1827).

196 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

{ ad. suprd brunneus, pileo vix pallidiore: supercilio et regione parotici pallidioribus brunneis :
corpore subtts cinerascenti-brunneo: fronte angusti, loris, palpebra, genis et regione
paroticA antic’ gulfique nigricantibus: ala tota sordidé cinereé, plumis extts angustissime
pallidioribus: dorso imo et supracaudalibus nigris: rectricibus duabus centralibus nigris,
reliquis nigris laté albo terminatis : crisso et subcaudalibus nigricantibus, his albo terminatis :
tibiis extts albis, intus nigricantibus: subalaribus et axillaribus et remigibus intus albis: rostro
pallidé grisescenti-cyaneo, apicaliter nigro: pedibus virescenti-plumbeis: iride nigricanti-
brunnei. Long. tot. 7°5, culmen 0°75, ale 4°95, caudze 3:0, tarsi 0°85.

2 haud a mari distinguenda.

Hab. Australia.

“In Western Australia,” writes Mr. Gould, “it is a very local but by
no means an uncommon species, particularly at Swan River, where it inhabits
the limestone hills near the coast and the ‘ Clear Hills’ of the interior.”’

Mr. Ramsay gives ‘“‘ West Australia”? and “ Port Darling and Port
Essington’ as the habitat of the species.

Spec. in Mus. Brit.

a,b, ad. South Australia (Sir T. Mitchell). c. Central Australia (Capt. Sturt). d, guv. West
Australia (J. Gould).

11. ARTAMUS ALBIVENTRIS.

Artamus albiventris, Gould, P. Z.S. 1847, p. 31; id. B. Austr. folio, ii. pl. 80 (1848) ; Bp.
Consp. i. p. 344 (1850) ; Gould, Handb. B. Austr. i. p. 149 (1865) ; Ramsay, P. Z.S.
1868, p. 383; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289. no. 4276 (1869); Masters, Proc. Linn. Soc.
N.S. W. i. p. 48 (1877) ; Castelnau & Ramsay, tom. cit. p. 380 (1877).

A. similis A. cinereo, sed subcaudalibus albis distinguendus : rostro flavicanti-corneo, apicaliter
nigro: pedibus nigricanti-brunneis.

Hab. Australia.

“Two examples of this species are all that have come under my notice :
one of these was killed on the Darling Downs, in New South Wales; and the

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 197

other some distance to the northward of that locality, it being one of the
birds procured during Dr. Leichardt’s expedition to Port Essington.”’
(Gould, J. ¢.).

This is a species with which I am unacquainted, as the only specimen
in the Museum referred to it by the late Mr. G. R. Gray appears to be
only A. cinereus with a little more white on the under tail-coverts, possibly
a variable character.

Mr. Ramsay gives the following localities :—‘‘ Gulf of Carpentaria ;
Rockingham Bay; Port Denison; Wide-Bay district.”” He appears to
regard it as a good species.

12. ARTAMUS MELANOPS.

Artamus melanops, Gould, P. Z.S. 1865, p. 198; id. Handb. B. Austr. i. p. 149 (1865) ; id.
B. Austr. folio, Suppl. part v. (1869) ; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289. no. 4283 (1869).

A. similis A. cinereo sed minor : facie latitis nigricante et subcaudalibus nigris angustitis albo ter-
minatis distinguendus.

Hab. Australia.

Mr. Gould writes as follows in his original account of the species :—
“The specimen from which the above description was taken has been kindly
sent to me by Mr. S. White, of the Reed-beds, near Adelaide, South
Australia, who informs me that it was shot by him at St. a Becket’s Pool,
lat. 28° 30’, on the 23rd of August, 1863, and who, in the notes accompanying
it, says:—‘I have never seen this bird south. It collects at night, like
A. sordidus, and utters the same kind of call. It seems to be plentiful all over
the north country, and particularly about Chambers Creek and Mount
Margaret.’ ”’

Mr. Ramsay considers it to be confined to the ‘‘ Interior, Victoria, and
South Australia.”

198 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

I am very doubtful about the species, as we have in the Museum two
specimens from Cape York received from Mr. Gould as his Artamus melanops ;
and these two individuals I can hardly separate from A. cinereus. They have
a little more black on the face, and narrower white edgings to the under
tail-coverts: this appears to be the best character; but, as I have already
hinted, it appears to be somewhat variable. At the same this species is so
little known that perhaps A. venustus, nob., may turn out to be only the

adult stage.

Spec. in Mus. Brit.
a, b, ad. Cape York (J. Gould).

13. ARTAMUS PERSPICILLATUS.

Artamus perspillatus, Bp. Consp. i. p. 344 (1850, ex Temm. MS. in Mus. Lugd.) ; Wallace,
Ibis, 1861, p. 848; id. P.Z.S. 1863, p. 485; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289. no. 4271
(1869).
Ocypterus albovittatus, Kittlitz, Kupf. Vog. p. 23, pl. xxx. fig. 2 (1882).
$ ad. suprd cinerascenti-brunneus: pileo undique colli lateribus et corpore subtus clarius
cinerascentibus : mento ipso, loris et palpebra nigris: uropygio imo et supracandalibus
nigris: rectricibus nigris, late albo terminatis: ala tot& saturate cinerea, remigibus versus
apicem nigricantibus et angusté albo terminaliter limbatis : hypochondriis sordidius cinera-
scentibus: tibiis clarits cinereis: subcaudalibus nigris: subalaribus et axillaribus albis :
remigibus infra sordidé cinereis, intis versts basin albis. Long. tot. 8, culmen 0°85, alee
5°05, caudee 3:1, tarsi 0°9.
2 ad. vix i mari distinguenda. Long. tot. 8, ale 5:2, caude 3:2, tarsi 0:95.
Juv. similis adultis, sed marginibus plumarum albidis varius: subttis magis canescens, plumis cano

terminatis.
Hab. Timor.

Spec. in Mus. Brit.
a.b, 3,c, 2 ad., d,juv. EH. Timor (Wallace).

14. ARTAMUS VENUSTUS, Sp. 0.

Ad. supra cinerascens, pileo undique, capitis lateribus et corpore subtus toto clarioribus et magis

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 199

canescentibus: genis anticis, loris et mento ipso nigris: uropygio imo et supracaudalibus
nigris : rectricibus duabus mediis omnino nigris, reliquis nigris laté albo terminatis : al& tota
cinerea, remigibus subterminaliter nigricantibus, angustissimé albo apicaliter limbatis :
abdomine imo et subcaudalibus nigris, his longissimis apicaliter albis : tibiis claré cinerascen-
tibus: subalaribus et axillaribus et remigibus intis albis : rostro plumbeo, ad apicem nigro :
iride saturate brunnedé. Long. tot. 7, culmen 0:7, ale 4°65, caudze 3, tarsi 0°7.

2 mari similis, sed magis brunnescens. Long. tot. 7°5, ale 4°75, caudee 3:0, tarsi 0°7.

Juv. supra brunneus, pilei dorsique plumis medialiter ochrascenti-brunneo striatis et terminatis :
dorsi postici uropygiique plumis et supracaudalibus ochrascenti marginatis: tectricibus alarum
ut in dorso marginatis: remigibus latius albo terminatis : subtis cinerascens, subcaudalibus
pallidé brunneo terminatis.

Hab. North-western Australia.

Five specimens of this bird are in the Museum, brought by Dr. Elsey
during the expedition to North-western Australia. Some of them were
determined by the late Mr. G. R. Gray as A. perspicillatus, and some as
A. cinereus. ‘They appear to me to be neither the one nor the other. The
white tips to the under tail-coverts and the two entirely black central tail-
feathers sufficiently prove that they are not A. perspicillatus. From A. cinereus
the females of the north-western bird are more difficult to tell; but they are
smaller, and do not have the black so extended on the cheeks; and this
character seems to prevent their being A. melanops.

Spec. in Mus. Brit.

a,b, 5 ad., c, 2 ad., d, 3 juv. N.W. Australia (Dr. Elsey). e, 2 ad. Depot, N.W. Australia, Nov.
29, 1855 (Dr. Elsey).

15. ARTAMUS SORDIDUS.

Sordid Thrush, Lath. Gen. Syn. Suppl. 11. p. 186 (1801).

Turdus sordidus, Lath. Ind. Orn. Suppl. p. xl (1801).

Artamus lineatus, Vieill. N. Dict. xvu. p. 297 (1817).

Ocypterus albovittatus, Valenc. Mém. Mus. vi. p. 23, pl. vill. (1820) ; Less. Traité, p. 37, pl. 44.
fig. 2 (1831) ; Gould, Synopsis B. Austr. part i. (1837).

Artamus albovittatus, Vig. & Horsf. Tr. Linn. Soc. xv. p. 210 (1826).

Leptopteryx albovittata, Wagler, Syst. Av. Leptopteryx, sp. 5 (1827).

VOL. III. 26

200 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS

Artamus sordidus, Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 285 (1845) ; Gould, B. Austr. folio, ii. pl. 27 (1848) ;
Blyth, Cat. B. Mus. A. S. B. p. 200 (1849) ; Reichenb. Vog. Neuholl. p. 168 (1848) ;
Bp. Consp. i. p. 844 (1850) ; Cab. Mus. Hein. i. p. 208 (1850) ; Gould, Handb. B.
Austr. i. p. 143 (1865); Ramsay, Ibis, 1866, p. 327; Gray, Hand-l. B. i. p. 289.
no. 4274 (1869); Miiller, P. Z.S. 1869, p. 279; Ramsay, P. Z.S. 1875, p. 584.

$ ad. supra chocolatinus, dorso postico et uropygio saturatioribus, supracaudalibus paullo nigricanti-
bus: loris et genis anticis obscuré fuscescentibus: subtiis chocolatino-brunneus, abdomine imo
et hypochondriis magis rufescentibus, subcaudalibus nigris, subalaribus albis : ala schistaceo-
cinerea’: remigibus saturatitis cinereis, primariis extus albis: rectricibus nigris, albo termi-
natis, duabus mediis omnino nigris, rectricis extimee pogonio interno tantum albo: remigibus
infra sordidé cinere’: rostro cyaneo, apicaliter nigro: pedibus lactescenti-plumbeis : iride
saturate brunneé. Long. tot. 7, culmen 0:7, alee 5:1, caude 3:1, tarsi 0°75.

2 mari similis: vix minor.

Hab. Australia; Van Diemen’s Land.

The distribution of this species is given by Mr. Gould as follows :—“‘ No
species of the Australian Artami with which I am acquainted possesses so
wide a range as the present; the whole of the southern portion of the
continent, as well as the island of Tasmania, being alike favoured with its
presence. The extent of its range northward has not yet been satisfactorily
ascertained, beyond the certainty that it has not hitherto been received in
any collection from the north coast. It may be regarded as strictly migratory
in Tasmania, where it arrives in October, and after rearing at least two
broods departs again in‘a northward direction. On the continent of Australia
it arrives rather earlier, and departs later; but a scattered few remain
throughout the year in all the localities favourable to their habits, the
number being regulated by the supply of insect food necessary for their
subsistence. I may here observe that specimens from Swan River, South
Australia, and New South Wales present no difference either in size or
colouring; while those from Tasmania are invariably larger in all their
measurements, and are also of a deeper colour.”

In Mr. Ramsay’s paper the range is tabulated as follows :—‘‘ Rockingham
Bay; Port Denison; Wide-Bay district; Richmond-and-Clarence-Rivers
district; New 8. Wales; Interior; Victoria; South Australia; Tasmania.”’

AND ITS GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION. 201

Spec. in Mus. Brit.

a, 6. Australia (J. Gould). c, ad. Australia (Cooper). d, 3 ad. South Australia (Sir G. Grey).
e, juv. Perth, Western Australia (J. Gould). f,g, 3, 2 ad. Tasmania (Antarctic Expedi-
tion). h,i, k, ad. Tasmania (Ronald Gunn). 1, pull. Georgetown, Tasmania (J. Gould).

16. ARTAMUS MINOR.

Artamus minor, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d Hist. Nat. xvii. p. 298 (1817); Gray, Gen. B. i. p. 285
(1845) ; Gould, B. Austr. folio, 11. pl. 28 (1848) ; Reichenb. Vg. Neuholl. p. 168 (1848) ;
Bp. Consp. 1. p. 344 (1850) ; Gould, Handb. B. Austr. i. p. 146 (1865); Ramsay, Ibis,
1866, p. 827; Gray, Hand-list B. i. p. 290. no. 4285 (1869) ; Ramsay, P. Z.S. 1875,
p. 584.

Ocypterus fuscatus, Valenc. Mém. Mus. d’Hist. Nat. vi. p. 74, pl. 9. fig. 1 (1820).

Leptopteryx minor, Wagler, Syst. Av. Leptopteryx, sp. 6 (1827).

Ocypterus minor, Gould, Synopsis B. Austr. part 1. (1837).

Ad. minimus: chocolatino-brunneus, facie laterali et colli lateribus pileo concoloribus : subtus
magis rufescens vix castaneus, linea angusta frontali mento lorisque nigris: uropygio imo,
supracaudalibus et subcaudalibus nigris : alis caudAque plumbeo-nigris, rectricibus inttis ad
apicem albis, duabus centralibus et rectrice extima haud albo terminatis, concoloribus : sub-
alaribus pallidé cervino-brunneis : rostro pulchré violescenti-cyaneo, apicaliter saturatiore :
pedibus vix nigris : iride nigricante. Long. tot. 5°9, culmen 0°55, ale 4°55, caude 2°65,
tarsi 0°5.

Juv. similis adultis, sed plumis ochrascenti maculatis, corpore subtus fasciato, maculis caudz api-
calibus minoribus et griseo lavatis.

Mr. Gould writes as follows :—“I found the Artamus minor abundant on
the Lower Namoi, particularly on the plains thinly studded with the Acacia
pendula and other low trees in the neighbourhood of Gummel-Gummel,
where it had evidently been breeding, as I observed numerous young ones
whose primaries were not sufficiently developed to admit of their performing
a migration of any distance; besides which, they were constantly being fed
by the parents, who were hawking about in the air over and around the
trees, while the young were quietly perched close to each other on a dead
twig. I have received two specimens from Port Essington; and there are

2G 2

202 ON THE GENUS ARTAMUS.

examples in the Paris Museum from, I believe, Timor*. It is evident, there
fore, that this bird has a wide range.”’

Mr. Ramsay gives us the following localities :—“ Port Darling and Port
Essington; Gulf of Carpentaria; Rockingham Bay; Port Denison; Wide-
Bay district ; Richmond-and-Clarence-Rivers district ; New S. Wales.”

Spec. in Mus. Brit.

a, ad. Australia (Sir T. Mitchell). 6, 2 ad. Gilbert, lat. 18° 30’, long. 143° (Dr. Elsey). cc, d,¢,
2 juv. N.W. Australia (Dr. Elsey). e, 2 ad. Peron’s Peninsula, Shark Bay, W. Australia,
May 1858 (Dr. Rayner). f,ad. Port Essington (Capt. Chambers). g, h. New South Wales
(J. Gould).

* This locality is erroneous.

A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND.

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

(Plates CV. to CIX.)

“What tribute from the goose is paid !

Does not her wing all science aid ?

Does it not lovers’ hearts explain,

And drudge to raise the merchant’s gain? ”

Gay.

“Or, last, among its virtues many,

The pages of this ‘ Miscellany ’ ?”

ANON.

FrNn-LAND is almost a thing of the past. Little Huntingdonshire has lost
her noble meres; and though her sister Norfolk still retains her broads,
they shrink. Doubtless, in a practical sense, these changes are much to be
applauded; yet I ask forgiveness if, as an ornithologist, I cast a glance
behind, while in my secret heart I harbour a regret.

Mr. Stevenson, in that charming introduction to his ‘ Birds of
Norfolk ’—after lamenting that the gossard’s occupation is gone, that
the fenman no longer snares his Snipes or nets his Ruffs and Reeves

204 A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND.

(Machetes pugnaw), and has ceased to eat his Sunday Bittern (Botaurus
stellaris)—adds that, alas! the three Harriers are now no more, that the
hurried twittering of the Sedge-bird (Salicaria phragmitis), the reeling note
of the Grasshopper-Warbler (Acrocephalus nevius), and the harsher melody
of the Reed-Sparrow (Emberiza scheniculus) have given place to other
sounds.

These, with that pretty little bird of disputed affinity, Panurus
biarmicus* (once so common at Whittlesea Mere), are gone; and the
habitat of many a strange fen-fowl has ceased to be.

Too long would it take me to enumerate all the losses we have
sustained: Mr. Stevenson well describes them, and winds up with the bold
and honest declaration that the modern condition of the fen district is, to
the ornithologist fond of ancient memories, almost the ‘‘ abomination of
desolation.”

With the vanished fens various kinds of English shooting will soon
have disappeared, and the remark of Thompson (‘Birds of Ireland,’ 1850,
p- 273) that “in many parts of England Snipe-shooting is still obtainable”
will not apply ; there was, however, some fun in the observation at that
period. At this time the bird is found in non-natural places: thus, in
November 1869, Lord Lansdowne picked up one on the Esplanade of the
Horse-Guards, under a lamp (ef. ‘ Land and Water,’ Jan. 5, 1878); also a
full Snipe was shot at Oulton Park, Tarporley, November 10, while running
about the slate roof of a building, apparently probing the eaves with its bill
in search of food (cf. ‘ Field,’ Nov. 20, 1875).

* What I believe to be the last Huntingdonshire bird (a male) of this species (shot
at Eynesbury, November 1866) is now in my collection—a sad reminiscence !

A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND. 205

Pishey Thompson, in his ‘History of Boston’ (1856, p. 644, family
edition), has a quaint illustration of ‘“ fen slodgers,”’ with their goose-hooks
over their shoulders, returning from a tramp.

The days are much changed since a man could squat on some out-of-
the-way part, and run up a hut*, perhaps catch a few wild Geese and turn
them into tame}, then feed his flock at free quarters, living on fish and wild
birds dressed by a peat fire. Rates and taxes he looked upon, as William
of Deloraine did prayers and penances :

«Penance, father, will I none;
Prayer know I hardly one ;
For mass or prayer can I rarely tarry,
Save to patter an Ave Mary.”
Lay of the Last Minstrel.

In short, he lived a kind of semi-savage life, not without its attractions.
He had an endless supply; for Dugdale says of Ramsey Mere (‘ Imbanking,’
p- 364.) :—“ Though both fishers and fowlers cease neither day nor night to
haunt it, yet there is always of fish and fowl no little store.”

To this kind of individual succeeded the class of which ‘‘ old Merry”? is
a good type.

According to the account in Daniel’s ‘Rural Sports,’ ‘old Merry, of
Stretham Ferry” had the utmost knowledge of the haunts of the species of

* Creamer’s hut (now called Brampton hut), Huntingdonshire, a great meet of the Fitzwilliam
hounds, and Kisby’s hut, near Papworth, a famous meet of the Cambridgeshire pack ; also Kate’s
Cabin, near Norman Cross, about seven miles from Peterborough, a meet of the former pack. Who
Creamer was, and the pedigree of Kisby, are things now lost in obscurity, like that misty and
mysterious mother, Mrs. Carey. Kate selected a good situation on Ermine Street for herself (?).

+ Such a flock is mentioned by Mr. Robert Gray (‘ Birds of the West of Scotland,’ p. 340),
in Long Island (1867), on the farm of Mr. John Macdonald Newton :—“ There were about thirty
birds in it; and they had all been hatched from eggs taken on the moors.” These were semi-
domesticated Grey-lag Geese.

206 A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND.

birds which visited the fens. ‘‘As a marksman he was extraordinarily
expert. With a gun upwards of six feet in the barrel, and that placed in its
stock by the village carpenter, and altogether of a weight which nothing but
a most powerful arm could extend and elevate, would he kill a Snipe flying.
Before exhibiting this proof of dexterity, he usually requested to be supplied
with a fresh charge in lieu of what he threw away (as he termed it) after so
worthless a bird’’*; ‘‘ the wadding was a little dry sedge, of which he always
took a wisp in the punt.”

“Old Merry had not been troubled with much education ’’—not
** school-boarded,” in short; but the Rev. Mr. Daniel never heard of that, and
poor Merry, doubtless, is much to be pitied (!) for the loss he sustained.

Latham gives the best account of what Mr. Wallace calls “that
cosmopolite bird, the Goose,” in the ‘ Geographical Distribution of Animals ’
(cf. Latham, vol. x. pp. 252 et seqqg.). He enters into the plucking process
for quills and feathers (which need not be repeated), and says that the
feathers + contributed to the fame of the English archers.

“ An English archer bent his bow,
Made of a trusty tree ;
An arrow of a cloth-yard long,
Unto the head drew he.

* Tn this opinion he was quite at unity with that of our ancestors, who placed a higher value
on a Blackbird than they did on a Snipe; but while the former has greatly increased in numbers,
the latter has rapidly diminished. Daniel says the price of a Snipe in Cambridge market used to
be from 3d. to 5d. (‘ Rural Sports,’ vol. i. p. 179). Shakespeare quite bears out this idea in the
lines—

‘* For I mine own gain’d knowledge should profane,
If I would time expend with such a snipe,
But for my sport and profit.”
Othello, Act 1. se. 3.

+ “These feathers should consist of the second, third, and fourth of each wing.”—Archeol.

vii. p. 52 [uw].

A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND. 207

« Against Sir Hugh Montgomery
So right his shaft he set,
The grey goose-wing that was thereon
In his heart’s blood was wet.”
Chevy Chace.

Latham states ‘“‘that this bird is very long-lived, and we have full
authority for its arriving at no less than a hundred years.”’

Daniel says that the old ganders and geese which have been plucked
pretty frequently are called ‘‘ cagmags.” He relates a curious anecdote of
the affection of a gander to his owner, an old blind woman, in Germany. He
used to lead her every Sunday to church, taking hold of her gown with his bill.
“When he had introduced her to her seat, he retired to graze in the church-
yard; and no sooner was the congregation dismissed, but he returned to his
duty and led her home.”

In Thompson’s ‘ Birds of Ireland,’ vol. iii. p. 31, mention is made of a
like friendship between a gander and an old blind mare.

In Lincolnshire there are several sayings relating to Geese, such as :—
*“The bairns to bed, and the Goose to the fire;’’ “* More Geese than men
in the Lincolnshire fen.’’ Also they used to forecast the weather by the
breast-bone of the Goose: if it looked cloudy, a severe winter was said to
follow.

Pishey Thompson, though he mentions many of these provincial sayings,
does not allude to the above; still he works his subject pretty close.

I have said that Geese are on the decline, one reason being that free
quarters can no longer be had for them by the fenman; and another is that
the feathers now are not in such demand. Feather beds are out of fashion,

VOL, III. 2H

208 A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND.

and horsehair ones have come in. (Horsehair has risen fifty per cent. in
value ; and the supply comes from South America. )

Daniel says (vol. iil. p. 248):—“‘ Some wing them [i%. e. Geese] only
every quarter, taking ten feathers from each Goose, which sell for 5s.
a thousand. Plucked Geese pay, in feathers*, 1s. a-head in Wildmore
fens

* The following was, in 1871, the value of feathers in London :—Raw Goose-feathers, best
grey, from 1s. 2d. to 1s. 4d. per lb.; white, 1s. 8d. to 1s. 10d. These feathers lose about a quarter
of their weight in dressing, and are then usually retailed at 2s. 6d. or 3s. 6d. per Ib.

The best feathers are from English Geese, supplied by Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, and
Norfolk ; and those taken from the living bird excel the others; but the supply of this quality is
now very trifling, the custom of plucking them haying fallen into disuse. Next to English come
Russian feathers in value. The largest supply of British ones is obtained from the south of Ireland.
The proportion of foreign feathers is about two thirds, to one third of our own. The imported
feathers in 1871 were 775 tons, and the home production 300 tons; but with the former were many
Fowl’s feathers. Since 1871 the imports have greatiy increased, while our own have decreased.

+ I have been at some pains to find out something about Goose-quills at the present day. It
is a common but erroneous notion that quill pens have been quite superseded by steel, and that at
the present time scarcely any are used. Had the metal pens not been introduced, the use of the
good old quill would, doubtless, have been infinitely larger than it is; but, notwithstanding all that
has been done, there are probably nearly as many quills manufactured to-day as there were before
the introduction of the Birmingham rivals.

This is explained by the great increase in the manufacture of all kinds of stationery in this
country, and by the opening up of a large colonial and foreign trade. Many millions of quills and
quill pens are sold annually in the United Kingdom; and many more are exported to India,
America, Australia, &e.

Some years ago many English and Irish quills were used; but at present very few of these
are made into pens. ‘The principal supply comes from Russia, where immense droves of Geese are
reared for their quills and feathers. These quills are harder and better than English ones: the
cold climate appears to make the barrel of the quill stronger. A further illustration of this
is seen in quills from the Hudson’s-Bay Territory, where the cold is intense, and the quills
are almost like iron. These are particularly prized, and command very high prices, some of the
primest bemg worth £2 per hundred. Hudson’s-Bay pens are supplied for use in the House of
Lords and to Her Majesty’s Judges.

The manufacture of the quill is of great importance. The barrel is naturally opaque, or nearly
so; and to render it transparent heat is applied. This is done in various ways. The simplest is by

A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND. 209

The price of Geese is stated in the ‘ Northumberland Household
Book’:—*“‘ Item, it is thoughte goode to by Geysse so that they be good, and
for ijd. or iiijd. at the moste, seynge that iij or iiij Meas may be served
thereof.”

The price in Boston market at Christmas 1877 was 1s. per lb.

Something might here be said of the “ pdté de foie gras;” but the
idea of eating these diseased livers* is so unpleasant that I refrain.
Daniel goes into it (vol. iii. p. 250); and it has nothing to do with
the fens.

means of hot sand, after the quill has been soaked in water for several hours. A second method is
by placing the quills in an oven or pot. In the third and most approved method the quill is put
into a hollow fire, and then subjected to pressure on a hot steel plate.

The pens manufactured are usually hand-cut, with a simple penknife. Men and women are
employed solely in this one branch of the manufacture. A good workman can cut 1200 pens in a
day.

Small Goose-quills are largely used for making camel-hair brushes and floats for fishing.

* The celebrated “paté de Pithiviers” is hardly less disagreeable, though the original house
for this fabrigue is said to date from a.p. 1500; and we must shut our eyes to a knowledge of what
portion of the Lark is used.

Of the same kind is the famous bird’s-nest soup of China, concerning which Charles Montague,
Earl of Halifax, the eminent statesman of King William III., was commented upon. Macaulay
remarks thus (‘ History of England,’ vol. iv. chap. xx.) :— He was said to revel in Tokay from the
Imperial cellar, and in soups made out of bird’s-nests from the Indian Ocean, costing three guineas
a-piece.” And again (in vol. v. p. 159) :—“ Only six bird’s-nests from the Nicobar islands were to
be had in London ; and all the six were smoking, in soup, on the board.”

Probably the said Earl of Halifax had no idea of the ingredients of which these nests are
composed—viz. viscous saliva. They are cheaper now.

These remarks do not, however, apply to the famous “‘pdté de merles de Corse” (cf. Ibis,
3rd ser. vol. vi. p. 381), made of Blackbirds (Turdus merula and T. musicus) “of three qualities :—
1st, those that feed on the berries of the myrtle ; 2nd, those that subsist on the fruit of the juniper ;
3rd, those that feed on the olive.” It is stated that their value is in the above order. The following
appeared respecting them in ‘ The Times,’ Wednesday, November 28, 1877 :—

“ TneratitupE.—The British Consul at Ajaccio notes among the annual exports from Corsica

2H 2

210 A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND.

The evidence of a large Goose-feeder, as taken down by me, May 24,
1877, at Boston, runs as follows :—

““T had one thousand Geese to fat last year; in 1862 I had seventeen
hundred. Not so many are kept in this day, because the cottagers used to
feed them on the banks, where they are not allowed to be now’”’*. [Thus
‘ Hudibras ’—

“The law condemns the man or woman
Who steels the goose from off the common,
But lets the greater felon loose,

Who steals the common from the goose.’’]

between 350,000 and 400,000 Blackbirds. They come to that island in vast numbers every winter
to feed on the berries of the myrtle and arbutus, with which the mountains are covered. Here they
become very fat ; and their flavour and perfume as food cause them to be much esteemed by the
gourmets of Paris.”’

The Turdi of the Romans, fattened by thousands on figs and bread, were not the Thrush and
Blackbird, but the Fieldfare and Redwing.

* The habit of keeping Geese is as old as Egypt; and the tablet in the British Museum,
representing the flocks of them possessed by a large landowner, is well known.

In ‘ Notes and Queries,’ Dec. 8, 1877 (quoting the ‘ Pall Mall,’ Dec. 3 previous), it is stated
that St. Martin’s Day, “the Martinmas of our peasants, and not the modern Michaelmas, is the
orthodox goose-day. At all the great markets in French provincial towns the farmers’ wives may
still be seen rivalling one another in the sleekness and whiteness of their best-bred and best-fatted
Goose. Goose-eating has gone out of fashion in France, and fat Geese are at a discount.”

In London I have obtained, from a@ well-informed source, the following statistics as to the
number of Geese consumed at Christmas 1877, on which I can rely :—

In Leadenhall market arrived about 38,000. These were thus divided, viz. :—

Hrenchigeye is ch ncagey Gs tee Te roo SOOO
Dutch stediin Hingland =) sues tas eee OOOO
IoashfedjinBineland is. een we) eee OOO
trish kalledaneireland) gece lee eae aD OOO
Bnelish natives. '..> 2 ..WGhe an eee: singe OOO
Hamburg and Belgium (very large) . . . . 2000

A great many Geese, both English and foreign, were sold direct to cooperative stores and
clubs, which never came to market.

It is calculated by the above authority that about 100,000 Geese passed through the London
trade ; each Goose averaged from 10 to 11 Ib., and sold at from 8d. to 9d. per lb. These figures
show how much the breeding of English native Geese has declined.

A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND. 211

“One thousand Geese will consume five 12-stone sacks of oats per night ;
they eat turnips and oats, and make good manure. A Goose-house smells,
no doubt; but J lke it. We send a few birds alive to town still, for the
Jews, and some fowls also. The Dutch and French Geese are not so good
for the table as the Lincolnshire ones; ours are the best. When they used
to travel by road, a man drove a few first; the rest would then follow. A
cart used to go behind to carry the corn, and to pick up the sick—though
some Geese improve on the road. ‘Their pace is one mile per hour, and the
journey ten miles per day.’”’ I have seen the baby asleep in the goose-house.

Another person states that they were driven by men with long sticks,
each of which had a red flag to it, and it is now about thirty-one years since
the journey by road was quite given up. They were caught with a hook
round the neck, and marked with blue on the head, and some on the back.

Thirty-nine years ago (7. e. about 1838) is given by a different source as
the last time Geese walked to London. All agree that they ‘made bad
neighbours ;”’ they used to come into the corn-fields in the night and at day-
light, and were sad marauders *.

Holinshed, in his ‘ Chronicles,’ vol. i. chap. 11. p. 374, has the following
account :—

‘‘In the countrie, where their geese are driven to the field like heards
of cattel by a gooseheard, it is strange to me to see or heare of geese to be

* This habit was not confined to tame Geese, or even to Anser ferus ; for Daniel says (‘ Rural
Sports,’ vol. iii. p. 26) that in the winter of 1740, on the coast of Picardy, the Brent Geese spoiled
all the corn on the sea-coast. He appears to have taken the account of this prodigious flight of
birds from Latham (vol. x. p. 260), who remarks that they tore up by the roots all the corn near
the sea. ‘The inhabitants attacked them with clubs, and killed numbers; but the quantity was
so great that it did not avail much; nor were they relieved from this scourge till the north wind
which had brought them had ceased.”

212 A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND.

led to the field like sheape, yet so it is, and the gooseheard carrieth a rattle of
paper or parchment with him when he goeth about in the morning to gather
his goslings together, the noise whereof cometh no sooner to their ears than
they fall to gagling and hasten to go to him. If it so happen that the gates
be not yet open, or that none of the house be stirring, it is ridiculous to see
how they will peepe under the doores and never leaue creaking and gagling
till they be let out unto him to ouertake their fellowes.”

Of all counties, perhaps Lincolnshire* may be called the Goose-country ;
but here these birds decline.

It is worthy of remark that Geese in ancient times were not looked
upon as poultry, but as cattle. This is frequently mentioned in the Boston
orders for the 800 fen in the Parts of Holland, confirmed and agreed to, 15th
May, 1627, when the ‘ Comoners”’ met together “on ye feast of ye Virgin
Mary, to make Orders and By-laws.”

Here beasts, horses or mares, sheep, swine, or geese always are classed
together. The forfeit for putting a false brand upon his goose and sending
it to pasture in the fen was 10s. No fowler was allowed to take dogs into
the place, or “ improperly set spriniks or lyine wands.’ No one was to

* The sign of “the ‘Goose and Gridiron’ occurs at Woodhall, Lincolnshire, and in a few
other localities. It is said to owe its origin to the following circumstances :—The ‘ Mitre’ was a
celebrated music-house in London-House Yard, at the N.W. end of St. Pauls. When it ceased
to be a music-honse, the succeeding landlord, to ridicule its former destiny, chose for his sign a
Goose stroking the bars of a gridiron with his foot, in ridicule of the ‘Swan and Harp, a
common sign for the early music-houses. Such an origin does the ‘Tatler’ give.”—History of
Sign-Boards, by Larwood and Hotten, p. 445. Another theory of its meaning is also given.

The design of the two Geese hanging a fox, in Sherborne Minster and Wellingborough,
alludes to an ecclesiastic and his flock: the former was not unfrequently so represented, while
the Geese stood for the people (¢f. ‘ History of British Humour,’ vol. i. p. 206).

A notable instance of the use of the Goose as an emblem occurs in the case of “ Avalos,
Alfonso d’, Marquis del Vasto or del Guasto (+1546), Commander of the army of Charles V.’’ (cf.

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fire “ with hail shoot at any fowle.’’ For this offence he paid £35 to the lord.
“Any commoner might fish and fowle”’ in the fen with lawful nets, snares,
or other ‘‘engins”’ at proper times; and eighteen fengraves were elected, to
enforce these rules.

A Lincolnshire gossard, with his long “‘driving-stick”’ over his shoulder,
tipped with a red rag at one end and a hook at the other, cried formerly, and
still continues to shout, “ Lag ’um, lag ’um,” as he slowly plods his weary
way, at the rate of a mile per hour, through the fens.

The flock are said to be much afraid of the red rag; but what did

Mrs. Bury Palliser’s ‘ Historic Devices, Badges, and War-cries,’ p. 38, fig. 30. I quote the account,
and, by permission of Messrs. Sampson Low, Son, & Marston, am able to reproduce the illustration,
which refers to a curious habit of this bird).

“A Goose is here representing plucking a plant with its beak, with the motto Deficiam aut
perficiam (I will perish-or succeed).”’

Pliny says of this bird :—“ Their own greedie feeding is their bane; for one while they will
eat untill they burst againe, another while kill themselves with straining their owne selves ; for
if they chaunce to catch hold of a root with their bill, they will bite and pull so hard for to have
it, that many times they breake their own necks withall, before they leave their hold” (Book x.
chap. 59).

This is a strange, though ancient notion; I wonder if any one ever saw a Goose which had
died from this cause.

In England they did not appear to approve of the bird so well as did the Marquis, if it is true
(as stated in the ‘ Daily Telegraph,’ March 1, 1878) that the Heralds amerced and imprisoned a
wealthy citizen for having called an heraldic Swan a Goose.

214. A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND.

that ancient cry mean, handed down by tradition for countless generations ?
The Geese know the meaning, though I do not; for it urges them on, as
“gee” does the British horse. Has the word an affinity to the “lag” in
Grey-lag Goose ?—concerning which ¢f. vol. i. p. 114; I suspect so.

The “’um”’ is said to mean “them ;”’ therefore we have only “lag” to
interpret, which bears a resemblance to the old Norse “lagda” (laid by the
leg). Probably it is something of this sort—‘‘ Catch them by the leg,” as

nurses say to children “I'll catch you.”

Such a scene is here depicted in Mr. Pearson’s faithful woodcut taken
from a sketch made by Mr. Vernon Howard, Master of the Boston School of
Art, on the road from Kirton to Boston, near to the former place. November
1877. (Plate CV.)

The coloured lithographs of Mr. John ‘T'aylor’s flock of 800 Geese were
photographed on purpose for this work, and have been faithfully reproduced
by Mr. Smit. They give a real representation of a Lincolnshire flock, and, on
a small scale, a good notion of the great droves of old days. The road is
the Horncastle one; and the water is Bargate drain, which divides Boston
from Skirbeck. (Plates CVI., CVII., & CVIII.)

At p. 113, vol. 1, 1 have recorded the famous bet between the Lords
Rockingham and Oxford for 500 guineas. What do we learn from that
anecdote? This, that the winner and the loser in that race were contending
about a thing constantly before their eyes. No one would make such a bet
now, because the state of things does not exist.

It has been my endeavour in former articles to place upon record scraps
of bird-lore relating to the manners and customs of times quite gone, or only
just impinging upon my own day.

Many of us can recollect the Christmas condition of the coaches on the

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A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND. 215

great North road in the pre-railway era. They were hung round with
Turkeys and Geese to such a degree that you could hardly look out of the
window or into it.

So common in former days were droves of Geese on the road, that, when
the parishes were inclosed, small strips of ground were left at the side as
‘Goose greens,” on the principle of Arabian hospitality—a sort of religious
duty.

Mr. W. T. Lighton, of Frampton, informs me that a small parcel
of pasture-ground, now a plantation, with one or two ponds in it, called
‘“‘Grey-Goose fleet,” near Frampton Church, Lincolnshire, was believed to
have been formerly “a refuge’’ for Geese on their journeys to and from
Frampton marshes.

In Norfolk, I am told, the same custom prevailed.

In Mogg’s map of the neighbourhood of London, at the fourth milestone
on the Camberwell Road, at the left hand, turning to Peckham Rye, appears
a green plot, marked ‘“* Goose Green.”

In the parish of Leake, Lincolnshire, I have myself seen such a bit of
ground by the roadside, now taken in; but I am not sure that it was a
goose-green, though it looked like one.

The Goose, in fact, ruled all things; the French even called the mark
near the eye of fading beauty, by us known as the “ crow’s foot,” patte d’oie
(‘‘ goose-foot ’’).

In Fen-land, or close upon it, all things are fenny. Thus, in the local
press, at this time we read at Huntingdon of a man stealing “a glaive,” or
eel-spear ; at Boston a boy shoots himself while “tenting birds ;”’ at Lincoln

VOL. 111. 21

216 A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND.

a place is described as at the back of the “ Pye-wype Inn,”*—“ Pye-wype”’
being the name for the Lapwing (Vanellus cristatus), and in old household
books simply ‘‘ Wype”’ f.

In Norfolk we have ‘ Bustard’s lode’? (Dugdale, on Imbanking,
p. 286).

Though it would swell this article to an inconvenient length to notice
half the birds of Fen-land’s former days, yet one (the most rare and curious)
must have a few words. I allude to Acrocephalus luscinioides, the Warbler of
the Italian Savi.

Perhaps in the 4th edition of Yarrell (cf. vol. i. pp. 391, 392) there is
no subject which has been more ably handled than that of this bird; and
among the condensed information there given, as far as I am a judge, this is
the most interesting, viz. the evidence of Mr. Bond and Mr. John Brown, of
Cambridge :—

‘A large extent of fen in the neighbourhood ” [7. e. of Baitsbight, on the
river Cam, where Harvey, the lock-keeper, lived, a man I well remember when
at the University ] “was overgrown with one of the social sedges, Cladium
mariscus, which, towards autumn, was regularly cut, and being made into
bundles was carried by water to Cambridge to serve as kindling for fires,’’—
in one case to load a gun, as stated of old Merry by Daniel. “The sedge-
cutters used commonly to find many old nests, of singular construction, in the
course of their work—nests which could not be assigned to any of the known
fen-birds ; and this fact was learned by Harvey, who dealt in various objects
of natural history. The people of the district were also aware of a reddish-
brown bird, having a peculiar song, often heard at night (not altogether

* We have also ‘‘ Pye-wype ferry” near Lincoln, “‘ Crane End” near Freiston, and “ Snipe-
bank,”—and in Huntingdonshire :— “ Gosling’s Island,” Whittlesea Mere; ‘ Wild-goose leys” twice,
near Great Stukeley and close to Buckden ; also ‘‘ Hawke’s-den leys,” S. Neots.

+ In Sweden the bird is still called “‘ Vipa” (cf. Harting’s ‘Ornithology of Shakespeare,’
p. 222).

A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND. 217

unlike that of the Grasshopper- Warbler, or Reeler, still quite distinct) ; and
this bird they called indifferently the ‘ Brown,’ ‘ Red,’ or ‘ Night-Reeler.’ ”’
Harvey at last got these birds and eggs. They will never more be obtained
now.

The Editor states that Mr. Bond has the merit of pointing out the
species as British.

In Huntingdonshire, at Wood Walton, in 1849, a nest and eggs were
taken (cf. Yarrell, 4th edit. p. 392); and it lived at Whittlesea Mere,
whence an adult bird is figured in Mr. Dresser’s ‘Birds of Europe,’
part xxxvill. (April 1875). I need not, however, say that these localities
will never see the species again.

A few additional places in other counties are mentioned in the above-
quoted works; but this was one of our rarest fen-birds, and its extinction,
with its curious nest, made of one material only, must be now, and ever will
be, to British ornithologists for generations to come, a source of the deepest
and most bitter regret. Count Wodzicki’s account of its habits, in the
‘Journal fiir Ornithologie,’ is so interesting that I have had his remarks
translated, and they follow this article.

Professor Newton has provided me with a few observations, as a
supplement to the chapter on Savi’s Warbler in the 4th edition of Yarrell :—

‘The pair of birds obtained by Mr. Joseph Clarke, of Saffron Walden
(p. 391), must have been killed in 1840 (see ‘Annals and Magazine of
Natural History,’ p. 525).

“Mr. Bond had, in all, two nests and six birds. Of the latter, two are
now in his collection; one he gave to Mr. Henry Doubleday, who afterwards
parted with it, one to Capt. Johnson, of Walton House, near Carlisle, one to
Mr. Charles Thurnall, from whom it has passed to Mr. Newcome, and the
sixth to Mr. Ingall, of the Bank of England, whose collection was subsequently
sold at Mr. Stevens’s auction-rooms, when the specimen was not there.

212

218 A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND.

‘*The nests had each four eggs in it; one he gave to the British
Museum, and it is that figured at p. 397. Of the eggs, Mr. Thurnall had
four: one was given to Mr. Yarrell, and was bought by me at his sale; the
remaining three were in Mr. Bond’s collection when he sold it.

‘“T know of two other British specimens of the bird which are not
mentioned by me. These are a pair obtained in this county in 1845, and now
in the collection of Mr. Thompson, of Winlaton; while the nest and three
eggs, procured at the same time, are in that of Mr. Hancock.”

I may add that I have one supposed British specimen, detected in a
case among other old and ragged specimens of Reed-Warblers, Sedge-
Warblers, &c. from Cambridge; but I never think much of such things if
there is the least doubt about them.

Another bird, more common than the last, but now rapidly becoming
more and more scarce, is the Spotted Crake (Crex porzana). In the
Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire fens its eggs were obtained when I
was a young collector. The last nest, near Whittlesea Mere, in the former
county, is stated by Mr. Stevenson, on Mr. Newton’s authority, to have been
found in 1849 (‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ vol. 11. p. 394, note).

I have a male specimen of this Crake in my collection, shot at St. Ives,
Huntingdonshire, December 2, 1868; Mr. Stevenson says that, in Norfolk,
they take their departure to the south about the end of October.

Such a marsh- and reed-loving species must soon become extinct
in England.

Daniel states (‘ Rural Sports,’ vol. ii. p. 264) that in the fens an annual
driving of flappers into nets took place, and records that at Spalding, in two
days of what is called ‘‘ the ducking,”’ 2646 Mallards were taken.

By the Act 10 George IL. c. 32, this is not allowed from June Ist to
October Ist.

A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND. 219

A bird still numerous, but much diminished, is the Coot (Fulica atra).
Formerly the numbers were countless; and Mr. Stevenson tells us of the
‘‘Coot-custard fair’”’ at Hornsey, held in the spring, when nothing but
Coot’s and Black-headed Gull’s eggs were used tv make the puddings &c.
(‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ vol. ii. p. 429).

In this short paper many birds of the fen-district must be passed over ;
but a notice of the heronry of Whittlesea Mere, now that both it and its
birds are gone, must not be left out.

In some old MS. notes, in the handwriting of the late John Woolley, a
good authority, which have been kindly lent to me by Professor Newton, it
is stated that Herons formerly bred ‘‘ amongst the reeds at Whittlesea Mere,
afterwards in Monkswood, Alconbury Hill, Huntingdonshire; but being

be)

unprotected there,’ they “went to Lord Fitzwilliam’s, Milton Park, near

Peterborough.”

There was a fine shore of reeds at the Mere, a quarter of a mile deep,
which in former days would be a paradise for Herons.

I cannot quit this subject without a word upon the Starling. While
all around is decay, he at least promises to hold his own; and with joy I
recognize the fact.

The damage to the reeds when, in autumn, heavy flights of Starlings
came to pass the night was considerable.

Pridmore, a good authority on fen matters, before quoted by me (in
‘* Bird-nets’’), among other heavy shots tells me of one in particular, from
a boat, at daybreak, on the north side of Whittlesea Mere, on a reed-bed.

220 A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND.

Forty-two dozen were picked up at once; and subsequently several dozen
more, with broken wings, were secured. The owners of the reeds were
obliged to erect high platforms to stand on and shoot; otherwise they would
break down acres. The discharge used to plough a lane in them; to use the
words of an eye-witness to me, “ the shots used to cut a road through both
reeds and birds.”

The same is done in Egypt at the present day. ‘‘'To protect the growing
crops, the fellaheen often construct. little stands for boys armed with slings,
who acquire a wonderful dexterity in bringing down their feathered game”
(‘ Land of the Pharoahs,’ by the Rev. S. Manning, LL.D., p. 87).

The gyrations and changing figures of a large flock of Starlings as they
rise from the ground, and rapidly alter the form of their dense cloud, is to
me one of the most beautiful objects innature. It has been so well described
by the Editor of the 4th edition of Yarrell (part xi. pp. 237 & 238) that I
cannot repeat the process ; that description should be read. i

Next to the pleasure of watching their flight is that of hearing the sound
of their voices. Hence the term in old writers, “a murmuration of Starlings.”’
It is the noise of a multitude, each member of which chides, soothes, or
complains, according to his special wants in the struggle.

This “ murmuration”’ has been described to me by an old fenman at
Whittlesea Mere, as coming from its deep reed shore; and he assured me
that, under the wind, you could hear the sounds of the congregation a
quarter of a mile off.

Even a well-used Sparrow-roost (in old laurels, perhaps) has its charms
at sundown. It contains an immense number of birds, each of whom fights
for a good place to pass the night in the common shelter; and the chatter
which goes on can be heard for a long distance. Such a one, familiar to me
in the days of childhood, comes back now to my mind.

[ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

THE DECOY AT FRISKNEY, LINCOLNSHIRE

(SKETCHED 1877.)

A FEW WORDS ON FEN-LAND. 221

Hardly any thing is more characteristic of the fens than the decoys,
which have been so often described that it is needless to repeat the process.

Lubbock says (‘ Fauna of Norfolk,’ p. 105) :-—

“ Blomefield names one of a distinguished Norfolk family as the founder
of decoys :—‘ Sir William, son of Sir William Woodhouse, lived in the reign
of James the First, and is said to have been the first person who, in England,

bE) o))

invented and erected decoys for taking wild Ducks.

Pishey Thompson states (‘ History of Boston,’ p. 676) :—

“In one season, a few years previous to the inclosure of the fens, ten
decoys, five of which were in the parish of Friskney, furnished 31,200 Ducks,
Widgeon, and Teal for the London market.”

Decoys are fast going out of fashion ; they will hardly last much longer.
The woodcut of the one now at Friskney is from a sketch in my own collection
of such things, recently taken by Mr. Vernon Howard, School-of-Art Master
at Boston. (Plate CIX.)

At Whittlesea Mere, a good authority tells me that fifty dozen Ducks
have been taken in one day, and two hundred dozen in seven days. As for
Coots, “which came in moonlight nights in great lumps,” they used to
take their eggs in bushels. When the water rose into the nest they would

start again, and build a fresh one on the spoilt sitting of eggs.

ON SAVI’S WARBLER.
By Count CASIMIR WODZICKI.

[* Journal fiir Ornithologie,’ 1. Jahrgang, 1853, Extraheft, in a paper by Count Casimir Wodzicki,
with the title “ N. 7. Einige Beobachtungen iiber die drei schwirrenden Rohrsanger: Salicaria
locustella, fluviatilis, und Calamoherpe luscinioides” (as continuation of the article by Dr.
Ludw. Thienemann, in the second part of the Journal ‘ Rhea,’ 1848, p. 216), page 48.]

3. CALAMOHERPE LUSCINIOIDES (Savi).

Aux the upper parts rusty brown; underparts tinged with rusty yellowish
colour, darker on the flanks as well as on the lower tail-coverts. Bill rather
slender, compressed; above the eyes there is an indication of a light fine
stripe. Length of the bird from 5” 6” to 6" 2", most individuals about
5’ 9", the breadth 9”. The birds are smaller and more slender than Salicaria
fluviatilis; the tail is less broad; upper mandible brownish black, under
mandible yellowish; the tarsi are of a fleshy colour, as well as the mouth;
eyes dark brown; on the tail are some darker stripes. Most of the males offer
indistinct spots on the throat, of a darker colour than that of the breast ; but

this is no characteristic.

Calamoherpe luscinioides is a true bird of the reeds (which it never

leaves), quarrelsome, always in motion—now on the ground, now on the

VOL. III. DIK

224 ON SAV’S WARBLER.

reeds. It is never seen sitting quiet; in spring-time it often flies into the
air, roves about, and throws itself down again, with the wings folded back-
wards, like the Hedge-Sparrow, but without singing. I often saw it, like
Parus biarmicus, moving on the stalk of areed from below to the top. Much
more confident than S. fluviatilis, it is also more curious. Hearing a noise it
flies from the ground, sits down on the reed, and looks astonished at the dog
or the hunter. With quiet dogs it is easily induced to stir; and then it can

be shot on the wing.

C. luscinioides and P. biarmicus have this in common with the Crossbills,
that in some years very few of them come to breed, in others indefinitely
large numbers. Last year only two pairs bred, whereas this year there are
hundreds. It is just the contrary with S. fluviatilis; last season they
occurred frequently, in this only rarely in the same localities.

Calamoherpe luscinioides is further distinguished by its temper. It
is extremely passionate, eager for combat. In the breeding-time male and
female, or rivals, pursue each other close to the feet of the observer, even
after a shot; they even make their reeling noise while in danger. Male and
female sit so steadily on the nest that they can be looked at very well;
frightened away, they return immediately without constraint, either on the
wing or hopping from branch to branch up to the nest. They leave in the
same way, but seldom on foot, as is the custom of S. fluviatilis; this is only
done when the nest is near the ground.

The nest is in the old high reeds, in the midst of the dense grass, only
exceptionally in the high grass or on a grass-tuft. Without being inter-
woven it rests firm, on broken reeds, commonly six inches above the level
of the water, sometimes also two or three feet ; and it is very well concealed.
If one sees the small bird, and on the other hand the rough material of the

ON SAVI’S WARBLER. 225

nest, the diligent work really must be declared wonderful; for the nest
consists of broad carefully interwoven leaves of the reed, and it is so polished
inside that the eggs roll. An inexperienced person would take it for the
nest of the smallest Moor-hen, so much is it similar to this, only smaller.
The greater number of the nests are pointed, broad above, quite conical,
4" high, 3" 6” broad, 2" 6" deep. The depth varies much—from 2" 6!" to
3” 9". The deepest must excite admiration; they are hardly 2" 6’ broad,
and one can scarcely believe that the breeding female touches the eggs with
its belly.

I often observed, when these tender birds build their nest, how
troublesome it is for them to bring the material together. In the beginning
this is done by male and female; later the female does it alone, while the
male takes the leaves from the bill of the female and alone continues weaving.
The male is gay and diligent at work, and continually utters the monotonous
“kerr, krrr.”

The call of both male and female is like that of S. fuviatilis—a short “krr.”’
This noise has an agreeable tone ; far off it appears to be in one’s own ear.
He who has heard, on fat morasses, the noise of the bubbles which quickly
ascend to the surface of the water, can well imagine the song of Calamoherpe
luscinioides. Often the sound is higher or lower, without the dominating
“yr 3”? just as if one repeated quickly the letters *‘ gl, gl, gl, gl, gl.’ Here, as
in S. fluviatilis, the voice has the singularity that it misleads the ear; for
often one attempts to follow the sound in a wrong direction. They sing
high or low, but sit quiet, the head bent somewhat back, the neck stretched,
the throat much dilated: the exertion is evident.

During the breeding-season the song is continued diligently the whole
day, till sunset; later, in the night, I did not hear it.
2K 2

226 ON SAVVS WARBLER.

The bird’s activity in running and creeping about in the day-time rubs
the plumage very much. In the month of July, therefore, it is entirely worn
out ; the tail especially always is defective.

The young ones are similar to the old ones; but they are much more
rusty red on the belly, and may easily be confounded with C. arundinacea
before they are full-grown.

When the family is grown up, all emigrate into the high grass, the reeds
are left. ‘There they remain till late in the month of September, always on
the wet ground.

C. luscinoides is perhaps the reed-bird which remains longest with
us. ‘lhe number of the eggs is mostly five, sometimes four. The bird only
breeds once in every summer, either at the end of the month of May
or in the beginning of June. The later young ones are from disturbed
broods.

The eggs vary very much in form and colour. They are rounded,
bellied, seldom lengthy, never pointed, always without gloss. In the same
nest the eggs are similar to each other. The ground-colour is whitish, often
quite chalky white, with fine points (just as on the eggs of S. fluviatilis) at
the end. Those coloured in this way are most similar to the eggs of the
species before named.

Other eggs are chalky white, sparingly sprinkled with larger, yellowish-
brown and blackish-violet points; the crown cannot be well seen, because
it originates from spots of the inner shell. These eggs could be confounded
with those of S. curruca.

Finally, there occur others with a dirty-white ground, which hardly can

ON SAVI’S WARBLER. 227

be seen on account of light-brownish and violet spots covering the end
totally. Such specimens remind one of those of Anthus or Alauda arborea.
The length is 82" to 11", the breadth 7” to 9". They differ so much

that, of the eight sets which I collected in the spring, only two show any

resemblance. Their weight is 14 to 2 grms.; but most remain under

2.grms.

The nests are not at all lined inside, and have not the least similarity
to those of the Sylviads, Salicarias, or Calamoherpes; for they show the
material, the structure, and the form of the nests of the small Moor-hens.

[ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

ula),

(danas ful

UE Be DUCK

(FROM A PHOTOGRAPH, 1877.)

BREEDING-PLACE OF THE

ON THE BREEDING-PLACES OF
TWO MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH ANATID A.

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

(Plate CX.)

ANAS FULIGULA. The Tufted Duck.

THe woodcut which illustrates this article is copied from a photograph sent
to me by Mr. Whitaker, whose communication on the subject appeared in
‘The Field,’ May 19, 1877 :—

“ Tufted Duck breeding in Nottinghamshire.

‘Judging from the numerous letters which have appeared in ‘'lhe
Field’ lately on wildfowl breeding in England, it seems to be considered
rather a rare event for the Tufted Duck to be found nesting in this country.
Mr. Harting, in his very interesting paper on wildfowl last week, mentions
a few counties in which they breed, and, amongst other localities, names some
in Nottinghamshire.

“* Now, so far as my own experience goes, it is not at all an uncommon
event for this Duck to stay and nest in Nottinghamshire, at least in this
neighbourhood. At the present time, within a mile of where I am sitting,

230 ON THE BREEDING-PLACES OF

there are from twelve to fifteen pairs of Tufted Ducks staying to nest. Only
on Sunday last, when walking round the lake here, I saw eight pairs of these
birds.

“ Tufted Ducks have bred in this water for the last thirty-five years. A
great many breed at Newstead Abbey. They may also be found breeding at
Thorsby, Rufford, on the ponds in the forest, Park Hall, and Oxten Bogs—
in fact, in most suitable places near here.

“This Duck begins to sit very late, seldom before the last week in May
or the beginning of June. Last year about fifty young ones were bred on
the lake here.

“ Rainworth Lodge, Mansfield.” “J. WHITAKER.”

It was intended to photograph or draw the Ducks, with the young ones,
in the lake; but this was not found to be possible.

Bewick (quoting Latham) says :—‘‘ The French allow these birds to be
eaten on maigre days, and in Lent.”

ANAS FERINA. The Pochard.

I have mentioned (anted, vol. ii. p. 411) that this Duck used to breed
at Scoulton, on the authority of Mr. Morris; but I find, in the first edition
of Yarrell, that Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear, in their ‘ Norfolk Catalogue
of Birds,’ mention the fact in 1825; while the Rev. R. Lubbock (‘ Fauna of
Norfolk, p. 112) says, in 1845 :—“I have heard from an accurate observer
that he has shot young Pochards at Scoulton, and that flappers of this species
were not uncommon there, but that the quagmire where they were found
was so rotten, and the reeds so high, that the difficulty of shooting them was
very great.’ In a note, he remarks that “the Pochard has ceased to breed
at Scoulton ;” I am sorry to add that in 1877, when I visited the place, it
had not returned.

TWO OF THE BRITISH ANATIDA. 231

Wassand Mere, Yorkshire, near Hull, is, perhaps, as famous as any
breeding-place of this bird. Here it is protected by Henry Strickland
Constable, Esq., of Wassand, and may be seen in great numbers. He has
kindly furnished me with the following particulars :—

‘The mere is nearly five hundred acres in extent ; and the deepest part is
about fourteen feet. It contains two islands ; and the country round is rather
flat. Three years ago [7. e. from 1877 | the Pochards laid at the usual time in
the reeds; but the rain fell so continuously that all the eggs were destroyed
by the rising waters of the mere.”’

I have in my collection, a sitting of eggs from this spot, presented to
me in 1841 by the late Mr. H. B. Milner; but these need no description.

Mr. J. C. Mansel-Pleydell has kindly sent me a copy of his list of the
rarer birds of Dorsetshire. In it he does not mention that the Pochard
breeds there; but in the ‘ Zoologist,’ 3rd ser. Sept. 1877, p. 385 (“ Ornitho-
logical Notes from Dorsetshire’’), he says :—

“ At one of these lakes [Poole and Studland] Pochards have bred for
the last three years. In the spring of 1875 a male Pochard, incapacitated
from accompanying his companions northwards by a fractured wing, was
fortunate enough to induce a female to remain with him, and a brood of young
red-heads appeared on the lake, which was so carefully and successfully
watched that the following year (1876) three broods were hatched.”

At p. 386 Mr. T. M. Pike, of Westport, Wareham, mentions, in an
interesting article, that on a pool in the above county thirty Pochards had
been hatched this year ; ‘“ but the eels, or other fish, had destroyed the greater
part of them.”

A writer in ‘The Field,’ November 17th, 1877 (p. 574), records an
unusually late brood of the common wild Duck at Rhiwlas, Bala: “last
week,” while out shooting, he came across an old bird with twelve young
ones.

VOL, III. 21

es ee

ELLANY

am
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NITHOLOGICAL

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anhart imp.

stot
H

LARUS TRIDACTYLUS.

(The Kaittiwake Gull.)
By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

(Plate CXI.)

Tue lithograph is taken from a sketch made off Kingstown Harbour, Ireland,
in 1850.

On the south coast round Brighton we get fewer Kittiwakes than other
Gulls ; and I find them difficult to keep in the gullery here. One has con-
trived, however, to hold its own for some years, and waddles about on its
short legs among the more graceful Black-headed and common Gulls.

When once the feeding-off is done (a dangerous time—just after their
arrival), we rarely lose an individual.

Matrimonial differences, in spite of all precautions, sometimes cost a
life in the spring; but our birds are very healthy, and we have some aged
ones among them.

234 LARUS TRIDACTYLUS.

On a bright day, with plenty of sun, a lot of Kittiwakes crowding onto
a buoy is at once a common and a pretty sight off Kingstown; and I have
watched them often.

Mr. W. Mattieu Williams, in his book ‘Through Norway’ (pp. 109 &
110), describes a breeding-place of Kittiwakes near the North Cape-
*Spirte Njarga Sverholtklubben.”

He says, “the Fuglebjerg, forming a part of this promontory, presents
one of the most wonderful displays of animal life to be seen in any part of
the world.” )

He speaks of a series of ledges above a thousand feet high. ‘‘ On these
ledges, which extend along the face of the rock for more than a mile, and
are about two or three feet apart, are perched hundreds of thousands of sea-
birds, all squatting side by side, and equidistant from each other, about eight
or ten inches apart, in horizontal rows, their white breasts contrasting
strongly with the black rock behind.

“The regularity of their arrangement on the ledges is very grotesque ;
they appear like an audience of a million or two of male pigmies in evening
dress—all shirt-front—occupying accurately measured seats. They are, for
the most part, the Kittiwake.

“On blowing the steam-whistle a roar of wings is heard, mingled with
harsh wailing screams, and a huge cloud rises from the face of the rock and
darkens the sky. I have seen great clouds of sea-birds on the coast of
Scotland, but nothing approaching this astounding multitude. I dare
not estimate their numbers, not having any means of estimating the
area of the living cloud, and the number of. strata composing it, nor any

LARUS TRIDACTYLUS. 235

experience of the appearance which a million or two of such rapidly-
moving living things would present. The sight was worth a special journey
to behold.”’

Captain H. W. Feilden says (Ibis, October 1877, 4th ser. vol. i.
p. 409) :—

““We did not observe it [the Kittiwake] to the northward after
entering the ice of Smith’s Sound; and in 1876 no specimen was seen as
the expedition returned south, until the north water of Baffin’s Bay was

reached.”

REMARKS ON THE EXTINCT GIGANTIC BIRDS
OF MADAGASCAR AND NEW ZEALAND.

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.
(Plates CXII. to CXV.)

Wiru much regret I find that the ‘Ornithological Miscellany ’ has arrived
at a conclusion without any papers on Fossil Ornithology—a subject, as I
apprehend, yet in its infancy, but one, to my mind, almost exceeding in
interest that of the more recent period, as the facts which it is gradually
unfolding are of an astonishing nature.

In truth, with respect to fossil ornithology, and extinct birds in general,
we may repeat the sentiment of Newton’s regret before his death, that ‘the
great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before him.’ Not that I am
oblivious of such labours as those contained in M. Milne-Edwards’s
magnificent ‘ Oiseaux Fossiles de la France,’ or of the exertions of such men
as Owen, Haast, Hector, Alfred Newton, and Marsh in America, in this
happy field of useful toil; but the view opened out is so vast that I may
justly regard fossil ornithology as hardly begun. With what joy Linneus,
that man of almost faultless character, that saint of science, would have
received these things* had he lived in this day.

* IT mean such birds as these :—Odontopteryx, in the Mesozoic strata, with processes not
teeth but resembling them ; in Cretaceous strata Hesperornis regalis, a Grebe six feet high, with

238 THE EXTINCT GIGANTIC BIRDS OF

Taking AZpyornis of Madagascar first, I have figured the perfect egg of
Aipyornis maximus in my own collection.

This specimen (Plate CXII.), when I purchased it, was one of the very
few then discovered, and quite new to England. Reading a paper* upon it
before the Zoological Society, November 28, 1867, I pointed out, from the
fragments of other eggs kindly presented to me by M. Alfred Grandidier, of
Paris, the certainty that another species must have existed; and I further
stated that the new one, which I named &. grandidieri, must have been much
smaller than A. maximus.

In the lithograph (Plate CXIII. no. 3) the difference of granulation
between these two species, and thickness of shell, may be observed, 4.
grandidiert being half that of A. maximus.

In the interesting article by M. Alphonse Milne-Edwards and M. A.
Grandidier, received from them December 22, 1869, I find that they have
clearly established three very distinct species—A!. maximus, AL. medius, and
A. modestus, the last by no means a large bird. With which of these, if
any, Ai. grandidiert corresponds, I am not at present able to state for certain :
A. medius looks like it.

These very competent authors deliver it as their opinion that, “if the
Atpyornis was not the tallest among birds, it was evidently the largest and
heaviest—the most elephantine ;” and this has always accorded with my view.

In passing, I may call attention to the enormous thickness of the shell

teeth set in grooves, and Ichthyornis, a Pigeon, also with teeth in sockets ; in addition, Archeopteryx
macrurus, Owen, of the Lithographic limestone at Pappenheim, near Solenhofen, Bavaria (a rock
of the Upper Oolite), with its wonderful tail of twenty vertebra ; and many another, too numerous
to mention here.

* Cf. my translation of M. Grandidier’s paper, “ Observations sur le gisement des ceufs de
VEpiornis,”’ Ibis, 2nd ser. vol. iv. (1868) p.65. Also a paper upon the egg of Hpyornis maximus,
by G. D. Rowley (Tribner, 1864).

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ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY. VOL III

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MADAGASCAR AND NEW ZEALAND. 239

of the ege of the largest species*. What prodigious strength must have been
necessary in the young bird to enable it to burst forth when ready to be
hatched! It is possible that a very strong temporary sheath was furnished
to the tip of the beak for this purpose.

In Col. Henry Yule’s fine work, ‘The Book of Ser Marco Polo the
Venetian,’ Ist edit. vol. ii. pp. 349 & 350, we have some account of the
* Rukh’’+; and he says :—‘‘ The circumstance which for the time localized
the Rukh in the direction of Madagascar was, perhaps, some rumour of
the great fossil Apyornis, and its colossal eggs found in that island.”

However this may be, I must here express my opinion that the Rukh,
Ruc, or Roc never had any thing to do with the Aipyornis. The Roc, if any
thing (and I think it was something), clearly appears to have been a bird of
flight, which the Apyornis certainly was not; neither was it a bird of prey,
as is proved by the bones.

To clip the wings of the Roc is to un-Roc him. What, then, was the
Roc? Have we any knowledge of enormous powers of flight in a fossil
raptor? We have, in Harpagornis mooreit, lately discovered in New Zealand ;
and it is not impossible that some other gigantic raptor may turn up in
Madagascar, which, with plenty of exaggeration, may be the origin of the Roc.
Such should be looked for; but, in any case, A/pyornis was not the Roc.

The fine illustrations of the bones of Apyornis with which M. Milne-
Edwards and M. Grandidier have accompanied their article are most valuable.

* M. Milne-Edwards and M. Grandidier mention one specimen, on the authority of
M. Sganzin, the greater axis of which was pierced by a stick in order that it might be used
to crush rice.

tT Col. Yule has figured one of the eggs of 44. maximus, now in the British Museum. This
illustration does not appear in his second edition. The artist seems to have made the specimen too
pointed.

t Cf. papers by Prof. Owen; also Dr. Julius Haast’s article on the extinct genus Harpagornis,
Trans. New-Zeal. Inst. vol. vi. p. 62.

VOL, IIT. 2M

240 THE EXTINCT GIGANTIC BIRDS OF

DINORNIS.

Among the most interesting relics of these enormous inhabitants of
New Zealand, the Moa-stones may be ranked. I have figured six (Plate
CXIII. no 1), of the actual size, selected from a lot of fifty belonging to the
same bird (@. e. found in one heap) and kindly sent to me from New Zealand,
in the ‘True Briton’ ship, direct, by Dr. Haast, received October 20, 1874.
Some of these are very pretty, and could be set into a pin.

I have other Moa-stones of larger dimensions, but not belonging to
this lot.

Plate CXIII. no. 2, represents similar stones taken out of a King
Penguin (Aptenodytes pennanti) from the Falkland Islands, and brought to
Plymouth in 1867, being the second living bird ever seen in England.

These stones were mixed with beaks of cuttlefish, and were presented
to me by Mr. F. Bond (cf. ‘Land and Water,’ October 25, 1873; also
‘Zoologist,’ December 1868, p. 1483, and February 1874, p. 3883).

The transparent nature of the Moa-pebbles and the opaque* character
of the Penguin-stones are well given, and show the different localities in
which the two birds lived.

* Curiously enough, as I write this article, I observe the following in ‘The Field,’
March 9th, 1878 :— :

At the meeting of the Zoological Society on Tuesday, March 5, “Professor Newton drew
attention to the statement of Leguat that every Solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria) contained a large
single stone in its gizzard, and exhibited one of three stones found by Mr. Caldwell associated with
the remains of as many birds of that species in the caves of Rodriguez. Each of these stones was
found under the breast-bone of the skeleton of this extinct animal. The largest specimen was
about 23 inches in length by 2 inches in breadth. All were alike composed of basaltic lava, which
does not occur in the immediate neighbourhood of the caves in which the remains of the Solitaire
are found.”

The fact that the stone was single is worthy of remark, and means something.

ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

J.Smit lth. . Hanhart imp.
1.GIZZARD STONES OF THE MOA.
Ze) o Do. OF KING PENGUIN APTENODYTES PENNANTII.
3.FRAGMENT OF THE EGG OF APYORNIS MAXIMUS
4 Do. Do. A PYORNIS GRANDIDIERI.

SHOWING THE DIFFERENCE OF GRANULATION & THICKNESS INEACH SPECIES.

i om edi : 7 is j Pl aes
et = pane Me ee : - ae RT Aca Wy = AL ; ; aoe
my ¥ s y ,™ = : : % c

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MADAGASCAR AND NEW ZEALAND. 241

I have examined and made collections of similar stones from various
birds, such as Wood-Grouse (Tetrao urogallus), Norway Blackcock,
Ptarmigan, tame Goose, &c. ; but no particular results present themselves.

The general function of these stones, and their use in the gizzard of
the possessor, may be understood by reference to the article by Mr. A. H.
Garrod, Prosector to the Zoological Society (P. Z.S. 1872, p. 525, with two
figures). He gives an explanation of the action of the gizzard, “as a simple
crushing-organ”’ which produces ‘“‘a most powerful compression of the
contents.”’

The Prosector speaks twice of “sharp-pointed stones ;’? I may, how-
ever, remark that though doubtless some may be sharp-pointed when
swallowed, they quickly become rounded, and that I never took one other-
wise than smooth out of the gizzard of a bird. In this condition it appears
to me best adapted for the crushing process which is well described by the
Prosector, and increasing the triturating-power.

It is not my purpose to enter into the history of the Moa. Those who
wish to go into the subject will doubtless read the valuable series of memoirs
on the various species by Professor Owen, in the ‘Transactions’ of the
Zoological Society, and also the articles by Dr. Haast and Dr. Hector in the
New-Zealand ‘Transactions,’ to which may be added Mr. W. T. L. 'Travers’s
paper on its extinction, in the same work

There is, however, one point I would mention. Hitherto the abortion
of the wings of Dinornis, Apteryx, and other New-Zealand birds has been
attributed to the circumstance of the non-existence of any destructive
mammal or great raptor in those islands. Hence, it has been said, a luxurious
ease was engendered, and there was no necessity for flight.

But how is this to be reconciled with the discovery of Harpagornis

2M 2

242 THE EXTINCT GIGANTIC BIRDS OF

moorei*? What a nice feast would an Apteryx be to this bird! When
once we embark in the region of speculation, we find ourselves in danger.
Dr. Rudolf Virchow has well said, with reference to such a thing :—
“Do not take this for an established truth; be prepared to find that it
is otherwise; only for the moment we are of opinion that it may possibly
beso * {:

Certainly, “ for the moment,” I am of opinion that destructive agency is
a factor no longer to be regarded as having been absent from the area of
the Moa—provided always, however, that the Apteryx and Harpagorms were
contemporaneous, as would appear.

Respecting the debated question of the antiquity of the Dinornis, after
careful perusal of such evidence as we have, I am convinced that the bird
belonged to very ancient days, but that favourable circumstances prolonged
its existence to a quite recent period. We shall probably never know its
true history, any more than we shall learn the wonders of Mr. Sclater’s sunk
continent Lemuria: the former is obliterated by the waves of time, the latter
by those of the Pacific Ocean.

The thin shell of the egg of the Moa, resembling that of the Apteryz,
must strike the oologist who is familiar with the fragments of the
species of A%pyornis; nevertheless the bifid character of the feather of
the Moa (N.Z. Trans. vol. iv. pl. 7) is very diverse from that of the

Apteryx (cf. Ornith. Mise. vol. i. p. 24, plate vi.), whilst it resembles that
of the Emu.

* For an account of this species, read Dr. Julius Haast’s interesting article, Trans. N.Z. Inst.
vol. vi. 1873, p. 63.

+ “ Die Freiheit der Wissenschaft im modernen Staat ” (“The Freedom of Science in the
Modern State’), ‘Times,’ January 29, 1878.

MADAGASCAR AND NEW ZEALAND. 243

Before leaving these gigantic eggs, it may be well to remind my
readers of the Russian Séruthiolithus chersonensis, whose egg far exceeds
that of the Ostrich, without, however, rivalling, except in the most distant
degree, that of the Hpyornis (cf. Ibis, 1874, 3rd ser. vol. iv. p. 4).

I have in vain tried to trace this unique specimen, with a view
to make it available to science, but without success. The granulation, as
described in the above article, appears to me peculiar and to need further
investigation.

It is always desirable to know what has become of type specimens, so
that they may be available for future reference. I therefore mention that I
have in my collection the bones of Dinornis maximus, figured by Professor
Owen in the ‘ Transactions of the Zoological Society,’ vol. vi. plates Ixxxix.
& xc., being a femur, metatarsus, and tibia, concerning which he says
(p. 497) :—*‘In March 1867 I was favoured by Major J. Michael, of the
Madras Staff Corps, with the opportunity of inspecting ....”’ [the above],
“which had been discovered, in August 1865, on the Glenmark estate
of ‘Kermode & Co.,’ about 45 miles from Christ Church, Canterbury
Settlement, Middle Island, New Zealand,” about four feet below the surface,
in a bog, in such juxtaposition as to lead to the inference that these
were the bones of the same leg (the left). I purchased these of Major
Michael’s agent for £25. They were supposed to be the largest ever
found; I do not know if others of greater dimensions have since come
to light.

In my possession are many other bones of different species of Moa; but
they have no historic interest.

It remains only to say a few words on the Plates of the two eggs of the

244 THE EXTINCT GIGANTIC BIRDS OF

Moa. The one of D. ingens (Plate CXIV.) is the unique specimen, now in
my collection, which I purchased for £100. The other lithograph, of Dinornis
crassus (Plate CXV.), has been kindly presented to me by Professor Owen,
for the purpose of this article. Both are of the actual size. These will be
published in the quarto work, in two volumes, by the Professor, ‘ Memoirs
on the Wingless Birds of New Zealand’ *.

My own egg has a hole on the underside, made by the pickaxe of the
finder, which does not much injure its appearance. The following account
was in the ‘ Times,’ October 17, 1865 :—

“Curious Ornithological Relic.

“Mr. G. D. Lockhart’s ship ‘ Ravenscraig,’ Captain D. B. Inglis, of
London, just arrived from New Zealand, reports having brought home a
curious relic of the ancient ornithology of those islands, in the form of an
egg of the Moa, or Dinornis, of New Zealand.

“The egg is alleged to have been discovered under somewhat singular
circumstances. While some labourers were marking out a site to build
upon, in the Wairakie district, a pick struck upon a cave. On opening it,
it was found to contain the skeleton of a Maori, in a crouching position,
holding with both hands the egg, and in such a manner as if death came
upon the unfortunate native while in the act of partaking of the contents of
the egg.

‘‘ Although the shell is slightly broken, the gigantic proportions of the
egg yet remain perfect. It measures about 9 inches in length and 7 inches
in diameter.

* “Memoirs on the Wingless Birds of New Zealand, 2 vols., 4to, with 124 plates (4to and
folio) and numerous woodcuts, published by J. Erxleben, 2 Henrietta Street, Brunswick Square,
London.

From nat. on Stine hy JErxleben.

1G OF DIN(

eRe

eae:

Nat. size

MADAGASCAR AND NEW ZEALAND. 245

“The ‘ Ravenscraig’ left Wellington June 21, Pernambuco August 25,
and arrived in the Downs on Saturday. On July 3 she was struck by a
tremendous sea, which swept her deck, doing a great deal of damage. On
July 14, in 153°S., 113° W., James Faddie, the second officer, fell overboard
and was drowned, while the ship was running in a heavy gale.—Reuter’s
Express.”

This specimen was put up to auction at Stevens’s rooms, Covent
Garden, on November 24, 1865, where I bid 100 guineas. It was, however,
at that time bought in for £200.

A description was issued by the vendors, which is as follows :—

‘“The following account of the singular discovery of this egg was
published in the Wellington papers :—

“< * Discovery of a Moa’s Egg at the Kai Koras.

««<There is at the present time being exhibited at Messrs. Bethune and
Hunter’s stores, for the benefit of the curious, an object of no less interest
than the egg of a Moa, another relic of the rara avis of New Zealand. The
egg is of itself an object of no common interest to ordinary people; but it
must be still more so to those who watch narrowly the development of
natural history in its relations to this colony; and the circumstances connected
with the finding are calculated to lend a still greater, not to say romantic,
interest to it.

“<< Tt appears from what we learn from Captain Davidson, of the schooner
‘Ruby,’ which trades between this port and the Kai Koras, that a man in
Mr. Fyffe’s employment at the latter place was digging the foundation of a
house, and when on the side of a small mound he suddenly came upon the
egg in question and the skeleton of a man, supposed of course to be a

246 THE EXTINCT GIGANTIC BIRDS OF

Maori. The body had evidently been buried in a sitting posture; and the
ege must have been placed in the hands, as when found the arms were
extended in such a manner as to bring it immediately opposite the mouth of
the deceased. ‘This, it is assumed, was in accordance with the Maori
custom, and was done for the purpose of giving the individual who was
buried an opportunity of sustaining himself if he thought proper, or if in the
course of things he required sustenance.

““« Between the legs of the skeleton were found numerous tools, cut
from greenstone, including a spear, axe, and several implements, which would
lead to the belief that the man to whom the bones belonged must have been,
in some way or other, connected with the wood trade—that is to say,
if carpenters, cabinetmakers, &c. flourished in his time.

*<¢ All the bones were in excellent preservation, one arm and hand being
entirely without blemish. The skull bore evidence of its proprietor having,
at some time or the other, received some hard knocks, probably in the
battle-field, while taking his part in some of those terrific encounters which
are supposed to have taken place in ancient times.

‘“‘* Unfortunately, before the man who was digging discovered the
natural treasure, the implement he was using came in contact with the shell
and broke a small piece out of the side of it; but the fragments have been
carefully preserved, and might readily be fitted into the aperture. The egg
itself is about 10 inches in length and 7 inches in breadth, the shell being of
a dirty-brownish colour and rather better than the thickness of a shilling
coin. The inside is perfectly clear, and free from all traces of decayed
matter.

“«<« From what Captain Davidson tells us, we should suppose that the
ground where this relic was discovered must have been used as a cemetery
at some distant period of the past, as Mr. Fyffe had previously found some
interesting Maori emblems about the same place; but none of the natives
about there (aud some of them, we are informed, have arrived at very
mature ages) have the slightest recollection of ever having heard, as a

MADAGASCAR AND NEW ZEALAND. 247

matter of history, that any of their ancestors had found a final resting- place
in that particular locality.’ ”

I was informed, in a letter from New Zealand written by the owners to
me, that they had insured the specimen for £2000. It took about three
years to conclude the purchase. I have given the above accounts, but by
no means wish to add my authority to them, because things published in
newspapers are frequently mistakes, and these statements have not been

investigated.

VOL III, In

SCELOGLAUX ALBIFACIES.

(White-faced Owl.)

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.
(Plate VIII.)
(Continued from vol. i. p. 36.)

Tut two birds whose portraits (taken by Mr. Keulemans at once on the
stone, in my house here) appear in Plate VIII. are still alive, and each
spring lay eggs, on which they sit; but as these have never proved fertile, I
may with some confidence now name their sex as female in each case.
I was unfortunately unable to do this at the time; and, as far as I know, no
specimen of this rare species, with the sex given, has ever been figured.
They seem very healthy, and likely to continue so, but have not been
heard to utter a sound. This is perhaps quite as well, the noise being
described as peculiarly disagreeable. After a time they usually destroy
the eggs ; and I let them do as they please.

The air of Brighton appears to agree with our birds; for they live to

great ages in my aviaries.

2n Q

CONCLUSION.

By Mr. G. D. ROWLEY.

“And now this pale swan in her watery nest,
Begins the sad dirge of her certain ending.”—Lucrece.
Hartine’s Ornithology of Shakespeare, p. 201.

Birps have played a conspicuous part in the history of mankind. If we
look at classical times we see the twelve Vultures of Mount Palatine, the
solemn flap of whose wings before the vision of Romulus decided the fate of
the Roman world; later again, we notice the Goose which saved the
capitol. If we turn to Holy Writ, we read of the solitary Thrush of the
Psalmist, and the two Sparrows of Christ’s illustration.

In modern times, and in the pages of this work, we have seen the three
Protestant Quails of Steenwick, the loyal Larks of the siege of Exeter, Sir
David Lindsay’s Parrot (that precursor of the Reformation), the Robin of
the coffin of Queen Mary II., the lost Parrot of King Charles’s daughter,
and the faithful companion of the Duchess of Richmond*, whose resting-

* Another historic bird was that belonging to the unhappy Jane Dudley, Duchess of North-
umberland (1555), mother-in-law of Lady Jane Grey. In her will she bequeathed to the Duchess
of Alva, Lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary, her “ green Parrot, having nothing else worthy of her”

(‘ Walks in London,’ by A. J. C. Hare, vol. ii. p. 439).

252 CONCLUSION.

place is Westminster Abbey—reminding us of the consort of King Athelstan,
who, in an ancient sculpture in the church of Milton Abbas, Dorsetshire,
appears with her Falcon on her Royal fist (¢f. Pennant’s ‘ Arctic Zoology,’
vol. i. p. 239). We have also noticed the Crows of Cressy; and I may
mention that ‘‘ Passer solitarius,” as she was called by Cecil, the last of the
Tudors, Elizabeth.

In Part V. (p. 105) there is an illustration of Mother Carey and her
chickens. This may appear somewhat childish ; but it represents not her so
much as the superstitious belief connected with the Petrel, which has
influenced more or less the minds of men.

“ Outflying the blast and the driving rain,
The Petrel telleth her tale—in vain ;
For the mariner curseth the warning bird,
Who bringeth him news of the storm unheard.

«Ah! thus does the prophet of good or ill
Meet hate from the creatures he serveth still ;
Yet he ne’er falters: so, Petrel, spring
Once more o’er the waves on thy stormy wing.”
Barry Cornwatt.

In the pages of the ‘ Ornithological Miscellany’ I have humbly endea-
voured to notice not only birds but bird-lore, and the bearing the feathered
race has had upon our lives and fortunes.

Thus the Jewish archer Mosollam, taking his life in his hand, shot the
bird from which the soothsayers were drawing their auguries. Yet he aimed
not at it; for religious superiority, with some skill, caused the bold bowman
to pierce with his arrow erroneous belief, and level it into the dust. Dean
Stanley alludes to this, ‘ History of the Jewish Church,’ p. 245.

When in former days a man felt embarrassed, he did not put his hands

CONCLUSION. 253

in his pockets, as in a London ball-room, but he turned to his Falcon.
Thus did the Earl of Angus, when pressed by Mary of Lorraine to give up
a castle, and Henry IV. when urged to sacrifice the life of Richard II.

I must repeat the latter story, though well known; for Froissart is so
quaint that one never tires of him when he lifts the curtain of those
chivalrous days, and discloses a scene so different from our own.

“The King’s Council speaks: ‘Sire, so long as Richard of Bordeaux
lives, the country will never have peace.’ ‘I believe what you say may be
true,’ replied the King ; ‘but with regard to me, I will never put him to
death. I have given him my word that no bodily harm shall befall him ;
and I will keep my promise until it shall appear that he enters into any
plots against me.’ ‘Sire,’ answered the knights, ‘his death will be more to
your advantage than his life: for so long as the French know he is alive,
they will exert themselves to make war against you, in the hope of replacing
him on the throne, on account of his having married the daughter of their
king.’ The King of England made no reply, but leaving them in conversation
went to his falconers, and placing a falcon on his wrist forgot all in feeding
him ”’ [‘‘ appeared to forget’ would be nearer the truth ].

Again, a man thinks little when he knocks over a Pheasant at the warm
corner, and does not condescend to pick it up. This is the abundance of
A.D. 1877; but a.p. 1454 tells another story, and a somewhat different scene
rises before our vision when Philip the Good (“‘ Good at need,” we must
presume, like Sir William of Deloraine) gave the celebrated banquet called
the “ Féte du Faisan,”’ and in a way which would make a modern keeper
laugh (though it might be rather dangerous to laugh then). A Pheasant was
brought into the hall by the King-at-arms, having around its neck “a collar
of gold richly garnished with pearls and otber gems” (Kirk’s ‘ History of
Charles the Bold,’ vol. i. p. 88). To witness this very simple incident all

254 CONCLUSION.

the chivalry, the valour, and beauty of Burgundy had assembled—a court
without equal at that time for its riches.

Turning from feasts and revelry to scenes of Irish misery and blood,
we find James Anthony Froude (in his ‘ History of England,’ vol. v. p. 223),
after describing how the English burnt the cottages and killed the inhabitants
of Kerry, with Ormond to aid, says :—‘‘ Here Sir Nicholas White, Fulke
Greville, and Capt. Bmgham climbed a crag to fetch an Eagle from its
nest ;”’ in short, they went out bird’s-nesting.

Was it not Sparrow-catching which made the fortune of the House of
Luynes of Dampierre, in France at least ? for Felix M. Whitehurst (in ‘ Court
of Napoleon III.,’ vol. ii. p. 137) says that though previously, in Italy, the
family was of the “casa illustrissima of the Alberti,” yet ‘“‘ Albert, Duc de
Luynes, obtained his nomination as page to Louis XIII. because he was very
cunning in the art of training Shrikes to catch Sparrows.” His subsequent

history we know.

When the people of Paris taught their Parrots to scream all day the
scurrilous refrain “‘ Perette et Peronne”’ in the ears of that ablest of the
Valois, Louis XI., after his narrow escape from the grasp of Charles the
Bold (which, considering the knack that crafty king had of shutting up men
in cages, instead of birds, was, to say the least, a risky proceeding), they

turned their pets into politicians.

One might run on to great length in this way; it is not, however,
necessary to exalt the influence which the feathered race has had upon us in
the eyes of the members of the British Ornithologists’ Union, for whom this
work has been published—a work which claims no editorial merit, unless it

CONCLUSION.

wo
On
(|

is the endeavour to be accurate, concerning which I cannot quote a finer
saying than that of the late Mrs. Bury Palliser, an authoress of no mean
merit—“ It is better to raise doubt than to sow error.”’

I must now conclude by expressing my best thanks to the Subscribers
and readers of the ‘ Ornithological Miscellany,’ to its very able Contributors,
and to all those skilled persons whose professional labours have aided me in
my course. The work comes to an end in consequence of ill health; and
I confess to a pang of regret as I write this last word.

GEORGE DAWSON ROWLEY.
Chichester House, Brighton,

March 7th, 1878.

VOL. III. 20

INDEX TO VOL. IE

ACROCEPHALUS luscinioides

nevius .

Adventure in an Eagle’s nest
Apyornis not the Roc
Aipyornis grandidieri
maximus

medius

Albertis, Signor d’, on Ptilopus bellus
Alca torda
Alcedo ispida : : , :
Allen, Mr., on the cliffs at Flamborough

Alva, Duchess of . : : 3 : : 3
American Parrots, P. L. Sclater on the, of the genus Pionus
Anais

Analcipus

Anas boschas

ferina
—— pecilorhyncha

zonorhyncha

Anatide, G. D. Rowley on the breeding-places of two British .

VOL. III.

ee NVM BIBT
. 101, 102, 103, 104
230
103
103
229

258 ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

Anderson, T., bird-nesting in the Shetlands

, on the Guillemot

Angus, Earl of
Anser cinereus, var. rubrirostris

cygnoides
—— grandis
—— indicus

segetum
Anthropoides virgo
Anthus arborea
Aptenodytes pennantir
Ardea cinerea

cocot

Armstrong, Dr., on Artamus fuscus

Arnold, Rev. F. H., on heronries

Artami, list of specimens in the British Museum
Artamia viridis , :

Artamus, R. B. Sharpe on the genus

Artamus albiventris

arnouar
cinereus

clemencie

cucullatus

fuscus
—— insignis

leucogaster

leucopygialis

leucorhynchus
maximus

melaleucus

melanops
mentalis

—— minor

187

180, 181

; 179
180, 183, 190
179, 182

. 180, 183, 195, 199

181

: 182
183, 191
180, 183
179, 183, 184
179, 187
179, 181, 182
180, 1835, 188
183

180, 183, 197
185

180, 183, 201

INDEX TO. VOL. III.

Artamus monachus

papuensis

personatus

perspicillatus
sordidus

superciliosus

vEenustus
Athelstan, King, effigy of Bear consort of
Aythya ferina

Badgers eat Ducks’ eggs

Bailey, Matthew, on Guillemots

Ball, Mr., on Artamus fuscus

Eee @ oul S., novel method of obtaining Rooks
Barkley, H. C., anecdote about foxes

Barttelot, Edward, disinherited for eating a Pigeon
Beavan, Capt., on Artamus fuscus

Belon on the heronry of Francis I.

Bernstein, Dr. :

Bewick on a fight between Heras¢ and Rite
Birds from the Malay Archipelago

—— of Flamborough Head

of Mongolia &c.

——., parasites of .

Black-breasted Flycatcher : :

‘ Boke of Kervinge, good dishes mentioned in the
Bond, F. ; : :

Bond and Brown, Meson on Savi’s Warbler
Botaurus stellaris

, extinct gigantic, of Madagascar and New Zealand

ay 38),

185,
198,
185,
183,

179
194
99
99
193
198

125
67
165

11, 29

47, 87,

145
237

260 ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

Page
Boucard, M. Adolphe, on Pharomacrus costaricensis 21
, on Odontophorus cinctus 40
, on Chloraena subvinacea 76
, on Leptoptila cassini 79
Boved F., on the mode by which young Grilemen en the * sea 13
British Museum, list of specimens of Artami in the 187
Briiggemann, Mr., on Cittura cyanotis 158, 141
, on Domicella coccinea 123
Bucephalus clangula 106
Buckley’s expedition to Bolivia 9
Bustard’s lode 216
C.
Cagmags ; 207
Calamoherpe esaneniiite 223, 224
Caliechthrus leucolophus 165
Casarca rutila : 100
Cavendish, Lord George 66
Celebes, derivation of the name 126
Central-American Odontophorine 39
Chaulelasmus streperus . 105
Chlorenas subvinacea ; 75
Chroicocephalus brunneicephalus 109
ridibundus 110
Ciconia boyciana 50, 68
nigra : 50
Cittura, G. D. Rowley on “ihe! genus 151
Cittura cyanotis 4 : : : : : 132, 136, 140
sanghirensis . ; ; ; : ; : 5 . 132,137, 140, 143
Columba livia 19
Concluding remarks, by G. D. Tecies 25]

INDEX TO VOL. III.

Coot-custard fair at Hornsey
Cordeaux, John, on Guillemots
Cornwall, Barry, verses on the Petrel
Cotyle riparia, G. D. Rowley on

, H. E. Dresser on
rupestris :

Couroucou resplendissant

Crab, Mr. van der

Crex porzana

Curious ornithological relic

Curteis, Mr. : ; : j : : ;
Curtis’s ‘ British Entomology,’ Bird-parasites figured in
Cygnus bewickit

musicus

olor

Dacelo cyanotis, Prof. Schlegel on

princeps

sanghirensis .
Dafila acuta :
Daniel, Rev. Mr., on feathers of Geese

, on prices of Snipe at Cambridge

Davidson, Capt.
Dinornis, antiquity of
, relics of

Dinornis crassus

ingens . 5 : 5 : ;
maximus bones figured by Prof. Owen

Distoma echinatum
ferox

140, 142
135

140

262 ORNITHOLOGICAL

Distoma hians ‘ :
Domicella coccinea, G. D. Rowley on

cyanogenys
riciniata

Double-yelked Razorbill’s egg
Dresser, H. E., on Alcedo ispida
, on Savi’s Warbler

Ducks’ eggs eaten by Badgers
Dugdale, Mr., on Ramsey Mere

Eagle's nest, adventure in an .

Eggs of Hedge-Sparrow worn by ladies

MISCELLANY.

Page
84

123, 127

128,

Elsey, Dr., his expedition to N.W. Australia

Emberiza schaniculus
Eos cyanogenys

Esox lucius

Eunetta falcata
—— glocitans
Eupsychortyx leucotis

Faddie, James, death of
Falcirostra kaufmanni
Falco haliwetus

Feilden, Capt.

, on Kittiwakes : , ;

Fen-land, a few words on, by G. D. Rowley

Fen slodgers

104,

129
127
33

84
TLL
iS)S)
204
174
135
104
105
40)

INDEX TO VOL. III.

Filaria lobata
Finsch, Dr., on Domicella coccinea

, on the genus Pionus

Fischer, Dr.

Flamborough Head, G. D. ioe on
, J. H. Gurney, jun., on
Flycatcher, Black-breasted

Forsten, Dr.

Frantzius, Dr. A. von

Frewen, E., heronry belonging to
, letter from

- Froissart, anecdote out of
Froude, James Anthony :
Froude’s * History of England,’ extract Bon
Fulica atra
Fulix cristata

Gallinago heterocerca
megala

scolopacina
solitaria

Gallinula chloropus

Gannet, J. H. Gurney on the
Garrod, A. H., on birds’ gizzards
Geese, how driven

, number of, Christmas 1877 :
Geographical distribution of fe genus Artamus
Geotrygon costaricensis, G. D. Rowley on

caniceps

rufiventris

. 94, 219

106

264 ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

Page

Goose and Gridiron,” sign of the : 5 : : : : : 212
Goose-feathers, present value of — . : ; ; : ; : : 208
Gould, Mr., on Artamus leucogaster : ; : : : : : 186
.on Artamus melanops . ; : 5 5 : 197

, on Artamus minor : ; ; : : s : ; 5 201

,on Artamus superciliosus : : ; 5 : ; 194

, on Australian Artami . A ; § ; ; 5 : 200
Graculus carbo. : : : : 146
Grandidier, M. A., on Apyornis . : : s d : 238
Gray, R., on domesticated wild Geese. : : ; : , ; 205
, on the Guillemot : ; 5 ; : é : : : 15
Great Sowden Wood _ . : ; : , : . : , ; 65
Grus leucogeranus : ; : ‘ : é , : . 47,49
monacha : : ; : ; ; . 47
Gull, the Kittiwake : : é i 5 : : A : ; 233
Gurney, J. H., jun., on Flamborough Head. : é : : : 29

Haast, Dr., on Harpagornis . : : : : : : : : 239
Halifax, Earl of, and bird’s-nest soup. ; : . 5 3 : 209
Harpagornis mooret ; : : : : ‘ : : : 239
Harting, Mr., list of heronries : : é : : 65
Hawker, Rev. R. 8., prays for a rookery . ; 2 ; : : ; 12
Hedge-Sparrow eges worn by ladies : : : : : : : ik
Henry IV. and Richard II., anecdote of ; 3 : : : ; 255
Herodias alba : : : ; : : ; : 3 E . 49,61
Heron caught in a clap-net . : : : 3 i : : ; 72
Heronries, G. D. Rowley on Sussex : : ‘ : j : : 65
Herons breeding at Whittlesea Mere. ‘ : : ‘ : : 219
Heron’s legs, curious belief about . : : : : : : , 70

Heuglin, Dr. von, on Sand-Martin ‘ ; : : : : ‘ 85

INDEX TO VOL. III. 265

Page
Himantopus candidus . : : : : 89
Hirundo urbica : : : : : : : é 5 : 82
Hoedt and Duyvenbode : : : : : : 5 : : 126
Holdsworth, Mr., on Artamus fuscus — . ; ; s : : 2 193
Holinshed on driving Geese . : : : : : : 211
Holostomum excavatum : ; : ‘ 84
Hop-pickers, number of : : ; : 3
Hiigel, Baron A. von, on Guillemots : : ; é : ; : 16
Hume, Mr., on Lithofalco feildeni : : ; , : : ‘169
Hydrochelidon indica. : : 3 i ; 145
nigra : : : : : : : : : : ‘ 145
Hypothymis puella : : i : ‘ : 164
ile
Lbidorhyncha struthersi : : . y : : ; : : d1
Irby, Lieut.-Col., on nesting in caves : : : : 5 : 20
J.

Jackdaw, J. H. Gurney on the : : : ; : : 38
Jerdon, Mr., on Artamus fuscus ; E ; 5 : ; ; 192
I<
Kai Koras, discovery of a Moa’s egg at . : : 5 ; E : 245
Kamis, Dr. Meyer’s hunter. : : . : é : 5 : 143
Kaup, Dr. J. J., account of . : ; : ; : : ; : 131
King Penguin, stones taken out ofa... : : ; : : : 240
Kittiwake, Mr. Bailey on the ; : ; : : . ; ; 37

VOL. III. 2Q

266 ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

Kittiwake, J. H. Gurney on the
Kittiwake Gull :
Kiitter, Dr., on Alcedo ispida

Lamprotornis magnus
Lanius dominicanus
—— leucorhynchus

philippinus

Lansdowne, Lord, a Snipe ed ie at ihe Hei Enea
Larus ichthyaétus

niveus

—— occidentalis

tridactylus, G. D. Boney on
Latham on the Goose
Lawrence, G. N., on Geotrygon costaricensis

, on Geotrygon rufiventris
Leake, Heronshawe tree of

Leguat on Solitaire

Lemuria, Mr. Sclater’s

Leng, Mr., on Lundy Island
Leptopterus chabert

Leptopteryx .

rufiventer

Leptoptila cassim, G. D. Sorter on

cerviniventris

Lighton, W. 'T., on “‘ Goose greens”
Limosa melanuroides

Lincolnshire sayings, old

Linota cannabina

Lithofalco feildeni

INDEX TO VOL. III.

Lloyd, Major : i :
Lloyd, L., on Herons in Scandinavia
, on Partridges in Sweden
Longfellow, quotations from .

Loris cyanonegia
Lovrius coccineus

cyanogenys
——. histrio
—— riciniatus
—— ruber

squamatus :

Louis XI. and the political Parsi: 6 eee
Lowney, Mr., on the Great Auk

Lubbock, Mr., on decoys

Luynes, Albert, Duc de

Lyth’s Hole, Flamborough

Macgillivray on Herons
Macherirhynchus albifrons
nigripectus, G. I). Rowley on
Machetes pugnaxr

267

Page

169

: 85
Hey alee We)
174

123, 126
124

123

124

254

221

254

Madagascar and New Z Bid G. D. Rowley on oe extinct gigantic

Birds of

Malay Archipelago, A. B. Mess on two species of Birds fom ee :

Mansel-Pleydell, J. C., on birds of Dorset
Mareca penelope

Marquis del Vasto, badge i

Mary of Lorraine

Megaptera longimana

Merqus albellus

2Q2

268 ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

Mergus merganser .
serrator

Meyer, Dr. é

, on Domicella coccinea

, account of Manado

, on two species of Birds from the Malay Archipelago

, remarks on Cittura cyanotis
Michael, Major J.

Milne-Edwards’s ‘ Oiseaux Fossiles ’
Milner, H. B.

Minahassa, the attack upon

, the meaning of the name
Miquel, F. A. W., account of
Moa-egg, how discovered

resembles that of Apteryx
Moa-feather, character of
Moa-stones :

Mongolia, on the Birds of

Morgan, E. Delmar, translation of preaiors s preadoes of wild Swans

Mosollam, Jewish archer
Musschenbroek, S. C. T. van, account of

244,

ATO,

New Zealand and Madagascar, G. D. Rowley on the extinct gigantic

Birds of : ‘ 5
Newton, Prof., on gizzard-stone of Solitaire
, remarks on Savi’s Warbler

Noakes, George, his belief about Heron’s legs

, on Herons : :
Northumberland, Duchess of, Pat Helena tomes

bp bw bw bo
op
bo Ww on

INDEX TO VOL. III.

Nottinghamshire, Tufted Duck breeding in
Numenius major
— pheopus

Oates, Mr. :

Ocypterus albovittatus

leucorynchus

rufiventer : 3 : :
Odontophorine, O. Salvin on Central-American
Odontophorus cinctus

“Old Merry ”

Oriolia berniert

viridis

Ornithological relic, a curious

Ornithomyia avicularia

fringillina
—— hirundinis
viridis
Ortygometra pygmea

Owen, Prof., on Wingless Birds of NeW Zealand

Owl, White-faced

Palliser, Mrs. Bury
Panurus biarmicus
Paradisea resplendens
Parasites of birds .

Parrots, P. L. Sclater on the Aeron, of the genus Pionus

L70
99
191
Oi

39
205
180

180, 181

co bb
So b

or ob

270 ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

Page
Parus biarmicus — . : , , F 5 ‘ 5 : : 224
Paté de Pithiviers . : : : . : 4 : > : 209
Pearson, George. 4 5 : : ‘ : : g : : 73
Pelecanus crispus : : : : # : : 146
Pezophaps solitaria, gizzard-stone of : ; : : 240
Pharomacrus costaricensis . , ‘ ‘ : : 5 3 21
mocina : : , ; ; ; 3 A ey
Philip the Good, “ Féte au Faisan”
Pigeon, race between a, and an express train . : : 4 : : 19
Pike, T. M., on Pochards ; : : : ; i ; , ; 131
Pionias gerontodes : 6
Pionus, P. L. Sclater on the genus 5
Pionus chalcopterus 7
corallinus 7
maximilian cf
senilis . d : : : : : : : , 5 : 7,8
seniloides 7
sordidus : : ; : : : ¥ ! ; : ; 7,8
tumultuosus of
violaceus : d 5 A ‘ E : i : : 7
Platalea leucorodia . : ; , ; : E : : : 51
, major. ; : : : : : 4 ; 51
Pochard, treatin placss of whe : : i : 230, 231
Podiceps auritus . : . : : é : ‘ : : : 108
— cristatus A : : : : ; : : ; : j 108
Poliohierax insignis f : ; ‘ : i Z : ; 169, 170
Pontopiddan on Herons : é . : : 70
Prior, C. Matthew, on Starlings in isindeuanting Holes : : $4
Prjevalsky, Lieut.-Col. N., on the Birds of Mongolia, the Tangut Coit
and the Solitudes of Northern Tibet j ; : : ee AeOlbyl Lo
Pseudochelidon j i : 5 : 2 , 3 : : : 181
Psittacus menstruus ‘ ; ‘ : ‘ : : 6, 7

Ptilopus, G. D. Rowley on AG genus. d ; : ; 5 OY, WSs, TEAL

INDEX TO VOL. III.

Ptilopus bellus

cinctus

miquelt
musschenbroekt

pectoralis

prasinorrhous
—rivolii .

—— rosenbergt

—— speciosus : : :
, Prof. Schlegel on
—— strophium

viridis
Pulex bifasciatus
hirundinis

irritans

Querquedula circia

creécca

Race between a Pigeon and express train
Rallus indicus :
Ramsay, Mr., on Australian species of Artamus
Ramsey Mere, Mr. Dugdale on :
‘Ravenscraig, the ship, brings egg of Moa
Rayner, Dr., on the Wood-Swallow

Razorbill’s egg, double-yelked

Recurvirostra avocetta

Reichenbach, Dr. H. G. L., account of .

Page

63, 64, 171, 172
5 4 61
59, 61, 63, 172
113, 173

: : 114
174, 175, 176
60, 61,175

172

61, 62, 64, 171, 175, 176

172

113, 173
81

105
104

bo
4

187, 195, 19
205
244
187

lo)
SANs (2)

272 ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

Rhynchea aquaticus

bengalensis

Roc, on the identity of the
Rock-Dove, J. H. Gurney on
Rock-Pigeon

Rosenberg, Von, on Prilonus rniquali

, on Ptilopus speciosus
Rowley, G. D., concluding remarks

, on Chlorenas subvinacea
, on Columba livia

, on Cotyle riparia .

, on Domicella coccinea .
, on Fen-land

——, on Flamborough Head

, on Geotrygon costaricensis

, on Geotrygon rufiventris

, on Larus tridactylus

, on Leptoptila cassint

, on Macherirhynchus nigrapentiue

, on Odontophorus cinctus

, on Sceloglaux albifacies

, on Sussex Heronries

——., on the breeding-places of two ents of the British Anateda
, on the extinct gigantic birds of Madagascar and New Zealand

, on the genus Cittura

, on the genus Ptilopus

Salvadori, Count

, on Cittura cyanotis
——, on Cittura sanghirensis

, on Macherirhynchus nigripectus

Page
93
93

239
37
UY)
60

171, 178

261
75
19
81

123

208
11
43
17

233
19

119
39

249
65

229

237

131

59, 113, 171

INDEX TO VOL. III.

Salvin, O., on Odontophorus cinctus
Sand-Martin

, range of the

Sand-Wasps .

Savi's Warbler, Count C. Wodzicki on
Sceloglaux albitacies, G. D. Rowley on

Schlegel, Prof., on Cittura cyanotis

, on Ptilopus

Sclater, P. L., on Ptilopus Tells

, on the American Parrots of the genus Pica
Scolopax rusticola

Sharpe, R. B., on the genus Arias ia its poseiaphion distribution

, on the genus Cittura

, table of African Hirundinide
Solitaire, on gizzard-stone of
Sowden Wood, Great

Spatula clypeata

Spheniscus demersus

Spiroptera alata

Starlings in Sand-Martins’ oles
, flight of a flock of

, Pridmore on

Stenopteryx hirundinis

Sterna anglica

Stevenson, H., on the Rencieniet
, on the Guatease
Strickland, Henry, on Pochards
Struthiolithus chersonensis

Surniculus lugubris
musschenbroeki

velutinus

Sussex Heronries
Swabey, F.
VOL. III.

273

Page

243
164, 166
164, 166
165, 166

65
69

274 ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

Swinhoe, Robert, notice of the late

, on Anser segetum, var. serrirostris
Sylvia curruca

fluviatilis

Syngamus trachealis

Table of the geographical distribution of Prjevalsky’s birds
Tadorna cornuta

Tangut Country, on the birds of th

Tanygnathus luzoniensis

megalorhynchus
miillert

sumatranus
Tanysiptera, a habit of
Taylor, John, Geese Relonging - to

Tetrao urogallus
Thompson, Pishey, on deoyes

”

, on “ Fen slodgers :
, on the Heronshawe tree of Leake
Tibet, on the Birds of Northern
Totanus calidris

fuscus

—— glareola

ochropus

Train, race between a Pigeon and an express
Travers, W. T. L., on the Moa

Tringa subarcuata

subminuta

—— temminckit

Page
5d
95

226
224
83

145

: 100
47, 87, 145
124

127

128

135

214

241

221

205

‘ if
47, 87, 145
88

INDEX TO VOL. III.

Tringoides hypoleucos
Tufted Duck breeding in Noe eiamoniee
Tweeddale, Marquis of, on Poliohierax insignis

U.
Uria troile at Flamborough
Ursus maritimus
thibetanus
Mi
Vanellus cristatus .
Vasto, Marquis del, badge of
Virchow, Dr. Rudolf, saying of
W.

Wagler on the genus Pionus

Walden, Lord, on Cittura sanghirensis
Walker, Francis

Wallace, Alfred R.

, on the Alcedinide

Warbler, Savi’s

Wassand Mere

Waterton on the Guillemot

Whitaker, J., on Tufted Duck :
White, Sir Nicholas, and others go bird’s-nesting
White-faced Owl

Whitehurst, Felix M.

13
68
50

276 ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

Whittlesea Mere, Herons breeding at

Wild Duck, late brood of :

Williams, W. Mattieu, on Kittiwakes

Wilson, Daniel : ; ; :
Wodzicki, Count Casimir, on Sayi’s Warbler .
Wolley, John, his adventure in an Eagle’s nest

, on Herons breeding at Whittlesea
Wood, Great Sowden

W ood-Swallow in Australia

Wynkyn de Worde

York, ladies of, wear Hedge-Sparrows’ eggs
Yule, Col. H., account of the Rukh

Zeocephus cyanescens

rowley?

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

11
239

163, 164
165, 164

ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

EDITED BY

GEORGE DAWSON ROWLEY, M.A., F.LS., F.ZS.,

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

>
2
2
2
5
5
$
§
$
5
5
§
§
2
2
5
2
§
2
2
5
»
$
2
2
?
5
°

CONTENTS.

On tHe AmericAN Parrots or THE GENUS Pronvs. On Framsoroven Huap. By Mr. J. H. Gurney,
By P. L. Scrater, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S. Jun.

On Framsoroven Heap. By Mr. G. D. Rowzey. nee Gere a a pues GD

Corvmsa u1v1a. By Mr. G. D. Rowzey. GEoTRYGON cosTARIcENsIs (Lawrence). By Mr. G.

D. Rowtey.

Nores on Praromacrvs costartcensis. By M. Tue Brrps or Moneonta, raz Taneur Country,
ApotpHe Bouvcarp, C.M.Z.S. &c., Author of AND THE SonirupEs or Norruern Trser. By
‘Catalogus Avium’ &c. Lieut.-Col. N. Prszvatsxy. (Continued.)

RAADADPADRAADRARAADA RA RAR RADA AAA

LONDON:
TRUBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL, E.C. | BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY.
R. H. PORTER, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W.
1877.

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET,

[Price Ten Shillings and Sixpence. |

LIST OF PLATES &c.

LXXxX.
LXXXI.
LXXXII.
LXXXIII.
LXXXIV..
LXXXV.
LXXXVI.
LXXXVILI.

Pionus corallinus.

Pronus tumultuosus.

Flamborough : Rameliff-end.
Flamborough: Ramcliff-end in the distance.
Flamborough: West Scar.

Flamborough: The Rock-Pigeons’ Cave.
Odontophorus cinctus.

Geotrygon costaricensis.

PART XII.)

ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY. |

EDITED BY

GEORGE DAWSON ROWLEY, M.A., F.LS., F.ZS,

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION,

CONTENTS. 2

On THE Genus Pritorus. By Mr. G. D. Rowzey. Luproprria casstnr (Lawrence). By Mr. G. D. 3
‘ (Continued. ) : Rowzey.

- Ow Sussex Heronnres. By Mr. G. D. Rowzey.

Coryzre Rrparra. By Mr, G. D. R :
CHioR@Nas suByiNAcEA (Lawrence). By Mr. G. Se: eg

D. Rowzey. Tue Breps or Moneorra, tar Taneur Country,
GEOTRYGON RUFIVENTRIS (Lawrence). By Mr. G. AND THE Sorrruprs or NortHern Trerr. By
D. Row1zy. Lieut.-Col. N. Prsnyatsky. (Continued.)

PPD DDRAL APD PDA DP LP DADA DPE PDP

LONDON:
TRUBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL, E.C. | BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY.
R. H. PORTER, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W.
1878.

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET,

[Price Ten Shillings and Sixpence. |

List OF PEARS cc

LXXXVIII. Ptilopus miqueh, Von Rosenberg.
LXXXIX. Great Sowden Wood, Sussex.
XC. Heronry at Great Sowden Wood, Sussex.
XCI. Chlorenas subvinacea, Lawrence.
XCII. Leptoptila cassim, Lawrence.
XCIII. Geotrygon rufiventris, Lawrence.
XCIV. The Home of the Sand-Martin (Cotyle riparia)

[FEBRUARY 1878,

ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

EDITED BY

GEORGE DAWSON ROWLEY, M.A., F.LS., F.ZS.,

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

CONTENTS.

On tHE Genus Prmorus. By Mr. G. D. Rowzey. Tue Birps or Moneorta, tae Tancur Country,
(Continued.) AND THE Soxirupes oF NortHEeRn Trser. By
MacHRIRHYNCHUS NicRIPECTUS (Schlegel), By lieut.-Col. N. Prrevarsxy. (Continued.)
Mr. G. D. Rowrey. (Continued.)
Description or Two Spucrms or Brrps FROM THE
eas coccrnzA (Latham). By Mr. G. D. Matay Arcurprtaco. By A. B. Meyrr,
OWLEY.

M.D., C.M.Z.S., Director of the Royal Zoolo-
On THE Genus Crrrura. By Mr. G. D. Rowtey. gical Museum of Dresden.

PDP SDAP DAD LD AAR DRR ARP P PP REP PDP

LONDON:
TRUBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL, E.C. | BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY.
R. H. PORTER, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W.
1878.

DIDS

DDD DIDI ISS DSSS SS SLPS SPS PP

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

[Price Ten Shillings and Sixpence.]

XCV.
XCVI.
XCVII.
XCVIII.
XCIX.

CI.
CIT.

LIST OF PLATES &c.

Ptilopus musschenbroekt, Von Rosenberg.

The Chinese Kampong, or Quarter, in Menado, Celebes.
Macherirhynchus nigripectus, Schlegel.

Domicella coccinea (Latham).

Cittura cyanotis.

Cittura sanghirensis.

Menado, with its Bay, and the mountains of the Minahassa.

Tondano, Celebes.

ORNITHOLOGICAL MISCELLANY.

EDITED BY

GEORGE DAWSON ROWLEY, M.A., F.LS., F.Z.S.,

MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

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CONTENTS.
¢
¢ PoLionIERAX InsIenIs. By Arruur, Marquis of On tHe Brenpine-Praces or Two MEMBERS OF THE
¢ TwEEDDALE, F'.R.S. | British Anatipz. By Mr. G. D. Row ey.
‘ On tHe Genus Prtnorus. By Mr. G. D. Rowzey. Larus rrepactyzus. By Mr. G. D. Rowzrey.
e (Continued.)
é AN G Tre G Remarks on tHE Exrtncr Gieantic Brrps oF

OWED ON REST ENUF) Renae) ESD 2S) Neato Mapacascar anp New Zeatanp. By Mr. G. 3
é GrapHicaL Distrreurion. By R. Bowpier iD). Renae >
Q Snarpe, F.L.S., F.Z.8., &e. |! ee By Mr. G. D. Rowt 3
$ | OGLAUX ALBIFActES, By Mr. G. D, Rowtey. >
° A vew Worps on Fen-zranp. By Mr. G. D. : : y :
; Row ey. | Conctuston. By Mr. G. D. Rowzey. 2
‘ On Savi's Warsier. By Count Casmirr Wopzicxt. TirLEracEs, INDEXEs, ETC. 2
¢
$

. LONDON:
TRUBNER & CO., LUDGATE HILL, E.C. | BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 PICCADILLY.
R. H. PORTER, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, HANOVER SQUARE, W.

1878.

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

[Price Cne Pound. |

CIII.
CIV.
CV.
CVI.
CVII.
CVIII.
CIX.
CX.
CXI.
CXIl.
CXIII.
CXIV.
CXV.

LIST OF PLATES &c.

Poliohierax msignis.

Pitilopus speciosus (Von Rosenberg).
Lincolnshire Geese on their journey.

Mr. John Taylor’s Flock of Geese. No. 1.
Mr. John Taylor’s Flock of Geese. No. 2.
Lincolnshire Geese at home.

The Decoy at Friskney, Lincolnshire. '
Breeding-place of the Tufted Duck.
Entrance of Kingstown Harbour. Kittiwakes
Egg of A/pyornis maximus.

Fragments of Eggs of Aipyornis &c.

Egg of Dinornis ingens.

Egg of Dinornis crassus.

NOTICE TO THE BINDER.

The three Frontispieces of the “Rebus of Rowley,” the “Roe,”

and the “ Ley or Field,” are to be placed one for each volume.

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