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BULLETIN 

6 SEP \939 OF THE 
puRCHASED 

BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS CLUB. 

EDITED BY 

Carr. C. H. B. GRANT. 

(ai 
VOLUME LIX. 
SESSION 1938-1939. 

LONDON: 
H. F. & G. WITHERBY, 326 HIGH HOLBORN, W.C. 2. 

1939. 


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


PREFACE, 

* ———¢———— 

THE number of attendances during the past Session was :— 
339 members, 33 members of the B. O. U., and 176 guests— 
a total of 548. 

Dr. A. Landsborough-Thomson, Chairman of the Club, 
gave his annual address at the December Meeting, dealing 
with general matters, and a Regional Review from November I, 
1937, to October 31, 1938. | 

Among the many interesting communications and 
exhibitions during the Session were—Dr. D. A. Bannerman’s 
exhibition of a nestling Storm Petrel from the Canary Islands ; 
Mr. C. L. Collenette’s remarks on the Wild Life of Richmond 
Park; Mr. R. A. Falla’s remarks on Wild Life in New 
Zealand ; Mr. R. E. Moreau’s talk on Parental care of African 
Swallows and Swifts; Dr. A. S. Parke’s remarks on the 
Physiological Basis of Plumage Characters; Colonel W. A. 
Payn’s exhibition of British semi-albino Birds; Mr. C. R. 
Stonor’s exhibition of a British-killed Killdeer Plover ; Pre- 
sentation of the Godman-Salvin Medal to Mr. H. F. Witherby ; 
Mr. H. F. Witherby’s exhibition of a British-taken specimen 
of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 

Films, slides and photographs were shown by—Mr. R. 
Atkinson, Miss P. Barclay-Smith, Dr. Berry, Mr. A. H. 
Chisholm, Mr. B. G. Harrison, Monsieur Léon Lippens, 
Miss C. Longfield, Dr. P. H. Manson-Bahr, Colonel R. 
Meinertzhagen, Dr. K. Morris, Mr. C. A. Norris, Mr. C. R. 
Stonor, 

a2 


IV 

New forms were described by—Dr. D. A. Bannerman, 
Mr. C. W. Benson, Monsieur J. Berlioz, Major F. O. Cave, 
Mr. P. A. Clancey, Monsieur Jean Delacour, Capt. C. H. B. 
Grant, Mr. J. C. Greenway, Marquess Hachisuka, Dr. Andrew 
Kleiner, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, Mr. G. M. Mathews, 
Colonel R. Meinertzhagen, Professor O. Neumann, Mr. C. R. 
Stonor, Mr. A. J. van Rossem, Dr. van Someren, Mr. H. 
Whistler, Marquess Yamashina. 

The Club entertained as distinguished guests—Mr. R. 
Atkinson, Mr. A. H. Chisholm, Mr. C. L. Collenette, Mr. R. A. 
Falla, Monsieur Léon Lippens, Mrs. R. E. Moreau, Dr. K. 
Morris, Dr. A. S. Parkes, Dr. C. C. Sanborn, Mrs. Webb. 

CLAUDE H. B. GRANT, 

Editor. 
London, July 1939. 


BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. 

(FOUNDED OCTOBER 5, 1892.) 

—— 

TITLE AND OBJECTS. 

‘The objects of the Club, which shall be called the 
“ British Ornithologists’ Club,” are the promotion of social 
intercourse between Members of the British Ornithologists’ 
Union and to facilitate the publication of scientific infor- 
mation connected with ornithology. 

RULES. 
(As amended, October 12, 1938.) 

MANAGEMENT. 

I. The affairs of the Club shall be managed by a Committee, 
to consist of a Chairman, who shall be elected for three years, 
at the end of which period he shall not be eligible for re-election 
for the next term ; two Vice-Chairmen, who shall serve for one 
year, and who shall not be eligible for the next year ; an Editor 
of the ‘ Bulletin,’ who shall be elected for five years, at the end 
of which period he shall not be eligible for re-election for 
the next term; a Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall each 
be elected for a term of one year, but who shall be eligible 
for re-election. There shall be in addition four other Members, 
the senior of whom shall retire each year, and another Member 
be elected in his place; every third year the two senior 
Members shall retire and two other Members be elected in 
their place. Officers and Members of the Committee shall 
be elected by the Members of the Club at a General Meeting, 
and the names of such Officers and Members of Committee 
nominated by the Committee for the ensuing year shall be 
circulated with the notice convening the General Meeting 
at least two weeks before the Meeting. Should any Member 
wish to propose another candidate, the nomination of such, 
signed by at least two Members, must reach the Secretary 
at least one clear week before the Annual General Meeting. 


vi 

II, Any Member desiring to make a complaint of the 
manner in which the affairs of the Club are conducted 
must communicate in writing with the Chairman, who will, 
if he deem fit, call a Committee Meeting to deal with the 
matter. 

Il. If the conduct of any Member shall be deemed by 
the Committee to be prejudicial to the interests of the Club, 
he may be requested by the Committee to withdraw from 
the Club. In the case of refusal, his name may be removed 
from the list of Members at a General Meeting, provided 
that, in the notice calling the Meeting, intimation of the 
proposed resolution to remove his name shall have been 
given, and that a majority of the Members voting at such 
Meeting record their votes for his removal. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS. 

IV. Any Member of the British Ornithologists’ Union 
may become a Member of the Club on payment to the 
Treasurer of an entrance-fee of one pound and a subscription 
of one guinea for the current Session. On Membership 
of the Union ceasing, Membership of the Club also ceases. 

Any Member who has not paid his subscription before 
the last Meeting of the Session shall cease, ipso facto, to be 
a Member of the Club, but may be reinstated on payment 
of arrears. 

Any Member who has resigned less than five years ago 
may be reinstated without payment of another Entrance Fee. 

Any Member who resigns his Membership on going abroad 
may be readmitted without payment of a further Entrance 
Fee at the Committee’s discretion. 

TEMPORARY ASSOCIATES. 

V. Members of the British Ornithologists’ Union who are 
ordinarily resident outside the British Isles, and ornithologists 
from the British Empire overseas or from foreign countries, 
may be admitted at the discretion of the Committee as Tem- 
porary Associates of the Club for the duration of any visit to the 
British Isles not exceeding one Session. An entrance fee of 
five shillings shall be payable in respect of every such admission 


‘Vil 

if the period exceeds three months. The privileges of 
Temporary Associates shall be limited to attendance at the 
ordinary meetings of the Club and the introduction of guests. 

MEETINGS. 

VI. The Club will meet, as arule, on the second Wednesday 
in every month, from October to June inclusive, at such 
hour and place as may be arranged by the Committee, but 
should such Wednesday happen to be Ash Wednesday, the 
Meeting will take place on the Wednesday following. At 
these Meetings papers upon ornithological subjects will 
be read, specimens exhibited and described, and discussion 
invited. 

VII. A General Meeting of the Club shall be held on the 
day of the October Meeting of each Session, and the 
Treasurer shall present thereat the Balance-sheet and Report ;. 
and the election of Officers and Committee, in so far as their 
election is required, shall be held at such Meeting. 

VIII. A Special General Meeting may be called at the 
instance of the Committee for any purpose which they 
deem to be of sufficient importance, or at the instance of 
not fewer than fifteen Members. Notice of not less than 
two weeks shall be given of every General and Special General 
Meeting. 

{NTRODUCTION OF VISITORS. 

IX. Members may introduce visitors at any ordinary 
Meeting of the Club, but the same guest shall not be eligible 
to attend on more than three occasions during the Session. 
No former Member who has been removed for non-payment 
of subscription, or for any other cause, shall be allowed to 
attend as a guest. 

: ‘ BULLETIN ’ OF THE CLUB. 

X. An Abstract of the Proceedings of the Club shall be 
printed as soon’ as possible after each Meeting, under the 
title of the ‘ Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club,’ 
and shall be distributed gratis to every Member who has 
paid his subscription. 


Vill 

Contributors are entitled to six free copies of the ‘ Bulletin,’ 
but if they desire to exercise this privilege they must give 
notice to the Editor when their manuscript is handed in. 
Members purchasing extra copies of the ‘ Bulletin’ are 
entitled to a rebate of 25 per cent. on the published price, 
but not more than two copies can be sold to any Member 
unless ordered before printing. 

Descriptions of new species may be published in the 
‘Bulletin,’ although such were not communicated at the 
Meeting of the Club. This shall be done at the discretion 
of the Editor and so long as the publication of the ‘ Bulletin ’ 
is not unduly delayed thereby. 

Any person speaking at a Meeting of the Club shall be 
allowed subsequently—subject to the discretion of the Editor— 
to amplify his remarks in the ‘ Bulletin,’ but no fresh matter 
shall be incorporated with such remarks. 

XI. No communication, the whole or any important part 
of which has already been published elsewhere, shall be 
eligible for publication in the ‘ Bulletin,’ except at the discretion 
of the Editor; and no communication made to the Club 
may be subsequently published elsewhere without the written 
sanction of the Editor. . 

ALTERATION AND REPEAL OF RULES. 

XII. Any suggested alteration or repeal of a standing rule 
shall be submitted to Members to be voted upon at a General 
Meeting convened for that purpose. 

COMMITTEE, 1938-1939. 

Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON, Chairman. Elected 1938. 
Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low, Vice-Chatrman. Elected 1938. 
Hon. Guy CHARTERIS, Vice-Chairman. Elected 1938. 

Capt. C. H. B. Grant, Editor. Elected 1935. 

C. R. Stonor, Hon. Secretary. Elected 1938. 

Major A. G. L. SuapEen, Hon. Treasurer. Elected 1936. 
W. B. ALEXANDER. Elected 1936. 

Miss E. P. Lmacu. Elected 1937. 

H. LEYBOURNE PorHAam. Elected 1937. 

P. A. D. Hottom. Elected 1938. 


Officers of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 

Past and Present. 

Chairmen. 

P. L. Scuatsr, F.R.S. 
Lord RotHscuHILp, F.R.S. 
W. L. ScLATER. 
H. F. WITHERBY. 
Dr. P. R. Lowe. 
Major 8. S. FLOWER. 
D. A. BANNERMAN. 
G. M. MaTHEwSs. 
Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH 

THOMSON. 

Vice-Chairmen. 

Lord RotuscuHiup, F.R.S. 
W. L. ScLATER. 

H. EF. WitHERBY. 

G. M. MatHews. 

B. KINNEAR. 

. WHISTLER. 

. SETH-SMITH. 

Col. R. SPARROW. 

Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low. 
Hon. Guy CHARTERIS. 

Editors. 
R. BowpDLeER SHARPE. 
W. R. OGILVIE-GRANT. 
D. A. BANNERMAN. 
D. SetH-SMITH. 
Dr. P. R. Lowe. 
N. B. Kinnear. 
Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low. 
Captain C. H. B. Grant. 

N. 
H 
D 

1892-1913. 
1913-1918. 
1918-1924. 
1924-1927. 
1927-1930. 
1930-1932. 
1932-1935. 
1935-1938. 

1938- 

1930-1931. 
1931-1932. 
1932-1933. 
1933-1934. 
1934-1935. 
1935-1936. 
1936-1937. 
1937-1938. 
1938-1939. 
1938-1939. 

1892-1904. 
1904-1914. 
1914-1915. 
1915-1920. 
1920-1925. 
1925-1930. 
1930-1935. 
1935- 

Honorary Secretaries and Treasurers. 

HowARD SAUNDERS. 

W. E. DE WINTON. 

H. F. WItTHERBY. 

Dr. P. R. Lowe. 

C. G. TALBoT-PONSONBY. 
D. A. BANNERMAN. 

Dr. Poitier GOsseE. 

J. L. BONHOTE. 

C. W. MackwortTH-PRAED. 
Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low. 
C. W. MackworTH-PRAED. 

Honorary Secretaries. 

Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH 
THOMSON. 
C. R. STonor. 

Honorary Treasurers. 

C. W. MackwortTH-PRAED. 
Major A. G. L. SLADEN. 

1892-1899. 
1899-1904. 
1904-1914. 
1914-1915. 
1915-1918. 
1918-1919. 
1919-1920. 
1920-1922. 
1922-1923. 
1923-1929. 
1929-1935. 

1935-1938. 
1938- 

1935-1936. 
1936- 


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LIST OF MEMBERS. 

JUNE 1939. 

i 

AcLAND, Miss C. M.; Walwood, Banstead, Surrey. 
ALEXANDER, H.G.; 144 Oak Tree Lane, Selly Oak, Birming- 
ham. 
ALEXANDER, W. B., M.A. (Commitice) ; Dept. of Zoology, 
University Museum, Oxford. 
AYLMER, Commdr. EH. A., R.N.; Wyke Oliver, Preston, 
Dorset. 
s Baker, E. C. Stuart, C.1.E., O.B.E., F.L.8., H.F.A.O.U. ; 
6 Harold Road, Upper Norwood, 8.E. 19. 
BANNERMAN, Davin A., M.B.E., Se.D., F.R.S.E. (Chairman, 
1932-1935) ; British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell 
Road, S.W.7; and 7 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, 
W. 8. 
Barciay-SmitH, Miss P.; Park Lodge, Hervey Road, Black- 
heath, S.E. 3. 
Barnes, Mrs. R. G.; Hungerdown, Seagry, Wilts. 
BARRINGTON, FREDERICK J. F., M.8., F.R.C.S.; University 
College Hospital Medical School, Gower Street, W.C. 1. 
to Batss, G. L.; Blasford Hill, Little Waltham, Chelmsford. 
Benson, C. W.; c/o Secretariat, Zomba, Nyasaland. 
Best, Miss M. G. 8. ; 10 4 Cresswell Place, S.W. 10. 
BLAKER, GEORGE B.; Gaveston Place, Nuthurst, Horsham, 
Sussex. 
Boorman, 8.; Heath Farm, Send, Woking, Surrey. 
15 Bootu, H. B.; Ryhill, Ben Rhydding, Yorks. 
Boyp, A. W., M.C. ; Frandley House, near Northwich, Cheshire. 
BRADFORD, A. D.; Garston House, near Watford, Herts. 
Brown, GEORGE ; Combe Manor, Hungerford, Berks. 
But LeR, ARTHUR L.; St. lLeonard’s Park, Horsham, 
Sussex. 
20 Buxton, ANTHONY ; Horsey Hall, Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk. 


25 

30 

0) 

40 

XI 

CAMPBELL, Dr. JAMES W.; Layer Marney Hall, Kelvedon, 
Essex. 

CarTER, Miss B. A.; Firtree Cottage, Chipperfield, King’s 
Langley, Herts. 

Cave, Captain F. O.; Stoner Hill, Petersfield, Hants. 

CuaPin, Dr. JamzEs P. ; Musée du Congo, Tervueren, Belgium ; 
and American Museum of Natural History, Central Park, 
New York City, U.S.A. 

CHapMaAN, F. M.; American Museum of Natural History, 
Central Park, New York City, U.S.A. 

CHARLES, Mrs. EpitH 8. ; Woodside House, Chenies, Bucks. 

CHARTERIS, Hon. G. L. (Vice-Chairman) ; 24 Oxford Square, 
W. 2. 

CHASEN, FREDERICK N.; Raffles Museum, Singapore. 

CHEESMAN, Major R. E., C.B.E.; Tilsden, Cranbrook, Kent. 

CuancgEy, A.; 9 Craig Road, Cathcart, Glasgow, S. 4. 

CLARKE, Brig.-General GoLAND van Hott, C.M.G., D.S.O. ; 
Wiston Park, Steyning, Sussex. 

CLARKE, JOHN P. STEPHENSON ; Broadhurst Manor, Horsted 
Keynes, Sussex. 

CLARKE, Col. STEPHENSON RoBeErt, C.B.; Borde Hill, Cuck- | 
field, Sussex. 

CLEAVE, Henry P. O.; Mansfield House, Kendrick Road, 
Reading. 

CocHRANE, Captain Henry L., R.N. (retd.) ; Court Place, 
West Monkton, Taunton, Somerset. 

Conover, H. B.; 6 Scott Street, Chicago, Llinois, U.S.A. 

CUNNINGHAM, Josias; Drinagh, Kensington Road, Knock, 
Belfast. 

CuNYNGHAME, H. D.; 34 St. James’s Street, London, 8S.W. 1. 

Curtis, FREDERICK, F.R.C.S.; Alton House, Redhill, Surrey. 

DEANE, Ropert H.; Anne Boleyn Cottage, Carlton Road, 
Seaford, Sussex. 

DELACOUR, JEAN ; Chateau de Cleres, Cleres, Seine-Inférieure, 
France. 

Dewuorst, Major F. W., Royal Marine Barracks, Plymouth. 

Dosiz, WILLIAM Henry, M.R.C.8.; 32 St. Martin’s Fields, 
Chester. | 


45 

50 

55 

60 

65 

XIII 

Duncan, ARTHUR BrRycE; Gilchristlands, Closeburn, Dum- 
friesshire. 

Evuis, RaupH, F.L.S.; 2420 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California, 
USS.A. 

Ezra, A., O.B.E.; Foxwarren Park, Cobham, Surrey. 

FERRIER, Miss JupirH M.; Blakeney Downs, Blakeney, 
Norfolk. 

FisHER, JAMES ; Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park, N.W. 8. 

FISHER, KENNETH ; School House, Oundle, Northamptonshire. 

FiLower, Major S. 8S. (Chairman, 1930-1932) ; 27 Park Road, 
Tring, Herts. 

FouLkKES-RoBERTS, Captain P. R.; Westwood, Goring-on- 
Thames, Oxon. 

GILBERT, H. A.; Bishopstone, near Hereford. 

Giice, W. KE. ; 2 Burlington House, King’s Road, Richmond, 
Surrey. 

GLENISTER, A. G.; The Barn House, Kast Blatchington, 
Seaford, Sussex. 

Gopman, Miss Eva ; South Lodge, Horsham, Sussex. 

Grant, Captain C. H. B. (Editor of the ‘ Bulletin’); The Cottage, 

15 a Emperor’s Gate, S.W. 7. 

GYLDENSTOLPE, Count Nits; Royal (Natural History) 
Museum, Stockholm, Sweden. 

HacuisuKA, The Marquess; Mitashiba, Tokyo, Japan. 

HaieH, Grorce Henry Caton; Grainsby Hall, Great 
Grimsby, Lincolnshire. 

Hatz, Rev. James R., M.A.; Yalding Vicarage, Maidstone, 
Kent. 

Hamerton, Colonel A. E.; 1 Park Village West, Regent’s 
Park, N.W. 1. 

Harrison, BERNARD Guy; 45 St. Martin’s Lane, W.C. 2. 

Harrison, JAMES M., D.S.C., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.; Bowerwood 
House, St. Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. 

Hata, R. E.; 2 Pembroke Court, Edwardes Square, W. 8. 

HetTt, GEOFFREY SECCOMBE, M.B., F.R.C.8S.; 86 Brook 
Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 1. 

Hopexin, Mrs. T. Epwarp ; Old Ridley, Stocksfield, North- 
umberland, 


i) 

80 

85 

XxIV 

Hottom, P. A. D.; Rolverden, Hook Heath, Woking, 
Surrey. | 

Hopxinson, Emiuius, C.M.G., D.S.0., M.B.; Wynstay, 
Balcombe, Sussex. 

Hutson, Lieut-Col. H. P. W., R.E.; Chatham House, Rome 
Gardens, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt. 

Inexis, C. McFaruane ; Natural History Museum, Darjiling, 
India. 

InaRAM, Capt. CoLLInecwoop; The Grange, Benenden, 
Cranbrook, Kent. 

JABOUILLE, PIERRE; Chateau de Cléres, Cléres, Seine- 
Inférieure, France. 

JEFFREY, T. C.; Thorpe Grange, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. 

JoRDAN, Dr. Karu ; Zoological Museum, Tring, Herts. 

JOURDAIN, Rev. F. C. R., M.A., H.F.A.O.U., H.M.S.O. de 
France; Whitekirk, 4 Belle Vue Road, Southbourne, 
Hants. 

Joy, Norman H., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. ; Dungeness, Kent. 

Kinnear, Norman B.; British Museum (Natural History), 
Cromwell Road, S.W. 7. 

Kuropa, Dr. Nacamicut; Fukuyoshi Cho, Akasaka, Tokyo, 
Japan. 

Leacu, Miss E. P. (Committee) ; 17 Hereford Square, S.W. 7. 

LeEwis, JoHN SPEDAN ; Leckford Abbess, Stockbridge, Hants. 

Luoyp, Bertram ; 53 Parkhill Road, London, N.W. 3. 

LONGFIELD, Miss Cyntui4 ; 20 Pont Street, S.W. 1. 

Low, GrorGE CaRMICHAEL, M.D., C.M., F.R.C.P. (Vice- 
Chairman) ; 86 Brook Street, Grosvenor Square, W. 1. 

Lowz, P. R., O.B.E., M.B., B.C. (Chairman, 1927-1930) ; 
British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, 
S.W. 7. 

Lynes, Rear-Admiral Huspirt, R.N., C.B., C.M.G.; 169 
Cranmer Court, Chelsea, $.W. 3. 

Macponap, J. D., B.Sc. ; British Museum (Natural History), 
Cromwell Road, 8.W. 7. 

MACKENZIE, JOHN M. D., B.A., C.M.Z.8.; Sidlaw Fur Farm, 
Tullach Ard, Balbeggie, Perthshire. 

McKirrrick, T. H.; Coombe Place, Kast Grinstead, Sussex, 


go 

95 

100 

105 

xXxV 

MAcKWORTH-PRAED, C. W.; 51 Onslow Gardens, S.W. 7. 

‘Macmitian, Captain W. E. F.; 42 Onslow Square, 8.W. 7. 

McNeILe, J. H. (Committee); Nonsuch, Bromham, Chip- 
penham, Wilts. 

MacrpHerson, D. W. K.; P.O., Lilongwe, Nyasaland. 

MaeratTH, Lieut.-Colonel H. A. F.; 194 Cygnet House, 
King’s Road, 8.W. 3. 

MANSFIELD, The Right Hon. the Earl of; Scone Palace, 
Perth. 

Manson-Baur, P. H., D.S8.0., M.D., F.R.C.P.; 149 Harley 
Street, W. 1. 

Matuews, G. M., C.B.H., F.R.S.E., H.F.A.O.U. (Chairman 
1935-1938) ; Meadway, St. Cross, Winchester, Hants. 

MavroGcorpDAtTo, J. G. ; Mariners, Westerham, Kent. 

May, W. Norman, M.D.; The White House, Sonning, 
Berks. 

Mayaup, No&i; Le Lys, par le Puy-Notre-Dame, Maine-et- 
Loire, France. 

MEIKLEJOHN, Lt.-Col. R. F., D.S.O. ; c/o Lloyds Bank (Sec. 
F.2), 6 Pall Mall, London, 8.W. 1. 

MEINERTZHAGEN, Colonel R., D.8.0.; 17 Kensington Park 

Gardens, W. 8. 

Micuouits, Mrs. Dorotuy; Silver Birches, Wentworth, 
Virginia Water, Surrey. 

Momiyama, Toxu Taro; 1146 Sasazka, Yoyohata-mati, 
Tokyo, Japan. 

Munn, P. W.; Puerto Alcudia, Majorca, Balearic Isles, Spain. 

Mvrton, Mrs. C. D.; Cranbrook Lodge, Cranbrook, Kent. 

MussEetwuHitE, D. W.; 59 Mayford Road, Wandsworth 
Common, 8.W. 12. 

Naumpurc, Mrs. W. W.; 121 East 64th Street, New York 
City, U.S.A. 

Newman, T. H.; Verulam, 46 Forty Avenue, Wembley Park, 
Middlesex. 

NicHotson, E. M.; 13 Upper Cheyne Row, 8.W. 3. 

IIO Norris, C. A.; Grassholme, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick- 

shire. 
Norra, M. E. W.; c/o Secretariat, Nairobi, Kenya. 
OLDHAM, Cuas.; Oxfield, Berkhamsted, Herts, 


II5 

I20 

125 

130 

135 

XVI 

Osmaston, BERTRAM BERESFORD ; 10 Collingwood Terrace, 
Westgate-on-Sea, Kent. 
PakENHAM, R. H. W.; Kingsley, Hurtis Hill, Crowborough, 
Sussex, and c/o Secretariat, Zanzibar, Kastern Africa. 
Pautson, C. W. G.; 10 King’s Bench Walk, Temple, 
E.C. 4. 

PEALL, Mrs. Oscar; Oare, Marlborough, Wilts. 

Prasz, H. J. R.; Medmenham, Marlow, Bucks. 

Puitires, A. S.; 56 Acacia Road, N.W. 5. 

Pirman, Capt. C. R. 8., D.S.O., M.C.; c/o Grindlay & Co., 
54 Parliament Street, S.W. 1. 

PorHam, Hucu LEYBoRNE, M.A. ; Hunstrete House, Pensford, 
Somerset. 

PRIESTLEY, Mrs. Mary; 3 The Grove, Highgate Village, 
N. 6. 

Ruopes, Miss G. M.; Hildersham Hall, Cambridge. 

Rickett, C. B.; 27 Kendrick Road, Reading, Berks. 

Rivitre, B. B., F.R.C.S.; The Old Hall, Woodbastwick, 
Norfolk. 

SanDEMAN, R. G. C. C. ; Dan-y-parc, Crickhowell, Brecon. 

ScHAUENSEE, R. M. pE; Devon, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. . 

ScHOUTEDEN, Dr. H.; Musée du Congo, Tervueren, Belgium. 

ScLaTEeR, Wittiam Luttey, M.A. (Chairman, 1918-1924) ; 
10 Sloane Court, 8.W. 3. 

SeTH-SmitH, Davip ; Curator’s House, Zoological Gardens, 
Regent’s Park, N.W. 8. 

SHERRIFF, ALBERT; 8 Ranulf Road, Hampstead, N.W. 2. 

Suipton, W., M.D.; 2 The Square, Buxton, Derbyshire. 

Srmonps, Major Maurice H.; Fines Baylewick, Binfield, 
Berks. 

SLADEN, Major A. G. LampBart, M.C. (Treasurer) ; Horsenden 
Manor, Princes Risborough, Bucks; and 39 St. James’s 
Street, S.W. 1. 

SpaRRow, Col. R., C.M.G., D.S.0. (Vice-Chairman) ; The Lodge, 
Colne Engaine, Earls Colne, Essex. 

Stares, J. W. C.; Portchester, Hants. 

SrEevART, Mrs. Ronautp ; The Old Rectory, North Fambridge, 
Chelmsford, Essex. 


140 

145 

150 

55 

XVII 

Stevens, HERBERT; Clovelly, Beaconsfield Road, Tring, 
Herts. 

StEvVENS, NoEL; Walcot Hall, Lydbury North, Salop. 

Stonor, C. R. (Hon. Secretary); British Museum (Natural 
History), Cromwell Road, S.W. 7. 

TakA-TsuKASA, Prince NoBuSUKE; 1732 Sanchome, Kami- 
meguro, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo, Japan. 

Tavistock, The Most Hon. the Marquess of; Barrington 
House, Hayward’s Heath, Sussex. 

Taytor, Miss D. L.; Bellefields, Englefield Green, Surrey. 

THomson, A. LanpsBorovuaH, C.B., O.B.E., D.Sc., F.R.S.E. 
(Chairman) ; 16 Tregunter Road, 8.W. 10. 

TickHursT, Cuaup B., M.A., M.R.C.S.; Saxon House, 
Appledore, Kent. 

Ticzenurst, N. F., O.B.E., M.B., F.R.C.S.; 24 Pevensey 
Road, St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex. 

Tucker, B. W., B.A.; 9 Marston Ferry Road, Oxford. 

TuRNER, Miss E. L.; The Half Way Cottage, 13 Storey’s 
Way, Cambridge. 

TurTLE, LANCELOT J.; 17-21 Castle Place, Belfast. 

UrquHart, Capt. AxasTair, D.S.0O.; Latimer Cottage, 
Latimer, Chesham, Bucks. 

VAN SoMEREN, Dr. V.G. L.; East Africa and Uganda Natural 
History Society, Coryndon Memorial Museum, Nairobi, 
Kenya Colony, East Africa. 

Vernay, A.S.; 51 Berkeley Square, W. 1. 

Vincent, J.; ‘ Firle,’’ Mooi River, Natal, South Africa. 

Wank, MajorG. A., M.C. ; St. Quintin, Sandy Lane, Newcastle- 
under-Lyme, Staffs. 

Wait, W. E., C.M.G., C.F.A.0.U.; Applegarth, Aldbury, 
near Tring, Herts. 

Waitt, HERBERT WILLIAM ; c/o Messrs. Grindlay & Co., Ltd., 
Bombay, India. 

Watts, H. M.; 110 Kendrick Road, Reading, Berks. 

Wake, R.; Leafwood, Frant, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. 

Watt, Mrs. H. W. Boyp; 90 Parliament Hill Mansions, 
Lissenden Gardens, N.W. 5. 

WuistLerR, Huan, F,.L.S.; Caldbec House, Battle, Sussex. 

VOL. LIX, b 


XVIII 

160 WuitE, CHartes M. N.; Park-View, Garstang Road, 
Broughton, near Preston, Lancs. 
Waits, 8. J.; 17 Philpot Lane, E.C. 3. 
WuitLEy, H.; Primley, Paignton, 8. Devon. 
WitLoucHBy-Euuis, H.; Friary Hill, Weybridge, Surrey. 
WisuHart, EB. E.; Marsh Farm, Binsted, Arundel, Sussex. 
165 WITHERBY, Harry F., M.B.E. (Chairman, 1924-1927) ; 
Gracious Pond Farm, Chobham, near Woking, Surrey. 
WITHERINTON, G.; Sumner Plat, Hayward’s Heath, Sussex. 
Woop, Casry A., M.D.; c/o The Library of Ornithology, 
McGill University, Montreal, Canada. 
WorRKMAN, WILLIAM HuGuHes; Lismore, Windsor Avenue, 
Belfast. 
Worms, CHARLES DE; Milton Park, Egham, Surrey. 

Total number of Members .... 169 

NOTICE. 

[Members are specially requested to keep the Hon. Secretary 
informed of any changes in their addresses, and those 
residing abroad should give early notification of coming home 
on leave.] 


LIST OF AUTHORS 

AND OTHER PERSONS REFERRED TO. 

Pets: STATEMENT OW oo ices cscs neces esse eesgeecees 

ATKINSON, R. 
he Goon Vulture in South Spain ... 0... 02. 2... ewes 

BANNERMAN, Dr. D. A. 

A new name for the Pink-footed Puff-back of Cameroon— 
Dryoscopus angolensis boydi for D. angolensis cameroonensis . 

Proposed a new genus for Bocage’s Shrike, Dryophoneus, 
SOBDD, DED Seg Smee cz ron a mes es eee 

A new race of Penduline Tit (Anthoscopus parvulus aureus) 
Reppram er GOL COA i305 000 oh fis aie eis ew wile Wyo dade oo Gieratin' e's 

Migration in the Mediterranean ... 0.0... 0.6.06 eee sees 

A nestling Storm Petrel from the Canary Islands ....... 

BARCLAY-SMITH, Miss P. 
The ornithological stations of Rossitten and Heligoland .. 

Bates, G. L. 

Notes on spring migrants in Arabia ............5.45 cee 

BeEnson, C. W. 

A new Francolin (francolinus squamatus dont) and a new 
Hill Babbler (Pseudoalcippe pyrrhoptera nyasxe) from 
JSS 8 5G S76 | eta ees ee ARR Bee ty ne 

A new Lark (Mirafra africana nyikx) from Nyasaland .. 

On the status of the genus Bradypterus in Nyasaland, 
including a new race, Bradypterus usambare grantt ..... 

84-85 

6—7 

41-42 

124—129 
142-145 

77-78 

108-113 


xx 

Page 
BERLIOZ, J. 
A new genus and species of Tanager (Rhynchothraupis 
mesoleuca) trom Central Brazil. ot. 5. oo. ke et. ok eda 102-103 

BERRY, Dr. 
Exhibition of slides of, and remarks on, Grey Geese..... 83-84 

CavE, Major F. O. 
A new race of Grass-Warbler (Cisticola ayresit imatong) 
from Anglo-Neyptian Sudan... .c..se estes = >. Ap ee eae 8-9 

CHAIRMAN, THE. 
AAHUBMRAGEOSR Ok. sk OO oe ee ee cae tse 30-39 

CHISHOLM, A. H. 

Exhibition of films of the Lyre-Bird and the Satin Bower- 
POMBO. So one oi 6c bse bs iG as fee aa eas 2 ae Pelee oebae ace 22 

CLancy, P. A. 

A new race of the Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus vestigialis) 
GEM EGHAM i sic a¢ inns. eeracherieces = Aes Beal Baad ad aecueuiaea el setae 69-70 

CoLLENETTE, C. L. 

Wild life in Richmond Park, Surrey... 22a ece cme ae ole 120-122 
Commarrrer. om £988=1939 -. abu sais ant «ose oo ale wae wera 2 
CONGRESS, PROCEEDINGS OF THE EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL ... 4] 

DELAcOoUR, J., and J. C. GREENWAY. 

Seven new races from Indo-China ......6.6..c0..06.008% 130-134 

A new race of Warbler from 8. Annam ................ 151 
Faua, R. A. 

Wild life in New Zealand ...... bk:'s ROE Re eee ES oe. 149-151 

Grant, Capt. C. H. B., and C. W. MACKWoRTH-PRAED. 
Notes on Eastern African birds :— 
1. On the status of Pternistis afer tornowt ....6...e008. 19 

2. On the status of the Eastern African races of Strepto- 
PCV VINACEA so. s ce cviveveveveees WO Copia mr sh 19-20 


XXI 

GRANT, Capt. C. H. B., and C. W. Mackworru-PRAED (cont.). 
Notes on Eastern African birds :— 

1. A further note on the relationship, status, and dis- 
tribution of Egretta garzetta, H. gularis, E. schistacea, 
SRN CO LILOT PHO. x care wa) ea) cS os c+ «wR WEE OY Rides «Ao 

. On the races of Campethera taniol2ma .... eee renee: 
3. On the status of Poicephalus gulielmi permistus ...... 
. On Poicephalus fuscicapillus tanganythx% .....00.000 

bo 

aN 

Notes on Eastern African birds :— 
1. On the seasonal changes of plumage in Centropus 
grill, and its relationship to other forms ...... ea egcoge 

bo 

. On Campethera abingoni kavirondensis ........00. 00 

3. On the status of Dendropicos fuscescens and Dendro- 
COS GUOSIMOYM: « olsis, x: ou vc Viele sale dea eas J-tia «0's bh al 

4. On the correct type-locality of Mesopicos goertz 
UESEICUS TLS ee SLs Sy ees ae eh ee a Wn 

5. On the status of Yungipicus obsoletus nigricans ...... 

Notes on Eastern African birds :— 
. On the races of Campethera carlliautit ....... 6.2 
. On the type-locality of Jynx ruficollis ..........066. 
. On the type-locality of Jynx ruficollis xquatorialis 

mem GC bb = 

. On the type-locality and distribution of Jynz ruficollis 
RC REC ORVUSS <6) tote x ciel oO cpSoesth Sines e) 6! eh O's) 61 0s ihe ello 

Cr 

. On the status of Jynx rujficollis cosenst .......0..00-- 

Notes on Eastern African birds :— 
. On the type-locality of Jyna ruficollis ..........005. 
On the races of Smithornis capensis .ciccccccscccaes 
. On the status of Mirafra schillangst _...........60 00. 
. On the correct reference for Galerida cristata somaliensis. 
. On the occurrence of Calandrella brachydactila longi- 
pemnes i Weim COLON ns Gods 6-8 oie es oie a cee bs 

Ca Ce 

for) 

. On the generic status of Tephrocorys blanfordi........ 

Notes on Eastern African birds :— 

— 

. On the races and distribution of Tephrocorys cinerea . . 
. On two new races of Larks from Africa. ............. 

bo 

Notes on Eastern African birds :— 

. On the status of Worafra pulpe .. 0. cee ce cic wweeens 
. On the races 0f Mirajra@ Gfricand.. .. vscccccececeanee 

. On the races of Motacilla flava occurring in Eastern 
EARNER ca) eters aia a ai sca eid 9, wile th a edb a bie so! 5 « 

Pwd 

On the status of Poicephalus cryptoxanthus zanzibaricus. 

Page 

24-27 
26-27 
27 
27 

50-51 
51-52 

52-53 

53 
53 

71-72 
72-73 

73-74 

113 
113-115 
115 
116 

116-117 
117 

136-137 
140-142 

157 
157 
157-159 

160-161 


XXIT 

Page 
GREENWAY, J. C., and J. DELACOUR. 
Seven new races from Indo-China, ............00000e.. 130-134 
A new race of Warbler from. S..Annam ..........0.0008% 151 
Hacuisuxka, The Marquess. 
Type-locality of the Eastern Griffon Vulture .......... 16-17 
A new race of Bronze-winged Dove (Chalcophaps indica 
yamashinat) from Yonakuni Island ..................06. 45-46 
A new race of Partridge (Perdix barbata castaneothorax) 
froma Mamechuria lt. ti. <caedtein « lcs. gece Charge ee 88 
New races of a Rail and a Fruit-Pigeon from Micronesia 
anid Palawan. .s...sii-0ni neh aes aenteet een tae eae 151-153 
HARRISON, B. G. 
The Sulphur- and White-breasted Toucan (Ramphastos 
mielanus) in the nesting-cavity “0... .. ss > = copeenaaaele 61 
Harrison, Dr. JAMES. 
Remarks on Charadrius hiaticula major ......06....005- 17-18 
JOURDAIN, Rev. F. C. R. 
The, Griffon Vulture m South Spain”... Loe. tn see sere 129-130 
KINNEAR, N. B. 
Exhibition;of a“Black Kate? vei) 2 Ale Ree 5 

KLEINER, Dr. ANDREW. 
A new Jay (Garrulus glandarius grxcus) from the Balkans. 70-71 

Lippens, Monsieur LEon. 
Slides of Bast Atricam iden oc icicc5 cies csc aoueus us oa) ueuel st OMe 81-82 

LITERATURE, List oF (referred to at Annual Address) ....... 30-35 

LONGFIELD, Miss CYNTHIA. 
Colour-film of the aviaries at the Chateau de Cléres ..... 5 
Balmer Aticam wal Mire wry o ce © nts sycuer cenit vslacors ie shen ate 83 

Low, Dr. G. CARMICHAEL. 

Remarks on the races of Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula .. 48—50 

MACKWORTH-PRAED, C. W. (See under GRANT, Capt. C. H. B.) 


XXIII 

Page 
Manson-Banr, Dr. P. H. 

Conservation of birdlife in California... 6000. 0.04% vee. 41 
Matuews, G. M. 

A new name for a genus of Storm Petrel—Fregandria, 

PUIG LOR LOT OGOUG x .6< ete ole w silo wie 5a; weed sparta woke 10 

Two new races of Petrel—Heteroprion belcheri lalfa, from 

New Zealand, and Heteroprion belchert falklandicus, from 
Sememaicland Holamds: ov cs 6 ean ce oss ee ole op ove © afo oetd ler eyetins 103-104 

emenae bo: War Mathews. io 3a). oop tio SR ug rtiensbe ioke-ehoilonp. <5) 8lae, & 140 

A new race of Honey-eater from Queensland ........... 156 

and Prof. O. NEUMANN. 

Six new races from North Queensland ................. 153-155 
Mayaup, M. Nozt. 

The races of the Black Vulture (4/gypius monachus)..... 44-45 
MEMEMmENG. ANNUAL GENMRAT: |... 64a cnc cece sccde we engeene 1 
eRRERRC SE MOTAT, GENEMAT 5.5 ose ees hd dla soe bie ob ah elelg ed ea oe 1 
MEINERTZHAGEN, Col. R. 

Showed slides and remarked on birds of Morocco ....... 61-63 

Descriptions of twelve new races and one new species from 

Ll Eph COC) 6 Slates Re RS AN ne ee te A Nea Mee: eC 63-69 

Remarks on visits to Museums on the Continent and in 

PimemeimPOO NO bALES 2s cha ctd aie soho kot ae Mak Oe et ee 122-124 
Moreau, R. E. | 

Parental care by some African Swallows and Swifts ..... 145-149 
Morris, Dr. KENNETH. 

Film of bird-life on Lake Balaton, Hungary, and wild life 

manna SuiGeten MouTbains 2 oie oe oie o sede Beereehc aru o hel b dw 5 
Morrison, A. 

A new Coot (Fulica americana peruviana) from Peru .... 56 
NEuMANN, Prof. Oscar. 

A new species (T'urdus (Geokichla) mendeni) and a new 

race (Scissirostrum dubium peligense) from Peleng ........ 47-48 

A new species and eight new races from Peleng and 

ieee em PAA aa Noose pM cescilo, cise sate e e-c) os S/has eke arco) ceeds,  Seler'. xse’ oe 89-94. 
Six new races from Peleng, east of Celebes ............. 104—108 

Two new races from Queensland, ..,....5..65eeperenes 156 


Page 
NEUMANN, Prof. O., and G. M. MATHEWS. 
Six new races from North Queensland ................. 153-155 
Norrzis, C. A. 
Visit do dear sale bp MOB Spa gaps. Has cysts gs Rds aways sos 77 
ParRKEs, Dr. A. S. 
The physiological basis of plumage characters .......... 96-100 
Payn, Colonel W. A. 
Semi-albimo ‘birds *from ‘Britam ‘1:12.05 2. es ¢ cone ee 40 
ScLAaTER, W. L. 
Some birds of the American family Icteridze ........... 100-101 
Stonor, C. R. 
A new species of Paradise Bird (Astrapia mayeri) from 
aN FE. New Chapman! with. selene) ORL. gE aul? ate eee 57-61 
A British specimen of the Killdeer Plover and a Dunlin.. 76 
Kilm of the Great Bustard. 2... ce «4. ieos 4 enn nts okey io ore 85 
VAN Rossen, A. J. 
Notes on some Mexican and Central American Wrens 
of the genera Heleodytes, Troglodytes, and Nannorchilus ; 
and foi Mmemrredeps 6225).2184 AP Baie. sk RRS BS eee ee 10-15 
VAN SOMEREN, Dr. 
A new race of Grey-wing Francolin (Francolinus africanus 
macearthur:) from Kenya Colomy \.o, 0. 6 es eins ve ee oe a 
A new race of Sunbird (Cyanomitra olivacea pugquensis) 
front Mafia slant, BH Atfmie@a 2s (fo 02.4 S29 Lae 86-88 
WHISTLER, H. 
A new race of the Indian Bush-Quail (Perdicula asiatica 
punjanos) trona Punga .\crke eks ou l. f ee ie ee oe eee ee 76 
A new race of the Pied Shrike (Hemipus picatus legget) 
Wig 00 2) 7 (0s 1 eae EE OP PER EORES. or Aas RT STE RMERE AN APEN Mg ST. 101-102 
WITHERBY, H. F. 
Presentation of Godman-Salvin Medal ................ 5 
A British specimen of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus 
OITVETTGLIIES CDOGICORIER), \sccovantoes <aysintn> ohaplesshey >> dxcnhas vadiebuummeen: tteeewe 76 

YAMASHINA, The Marquis. 

A new race of Sky-Lark (Alauda arvensis kagoshimex) from 
RS TVGSTUE eh hes beatin ko eee soc ae SLE CLO tne ae 134-135 


9eaqvieszg BULLETIN 
PURCHASED 

OF THE 

BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS" CLUB. 

No. CCCCAVI. 

Special General Meeting. 
Chairman : Captain C. H. B. Grant. 

A Special General Meeting was held at the Rembrandt 
Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W.7, at 6.15 p.m. on Wednesday, 
October 12, 1938, in accordance with a notice which had been 
circulated. 

An amendment of the Rules was proposed by the Committee 
and approved, as follows:—In Rule I, delete the words 
‘““a Vice-Chairman” and substitute the words “two Vice- 
Chairmen.”’ 

Annual General Meeting. 
Chairman : Captain C. H. B. GRANT. 

This was held immediately after the Special General Meeting. 
The minutes of the Special General Meeting and Annual 
General Meeting held on October 13, 1937, were confirmed. 

Dr. A. LanpsBorovuGH THOMSON then submitted his Report 
as Secretary. He said that the number of members remained 
approximately the same. One member had died, Mr. C. F. M. 

[November 17, 1938.] a VOL. LIX. 


Vol. lix.] 2 (1938. 

Swynnerton. Four members had resigned, and four new 
members had joined the Club. The usual meetings had been 
held: the total attendances were 500 (341 members, 159 
others), which was 48 less than in the previous year. The 
Report was approved. 

Major A. G. LamBarr SLADEN submitted his Report as 
Treasurer. The Financial Statement was presented, as 
printed herewith. ‘The Report was approved. 

Dr. A. LanpssporoucH THOMSON was elected Chairman 
in place of Mr. G. M. Mathews, whose period of office 
terminated. 

Dr. G. CarmicHaEL Low was elected Vice-Chairman in 
place of Colonel R. Sparrow, whose period of office terminated ; 
and the Hon. G. L. CHARTERIS was elected Vice-Chairman 
in the new place created by the amendment of the Rules. 

Mr. C. R. Stonor was elected Hon. Secretary in place of 
Dr. A. Landsborough Thomson. 

Major A. G. L. SLADEN was re-elected Hon. Treasurer. 

Mr. P. A. D. Hottom was elected a member of the Committee 
in place of Mr. J. H. McNeile, retiring by seniority. 

Committee, 1938-39. 

Dr. A. LAnpsBorovucH THomson, Chairman (elected 1938). 
Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low, Vice-Chairman (elected 1938). 
The Hon. G. L. CHARTERIS, Vice-Chairman (elected 1938). 
Captain CLAUDE H. B. Grant, Hditor (elected 1935). 

Mr. C. R. Stonor, Hon. Secretary (elected 1938). 

Major A. G. LAMBART SLADEN, Hon. Treasurer (elected 1936). 
Mr. W. B. ALEXANDER (elected 1936). 

Miss EK. P. Lac (elected 1937). 

Mr. H. Leypourne Poruam (elected 1937). 

Mr. P. A. D. Hoxttom (elected 1938). 


[Vol. lix. 

1938.] 

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Vol. lix.] 4 (1938. 

Ordinary Meeting. 

The four-hundred-and-eleventh Ordinary Meeting was also 
held at the Rembrandt Hotel on Wednesday, October 12, 
1938. 

Chairman: Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON. 

Members present :—Miss C. M. AcLAND ; W. B. ALEXANDER ; 
Dr. D. A. BANNERMAN; Miss P. Barcnuay-Smitu ; F. J. F. 
BaRrRineton ; Miss M.G.8. Best; Brig.-Gen. R. M. BetHam ; | 
G. Brown; Miss B. A. Carter; Mrs. E. S. CHARLES ; 
Hon. G. L. CHarteris (Vice-Chairman); F. N. CHASEN ; 
Brig.-Gen. GOLAND V. CLARKE; H. P. O. CLEAvE; A. Ezpa ; 
Miss J. M. Ferrier; J. Fisner; Capt. C. H. B. Grant 
(Editor) ; Col. A. E. HAmErton ;5 B. Guy Harrison; R. E. 
Heaty; Mrs. T. E. Hopaxin; P. A. D. Hottom; Dr. E. 
Hopkinson; Dr. K. Jorpan; Rev. F. C. R. JOURDAIN ; 
N. B. Kinnear; Miss E. P. Leacu; Miss C. LONGFIELD ; 
Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low (Vice-Chairman) ; Dr. P. R. Lows ; 
C. W. MackwortH-PraED; J. H. McNette; Lieut.-Col. 
H. A. F. Macratra ; Dr. P. H. MANson-Baur ; J. G. MAvro- 
GorDATO; Dr. W. N. May; Lieut.-Col. R. F. MEIKLEJOHN ; 
C. OLtpHAm; B. B. Osmaston; H.-J. R.>PEAsm 3A... 
Puituies ; H. LEYBoRNE PopHam; Mrs. J. B. PRIESTLEY ; 
Miss G. M. Ruopes; W. L. Scuater; D. Srru-Smirs ; 
Miss D. L. Taytor; B. W. Tuckrer; Miss E. L. Turner ; 
Mrs. H. W. Boyp Watt; H. WuistLer; H. F. WitHeErsy ; 
C. G. DE WoRMS. 

B.O.U. Members present :—Mrs. MEIKLEJOHN ; Lieut.- 
Col. W. A. Payn. 

Guests of the Club :—Dr. K. Morris ; Mrs. Wess. 

Guests :—Mrs. D. A. BANNERMAN; Miss E. Barry; 
Mrs. BetHAm; A. B. Brooks ; Mrs. T. CHARLES ; Mrs. CHASEN ; 
Dr. C. E. HEtLMAyr ; Mrs. Hitt; R.Jounson ; Mrs. JornDAn; 
Miss Lynes; Mrs. Mackworru-Pramp; G. N. May; 
Mr. and Mrs. Barrp Murray; L. Parmenter; W. H. 
PERRETT ; Mrs. A. 8S. Poiturpes ; Mrs. Sctater ; Dr. MALcoLM 


1988.] 5 [Vol. lix. 

Smith; Mrs. A. L. THomson ; Miss W. Witkinson ; J. G. 
Wituiams; W. H. Wiiwrams; Mrs. Witnersy; T. F. 
WITHERBY. 

B. O. C. members, 55; B.O.U. members, 2; guests of the 
Club, 2; guests, 26. 

Presentation of Godman-Salvin Medal. 

After dinner, before the business of the Ordinary Meeting 
was begun, the President of the British Ornithologists’ Union, 
Dr. P. R. Low#, presented the Godman-Salvin Medal to 
Mr. H. F. Witherby, in recognition of his distinguished 
ornithological work. 

Exhibition of a Black Kite. 
Mr. N. B. Kinnear exhibited a mounted specimen of a 
Black Kite. The full particulars of this specimen will be 
published in ‘ British Birds.’ 

Colour-film of the Aviaries at the Chateau de Cleéres. 

Miss CyntTHIA LONGFIELD showed a very beautiful colour- 
film of the Chateau, the grounds, and the birds, especially the 
Flamingoes and other water birds. This film was taken during 
the International Ornithological Congress at Rouen, and 
reminded many of us of our visit there last May. 

Film of bird-life on Lake Balaton, Hungary, and wild 

life in the Sudeten Mountains. 

Dr. KennetH Morris’s films, partly in colour, of Glossy 
Ibis, Spoonbill, Egret, and Night Heron, showed the birds 
at the nest, with young or eggs, and in flight; this most 
excellent series was followed by a film showing Roedeer 
amidst the grand scenery of the Sudeten Mountains. 

A new name for the Pink-footed Puff-back of Cameroon 
Mountain. 

Dr. Davip A. BANNERMAN sent the following note concerning 
the Pink-footed Puff-back from Cameroon Mountain, for which 
a new name must be substituted :— 

In the Bulletin of the B.O,C. vol. xxxv. 1915, p. 105, 
I described a new race of Dryoscopus from Cameroon Mountain 


Vol. lix.] 6 [1938. 

which I named Dryoscopus angolensis cameroonensis. At that 
time I overlooked the fact that in ‘ Végel Afrikas,’ ii. 1903, 
p. 592, Reichenow had used this name (though spelling it 
differently in the German fashion) camerunensis for a race 
of Dryoscopus senegalensis, a name which has now been 
relegated to the synonymy of D. senegalensis. 

Nevertheless, it seems to me that D. camerunensis Reichw. 
invalidates the use of the name for any other race of Dryo- 
scopus, and I therefore propose :—Dryoscopus angolensis 
boydi for Dryoscopus angolensis cameroonensis Bannerman, 
not Dryoscopus senegalensis camerunensis Reichenow. Named 
in honour of Boyd Alexander, who secured the still unique 
type in the British Museum. 

A new Genus of Shrikes. 

Dr. Davip A. BANNERMAN proposed a new genus for 
Bocage’s Shrike which he characterized as follows :— 

Dryophoneus, gen. nov. 

Type: Laniarius bocaget Reichenow. 

Bill compressed with arched culmen and moderately stout, 
upper mandible slightly decurved and sharply hooked at the 
tip; nostrils exposed and linear shaped. Rictal bristles 
fine and short but prominent. Wing short and rather rounded, 
not reaching to the tip of the upper tail-coverts. First outer 
remex long, extending two-thirds the length of the second. 
Tail very slightly rounded, composed of twelve feathers and 
of normal length. Upper tail-coverts long, reaching nearly 
half the length of the tail. Foot and tarsus moderately 
strong, the latter composed of four scutes in front, smooth 
behind. Claws short, sharply curved and very sharp. 
Colour pattern distinctive. Black crown and cheeks, slate- 
srey back and wings, buff and white underparts. A distinctive 
white eye-stripe and frontal band. Sexes almost exactly 
alike, thus differing from all species of Dryoscopus. Feathers 
of rump soft and ample but not so markedly so as in Dryoscopus 
or Chaunonotus, but more so than in Chlorophoneus ; in the 


1938.] 7 | (Vol. lix. 

two first named genera the sexes are strikingly different. 
No concealed white spots on the rump. Young are dis- 
tinctively barred both above and below, a very important 
point of distinction. 

This Shrike was originally placed by Dr. Reichenow in the 
genus Laniarius, who later, in his ‘ Vogel Afrikas ’ transferred 
it to Dryoscopus. In the ‘Systema Avium Aithiopicarum ’ 
it is placed by Sclater in Dryoscopus and also in Shelley’s 
‘ Birds of Africa.’ Dr. Chapin. on the other hand, declares 
that it cannot be placed in Dryoscopus and transfers it to 
Chlorophoneus, in which he is followed by Bates. The fact 
is that in one particular character or another it differs from 
every described genus, and though, much as I dislike making 
new genera, [ have made up my mind that this is a proper 
case for the creation of a new genus, the diverse opinions 
already expressed by such authorities on African birds as 
Sclater, Chapin, and Bates encourages me to take this course. 

A new race of Grey-wing Francolin from Kenya Colony. 
Dr. VAN SOMEREN sent the following description of a new 
race of Grey-Wing Francolin :— 

Francolinus africanus maearthuri, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Geographically nearest to F. a. uluensis 
O. Grant, but differs from this race in being darker and colder 
in general colour; the dark areas of the upper parts being 
blacker, less blackish brown; the chestnut of the breast and 
flanks being rather darker; the wing-coverts being greyer ; 
and the primaries being more sooty in tone. 

Type.—Adult male: Chyulu Camp, Chyulu Hills, 6500 ft., 
April 19, 1938. Coryndon Museum Expedition, 1938. 

Distribution.—Chyulu Range, Masai-Ukamba District boun- 
dary, south-east Kenya Colony. _ 

Measurements of type.—Wing 173 mm. 

Remarks.—Hleven specimens of this dark race were collected 
on the Range at altitudes of 5500 to 7000 ft. The wings 
measure: males, 164-165; females, 155-160 mm. It repre- 
sents a dark alpine race. | ° 


Vol. lix.] 8 [1938. 

A new race of Grass-Warbler. 

Major F. O. Cave sent the following description of a new 
race of Grass-Warbler :— 

CISTICOLA AYRESIL ¢matong, subsp. nov. 

1. Type, a breeding male in Summer dress, in the British 
Museum, reg. no. 1938.8.5.1, collected by Capt. F. O. Cave, 
29 April 1938, at 8000 ft. in the Imatong Mts., Equatorial 
Province of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, ca. Lat. 4°N., 
Long 33° E. Wing 52, tail 28. 
Co-type, a breeding female in Summer dress, collected 
two days later at the same place; wing 48, tail 29; 
also in British Museum, reg. no. 1938.8.5.2. 

2. DESCRIPTION of the race from a series of ten breeding 
males and females and five juveniles (May 1937, 8), 
and fifteen males and females in Winter dress or in pre- 
nuptial moult (Feb.) and post-nuptial moult (May). 

GENERAL. ‘The largest (least small) and most northerly 
ranging race yet known. Like its nearest neighbour, 
C. AYRESII mauensis of the Kenya highlands, inhabiting 
a highland massif. These two races separated by about 
two hundred miles of intervening country whose birds 
and environmental qualities are sufficiently well known 
to expect it being uninhabited by—unsuitable for—the 
SPECIES. 

Sizz. Rather larger than any other AYRESI, quite 
noticeably so in the museum without a ruler, by the bill 
alone. 

Ad. g. Wing 52+1: tail S.. 2741, W. 3341. 

Ad. 2. Wing 48-49 ; tail 8. 30+.2, W. 29-2. 

Rance. Resident in the upper-zone of the Imatong 
Mountains, which, with other similar ranges forms 
one of the two large, isolated and high (ca. 10,000 ft.) 
massifs of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, and extends 
across both sides of the Sudan-Uganda marches. Large 
expanses of mountain-grass, interspersed with tracts and | 
eroves of low “forest ’’ are found in its upper zone, 


1938.] 9 [Vol. lix. 

C. AYRESII’ lives in the former and, as yet, no other 
Cisticola SPECIES has been found up there. Admiral 
Lynes, to whom I am indebted for the verification of this 
race, tells me that the other high Sudan massif, Jebel 
Marra, is still more isolated, and its upper-zone is quite 
different, both in environment and bird-kind, to that 
of the Imatong. 

CoLORATION. Adults Summer. Cf. C.mauensis. ABOVE, 
very like, but the rusty-buff of the feather-borders and 
rump of rather deeper shade: BELOW, the rusty-buff 
suffusions very much deeper and more widespread, 
only the chin and throat white. 

Adulis Winter. Cf. C. ayresiti and C. mauensis not 
having a Winter (or eclipse) dress. ABOVE, the rusty-buff 
conspicuously darker, less bright : BELow, the rusty-buff 
suffusions very much deeper and more widespread, 
even a little more so than in the Summer dress. 

Juveniles. Like the other races in being well sulphured 
below, but the yellowness, except on chin and throat, very 
much deepened by its mixture with rusty-buff, as strong 
as in the adult dress. 

MopE oF DRESS. The season, regular and perfect, 
apparently without exception. 

BEHAVIOUR. Identical in all its essential characters 
with that of its SPECIES elsewhere. 

Seasons. March, pre-nuptial moult and begin breeding ; 
April-May mid-breeding ; June-July end of breeding, 
care of young and post-nuptial moult; remainder of 
year, off-season. 

These are different from those of other SPECIES of 
Cisticola inhabiting the Upper Nile Valley and plateau 
from which the Agoro massif rises. 


Vol. lix.] 10 [1938. 

A new name for a genus of Storm Petrel. 

Mr. Grecory M. Martuews, sent the following note on 
the name of a genus of Storm Petrel which is pre-occupied, 
and for which he proposes : 

Fregandria for Fregolla, Mathews, Emu, vol. xxxvii. p. 142, 
Oct. lst, 1937, Nov Fregella Walker, List Lep. Brit. Mus. vol. i. 
p. 272, 1854. 

Notes on some Mexican and Central American Wrens of 
the Genera Heleodytes, Troglodytes, and Nann- 
orchilus; and four new races. 

Mr. A. J. vAN RosseEm sent the following notes :— 

In the course of his investigations of the Mexican birds 
in the collections at the British Museum the writer has been 
able to reach some conclusions in regard to certain species 
and subspecies of Troglodytide. These are given below 
in the hope that they may prove to be of value to systematic 
ornithologists who have not had access to the British Museum 
series. Although the present paper was originally written 
on the basis of the British Museum material it has been 
redrafted and, in places, slightly modified through subsequent 
examination of the series in the collections of the Bureau 
of Biological Survey and the United States National Museum. 
My thanks are due to the authorities of all these institutions 
for many courtesies extended. 

HELEODYTES CHIAPENSIS (Salvin and Godman). 

The describers of Campylorhynchus chiapensis were perfectly 
correct in comparing their unique type with the South American 
C. griseus and C. bicolor and in stating that no comparison with 
C. capistratus was necessary. When this type was examined 
by the writer in 1933 at the British Museum some notes 
were made, and subsequently a note was published (‘ Birds 
of Kl Salvador,’ 1938, p. 481) to the effect that Hellmayr’s 
assignment of the name to the common Cactus Wren (Heleo- 
dytes rufinucha nigricaudatus Nelson) of the region was quite 
unjustified. A re-examination of the type in the summer 
of 1938 confirms my former statements on the subject. While 
obviously a member of the H. griseus-H. minor-H. bicolor group 


1938.] 11 [Vol. lix. 

it seems to be specifically distinct. I have nothing to add to 
the accurate and concise description by Salvin and Godman 
and very few additional data. The unique type is an adult 
in abraded plumage, sexed as a female by the collector 
W. B. Richardson, and taken at Tonola, Chiapas, on June 1, 
1890. My measurements are as follows: wing, 85; tail, 74 ; 
exposed culmen, 26-1; tarsus, 29:0; middle toe minus 
claw, 19:0 mm. 

Considering the amount of collecting which has been carried 
on in Chiapas in the nearly fifty years since the type was 
taken it seems remarkable that further specimens have not 
been discovered. 

HELEODYTES JOcOSUS (Sclater), 

HELEODYTES GULARIS (Sclater) 

These two Cactus Wrens have, of late years, usually been 
regarded as conspecific, for the differences in adults are for 
the most part matters of degree, and the ranges are com- 
plementary. However, the juveniles completely refute such 
treatment. Those of H. jocosus are spotted below and have 
a broken, “ herring-bone”’ pattern above, while those of 
H. gularis are immaculate below and heavily marked with broad, 
black, longitudinal stripes above. It is a curious circumstance | 
that the juveniles are so distinct as to indicate. radically 
different origins, while the adults are so similar as to make 
close discrimination necessary in individual cases. There 
is really no excuse for the action of recent writers (the present 
one included) in reducing A. gularis to the status of a race of 
H. jocosus, for Ridgway (‘ Birds of North and Middle America,’ 
iii. 1904, pp. 525-526) described accurately the juveniles 
of both and, properly, treated them as distinct species. 

Incidentally, the British Museum material indicates that 
H. occidentalis Nelson of southern Jalisco and H. narinosus 
Phillips are good races, but the matter must be investigated 
further on the basis of juveniles. 

TROGLODYTES BRUNNEICOLLIS Sclater. 

In the British Museum is a series of 79 specimens of the 
Brown-throated Wren, certainly not the largest known series, 


Vol. lix.] 12 [1938. 

but from the standpoint of selection to represent almost 
every section of Mexico where the species occurs it is certainly 
without equal, and is just one of countless examples of the 
care and judgement shown by Salvin and Godman in the 
assembling of their Mexican collections. Perhaps most 
important of all is a series of six specimens of typical 
T. brunneicollis (including the type) from Oaxaca, without 
which as a starting point it would not have been possible to 
apply names to any of the several southern races with any 
degree of confidence. 

The present paper is not intended as a general review of the 
species, for the very good reason that there is probably not 
sufficient material in the combined collections of the world 
to attempt such an undertaking with any degree of finality. 
Below are described several obvious races which have been 
uncovered during the present investigations. As _ before 
noted, the British Museum data have been checked with the 
Biological Survey and United States National Museum 
series, in this case 66 specimens. 

Troglodytes brunneicollis guerrerensis, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Most heavily barred dorsally and _ laterally 
of the races of T'roglodytes brunneicollis. Compared with 
typical 7’. b. brunneicollis Sclater of the mountains of Oaxaca, 
general coloration duller, paler, and more greyish-brown 
dorsally ; reddish-brown of anterior underparts slightly 
paler ; flanks and underparts more heavily barred. Compared 
with 7. b. culequita of south central Mexico (see postea), 
upper parts and flanks much more heavily barred and abdominal 
region darker and more reddish (less white). 

Distribution.—The Sierra Madre del Sur of Guerrero. 

Type.—In the British Museum. Adult, sex not indicated. 
Omilteme, Guerrero, Mexico, altitude 8000 feet, July 1888 ; 
collected by Mrs. H. H. Smith. British Museum Register 
no. 90.12.20.574. 

Remarks.—There are fourteen specimens of 7’. b. guerrerensis, 
six of which are adults and eight are juveniles. The com- 
parative characters are shown by both ages. In addition 
there are two specimens in the collection of the Bureau of 


1938.] 13 [Vol. lix. 

Biological Survey from Omilteme and the mountains near 
Chilpancingo. | 

As may be inferred from the above comparative description, 
typical 7. brunneicollis isa comparatively dark, richly coloured 
race, in fact is the reddish extreme of the species. This fact 
has been overlooked in America, due, principally, to the 
extreme rarity of topotypical material. It was undoubtedly 
this circumstance which led Dr. Nelson to name T'roglodytes 
brunneicollis nitidus from Mount Zempoaltepec in north- 
eastern Oaxaca. I have examined the type and type-series 
of this supposed race and cannot distinguish it from 7’. brunnei- 
colliis. It is to 7’. brunneicollis also that I assign, tentatively, 
nine specimens from Cofre de Perote and Crizaba in the State 
of Vera Cruz. 

Troglodytes brunneicollis culequita, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Compared with T'roglodytes brunneicollis brun- 
neicollis of the mountains of Oaxaca and southern Vera Cruz, 
dorsal coloration greyer and less reddish-brown ; coloration 
below distinctly paler and more pinkish (less reddish) ; flanks 
less heavily barred and abdominal area very much whiter. 
Compared with T'roglodytes brunneicollis compositus Griscom 
of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and San Luis Potosi, coloration 
in general darker and redder, underparts more heavily 
barred, and whitish abdominal ‘area in more decided contrast 
with the chest and throat. 

Distribution.—Mountains of the southern part of the 
Mexican Plateua in the States of Hidalgo, (southern) Zacatecas, 
Mexico, Tlaxcala, Puebla, and Morelos. 

Type.—In the British Museum. Adult, sex not indicated. 
Coajimalpa (Tacubaya), Mexico, D.F., March 7, 1888; 
collected by F. Ferrari-Perez. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 90.12. 
20.548. 

Remarks.—This is the race which has been passed as typical 
T. brunneicollis by Dr. Nelson and all subsequent authors. 
It is really an intermediate between that form and the north- 
eastern 7’. b. compositus, but occupies such an extensive range 
and is so abruptly set off from 7’, brunneicollis to the south and 


Vol. lix.] 14 | [1938. 

east that it should be recognized by name. Twenty-five 
specimens from the above states have been examined. In 
addition there are six from Real del Monte, Hidalgo, which 
are very dark and brown both above and below, and which 
I cannot place at this time. 

Troglodytes brunneicollis colimee, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Abruptly the darkest of the relatively grey- 
toned northern and north-western series. Compared with 
Troglodytes brunneicollis cahoont Brewster of Sonora and 
Chihuahua, coloration very much darker and slightly browner 
throughout. Compared with 7. 6. culequita of the southern 
central highlands and 7’. 6. guerrerensis of the Sierra Madre 
del Sur of Guerrero, coloration slightly darker and very 
much greyer; also much less heavily barred both above 
and below. 

Distribution.—Extreme southern Jalisco in the Sierra 
Nevada de Colima south to Michoacan (Patzcuaro). 

Type.—In the British Museum. Maleadult. Sierra Nevada 
de Colima, southern Jalisco, Mexico, altitude 12,000 feet, 
December 5, 1889; collected by W. B. Richardson. Brit. 
Mus. Reg. no. 90.12.20.568. 

Remarks.—Six specimens from the type-locality have been 
examined, five taken by Richardson in December 1889 and 
one by Lloyd and Richardson in April 1889. Altitudes on 
the labels range from 8000 to 14,000 feet. In the collection 
of the Bureau of Biological Survey are three fully-grown 
juveniles from Patzcuaro, Michoacan, which I am at a loss 
to identify save on the basis that they belong to 7’. 6. colime, 
since they show the same comparative differences when 
studied in connection with juveniles of other races. 

The status of the Brown-throated Wrens from the 
mountains of northern Jalisco, Nayarit, western Zacatecas, 
and southern Durango is that of intermediates between 7. b. 
colime and T. b. cahooni. The British Museum series shows 
uniformity of characters over this range, and consequently 
a race was named in manuscript and a type designated and 
labelled as such, However, American material shows no 


1938.] 15 [Vol. lix. 

such uniformity, and I therefore do not care to give a separate 
name to these variable intermediates. They are here con- 
sidered as nearest to 7’. b. cahoont. 

NANNORCHILUS LEUCOGASTER. 

Austin (Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 69, 1929, p. 384) has com- 
mented on the characters of a single specimen from Mountain 
Cow, British Honduras. The three British Honduras speci- 
mens in the British Museum confirm his suspicion that his 
bird represented a distinct race, the most southern of the 
subspecies of the White-bellied Wren. This is described as 

Nannorchilus leucogaster australis, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Dorsal coloration like that of Nannorchilus 
leucogaster leucogaster (Gould) of Tamaulipas and Vera Cruz, 
but tail more broadly and more regularly barred ; underparts 
similar to N.1.leucogaster but flanks paler and very much greyer, 
and under tail-coverts strongly barred with blackish-brown 
on a pale grey ground. Measurements of the type are: 
wing 48; tail 31; exposed culmen-14; tarsus 18; middle 
toe minus claw 12 mm. 

Disiribution.—British Honduras (Cayo; Orange Walk ; 
Mountain Cow). 

Type.—In the British Museum. Adult, sex not indicated. 
Orange Walk, Belize, British Honduras, December 1887 ; 
collected by George F. Gaumer. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 90.12. 
20.681. 

Remarks. 

Hellmayr (Catl. Birds Amer. 7, 1934, p. 272) 
suggests that Nannorchilus leucogaster musicus (Nelson) 
might well be a synonym of Cyphorinus pusillus Sclater. 
Fortunately the matter is easily disposed of, for one of Sclater’s 
co-types (marked as the type) isinthe British Museum, where 
it bears the number 86.9.15.208. It is clearly synonymous 
with JN. leucogaster, the type of which (Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 
55.12.19.119) is also in the British Museum. Incidentally, 
the present series confirms the validity of Nannorchilus 
leucogaster grisescens Griscom of San Luis Potosi, with 
characters substantially as given by the original describer, 


Vol. lix.] is. * (1938. 

Type-locality of the Kastern Griffon-Vulture. 

The Marquess HacuisuKa sent the following note :— 

In the April (1938) issue of the Bulletin, on page 94, Colonel 
Meinertzhagen separated the eastern Palearctic Griffon 
Vulture from the typical western bird on account of its large 
size, and named it after his late brother Daniel, as Agypius 
monachus daniel. 

With specimens preserved in Japan I am able to prove 
that the eastern birds are larger. The author proposed 
the new name because the type-locality of Vultur chincou 
Daudin, Traite d’Orn. ii. 1800, p. 12, ex Levaillant, Ois. 
d’Afr. taf. 12, is indeterminable. However, the description 
is clear to determine its origin. lLevaillant wrote about 
Le Chincow in ‘Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux d’ Afrique,’ 
tome premier, between pages 53 to 56, which may be trans- 
lated as follows :— 

‘We are acquainted with this big and rare vulture through 
the kindness of a citizen of Ameshof, well known for his 
ornithological interests and magnificent menagerie which 
he possesses in his country home near Amsterdam. This 
enthusiast made it possible for me to make a sketch and 
description of this bird. I offer my sincere thanks to him for 
drawing my attention to this rarest and most curious object 
in his menagerie, which appears to be worthy of a big nation. 
Not having been able to learn the name given to this bird 
in its native country, which is China, according to the citizen 
of Ameshof, I gave it the name Chincou, waiting to know 
by what name the Chinese called it, and to adopt it if it proves 
to be a better name than the one I have already given.” 
“Meinertzhagen further remarks that “it is the most unlikely 
source for such a large bird in the 18th century, as it only 
occurs in parts of China which were most inaccessible in 
those days.’’ However, it is quite clear from the above 
description that the captive specimen was originally shipped 
from China to Holland. We know very well that the Chinese, 
especially the Manchus, were and are the foremost avicul- 
turists, especially of large sized birds of prey, whether 


1938.] 2 | [Vol. lix. 

suitable for falconry or not, and it is a wonder to foreign 
ornithologists when they visit the bird markets in Peking ; 
but it must have been still more wonderful in ancient days, 
not forgetting Pére David’s deer, a most remarkable genus 
of deer, which was only known from the Imperial menagerie 
in Peking, and its native habitat is still unknown. The 
Eastern Griffon-Vulture is generally distributed in the 
mountainous regions of the Mongolian desert, and the breeding 
records are by no means rare from south-western Manchuria. 
P. G. Seys records in 1933 that Griffon Vultures are resident in 
the neighbourhood of Linn $i, which is only about 200 miles 
north of Peking. About a dozen birds have been taken 
from Korea and Japan in recent years. 

I suggest that the type-locality of Vultur Chincous Aigypius 
monachus chincou (Daudin) should be restricted to north- 
eastern China of former days, which includes Manchukuo, 
and A. m. danieli becomes a synonym. 

Remarks on Charadrius hiaticula major. 

Dr. JAMES M. Harrison sent the following note :— 

The validity of the British race of the Ringed Plover is 
questioned in a note by Dr. Carmichael Low (Bull. B. O. C. 
vol. liv. pp. 126-127). Further views on the question are 
to be fouund in Hartert, Vogel Palaiarkt. Fauna (Erganzungs- 
band, pp. 465-466) and Salomonsen (Zoology of the Faeroes, 
Aves, lxiv. pp. 70-71). That this excellent race had hitherto 
been rejected would appear to be due to the fact that a 
sufficiency of breeding birds was not available. With this 
end in view I have recently been able to examine a series 
of Scottish breeding birds in conjunction with breeding 
specimens from Scandinavia (S. Denmark, Sweden), Siberia, 
Greenland, and Iceland. Placed in such a series the greyer 
backs of the British birds are at once apparent. It is possible 
to grade the material in so far as the Scandinavian, Siberian, 
and British birds are concerned in diminishing intensity, 
those from Siberia, Charadrius hiaticula tundre Lowe, being 
the brownest and darkest, the colour being of a warm brown, 
then the Scandinavian birds, still brown but of a paler and 


Vol. lix.] 18 [1938. 

colder tone, and, finally, the British birds, by comparison 
quite pale and definitely washed with a greyish hue. The 
small series available from Greenland and Iceland do not 
appear quite uniform and present rather more individual 
variation, while matching most nearly the Scandinavian 
group. Some of the Icelandic specimens are almost as dark 
and brown as those from Siberia. The measurements (in 
millimetres) obtained are as under ; these, it will be observed, 
overlap to some extent, except in the case of C. h. tundre, 
though the British specimens are mostly longer winged :— 

— 

Beak 
Wing. (from base ‘Tarsus. Tail. 
of skull). 

British :— 

at sctel! 137-138 20-21 25:5-27°5 67-69 

OSS noe 134-139 19-21 25:5—26 68-69 
Swedish :— 

hast See 128-129 19 24-25 68—69 

ee fg a 123-134 20-21 24 -26 60-61 
Danish :— 

Ae eae 129-5-136 18-21 26-27 62-65 
Greenland :— 

i 130-134 20 25 64:5-68 

Dy ea 135-137 19-20 25-26 65-69 
Iceland :— 

OO teers 130 20-21 23-26 60-63 

OSES GSE 127-1382 20 2424-5 64 
Siberian :— 

Oe Lee a 124-5-132-5 16-19 23-26 60-63 

DO Featie, wccis 126-130 18 24-25 60-64 

My grateful thanks for the loan of material are due to the 
following :— 

Swedish: Count Nils Gyldenstolpe, Royal Museum, Na- 
tural History, Stockholm. 

Danish: Dr. R. Herring, Zoological Museum of the 
University, Copenhagen. 

Siberian: Dr. Serebrowsky, Zoological Museum of the 
Academy of Science, Leningrad. 

British : Philip A. Clancey Esq., Glasgow. 


1938. | 19 [Vol. lix. 

Notes on Eastern African Birds. 

Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. Mackwortu-PRAED 
sent the following two notes :— 

(1) On the Status of Pternistis afer tornowi Meise, Orn. 
Monatsb. 1933, p. 142: Mkiri, Songea District, Tangan- 
yika Territory. 

In the Bull. B. O. C. Iv. 1935, p. 89, we discussed this race 
and expressed the opinion that it must become a synonym of 
Piternistis afer melanogaster Neumann. 

The British Museum has recently received from Mr. C. W. 
Benson two male specimens from Vipya Plateau (5600 feet), 
Nyasaland, which bear out exactly the characters given by 
Meise and which we saw on some of the fourteen specimens 
so kindly loaned to us in 1935, 7.e., the fine cross barring 
on the chest and flank feathers and an admixture of chestnut 
in the otherwise black belly patch, and having the black 
moustachial stripe of P. a. melanogaster. 

We are now satisfied that P. a. tornowi can be recognized, 
having a distribution from the Songea District of Tanganyika 
Territory to the Vipya Plateau in northern Nyasaland, and 
no doubt having a connection between these two places 
round the north end of Lake Nyasa. 

The occurrence of this Francolin on the Vipya Plateau is 
of special interest, as it not only supports and extends the 
distribution of Meise’s race, but very clearly shows that the 
Piernistis afer and Pternistis cranchi groups cannot be united, 
both occurring in the northern areas of Nyasaland. 

(2) On the Status of the Eastern African races of Streptopelia 
vinacea (Gmelin). 

In this group we find very considerable individual variation, 
and birds can be matched with one another from any part 
of their range. Both lighter and darker forms occur in the 
same area in western and eastern Africa. Wing-measurements 
show no appreciable difference between western and eastern 
birds, 7. e., western: males 133 to 155, females 133 to 140; 
eastern: males 133 to 155, females 145 to 150 mm. Thirty- 
five specimens examined. 


Vol. lix.] ; 20 (1938. 

We are unable to see any characters by which races can 
be separated, and therefore, recognize only one form :— 

STREPTOPELIA VINACEA (Gmel.). 

Columba vinacea Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. pt. 2, 1789, p. 782: 
Senegal ; of which all other described races are synonyms. 

Distribution.—Senegal eastwards to the Sudan, Eritrea, 
and Abyssinia. 

¢* é er a ‘ 
a 1938 

PURCHASED 


“51938 
PURCHASED 
BULLETIN 

OF THE 

BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. 

No. CCCCXVII. 

The four-hundred-and-twelfth Ordinary Meeting was held 
at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W. 7, on Wednesday, 
November 9, 1938. 

Chairman : Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low. 

Members present:—W. B. ALEXANDER; Dr. D. A. 
BANNERMAN ; Miss Poy“uis Barciay-SmitH ; Dr. F. J. F. 
BARRINGTON ; Miss M. G. Best; The Hon. Guy CHARTERIS 
(Vice-Chairman); H. P. O. Cunave; Miss J. M. FErRRinr ; 
JAMES FisHER ; Capt. H. A. GILBERT; Miss Eva M. GopMaAN ; 
Capt. C. H. B. Grant (Hditor) ; B. G. Harrison ; Dr. J. M. 
Harrison; R. E. Heatu; P. A. D. Hottom; Dr. E. H. 
Hopxinson ; The Rev. F. C. R. Journpain ; N. B. KINNEAR ; 
Miss E. P. Leacu; Dr. P. R. Lowe; C. W. Mackwortu- 
PRAED; J. H. McKitrrick, Jun.; J.H. McNemLE; Dr. P. 
Manson-Bauwr; J. G. Mavrocorpato; Col. R. F. MErKie- 
goun; T. H. Newman; CuHas. OtpHAm; B. B. OsMASTON ; 
Mrs. M. PriestuteEy ; Miss G. M. Ruopzs; D. Srets-Smirtu ; 
Major A. G. L. SuapEn (Treasurer); Dr. C. B. TickHuRST ; 
B. W. Tucker; Mrs. W. Boyp Watt; H. F. WItHERBY. 

B.O. U. Members present :—A. McMILuan. 

Guest of the Club :—A. H. CHISHOLM, 

[November 30, 1938.] VOL. LIX, 


Vol. lix.] 22 (1938. 

Guests :—Major G. AYLMER; Sir THomMAS DUNHILL; 
Mrs. GILBERT; R. JoHnson; Mrs. MeErKkLEgoun; R. C. 
Mitwarp ; Miss D. V. Ratxes; Miss ADA WALTER THOMAS ; 
and one other. 

B. O. C. members, 39 ; B.O.U. members, 1 ; guests of the 
Club, 1; guests, 9. 

Films of the Lyre-Bird and the Satin Bower-Bird. 

Mr. A. H. CurtsHoitm, C.F.A.0.U., of Australia, showed 
motion films of the fauna of his country. The most ambitious 
one related to the Lyre-bird (Menura); it was a sound 
film which occupied the intervals of three years in the making. 
The scene was Sherbrook Forest, near Melbourne. In the 
early part of the picture a female Lyre-bird was shown at 
the nest tending the single young bird. This was interesting ; 
but the most fascinating and obviously most difficult portion 
of the picture was that devoted to the spectacular male 
bird, which was shown displaying his beautiful tail and 
‘dancing’ on the tumulus in the forest which serves as 
a display mound. Regrettably, the machine available could 
not render the mimetic song of the bird, which is given while 
the display is in progress—a rare accomplishment for any 
bird and unique in the case of a bird as large as a domestic 
fowl. Even as a “ non-talkie,’’ however, the fiilm was highly 
attractive. 

The other films shown by Mr. Chisholm were devoted to 
the building of a “theatre ”’ by a full-plumaged male Satin 
Bower-bird, and the behaviour of a Platypus in captivity. 
All the stages of the building of the remarkable bower were 
shown in the bird picture, and a good general impression of 
the movements of the ancient egg-laying mammal was given 
in the film of the platypus. In each case, as with the Lyre- 
bird, the visitor spoke on the habits of the creature illustrated. 

Mr. Chisholm, who was thanked by the Chairman (Dr. G. 
Carmichael Low) and Mr. Gregory Mathews, subsequently 
answered a number of questions concerning each of the 
creatures shown in the films, 


1938. | 23 [ Vol. lix. 

Notes on Spring Migrants in Arabia. 

Mr. G. L. BatEs sent the following :— 

Some birds recently received by the British Museum from 
Mr. Philby are of interest as establishing the spring migration 
of some more species across Arabia, and as showing how late 
some of them, presumably still going farther north, were 
lingering there. They were collected, some at Jidda, but 
most in northern Arabia in the region centring round Hail, 
in 1938. The most notable are :— 

PLEGADIS F. FALCINELLUS. 

A fine male Glossy Ibis in summer plumage was shot by 
M. E. Kazi on the shore at Jidda, 7 April. This is the first 
record of this species for Arabia. 

Two male Garganeys and a male Shoveler, all in breeding 
plumage, were also shot by Mr. Kazi at the same place in 
April. 

FALCO N. NAUMANNI. 

Shot at Qafar near Hail, 30 May. Mr. Philby saw many 
of them at the time, hunting grasshoppers and settling in 
ithil trees in groups of half a dozen. 

EROLIA MINUTA. 

Several beautiful skins of the Little Stint in summer 
plumage, shot near Hail on 29 May, at Buraida on 6 June, at 
Junaitha on 12 June, and at Marrat on 14 June. These 
places are in Shammar, Qasim, and Washm, in the very 
middle of the northern half of Arabia. 

-GLAREOLA P. PRATINCOLA. 
At Buraida on 6 June several were obtained and “ quite 
a number seen sitting about in lucerne fields.” 

ORIOLUS 0. ORIOLUS. 

Orioles were secured by Mr. Philby at and near Hail in the 
last days of May ; in a letter written at Riyadh in July he 
tells of having a record of it there on July 5, and says “ they 
completely disappear for a very brief space in the summer.” 


Vol. lix.] 24 [1938. 

IRANIA GUTTURALIS. 
Wadi Rima in Qasim on 8 June. 

LANIUS MINOR. 
Obtained at Riyadh on 6 July. 

Notes on Eastern African Birds. 
Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. Mackworrn-PrRaAEpD 
sent the following four notes :— 

(1) A further note on the Relationship, Status, and Dis- 
tribution of Egretta garzetia, EH. gularis, EL. schistacea, and 
E. dimorpha. 

In the Orn. Monatsb. xliv. 1936, p. 29, the late Dr. Stein- 
bacher reiterates the various points raised by ourselves in the 
Bull. B. O. C. liii. 1933, p. 189, p. 245, and liv. 1933, “p. 7s. 
He agrees with all our decisions, with the exception of that 
on the East African birds, which he considers should bear the 
name of Egretta cineracea (Cabanis) in Van der Decken’s 
Reisen, Ost. Afr. 1869, p. 49: East Africa. 

He says: “‘ There is a Heron breeding on the coast of the 
former German East Africa (appearing on its whole length 
including Zanzibar and Pemba) which agrees fully with 
dimorpha in the colour of the beak and the plumage, but 
which is exactly like gularis in size. The beak is, therefore, 
black ; birds in grey plumage always have a brown beak, 
therefore I take it (and also the grey gularis) that they are 
not yet in full plumage. What is the name of this bird ? 
According to my opinion Kgretta cineracea (Cab.).”’ 

Steinbacher’s argument is that a “‘ multi-phased’”’ Egret 
occurs on the east coast of Africa which has nothing to do 
with H. garzetta, and is a different race and even species to 
the typical white H. garzetia and is not the bird which breeds 
at Lake Victoria, South Africa, etc. ; and he places EL. g. gularis, 
EH. g. cineracea, and EL. g. dimorpha in one group. 

Steinbacher further states that H. gularis is easy to 
recognize in West Africa because it “‘is not yet known in a 
pure white plumage,” and by the colour of the bill, but says 


1938.] 25 [Vol. lix, 

“the position is different on the East African coasts, where 
white cineracea and garzetta are not so easy to differentiate.”’ 

If the difference between EH. gularis and H. garzetta is in 
the colour of the bill, and on this we based some of our con- 
clusions, we fail to see how a race that has a black bill, as 
has EH. dimorpha, can be placed under EL. gularis, which has 
a dusky brown bill. Steinbacher admits the difficulty of 
distinguishing birds in white plumage, but does not tell us 
how we can do so, and if we follow Steinbacher’s argument 
we find ouselves in the old position of all the coloured birds 
being one name, say L. g. cineracea, and all the white birds 
being H. garzetta. If we do this we ignore the clear example 
before us of the Madagascar black-billed Egret, which we know 
is dimorphic, both coloured and white young birds having 
been found in the same nest, and it was largely on this example 
that we came to the conclusion that as white and coloured 
birds from eastern Africa were identical in structure, size, 
and colour of soft parts with typical H. garzetta, we had here 
not a race of LH. garzetta but the remnants of dimorphism which 
at one time had a much wider range, probably to both Europe 
and southern Africa. 

In November 1937 Mackworth-Praed examined the types 
of Herodias procerula and Herodias cineracea at the Berlin 
Museum. Both are mounted, and the latter is in very bad 
condition. The type of H. procerula is true E. garzetta, 
with long plumes, blackish legs, etc., and appears to be almost 
in breeding plumage. The type of H. cineracea is blue with 
white alule. Under date May 5, 1933, the late Dr. Hartert 
examined the type of H. cineracea and advised us that it was 
quite a young bird in first plumage with a deep brown bill, 
thus agreeing with similar young birds in the British Museum 
collection, but this pale grey plumage is not necessarily 
confined only to young birds, but the brown, not black, bill 
is characteristic of the young bird of HL. garzetta. 

We fail to see that Steinbacher has brought forward any 
fresh argument and on which we could find cause to reconsider 
and alter our decisions. 


Vol. lix.] 26 [1938. 

As our conclusions have now appeared in three different 
numbers of the Bulletin (liii. 1933, pp. 189-196 ; li. pp. 245- 
246; liv. pp. 73-75), it seems desirable to re-summarize 
the recognizable species and races in Africa and their dis- 
tribution :— 

EGRETTA GARZETTA GARZETTA (Linnzus). 

Bill black, except young birds which have a brown or 
dusky bill. Subject to dimorphism in west and east Africa. 

Distribution :—Southern Europe, east to Japan and the 
Philippines, Africa throughout, Zanzibar, Pemba, and Cape 
Verde Islands. 

EGRETTA GARZETTA DIMORPHA Hartert. 

Similar to H. g. garzetta, but averaging larger, and the 
coloured form has the feathers at base of lower mandible 
coloured, not white. Also dimorphic. 

Distribution.—Madagascar. 

EGRETTA GARZETTA ASSUMPTIONIS Grant & Praed. 

Similar to H. g. garzetta but bill longer. Also dimorphic. 

Distribution. — Assumption and Aldabra Islands, north of 
Madagascar. 

EKGRETTA GULARIS (Bosc). 

Bill always dusky, not black at any age. Also dimorphic. 

Distribution.—Senegal to French Congo, Islands of Annobon, 
Los, San Thomé, Fernando Po, and Principe. 

EGRETTA SCHISTACEA (Ehrenberg). 

Bill yellow. Also dimorphic. 

Distribution.—Nile Valley up to Lake Albert, both coasts 
of Red Sea to Cape Guardafui and east to Ceylon and the 
Laccadives. 

(2) On the races of Campethera taeniolema Reichenow & 
Neumann, Orn. Monatsb. 1895, p. 73: Eldoma Ravine, 
western Kenya Colony. 

Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. i. 1924, p. 294, recognizes two 
races ; Friedmann, Bull. 153, U.S. Nat. Mus. 1930, p. 474, 
recognizes three races ; Granvik, Rev. Zool. et Bot. Afr. xxv. 
1934, p. 52, recognizes two races; Van Someren, Nov. Zool. 


1938.] 27 [Vol. lix. 

xxix. 1922, p. 65 and Nov. Zool. xxxvii. 1932, p. 283, recognizes 
three races. The specimens in the British Museum collection 
show that the characters given for the races do not hold good 
and that the young bird has broader and less sharp barring 
on the underparts. There is some individual variation 
among birds from the same locality. We are therefore of 
opinion that C. teaniolema hausburgi Sharpe, Bull. B. O. C. 
xi. 1900, p. 36: Mt. Kenya, and C. t. barakz van Someren, 
Bull. B. O. C. xl. 1920, p. 96: Baraka, Belgian Congo, must 
become synonyms of C. ta#niolema Reichw. & Neum. 

(3) On the Status of Powcephalus gulielmi permistus Neumann, 
J.f.O. 1931, p. 547: Eldoma Ravine, Mau, Kenya 
Colony. 

A comparison of specimens from Mau, Ravine, and near 
Arusha do not support the characters given for this race, 
1.¢€., the forehead patch, the bill, and the blue colouring, 
as we cannot distinguish between them, and there is un- 
doubtedly a certain amount of individual variation in general 
colour, and the amount of orange red on the forehead varies 
according toage. We therefore consider P. g. permistus Neum. 
to be a synonym of P. g. massaicus Fisch. & Reichw. 

(4) On Porcephalus fuscicapillus tanganidze Bowen, Proc. Ac. 
Nat. Sci. Philad. Ixxxi. 1930, p. 267: Kilosa District, 
Tanganyika Territory. 

Bowen gives as characters considerably smaller, wing 
males 148-159; females 145-152 mm. and some differences 
in colour. Measurements of specimens in the British Museum 
collection give :—Kilosa and Morogoro, three males 147-151 ; 
one female, 150 mm. Inhambane and Beira three males 
153-160 ; two females 152-157 mm. This shows that the 
measurements of P. cryptoxanthus Peters; Monatsb. Akad. 
Berlin, 1854, p. 371: Inhambane, Portuguese East Africa, 
are practically the same as for P. f. tanganyike, i. e., males 
153-160, as against 147-159; females 150-157, as against 
145-152 mm. This, together with the individual variability 
in colouring, precludes us from recognizing this race, whieh 
must become a synonym of Poicephalus cryptoxanthus Peters, 

S DEC 1938 
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BULLETIN 

25 :AN 1939 
PURCHASED 
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. 

OF THE 

No. CCCCXVIII. 

THE four-hundred-and-thirteenth Meeting of the Club was 
held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, S.W., on Wednes- 
day, December 14, 1938. 

Chairman : Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON. 

Members present :—Miss C.M.Actanp ; Dr. D. A. BANNER- 
MAN; Miss P. Barcnay-SmitH ; Miss M.G. Brest; Hon. G. 
CHARTERIS (Vice-Chairman) ; Miss J.M. Ferrier ; J. FISHER ; 
Miss KE. M. Gopman; Capt. C. H. B. Grant (Editor); Col. 
A. E. Hamerton; B.G. Harrison; Dr. J. M. Harrison ; 
P. A. D. Hottom ; Rev. F.C. R. JournpDain ; N. B. KINNEAR ; 
Miss C. LONGFIELD ; Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low (Vice-Chairman) ; 
Dr. P.H. Manson Banner; G. M. Matuews; J. H. McNEILE ; 
J. MavrocorpaTo ; Col. R. MEINERTZHAGEN ; C. OLDHAM ; 
B. B. Osmaston ; H. L&EyBoRNE PorpHam; C. W. Mack- 
WORTH-PRAED; Miss G. Ruoprs; D. Seru-SmitruH; C. R. 
Stonor (Hon. Sec.) ; B. W. Tucker; H. Wuistier; H. F. 
WITHERBY ; C. DE WoRMS. 

Guests :—A. H. CuisHotm; Miss C. Gopman; Dr. C. E. 
HELLMAYR; Miss Lynes; D. H. Manson-Banr; P. H. 
Martin; P. M. Martin ;s Col. W. A. Payn; H. Mackwortu- 
PRAED ; Mrs. A. L. THomson. 

Members present 34 ; Guests 10. 

[January 21, 1939.] a VOL. LIX. 


Vol. lix.] 30 (1939. 

The Chairman referred to the desirability of increasing the 
number of exhibits at meetings of the Club, a respect in which 
there had been considerable falling off in recent years. He 
intimated that the Committee had instructed the Editor not 
to accept descriptions of new forms and the like for publication 
in the ‘ Bulletin’ unless the specimens had been exhibited 
at a meeting, except where specimens were not available 
or there was other good reason why they could not be shown. 

CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. 

Review of the Past Year. 
(NOVEMBER I, 1937, to OcTOBER 31, 1938.) 

Dr. A. LanpsporoucH THomson said: During the past 
twelve months, Ornithology has lost by death some dis- 
tinguished students, including :—Louis-Marcellin Bureau, 
patriarch of French ornithologists; Sergei Alexandrovitch 
Buturlin, a great authority on the birds of Russia ; William 
Eagle Clarke, Ex-President and Godman-Salvin Medallist of 
the British Ornithologists’ Union, and a pioneer investigator 
of bird-migration; Henri Jouard, co-editor of ‘ Alauda’ ; 
Walter J. Lyon, President of the Inland Bird-Banding Associa- 
tion of America; Friedrich Steinbacher, President of the 
Deutsche Ornithologische Gesellschaft ; and Johannes Thiene- 
mann, formerly director of the same society’s station ait 
Rossitten. 

The event of the year was the Ninth International Congress, 
held at Rouen in May, under the presidency of Professor A. 
Ghigi, and with Monsieur J. Delacour as General Secretary. 
This was attended by ornithologists from many countries, 
and was a very successful meeting. 

Other matters can be most conveniently mentioned under 
regional headings. 

EUROPE. 

The appearance of the first two volumes of the new edition 
of the “ Handbook of British Birds,’ by Messrs. H. F. Witherby, 
F. C. R. Jourdain, N. F. Ticehurst, and B. W. Tucker, has 
been acclaimed with widespread appreciation, This work is 


1939.] 31 [Vol. lix. 

obviously destined to be of even greater importance and value 
than its predecessor. The series of coloured plates showing 
various plumages of each species should prove extremely 
useful. 

Two works of generally similar scope are in progress of 
publication on the Continent: in Germany, the ‘ Handbuch 
der deutschen Vogelkunde, by Dr. G. Niethammer and 
others; and in Holland ‘De Nederlandsche Vogels,’ by 
Dr. C. Eyckman and others. A work on the fauna of the 
U.S.8.R. is also in course of issue, and a part dealing with 
birds (by B. Stegmann) has appeared during the year. 

Matters of local British interest have included the breeding 
of the Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubwus cwronicus) in 
Hertfordshire, for the first time in this country; and the 
admission to the British List of three additional subspecies :— 
the Hebridean Rock-Pipit (Anthus spinoletta meinertzhagenr), - 
the Western Little Bustard (Otis tetrax tetrax), and the Northern 
Razorbill (Alca torda torda). The Pallid Harrier (Circus 
macrourus) has been recorded for the second time, and the 
Black Kite (Milvus migrans) for the third time, in the British 
Isles. 

The breeding of the Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) in 
Holland for the first time, as the sequel to a small invasion, 
is also a matter of considerable interest. 

Colonel R. Meinertzhagen paid a short visit to Finnish 
Lapland in winter, a time when little research has been done, 
and made some interesting observations—including the presence 
of Fischer’s Eider (Arctonetta fischeri) in European waters. 

ASTA. 

Mr. H. St. J. Philby has been travelling in northern Arabia, 
visiting areas which he passed through in 1935: the ornitho- 
logical results are being worked out by Mr. G. L. Bates. 
Messrs. H. Whistler and N. B. Kinnear have issued the final 
part of their survey of the birds of the EKastern Ghats. Herr 
Heinrich has returned to Germany from Mt. Victoria in the 
southern Chin Hills with an important collection of birds. 
Mr, J. K. Stanford and Dr, C, B. Ticehurst have added to 

a2 


Vol. lix.] 32 [1939. 

knowledge of the avifauna of northern Burma, and Colonel R. 
Meinhertzhagen to that of northern Afghanistan : Mr. Stanford 
has since accompanied the Vernay-Kingdon Ward expedition 
to the Burma—Yunnan frontier. Messrs. G. Ludlow and 
Sherriff are again in Bhutan and southern Tibet. Herr E. 
Schafer has published an important monograph on the results 
of two expeditions in Tibet, in the ‘ Journal fiir Ornithologie.’ 
Herren Dr. E. Stresemann, W. Meise, and M. Schonwetter 
have published, in the same journal, the second part of their 
account of the birds collected by Beick in northern Kansu. 

Through Baron Rodolphe M. de Schauensee, further im- 
portant collections from Siam have reached the Academy 
of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Mr. G. N. Chasen’s new 
volume on Malay birds is in the press. 

Baron V. von Plessen has investigated the hitherto unknown 
avifauna of the island Penida, off the south coast of Bali; 
and Herr Menden explored the islands of Peling and Taliaboe, 
east of the Celebes. The series of valuable papers by Messrs. 
A. Hoogerwerf and G. F. H. W. Rengers Hora Siccama on 
the.ornithology of Batavia continues to appear in ‘ Ardea.’ 

Although published at the end of 1936, a work by Tsen 
Hwang Shaw on the birds of Hopei Province, in northern 
China, has only recently become known here. It is the first 
important work on ornithology by Chinese workers, and is 
printed in English. 

AFRICA. 

Colonel R. Meinertzhagen has lately been on an expedition 
to Morocco. 

An Italian expedition has added an entirely new genus of 
Corvide to science—Zavattariornis, described by Dr. E. 
Moltoni, from the semi-desert of southern Ethiopia. Sir 
Geoffrey Archer and Miss E. M. Godman have published the 
first two volumes of a work on the birds of British Somaliland 
and the Gulf of Aden. A three-volume work on the birds 
of Kenya and Uganda by the late Sir Frederick Jackson 
and Mr. W. L. Sclater has also been published. Mr. R. E.. 
Moreau continues to be active in Tanganyika Territory, and 
Mr. C. W. Benson has made some interesting discoveries in 


1939.] 33 [Vol. lix. 

Nyasaland. Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed and Captain C. H. B. 
Grant continue to work on Hast African birds. 

Dr. J. P. Chapin has brought back skins of his Congo 
Peacock (Afropavo congensis) from the forest south-east of 
Stanleyville in the Belgian Congo. He has completed the 
proofs of the second volume of his account of the birds of that 
country. The fifth volume of Dr. D. A. Bannerman’s ‘ Birds 
of Tropical West Africa ’ is now in the press. 

Herr W. Hoesch continues his work in South-west Africa, 
where he has now been joined by Herr Niethammer. Rear- 
Admiral H. Lynes has again gone to South Africa in search 
of Cisticola spp. 

AUSTRALASIA AND OCEANIA. 

Collections from New Guinea have been brought to the 
United States by Mr. Dillon Ripley, and sent there by Herr 
Kiell von Sneidern. Mr. A. L. Rand has left that country 
for New Guinea, where he will continue his investigations 
in the interior with the aid of a large modern amphibian plane. 

NorTH AND CENTRAL AMERICA. 

Dr. C. EK. Hellmayr’s volume on the Finches, in the ‘ Birds 
of the Americas,’ is now in the press. 

Mr. A. C. Bent has published the eleventh volume of his 
great work on the * Life Histories of North American Birds’ : 
this covers the remainder of the Falconiformes and the Striges. 

Further interesting field-work has been done by representa- 
tives of the United States National Museum in continuation 
of the programme for the study of subspecies of birds in the 
Appalachian Mountain region. 

Mr. James Bond has done. further work in the West Indies. 

Dr. F. M. Chapman has continued his investigations at the 
tropical laboratory on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, and 
has completed another volume dealing with his studies in 
that interesting locality. » 

A publication of the Field Museum on the birds of El 
Salvador, by Messrs. D. R. Dickey and A. J. van Rossem, adds 
to available information on the avifauna of Central America. 


Vol. lix.] 34 [1939. 

The Public Schools Exploring Society from this country 
went this year again to Newfoundland, and an interesting 
collection of birds was made under Mr. Heycock. 

SoutH AMERICA. 

Messrs. D. L. Lack and L. 8S. V. Venables have just left 
this country for the Galapagos on an expedition, aided by 
this Club and other bodies, of which an important object 
is the study of the Geospizide. 

Dr. A. Wetmore, on behalf of the Smithsonian Institution, 
has made an ornithological reconnaissance in northern 
Venezuela. For the Field Museum, Mr. Emmet R. Blake 
has made extensive collections in British Guiana and Brazil. 
Messrs. M. A. Maus and Gordon Howes have been collecting 
in Bolivia. 

The first part has appeared of Senor O. M. de Olieveira 
Pinto’s ‘ Catalogo das Aves do Brasil,’ which gives a modern 
list for that important country. 

Mr. A. R. G. Morrison has completed his trip to Huancavilica 
in south-central Peru, of which an account will appear in 
‘ The Ibis,’ and has now left again for Chile. 

ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC. 

Mr. C. G. Bird has just returned from a stay of two years 
in East Greenland, and has brought back further collections 
of skins. Eggs of the Knot (Calidris canutus) and Sanderling 
(Crocethia alba) were also secured. 

Mr. T. Manning is still on Southampton Island, at the 
entrance to Hudson Bay, and was joined by the late 
Mr. Bray. Messrs. J. H. McNeile and B. G. Harrison have 
made a further visit to Spitzbergen. 

Mr. B. B. Roberts is preparing the results of recent work 
in the Antarctic for publication by the British Museum. 

GENERAL. 

Dr. J. L. Peters has completed the manuscript for the 
fourth volume of his monumental ‘ Check-list of the Birds 
of the World.’ 


1939.] 35 [Vol. lix. 

As examples of studies of life and behaviour, mention may 
be made of Mr. J. M. Linsdale’s monograph on the natural 
history of the Magpies; of Miss A. Hibbert-Ware’s report 
for the British Trust for Ornithology on the food of the Little 
Owl; of Herr W. Makatsch’s survey of ‘ Der Brutparasitismus 
der Kuckkucksvogel’; and of papers by Messrs. W. Wuczeticz 
and A. Tugarinov on the results of ringing ducks on the Volga 
Delta. Although it was actually published shortly before 
the beginning of the period under review, I should like to make 
special mention also of the study by Mrs. M. M. Nice of the 
‘Life History of the Song Sparrow’ (Part I.), which con- 
stitutes a landmark in work of this kind, and is of interest 
from several points of view. 

For valuable help in collecting information for this review, 
I gratefully make acknowledgment to Dr. Alexander Wet- 
more, Dr. H. Friedmann, Dr. E. Stresemann, and the Rev. 
F. C. R. Jourdain, as well as to Mr. N. B. Kinnear and others 
in the Bird Room at the British Museum (Natural History). 

Some Remarks on the Present Position of the 
Orientation Problem. 

Dr. A. LANDSBoROUGH THOMSON, continuing, said that he 
wished to devote the second part of his address to a few 
remarks on a special topic. He had selected the orientation 
problem because of the fresh interest that had been aroused 
in it by the remarkable results obtained during the last few 
yearsin homing experiments with wild birds, and by consequent 
revival of theoretical speculation as to how birds—both in 
such experiments and on migration in the natural course— 
find their way. | 

It is now nearly a quarter of a century since Watson and 
Lashley, in America, published the results of their experiments 
with Noddy and Sooty Terns, removed from their breeding 
places on the Tortugas Islands in the Gulf of Mexico. It was 
shown that these birds, when transported by ship in closed 
cages, were able to return to their nests from points on the 
mainland over 850 miles to the east or to the north, or from 
intermediate points at sea entirely out of sight of land. When 


Vol. lix.] 36 [1939. 

taken northward, moreover, the birds were liberated beyond 
the limits of the natural range of the species. 

Many homing experiments with different wild birds have 
been made since then, but mostly over relatively short distances. 
It is only in the last few years that results comparable in 
interest with those of Watson and Lashley have been recorded. 

Riippell, in Germany, has been notably successful. In his 
1934 experiments, Swallows returned to their breeding places 
from distances of up to 311 miles (Arnheim in Holland to 
near Berlin), the best time being 255 miles in just under 26 
hours ; a House-Martin also returned from Holland, 317 miles, 
by the third day. In Poland in the same year, Wodzicki and 
Wojtusick recorded a Swallow which returned from 74 miles 
away in 3 hours. A large scale experiment made in Germany 
by Hilprecht, in removing birds of various species during the 
winter, gave mostly negative results, although the distances 
were only moderate : some of the birds, however, re-appeared 
in spring at the place of original capture. 

In Riippell’s 1935 experiments, five out of seven breeding 
Swallows returned from Croydon to near Bremen, a distance 
of 428 miles, the best recorded time being a little over four 
days. Subsequently, two House-Martins did almost the 
same journey in under two and a half days. Other results 
included return flights of Starlings from distances of up to 
438 miles (from Silesia). In 1936, Riippell obtained evidence 
of successful homing to Berlin on the part of Swallows from 
London, Madrid, and Athens; of Wrynecks from London, 
Munich, Venice, and Salonika; and of a Red-backed Shrike 
from Marseilles. 

No less remarkable are the results obtained by Lack and 
Lockley, in 1936 and 1937, in experiments with Manx Shear- 
waters taken from their nesting burrows on Skokholm, off 
Pembrokeshire. The records include return journeys from 
Surrey (200 miles in direct line, or 390 miles by sea-route) in 
24 hours; from the Firth of Forth (340 miles direct, or 800 
by sea) in eleven days; from the Faeroes (730 miles) in 
twelve days ; and from Venice (930 miles direct, 3700 by sea) 
in fourteen days. 


1989.] 37 [Vol. lix- 

In the present year, Wodzicki, Puchalski, and Liche have 
recorded experiments in Poland with White Storks. Breeding 
birds removed from near Lwow returned successfully from 
Warsaw, from Bucharest, and from Lydda in Palestine— 
distances of about 185, 410, and 1400 miles, respectively. 
The return journey from Palestine was made at the rate of 
116 miles per day. 

Lyon, in America, has made experiments with Cowbirds, 
but a full published account is not yet to hand. Birds are 
stated to have returned from New Orleans and from Edmonton, 
Alberta, to Waukegan, Illinois, distances of about 1000 and 
1500 miles. Considering that homing powers have been found 
chiefly in the case of parent birds removed from their nests, 
it is of some interest that they are well developed in a species 
which is parasitic in its breeding habits. 

These homing feats of wild birds are much more remarkable 
than those of domestic Pigeons bred for the purpose. Pigeons 
are usually raced from the same direction, and they are 
trained over gradually increasing distances at first, although 
later these may be lengthened by jumps of 100-150 miles. 
Moreover, in big races the birds may fly in company for the 
first part of the way after release. It should also be noted 
that there is an enormous wastage of birds, during both 
training and subsequent racing. 

The natural homing of migrants to their native or former 
breeding localities is obviously not strictly analogous. The 
birds have made the outward journey under their own power, 
although admittedly the return flight may not always follow 
quite the same course. The first autumn migration of young 
birds, in cases where these do not travel in company with 
their parents, involves different considerations : here not only 
the route but the goal is unknown to the individual, and some 
hereditary factor must play a part in determining the direction 
taken. Yet it seems reasonable to suppose that the actual 
process of orientation is probably similar in all cases. 

It seems certain that visual recognition of landmarks play 
a large part in some cases. Pigeons may indeed depend 
almost entirely upon this, with perhaps guidance by more 

aod 


Vol. lix.] 38 [1939. 

experienced birds during first flights over new country. In 
the case of migrants, if there is not specific recognition of 
particular landmarks there is at least much use of geographical 
features as guiding lines. On the latter assumption, however, 
it is clear that some other factor governing the general direction 
of the journey must also operate to determine the choice 
of suitable features. Flights over wide stretches of sea (and 
perhaps of desert), furthermore, seem to imply some faculty 
of maintaining a direction of flight without the aid of visible 
landmarks. The fact that much migration is nocturnal, 
however, does not necessarily exclude the use of vision. 

On the whole, apart from the question of hereditary factors 
in migration, the homing experiments with wild birds seem 
to present the more baffling problem. It is not a matter of 
finding a way between points of known relationship: the 
difficulty is to understand how the direction of “‘ home ”’ from 
a completely unknown point can be appreciated. The pro- 
portion of successful returns in some cases, and the speed 
with which the journey can be accomplished, seems to exclude 
any possibility of mere random casting about until known 
landmarks are picked up. In some instances, such as that 
of a White Stork returning from Palestine to Poland, previous 
knowledge of the country from migration experience may 
possibly be utilised; but in others anything of the kind 
appears to be out of the question. 

One line of explanation is to suppose that, in spite of the 
conditions of transportation, the birds are able to register 
the direction of the outward journey. ‘Some of the recent 
homing experiments have been designed to test ideas of this 
kind. Thus Kluijver, in Holland, transported Starlings under 
an anesthetic for part of the way; Riippell has subjected 
some of his birds to continuous rotation in the dark throughout 
the journey ; “ faradic cages ”’ have also been used, to exclude 
possible electrical or magnetic influences. In general, these 
procedures have not diminished homing capacity in any 
observable degree. This confirms earlier work of the same 
kind with Pigeons. 

A negative result, it may be mentioned, was obtained by 


1939. ] 39 [Vol. lix. 

Riippell with Starlings reared in captivity, where they bred 
in the following spring. These birds, when removed from 
their nests, failed to return home from a distance of 71 miles, 
and a few were afterwards recovered near the place of release. 

Some may be content to say that birds must have a special 
“sense of direction,’ and to leave it at that. But this is 
merely to give the phenomenon a name, and not an explana- 
tion. The term has indeed no exact meaning, unless it is 
associated with some idea as to the nature of the thing perceived 
and of the physiological channel of perception. In this 
regard one has to remember that direction is not an entity, 
but merely a relationship between different points. 

Various attempts have been made to propound a satis- 
factory theory in terms of sensitivity to terrestrial magnetism. 
Stresemann has recently revived this idea, in the light of the 
homing results such as have here been mentioned, with the 
suggestion that the function may be located in the statoliths 
of the avian ear. No evidence of sensitivity to magnetism, 
however, has ever been obtained in laboratory experiments 
on the subject. (It may be added that statements in the 
popular press about homing Pigeons being affected by broad- 
casting stations have not been substantiated.) Nor has there 
yet been any really adequate theory as to how the phenomena 
of terrestrial magnetism could serve the purposes of orientation. 
It is not, for instance, enough to assume a capacity to detect 
the direction of Magnetic North: this would by itself be no 
more serviceable to a bird than would a compass to a human 
being not possessed also of a map or at least of a mental picture 
of the country to be traversed. It would be necessary, at 
the least, to assume sensitivity to the minute differences 
in the component factors of terrestrial magnetism which 
characterise particular places; and for such an assumption 
there is at present no substantial justification. 

On the purely theoretical side, therefore, one is driven to 
conclude that the orientation problem remains very much as 
it was. The new facts that have recently been obtained are 
nevertheless of much interest, and it is to be hoped that further 
additions to our knowledge of this subject will be made. 


Vol. lix.] 40 [1939. 

Semi-albino Birds from Britain. 
Colonel W. A. Payn exhibited a series of semi-albino 
and other curiously marked birds, and made some remarks 
about them :— 

Crex crex. Landrail. 
A partial albino. 

EMBERIZA CITRINELLA. Yellowhammer. 

CALCARIUS LAPPONICUS. Lapland Bunting. 

Both with symmetrical white bars in the wing, covering the 
same part of the plumage. The Lapland Bunting had been 
three years in captivity. 

EMBERIZA CITRINELLA. Yellowhammer. 
Plumage generally pale all over. Evidently a fairly 
common variety. 

CARDUELIS CARDUELIS BRITANNICA. Goldfinch. 
Albino all over, except for red mask and yellow bars in 
wings. 

Fuiica ATRA. Coot. 

GALLINULA CHLOROPUS. Moorhen. 

A nestling of each. To illustrate the difference between 
the two and the claw on the wing in the nestling of both. 

STURNUS VULGARIS VULGARIS. Starling. 
Change of plumage from juvenile to first winter. Change 
of body completed and head hardly begun. 

ALAUDA ARVENSIS ARVENSIS. Skylark. 

A nestling one day old to illustrate the length of down 
on a newly hatched bird. Evidently for purpose of pro- 
tection to a ground-breeding bird whose nest is not concealed 
from above. 

CHARADRIUS HIATICULA TUNDR&. Siberian Ringed Plover. 
A specimen acquired at Blakeney, very typical of this form. 


1939.] 41 [Vol. lix. 

Proceedings of the Eighth International Congress. 

The Rev. F. C. R. Journpatn brought up for inspection 
two copies of the ‘ Proceedings of the Eighth International 
Ornithological Congress, Oxford, July 1934,’ printed at the 
University Press, Oxford. One copy was in paper cover, 
the other bound in cloth: the latter type will be supplied 
to members at an extra charge of 3s. 6d., but intending 
purchasers should notify the Secretary as soon as possible, as 
the number will be limited. The work (pp. x, 762) contains 
an account of the Congress and Long Excursion, list of members, 
etc., and over 60 papers are reported in full in either English, 
French, German, or Italian. 

Conservation in California. 

Dr. P. H. Manson-Banr showed photographs and gave a 
talk on the conservation of bird life in California. 

A new Race of Penduline Tit. 

Dr. D. A. BANNERMAN proposed the following name for the 
Least Penduline Tit which has been discovered on the Gold 
Coast :— 

Anthoscopus parvulus aureus, subsp. nov. 

As mentioned in Bull. B. O.C. Iv. 1935, p. 131, this tiny 
Penduline Tit is most nearly allied to the typical subsp. 
which occurs in the Anglo-EKgyptian Sudan and Bahr el Ghazal 
rather than with the more brightly coloured specimens which 
are found on the Upper Volta, which I referred to A. p. 
senegalensis. — 

Description.—A. p. aureus differs from A. p. parvulus in 
having but a faint indication of the yellow forehead, which 
is dull yellowish, blending more with the crown and with 
only a few dull blackish dots, instead of a bright yellow 
forehead with jet-black dots as in the other races. It has 
also a duller, less yellow, throat when compared with A. p. 
parvulus or A. p. senegalensis, and is much duller on the 
upperside than A. p. senegalensis, though approaching in 


Vol. lix.] 42 [1939. 

this respect A. p. parvulus. A. p. citrinus—the Ubangi-Shari- 
East Cameroons form—is very much brighter yellow through- 
out. 

Type, ° adult, no. 732, Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1935.7.17.98, 
Bole, N. Territories, Gold Coast. Colls. W. P. Lowe and 
Miss Fanny Waldron, January 10, 1935. 

Measurements of Type.—Bill 8; wing 50; tail 28; tarsus 
12°5 mm. 

Observations.—Unfortunately this bird has already been 
quoted in Mr. W. P. Lowe’s report in ‘ The Ibis,’ 1937, p. 848, 
as the typical subspecies, but there is good reason for bestowing 
a new name upon this bird, and for considering it a distinct 
subspecies. Apart from the slight differences which it ex- 
hibits in plumage, there is an area of some 2000 miles separating 
the range of the two forms, and in the intervening country, 
at any rate in the Ubangi-Shari, the very bright-coloured 
Anthoscopus parvulus citrinus occurs as represented in the 
British Museum by a specimen collected by Boyd Alexander 
on the Bamingui river. | 

Considering these points, I have no choice but to name the 
bird which Mr. Willoughby Lowe and his companion obtained 
at Bole. 

A new Francolin from Nyasaland. 
Mr. C. W. BENSON sent the following description :— 

Francolinus squamatus doni, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Most closely resembles Francolinus squamatus 
schuettt Cabanis, Journ. Ornith. 1880, p. 351, pl. ii. 1881: 
Lunda, Angola, but differs from it in that the dark-centred 
light-edged feathers both on the upperside and the underside 
have centres more rufous-brown. Also the crown is not 
brownish, but greyish. 

Soft parts.—Bill red ; feet vermilion ; soles dull vermilion ; 
iris brown. 

Distribution.—Only known so far from the type-locality. 

Type.—In the British Museum. Adult male. Vipya 
Plateau, at an elevation of 6000 feet, 15 miles north-east of 


1939.] 43 [Vol. lix. 

Msimba district headquarters, Nyasaland. Collected by 
C. W. Benson on September 18, 1938. Collector’s no. 1547, 
Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1939.1.12.1. 

Measurements of T'ype.—Wing 186; tail 85; culmen from 
base 33:5; tarsus 52 mm. 

Remarks.—This bird inhabits patches of dense evergreen 
forest in short open grassland. Wing-measurements of five 
further specimens examined: two males 185, 186 mm. ; 
three females 164, 165, 180 mm. 

This new race is named in honour of Mr. P. J. Don, due 
largely to whose enthusiasm it was that these birds were 
collected. 

I have not examined any specimens of F. s. uzungwensis 
Bangs & Loveridge, Proc. N. Engl. Zool. Club, xii. 1931, p. 93, 
Kigogo, Uzungwe Mts., Iringa Province, Tanganyika Territory. 
Of all the type-localities of races of this species this is the nearest 
to that of F. s. doni, being not more than 400 miles distant. 
All five specimens of F. s. usambare in the British Museum 
have a conspicuous black line on the side of the head. This 
is very much less conspicuous in F’. s. don, but in the descrip- 
tion of F. s. uzungwensis it is stated that it differs from F’. s. 
usambare in having the black line on the side of the head 
more sharply defined. 

A new Hill Babbler from Nyasaland. 
Mr. C. W. BENSON sent the following description :— 

Pseudoalcippe pyrrhoptera nyase, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from Pseudoalcippe pyrrhoptera pyr- 
rhoptera (Reichw. & Neumann), Orn. Monat. iii. 1895, p. 75: 
Mau, Kenya Colony, in its less bright rufous flanks and under 
tail-coverts. Both these races differ from P. pyrrhoptera 
kivuensis (Neumann) Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. xxi. 1908, p. 55: 
Sabinio, Ruanda, in not having blackish-grey but brown crowns, 
and this is the difference between typical P. p. pyrrhoptera 
and P. p. kivuensis given by Neumann in Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 
xxi. 1908, p. 55. 

Typical P. p. pyrrhoptera is represented in the British 
Museum by three specimens (including one juvenile), and 


Vol. lix.] 44 [1939. 

there are nine specimens of P. p. kivuensis, all from Ruwen- 
zorl. It might be supposed that this new race is in fact 
referable to T'urdinus tanganyice Reichenow, Jour. Orn. 1917, 
p. 391: Fusi, W. of Lake Tanganyika, Belgian Congo, but 
Gyldenstolpe has shown in K. Vet.-Akad. Hand. i. no. 3, 1924, 
p. 171, that it is a synonym of P. p. kivuensis. Moreover, in 
_ the description of P. p. tanganyice, it is stated that this bird 
has a grey crown. 

Soft Parts.—Upper mandible sepia-grey, lower dirty white ; 
feet grey, soles dirty white ; iris brown. 

Type.—In the British Museum. Adult male, Nyakhowa Mt. 
(Mt. Laws), near Livingstonia, Nyasaland. Collected by 
C. W. Benson on October 13, 1938. Collector’s no. 1578, 
Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1939.1.12.2. 

Measurements of Type.—Wing 77, tail 64, culmen from 
base 19, tarsus 28 mm. 

Remarks.—This bird is only known from dense tall evergreen 
forest at the type-locality, at 6000-7000 feet. It was 
originally discovered by the Rev. W. P. Young, who presented 
two specimens to the British Museum, and I have now added 
four more. Measurements of the five further specimens :— 
Two males, wings 71, 77; two females, wings 73, 69; one 
sex undetermined 69 mm. 

The Races of the Black Vulture. 

M. No&i Mayaup sent the following communication on 
the races of Agypius monachus :— 

In Bull. B. O. C. lviii. 1938, p. 94, Colonel Meinhertzhagen 
points out that birds from Chinese Turkestan and China are 
larger than those from the western and southern area of the 
. species. The Marquess Hachisuka (Bull. B. O. C. lix. 1938, 
p. 16) agrees with this opinion, and I can confirm the measure- 
ments given by Col. Meinertzhagen, but I can also add some 
data for Spanish, French, and Oriental European birds. 

Spain : 2 adult males, Sierra de Guadarrama, May 25 and 26, 
1877 (Museum of Nantes, ex L. Bureau). Wing 800-812, 
culmen 62-64 mm, 


1939. | 45 [Vol. lix. 

France: 1 adult, Plaine de la Crau (Museum of Geneva). 
Wing 780, abnormal culmen, very hooked, 62:2 mm. 
2 immature males, Pyrénées (Mus. of Paris and Geneva). 
Wing 750-800, culmen 61-63 mm. | He 

Roumania: 1 adult (Mus. of Paris). Wing 775, culmen 
61:5 mm. 

Near Istanbul, Turkey: 1 adult (Mus. of Nantes, ex Alléon). 
Wing 834, culmen 64:5 mm. 

Balkans and Greece: 1 female, lst year. Wing 781 mm. 
1 immature. Wing 728, culmen 58:2 mm. (Mus. of Nantes, 
ex. L. Bureau and Parzudaki.) 

The length of 834 mm. for an adult specimen from Instanbul 
is remarkable ; but it is obvious that such a length must be 
rare, and that European birds are smaller on the average 
than those from the Eastern area. 

With regard to the name of the Kastern race, | think that 
Vultur chincouw of Daudin should be accepted. Daudin (1800) 
and before him Le Vaillant (1796) were as clear and precise 
as possible concerning the information derived from Ameshof. 
In his text Levaillant wrote, “‘ N’ayant pu savoir le nom que 
porte cet oiseau dans son pays natal, qui est le Chine, a ce 
que m’a assuré le C. Ameshof.”” °° Assuré”’ is a strong word, 
and it was hardly possible for the author to insist more 
definitely upon the indication given as to its native country. 
For this reason, as well as those relating to the practice of 
aviculture in China, brought forward by the Marquess Hachi- 
suka, I am in agreement with him in recognizing the validity 
of the name chincou for the Eastern race of the Black Vulture 
(digypius monachus). 

A new Race of Bronze-winged Dove. 
THE Marquess HacuisuKa sent the following description :— 

Chalecophaps indica yamashinai, subsp. nov. 
The birds from the Riu Kiu Islands which are found only 
in the south, differ greatly, at a glance, from the Formosan 

birds, having on their hind neck and upper back a wash of 
bluish-slate over the vinous-red. 


Vol. lix.] 46 (1939. 

Type.—Male, in Yamashina’s Coll. no. 24221. Yonakuni 
Island, June 15, 1936. Collected by H. Orii. 

Measurements—Wing 147, tail 82, culmen 17, tarsus 
26-5 mm. 

Range.—Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Yonakuni in the Southern 
Riu Kiu Islands. 

Material examined.—Twenty males of the new race and 
many Formosan specimens. The average measurement of the 
bill is 17-20 mm. 

Remarks.—Only a few skins of Bronze-winged Dove had 
been collected at the time of publication of Dr. Kuroda’s 
monumental work entitled ‘ Avifauna of the Riu Kiu Islands ’ 
in 1925; however, many collections have been made there 
since, and I am now able to examine a series preserved in the 
museums of Prince Taka-Tsukasa, Dr. Kuroda, and the 
Marquis Yamashina. They all agree with me upon the 
validity of the present race. 

CHALCOPHAPS INDICA FORMOSANUS Swinhoe. 

Swinhoe, Ibis, 1865, p. 357 (male), p. 540 (female). 

In spite of several names having been proposed, the conti- 
nental Oriental region, as well as the Sunda Islands, also 
Hainan and Formosa, are considered to be inhabited by the 
typical race. On my careful examination, the Formosan 
bird may be separated from the continental ally by having 
a longer bill (17-19 mm.). 

The measurements of the typical birds are :— 

Incite: (Baker), 05034 medal 15-16 mm. 
Indo-China (Delacour)........ 14-17 _,, 
S.E. China (La Touche) ..... 15-16 ,, 
Java, {VOrcenman)n. teas aces | 17 - 

CHALCOPHAPS INDICA PILEATA Scopoli. 

Columba pileata Scopoli, Del Flora et Fauna, Insubr. pt. ii. 
1786, p. 94: Panay. 

Columba albicapilla Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1789, p. 775: Panay. 

The coloration of the Philippine birds is much the same 


1939.| 47 [Vol. lix. 

as C. i. yamashinai, but its hind neck is somewhat darker ; 
also, it can be distinguished by having a shorter bil 1(15-16 mm.). 
Names have been proposed from Amboina, Borneo, the 
Moluccas, and the Sanghir Islands, but I have no material 
from these places to compare with the Philippine skins. 
It is for this reason that I confine the distribution of Chalco- 
phaps indica pileata to the Philippine Islands. 

A new Species, and a new Race from Peling. 
Prof. OscAaR NEUMANN sent the description of a new species 
and a new subspecies from Peling island, east of Celebes :— 

Turdus (Geokichla) mendeni, sp. nov. 

Front, middle of head, upper neck, interscapulum, back, 
rump, and upper tail-coverts cinnamon. Sides of head, wing, 
all wing-coverts, tail, and whole underside black, the black 
and the cinnamon colours are very sharply defined. A longi- 
tudinal white patch above the eye and a larger white patch 
behind the eye on the hinder part of the cheek. The upper 
third of the inner webs of the primaries, with the exception 
of the first and second, white. The white bar is only visible 
on the underside of the wing. Iris brown, bill slaty-blue, — 
feet flesh-coloured. . 

Wing 114, tail 72 mm. 

Type.—Peling, alt. 300 m., 24. 8. 38, J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Menden collected only this one specimen. This 
new Thrush, which is a geographical representative*of Turdus 
erythronotus (Celebes), VT. dohertys (Lombok and Sum- 
bawa), and 7’. dumasi (Moluccas), differs at once from all 
thrushes by the extremely sharp delimitation of the three 
colours. 

Seissirostrum dubium pelingense, subsp. nov. 

g and 2. Similar to S. d. dubsum (Lath.) from Celebes, 
but with longer wing and longer and slenderer bill. 

Wing, gd 99-103, 92 97-99 mm.; bill, gg 20:5-22:5, 
2° 19-20 mm. 

Type 3.—Peling, alt. 200 m., 17.7. 38, collected by J. J. 
Menden. 


Vol. lix.] 48 (1939. 

Remarks.—Menden collected 15 gg, 14992 of this race 
from sea-level to 200 m. height. JI compared this series with 
no less than 23 specimens from Celebes, most collected by 
Gerd Heinrich, and kept in the Berlin Museum. Their wing- 
measurements are:—d g¢ from Burukan and Kumerot, 
N. Celebes, 95-97 mm. ; 3 99 from there 93-97 mm., 5 ¢¢ from 
Waro, 8.E. Celebes, 93-98, 5 29 from there 94-96 mm. 

Further five specimens without sex and date in my collection, 
from uncertain locality, collected by John Waterstradt, 
92-98 mm. The bill in these specimens is about 16-19-5, 
but, as it is at least as high as that of the Peling race, it looks 
stouter and heavier. The length of the tail in S. d. pelingensis 
measures g¢ 89-92 and 9° 82-85 mm. 

As regards length of the tail there seems to be a difference 
between the population of N. Celebes and of S.E. Celebes, as 
I found in gg and 99 from N. Celebes 65-75 mm., in S.E. 
Celebes 75-90 mm. 

The types of Geokichla mendeni and of Scissirostrum dubium 
pelingense will go to the Museum of Comparative Zoology in 
Cambridge, Mass. 

Remarks on the Races of Charadrius hiaticula 
hiaticula. 

Dr. CARMICHAEL Low sent the following note :— 

Dr. James M. Harrison (Bull. B. O. C. lix. 1938, pp. 17-18) 
hod 

raises again the question of a British race of Charadrius 
Inaticula hiaticula under the title Charadrius hiaticula major. 
I have already shown (Bull. B. O. C. liv. 1934, pp. 126-127, 
and ‘ British Birds,’ xxviii. 1934, pp. 64-66) after a careful 
study of the material in the British Museum and elsewhere, 
that such a race is distinctly doubtful, and that in my opinion 
should not stand. I am supported in my contention by 
Capt. C. H. B. Grant, who also recently went into this question 
independently, and who decided, after having specimens 
of breeding birds sent from Sweden to compare with breeding 
birds in the British Museum, that there was not sufficient 
evidence to warrant a separation into two races. The question 
does not lie between Scandinavian, British, and Siberian birds, 


1939.] 49 [Vol. lix. 

but only between the two former, the latter including northern 
Scandinavia are definitely darker in colour, being separated 
racially by their size and other features as well. 

Swedish breeding birds show quite considerable individual 
variation, and have both the characters of the more northern 
and more southern birds. As a matter of fact, Linnaeus de- 
scribed his Charadrius hiaticula from an intermediate locality. 
I have a Finland breeding bird which is as light or even lighter 
than some of the British birds. There is a tendency for both 
northern and southern birds to be darker in colour just after 
their moult, but as time goes on the plumage tends to fade, 
and bleaching takes place especially in the following summer. 

As regards winter birds it is impossible to differentiate them. 
I have two birds by me now from Shetland, kindly sent me 
by Mr. J. G. Williams of the Cardiff Museum, and they are 
very dark, apparently having just moulted, but in a series 
from Orkney, two are on the dark side, but not so dark 
as the Shetland birds, while the others are much lighter and 
approximate to birds from the south. All of these may be 
local resident birds or quite possibly Scandinavian migrants, 
but unless we have some other factors than mere colour 
(measurements, shape, etc.) then it is impossible to say. 
Measurements of both come within the same limits. 

In my paper (° British Birds,’ xxviii, 1934, pp. 64-66) I said 
the Icelandic and Greenlandic race was doubtful, and in my 
opinion could not stand, but now after seeing and examining 
a large series of Ringed Plover collected by Messrs. C. G. and 
K. G. Bird from East Greenland, I am inclined to accept the 
race (vide also C. G. Bird, Bull. B. O. C. lv. 1934, p. 80). The 
Bird brothers are shortly to publish an account of this collection, 
so I shall not forestall them here. 

Charadrius hiaticula septentrionalis Brehm, just as Charadrius 
hiaticula tundrx, does not come into this issue of the British 
race at all therefore, and I think it would have been well if 
Dr. Harrison had consulted the long series of Ringed Plover 
in the British Museum before writing his paper. 

While on the subject of describing new subspecies on dif- 
ferent shades of the same colour alone, one should be careful 


Vol. lix.] , 50 . ~ (1939. 

to remember how much colour can vary or change with 
climatic conditions. It is not so difficult perhaps with resident 
birds, such as those dark-coloured birds, for example, in the 
damp wet climate of the Outer Hebrides, but in migrating 
birds coming from the north to different climates in the south 
there is a corresponding change in conditions (more and 
stronger sun, for example), which may definitely alter the 
colour and bleach a dark colour into a lighter one very quickly. 
Again, as Mrs. Meinertzhagen has shown (‘ A Practical Hand- 
book of British Birds,’ ii. 1924, p. 519), the colour on the back 
of British breeding Charadrius h. hiaticula darkens as they 
pass into their winter plumage, and renders their differentia- 
tion from birds from the north of Scotland and Scandinavia 
difficult, if not impossible. 

Some Notes on Eastern African Birds. 

Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. MackwortH-PRAED 
sent the following five notes :— 

(1) On the Seasonal Changes of Plumage in Centropus grillii 
Hartlaub, and its Relationship to other Forms. | 

Dr. James P. Chapin has recently drawn our attention to 
the seasonal change of plumage in Centropus grillii. Bowen, 
Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Philad. xciii. 1931, p. 32, has drawn 
attention to a non-breeding dress in an adult female from 
Ikoma Region, Tanganyika Territory, dated June 12, 1929, 
which is moulting from a black to a brown dress, and has no 
barring on the wings nor on the under side of the tail. 

We have examined the series in the British Museum collec- 
tion and have found an adult male, no date and no locality, 
Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1923.8.7.7213, which is also moulting 
from a black to a brown dress, and has no barring on the flight- 
feathers or the under side of the tail. There are in the British 
Museum collection two other specimens in full non-breeding 
(brown) dress, 7. ¢., an adult female from Lake Chad, dated 
February 15, 1905, Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1923.8.7.7211, and an 
adult female from Lagos, dated January 8, 1920, Brit. Mus. 
Reg. no, 1920.68.50. All these specimens have a _ brown- 


1939. ] , 51 [Vol. lix. 

coloured bill, whereas in breeding dress the bill is black. 
It is, therefore, clearly established that Centropus grilli: has 
a brown non-breeding dress, from which the young bird is 
at once distinguishable by having the flight-feathers and the 
under side of the tail barred. 

Mr. Hugh Whistler informs us that Centropus bengalensis 
Gmelin, also has a brown non-breeding dress. Rand, Bull. 
Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Ixxii. 1936, p. 400, points out that 
Centropus toulou (Mill.) has a non-breeding dress. This is 
not so complete as in Centropus grilliz, the blackish colouring 
being retained on the belly and under tail-coverts. It is also 
known that Centropus bengalensis javanicus Dumont has a 
brown non-breeding dress. A comparison of Centropus 
grillit, Centropus bengalensis, and Centropus toulow shows that 
they are conspecific, and we propose to unite them as follows :— 

Centropus toulou toulow (Miller), Syst. Nat. Suppl. 1776, 
p. 90: Madagascar, and races. 

Centropus toulou bengalensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat. Wk. 1788, 
p. 412: Bengal, and races. 

Centropus toulou grillia Hartlaub, J.f.O. 1861, p. 13: 
Gabon, and races. 

For not only are they very similar in both breeding and non- 
breeding dress, but the fact of their having a non-breeding 
dress (which so far as Africa is concerned appears to be ex- 
ceptional in the Centropide) strongly supports their relation- 
ship. 

We have yet to learn which dress the young bird of Centropus 
grillit assumes in its first moult. If it moults soon after the 
end of the breeding season, we would expect to find it assuming 
a non-breeding dress, but if it does not moult until the 
beginning of the next breeding season we would expect to 
find it assuming the black breeding dress. 

(2) On Campothera abingdont kavirondensis Van Someren, 
Bull. B. O. C. xlvii. 1926, p. 70: Lolgorien, south Kavi- 
rondo, south-western Kenya Colony. 

Dr. Van Someren has very kindly lent us the type and co- 
type of this race, These agree with C. a. smithi (Malherbe), 

im 


Vol. lix.] 52 (1939. 

Rev. Zool. 1845, p. 403: Marico District, western Transvaal, 
in general colour and in the markings of the underparts, 
including the black throat to upper breast, but the mantle 
is spotted, not barred. It is true that the young bird of 
C. a. smithi has a spotted mantle, but the adults are distinctly 
barred. Lynes, J. f. O. 1934, p. 67, obtained a pair of this 
bird at Iringa, Tanganyika Territory, and listed them as C. a. 
smitht. These specimens are in the British Museum collection, 
and agree in the spotting of the mantle with Van Someren’s 
specimens, and are therefore C’. a. kavirondensis. The distribu- 
tion of C. a. kavirondensis is from south-western Kenya Colony 
to south-central Tanganyika Territory ; the distribution of 
C. a. abingdoni is from eastern South Africa to Kilosa, eastern 
Tanganyika Territory ; and that of C. a. mombassica from 
southern Italian Somaliland, eastern Kenya Colony and 
north-eastern and eastern Tanganyika Territory as far south 
as the Morogoro and Dar-es-Salaam Districts. Thus three 
races occur in close proximity to each other in Tanganyika 
Territory, but do not actually overlap in their distribution. 

(3) On the Status of Dendropicos fuscescens (Vieillot) and 
Dendropicos lafresnayt Malherbe. 

In the past all authors accepted two separate groups of 
these Woodpeckers, D. fuscescens and D. lafresnayi, and 
placed under each the different races they recognised. For 
instance, Van Someren, Nov. Zool. xxix. 1922, places D. lepidus 
as a race of D. lafresnays and D. massaicus, D. centralis, and 
D. albicans as races of D. fuscescens, and furthermore takes 
D. hartlaubt out of both groups and places it as a race of 
D. abyssinicus, as did Claude Grant, Ibis, 1915, p. 460; and 
Roberts, Ann. Trans. Mus. x. 1924, p. 156, has given both 
D. fuscescens and D. hartlaubi specific rank with their separate 
races. Lynes, Journ. fiir Orn. 1934, p. 68, discusses this 
question and inclines to the opinion that there is one species 
only, and Vincent, Ibis, 1935, p. 20, is convinced that only 
one species exists throughout Africa. In view of these 
opinions and decisions, we have ourselves examined the 
question thoroughly, and agree with Lynes and Vincent that 
D, fuscescens and D. lafresnayi are conspecific, 'Therefore 


1939.] 53 [Vol. lix. 

all the races previously attached to D. lafresnayi, and including 

D. lafresnayt Malherbe itself, must become races of D. fusces- 

cens (Vieillot). 

(4) On the correct Type-locality of Wesopicos goertz abessinicus 
Reichenow, Orn. Monatsb. 1900, p. 58. 

Reichenow gives localities Abessinien, Kordofan, Sennar. 
Dr. Stresemann under date June 24, 1938, very kindly informs 
us that the type was “ collected by Lepsius and Werne before 
850 in Abessinien.” Dr. Richard Lepsius (‘ Discoveries in 
Egypt,’ 1852, ‘ Discoveries in Egypt, Ethiopia and the Penin- 
sular of Sinai in the Years 1842-1845 ’) travelled up the Nile 
as far as Sero on the Blue Nile, and was therefore never in 
Abyssinia. Sero is to be found on modern maps as Sereiwa, 
Sereau, and Sereya, and the Ethiopia of Lepsius was the Meroe 
and Blue Nile areas of the Sudan. 

Ferdinand Werne (Expedition to discover the sources of the 
White Nile in 1840-1841, 1849) apparently only travelled 
as far as Wad Medani on the Blue Nile, but travelled up the 
White Nile almost to the present Sudan—Uganda boundary. 
Werne, therefore, was never in Abyssinia. Lepsius and Werne 
did not travel .ogether, the former had as companions Bonomi 
and Wild, and in the latter’s party was Arnaud. 

_ Therefore both Lepsius and Werne could not both have 

collected this type, but as Lepsius was in that part of the 
Sudan which he called Ethiopia, as it was then inhabited by 
Abyssinians, we can agree that the type came from the Blue 
Nile area. We therefore fix the type-locality as Sereya, some 
15 miles north of Roseires, Blue Nile, eastern Sudan. 

(5) On the Status. of Jyngipicus obsoletus nigricans Neumann, 
J.f.O. 1904, p. 402: Uma River, Konta, southern 
Abyssinia. 

All the characters given by Neumann are to be found in 

a series of Y. 0. obsoletus, and the specimen from Langomeri 

in the British Museum collection mentioned by Neumann 

agrees perfectly with the series of Y. 0. obsoletus. We are 
therefore of opinion that Jyngipicus obsoletus nigricans Neu- 
mann, must become a synonym of Yungipicus obsoletus 
obsoletus (Wagler). 
Or : b 
Fae IY 1939 

PURCHASED 



is RULLETINN 

2) \ toe rif jt 

oy) ROHASED OF THE 
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. 

No. CCCCAIX. 

Tue four-hundred-and-fourteenth Meeting of the Club was 
held in the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, on Wednesday, 
January 11, 1939. 

Chairman: Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON. 

Members present :—Miss C. AcLAND; W. B. ALEXANDER ; 
Dr. D. A. BANNERMAN; Miss P. Barcuay-SmitH; F. J. F. 
BaRRineton; A. W. Boyp; Hon. G. CHARTERIS (Vice- 
Chairman); Miss J. M. Ferrrer; J. FisHer; Miss KE. M. 
GopMAN ; Capt. C. H. B. Grant (Editor) ; Rev. James HAtsz ; 
B. G. Harrison; R. E. Heats; J. E. Hopaxtiyn ; Rev. F. C. 
R. JournpDaIn; Miss HE. P. Leach; Miss C. LONGFIELD ; 
J. H. McNeine; G. M. Matuews; Col. R. MEINERTZHAGEN ; 
J. H. Newman; C. OtpHam; H. L&EysornE Porpuam ; 
C. W. MackwortH-PRAED ; MissG. Ruopss ; W. L. ScLaTER ; 
D. Sera-Smiru ; Col. R. Sparrow; Mrs. I. Steuart; C. R. 
Stonor (Secretary); B. W. Tucker; Mrs. A. Boyp Watt ; 
H. F. WitHersy. 

Guests :—Col. F. Battny; J. A. Barnrs; Miss THERESA 
Ciay; G. F. Coutton ; Dr. C. HettmMayr; Miss C. JAmgs ; 
M. Ff. MEIKLEJOHN ; Miss A. MEINERTZHAGEN ; D. MEINERTZz- 
HAGEN ; B. Payn; Mrs. W. L. Scuater; P. M. THomas. 

Guest of the Club :—Dr. C. C. SANBORN. 
Members present 35; Guests 12; Guests of the Club 1. 

[February 6, 1939.} 7) VOL. LIX. 


Vol. lix.] 56 [1939. 

A new Coot from Peru. 

Mr. AuAsTAtR Morrison described a new Coot from Peru 
as follows :— 

Fulica americana peruviana, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Nearest to F’. americana columbiana Chapman, 
but larger, with longer bill and larger frontal plate ; without 
any red at the base of the tarsus ; inner secondaries but rarely 
with apical markings of white. Wing 210-230, bill (from 
anterior edge of shield) 34-40 mm. 

Distribution.—Temperate zone of the Andes from Ecuador 
to northern Chile (provinces of Tarapaca and Antofagasta) and 
north-western Argentina (Los Andes). 

Type.—Adult female, Lake Junin, Junin, Peru, March 21, 
1938. Collected by A. Morrison, no. 495. 

Remarks.—Mr. Morrison remarked that during his visit to 
Peru he found two species of Coot breeding on Lake Junin, 
which were evidently quite distinct. One had rather a knob- 
like, protuberant, mahogany-red to bright chestnut frontal 
plate, a parti-coloured bill, and green legs, while the other one, 
which was far more numerous, though agreeing in size and 
coloration of plumage, had slate-grey legs and the bill, as 
well as the larger and flatter frontal shield, white or pale 
primrose-yellow. Morrison added that during his stay on 
the lake he had dozens of specimens through his hands, for 
the natives killed them for eating purposes, and he was using 
them as food for his live Ibises and Gulls. 

He found the above characters quite constant in all of the 
many specimens examined, and as the two species were 
breeding at the time of his visit, he could not but reject the 
theory advanced by Sclater and Salvin (P. Z.S8. 1868, pp. 176, 
464) that the red frontal plate was merely a sign of the nuptial 
plumage. Mr. Morrison, furthermore, pointed out that while 
the shield of the white-fronted bird after death faded to 
yellowish or isabella colour, the red plate of the other species 
did not undergo any change, specimens in the Museum col- 
lection for seventy years still showing the same chestnut tone 
as his freshly-killed birds, 


1939.] 57 [Vol. lix. 

Mr. C. EZ. HELLMAyR, in exhibiting specimens of the new Coot 
and its relatives, stated that for many years he had been 
aware of the variation in the frontal plate of F. ardesiaca 
without being able to offer any plausible explanation. After 
carefully studying large series from the Andean region he 
was now inclined to agree with Mr. Morrison in admitting 
two species. The white-fronted and the red-fronted birds 
breed side by side in suitable places in Ecuador (Lake Yaguar- 
cocha, Colta) and Peru (Lake Junin). The white-fronted bird, 
however, did not apparently range beyond Peru, since all of 
the numerous specimens seen by him from Bolivia, Chile, and 
Argentina were of the red-fronted species. He also added 
that, thanks to the courtesy of Prof. O. Fuhrmann, who most 
obligingly sent the type from the Museum at Neuchatel, 
Switzerland, he was enabled to ascertain that F. ardesiaca 
Tschudi referred to the white-fronted species. The red-fronted 
bird he considered as nearly related to F’. americana columbiana 
of the Colombian Andes, but distinguishable by the characters 
indicated by the describer. The present form has been fully 
described by Hartlaub (J. f. O. 1853, Extra-Heft, p. 81) 
from Bolivian specimens in the Paris Museum as F. chilensis 
“ Desmurs,” but the bird figured by Gay (Hist. Fis. Pol. 
Chile, Atlas, pl. 10, 1848), and later described by Des Murs 
(in Gay, Hist. Fis. Chile, Zool. viii. 1854, p. 474) under that 
name, was clearly the common Chilean Coot, F. armillata. 

A new Species of Paradise Bird of the 
Genus Astrapia. 

Mr. C. R. Stonor exhibited and described :— 

Astrapia mayefri, sp. nov. 

Description.—Known only from two central rectrices, three 
other rectrices, two secondaries, and one greater wing-covert 
of a male. The two central rectrices are 81-6 cm. in length, 
pure white for most of their length, and tipped with dark 
brown. The brown colour commences 3-5 cm. from the tip, and 
the transition from it to the white of the rest of the feather — 
_is abrupt. The terminal 11 cm. of the shaft is brown, as is 

a 2 


Vol. lix.] (58 [1939. 

also a very narrow strip of the vane on each side of it. These 
two feathers are sharply pointed, and the vane is extremely 
narrow relative to the total length, giving them a ribbon-like 
appearance ; the average width is about 2-2 cm. .The total 
length is slightly greater than the figure given, as they had 
been broken off above the point of the quill. 

The other three rectrices are 12, 10, and 7-5 cm. in length, 
sharply pointed, and dark brown in colour. There is evidently - - 
a very great disproportion between the two central feathers 
and the rest of the tail. The secondaries and greater wing- 
covert are dark brown, spangled with purple on the upper 
surface, as in the males of many Paradise Birds. 

Distribution.—At present rests on two field-records: from 
the vicinity of Mt. Champion on the northern border of Papua ; 
and eighty to a hundred miles west of Mt. Hagen in the 
Mandated Territory. | 

Type.—In British Museum (Natural History). Feathers 
taken by a missionary from the head-dress of a native on 
Mt. Hagen, North-East New Guinea (see below). 

Type-locality.—Vicinity of Mt. Champion ; where first ob- 
served by Hides. 

Remarks.—The history of this remarkable bird is well told 
in a letter from Mr. F. Shaw Mayer, written at Singapore on 
December 16, 1938. He says: “ I am sending you two tail- 
feathers of a new Bird of Paradite (Astrapia’?). Briefly the 
history of the white-tailed bird; the first mention of a new 
Bird of Paradise, is in the late J. G. Hides’s book ‘ Papuan 
Wonderland ’ published 1936; on p. 106: ‘As I stood in the 
branches of this tree gazing at the rock and heather-covered 
summit of the peaks in front of me, I noticed pairs of an 
interesting species of paradise birds flitting through the moss- 
covered branches of the trees around me. The males had 
two long ivory-white feathers as a tail, with which they 
made flicking noises as they trailed the plumes after them 
through the air. I did not know the species, so for the 
information of our ornithological department, I instructed 
one of the police to shoot a male bird, remove the tail-feathers, 
and carefully pack them away.’ ” 


1939. 59 [Vol. lix. 

_Mr. Shaw Mayer continues: ‘* On this expedition Mr. Hides 
was accompanied by Mr. O’Malley, a patrol officer. In 
December of last year I met Mr. O’Malley and questioned 
him about the birds. 

“He remembered them quite well, and described the bird 
as being black in some lights and showing colours in others. 
Very true of the Astrapias. I was able to show him my live 
Princess Stephanie’s (A. stephanix), and he agreed they were 
very like these birds, only the body was a little smaller and, 
of course, had the two long white tail-feathers. He could 
not tell me what happened to the two feathers they brought 
back. He said the beak was short and not long like that of 
my live Hpimachus. In May of this year I had a long talk with 
' the Fox brothers, two New Guinea miners, who also made 
a remarkable journey of some hundreds of miles through the 
wild country west of Mt. Hagen. 

“They remembered meeting the white-tails well, some 
eighty to a hundred miles west of Mt. Hagen. The natives 
of that part wore the tail-feathers in their hair. 

“The Fox brothers memories were better, as they thought 
these feathers had a black tip. They described the bird much 
as O’Malley did, and remarked about the flicking of the tail- 
feathers. They brought nothing back, but thought one of 
their boys might have saved a feather or two from a native’s 
head. However, nothing turned up. 

“In the middle of last August I was given by a missionary 
the two tail-feathers I am sending you. They were taken out 
of the hair on the head of a Mt. Hagen native. The bird is not 
found though in the Mt. Hagen district, but about eighty to 
a hundred miles west of it. It was a very great joy to see the 
feathers. I was surprised to find them so narrow.... 
I give the feathers to the Museum quite freely.” 7 

Affinities —As Mr. Shaw Mayer suggests, there seems no- 
doubt that this most interesting discovery belongs to the genus 
Astrapia. In the extraordinary length of the two central 
tail-feathers it comes nearest to A. stephaniz of Kastern New 
Guinea ; and from the relative shortness of the three other 
tail-feathers it is quite clear that it also resembles it in the 


Vol. lix.] 60 (1939. 

excessive lengthening of the two central feathers in relation 
to the rest of the tail; in the other three species of the genus 
although the tail is very long, it is evenly and regularly 
graduated. Although the bird is described as smaller than 
A. stephanizx, the two feathers sent are 16-3 cm. longer than 
the average of three males of the latter species. 

The coloration approximates very closely to the small 
A. splendidissima, wherein the two central rectrices have just 
the same pattern of white, tipped with dark brown. A sus- 
picion of this is to be seen in A. stephanie, where the proximal 
section of the feather-shaft is white, while the rest is dark 
as in A. nigra and A. rothschildi. 

The two long feathers are quite unique by virtue of their 
extreme narrowness described above. This condition is 
quite the reverse of what is found in three of the other four 
species, which have the tail-feathers unusually broad. In 
A. splendidissima the two central feathers are distinctly 
narrow for the greater part of their length, but broaden out 
into a rounded lobe near the tip. Presumably their extra- 
ordinary form in the new species is connected with the display 
of the males. 

It would appear, therefore, that the new bird is from the 
same stock as A. stephanie and A. splendidissima, and this 
is borne out by the distribution as at present known, for the 
former species is found to the east, while splendidissima 
replaces it to the west. 

It is just possible that the new bird may be the male of 
Astrapia stephanie feminina, described by Neumann from 
females and an immature male in 1922 ; and which was taken 
about a hundred and twenty miles to the north-west of Mount 
Champion. But in A. splendidissima, the other member of 
the genus with white on the tail, this character is in both 
sexes: and since the male of the new species has considerably 
more white than splendidissima, it is hardly likely that the 
female has none at all, as is evidently the case with feminina, 
from Neumann’s description. I consider that (as already 
suggested by Dr. Stresemann, Archiv f. Naturgesch. Ixxxix. 
1924). Neumann’s bird will probably prove to be the female of 
another new species, the male of which is as yet undiscovered. 


1939.] 61 [Vol. lix. 

In view of the trouble he has taken to establish its existence, 
and as a slight recognition of the efforts he has made during 
the past few years to add to our knowledge of the family as 
a whole, it is a pleasure to name this most striking new bird 
after its discoverer, Astrapia mayert, Shaw Mayer’s Bird of 
Paradise. 

The Sulphur- and White-breasted Toucan 
(Ramphastos vitellinus) in the nesting-cavity. 
Mr. B. G. Harrison exhibited a photograph of a Toucan, 

and made the following remarks :— 

This photograph was taken last March in the neighbourhood 
of Mount Harris, Trinidad, B.W.I., by Mr. Ernest Chenery 
of the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture. The nesting- 
hole was at an altitude of some seventy feet, and as the tree 
had no low branches, the only method of reaching the site was 
by means of transverse wooden slats nailed to the trunk. 

This Toucan usually nests at a considerable altitude and 
must consequently present considerable difficulty to the 
photographer. I am not aware of any previous photograph of 
this species at its nesting-site. 

Birds of Morocco. 

Colonel MEINERTZHAGEN showed some excellent slides and 
remarked :— 

On a recent trip in Morocco, when the Great Moroccan Atlas 
was visited at three points and subsequently the Anti Atlas 
was crossed and a trip made as far south as Goulimine, near 
the Rio d’Oro, the Sous Valley was explored and the 
- Moroccan Sahara visited as far as Erfoud and Ksar es Souk. 
The Atlas was again crossed, and Azrou was visited during 
a snow period. Search for the scarce Guinea Fowl was made 
at Oulmes in the steep valleys, but it is almost extinct. The 
account of the trip was illustrated by lantern-slides. 

Some twenty species new to Morocco were recorded, besides 
a new species of Sylvia and several new forms. Series of 
Moroccan birds in fresh plumage, which have never before 
existed, were brought back. 


Vol. lix.] 62 [1939. 

The trip has raised}several problems. Seebohm’s Wheatear 
was absent from its breeding quarters from the second week 
in October. Where does it go, and does it moult into a plumage 
resembling that of the European Wheatear, moulting back into 
a black throat in spring? No winter specimens are known, 
and surely, if it had a black throat in winter, specimens would 
have been obtained from its winter quarters, wherever that 
may be ? 

Secondly, the winter plumage of the Moroccan Pied Wagtail 
is unknown, and is probably so near to that of the abundant 
Motacilla alba alba in. winter as to preclude identification in the 
field. 

One of the main objects of the trip was to collect further 
evidence regarding the effect of environment on density 
of pigment in plumage and the reason of desert coloration. 
As the matter stands at present it seems that two main 
influences work on plumage, humidity or lack of humidity 
in the atmosphere restricting the ultra-violet rays of the sun 
and producing darkness where there is a small percentage 
of rays filtering through the air and paler plumage where a 
large percentage of these rays get through. 

The second factor is a direct chemical relationship between 
the red pigment in the soil and the red pigment in the feather. 
If it is conceded that the feather, once grown to maturity, 
is dead as far as connection with the body is concerned, then 
the only season when the colour of the feather is determined 
in so far as the degree of red is concerned, is during the season 
of moult. It is now believed that the red pigment is eaten 
by the bird either by direct pieces of soil or grit, through 
herbage or through insects, and that this pigment is absorbed 
into the system and finds a place in deposits of fat on the 
feather-tracts. These tracts feed the growing feather, which 
absorbs the red pigment from the fat. This is merely an 
unproven theory and is given for what it is worth. Evidence 
similar to this (in part) was obtained by Ticehurst and Whistler 
(Ibis, 1938, p. 731). 

There is a further interesting fact connected with this 
subject, and tending to prove that colour pigment in fat has 
a direct bearing on red and yellow colour in plumage. Among 


Sy 

1939.] 63 [Vol. lix. 

those birds which have red, orange, or yellow as a definite 
part of the colour-pattern of plumage, legs, or bill, there is, 
as far as our experience shows, a definite red, orange, or yellow 
pigment in the feather-tract fat. A few instances are Pyr- 
rhocorax pyrrhocorax, Krythrospiza, Tringa totanus, Ammomanes 
deserts payni, Loxia (males and females), Pinicola, Molpastes 
(even those such as M. b. barbatus, which has little or no 

yellow), and hundreds of others. It is also noteworthy that 

such desert birds which do not react to desert coloration 
(Corvus corax, Ginanthe leucura, lugens, etc.) have no trace of 
red colour in their fat, it being a dirty white. 

Elaboration of these theories will appear at a later date. 

New Species and Races from Morocco. 

Col. MEINERTZHAGEN also exhibited and described the 
following new species and twelve new races :—: 

Melierax metabates therese, subsp. nov. 

Description.—As M. m. metabates, but darker above and 
below. As dark above as M. m. mechowi, and agreeing with 

that form in every respect, but having the speckling on the 

outer web of the secondaries, a character entirely lacking in 

M. mechowi. The barring below is darker than in M. m. meta- 

bates owing to the black bars being broader and the white bars 
narrower. 

Soft parts —Iris dark brown, legs cornelian-red, bill cornelian- 
red with horn-black tips. 

Distribution.—The Sous Valley, southern Morocco. 

Type.—tIn my collection, adult male, near Auliouz, Kastern 
Sous, southern Morocco, 16. xi. 1938. 

Measurements.—Wings of males 288-297 mm., and of females 
315-323 mm. 

Remarks.—Three adult males and three adult females were 
obtained, all from the Sous and all are in fresh plumage. 
The characters claimed for the race are constant throughout 
the series. There is, however, a single bird in the British 
Museum from Mongalla, therefore topotypic of I. m. metabates, 
which resembles this new race and is even darker. But 

aod 


Vol. lix.] 64 (1939. 

fifteen adults from the Sudan and twenty-two adults from 
Abyssinia have been examined, and in no other case is there 
any resemblance. The dark Mongaila bird is therefore treated 
as a rare exception, and need not be considered in judging 
the normal colour of M. m. metabates. 

Erythrospiza githaginea therese, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Much paler than H. g. zedlitzi. In fresh 
plumage the mantle is a pale grey-brown instead of a pale 
earth-brown. The underparts are also much paler, the rose 
on the lower abdomen and upper tail-coverts of the male 
being a delicate pale shell-pink instead of a definite rosy-pink. 

Distribution.—Only known from the type-locality. Five 
of these very pale birds were shot from a small party on a stone 
wall surrounding some crops. Unfortunately only two were 
able to be preserved. 

Type.—In my collection, adult male, Taznakht, Anti Atlas, 
Ouarzazate District, Morocco, 22. xi.1938. In very fresh 
plumage. 

Measurements.—Wings of male 88 mm., and of female 83 mm. 

Remarks.—Compared with twenty-two specimens in the 
British Museum from Tunis and Algeria and a large series 
in my collection from Morocco, Algeria, and the Ahaggar 
Mountains, none of which approach this new form in paleness. 

Alectoris barbara theresz, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Chocolate of crown very dark, much darker 
than in Tangier and Marrakesh birds or those from northern 
Algeria. Blue-grey of upper breast and chestnut of breast 
also darker. 

Distribution.—Typical birds occur in the High Atlas. 
Birds slightly less typical, nearing A. b. barbara, occur in the 
Sous Valley around Taroudant. 

Type.—Adult male, Taddert, High Atlas, Morocco, 6000 feet, 
17. x. 1938. 

Remarks.—The type-locality of A. 6b. barbara is on the 
Atlantic Coast of Morocco, a spot referred to by the ubiquitous. 


1939.] 65 [Vol. lix. 

name of Santa Cruz. Birds from Tangier and the coast near 
Mogador are A. 6b. barbara, and cannot be distinguished from 
North Algerian specimens. 

Scotocerea inquieta theres, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Very similar to S. 2. grisea Bates from Arabia, 
but with much slenderer, finer bill and with narrower dark 
shaft-streaking on the crown. Much darker than S. 7. sahare. 
Considerably darker than either S. 2. inquieta or S. 12. striata, 
but not so dark as S. 7. bury: nor with the latter’s heavy bill. 

Disiribution.—The stony deserts of southern Morocco 
(Ouarzazate and Izakarm Districts). 

Type.—In my collection, male, stony desert near Izakarm,. 
Moroccan Sahara, 5. xi. 1938. 

Remarks.—Five obtained, wings 45-47 mm., culmen from 
base, 10-5-11 mm. 

Galerida theklee theresz, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Nearest to G. t. ruficolor, but generally more 
rufescent and inclining to isabelline on the upper parts. 
Considerably browner than G. t. caroline. 

Distribution.—The Anti Atlas Mountains, the Tiznit Plain, 

‘south to Izakarm and occasional north to Agadir and probably 

the southern slopes of the Great Atlas. 
Type.—In my collection, adult male, Anti Atlas Mts., 

~ 30 km. south of Tiznit, southern Morocco, 5. xi. 1938. 

Remarks.—The type of Galerida theklz ruficolor (Ibis, 1898, 
p- 603) came from “ Central and Southern Morocco.’ Dodson, 
who collected it, returned with a large series of G. thekle, and 
though no type was made at the time, it probably came 
from Marrakesh, Mogador, or Meknes. It was said to differ 
from Spanish G. ¢. thekle in being of a “ paler and more 
rufous colour, without, however, being at all isabelline.”’ 

My Moroccan series is not quite uniform, as is usual with 
any series of ground-feeding birds taken from widely dis- 
tributed areas. The amount of rufous and isabelline varies 
individually and not always with locality. 


Vol. lix.] 66 [1939. 

Coccothraustes coccothraustes theresz, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from C. c. buvryt in having the mantle 
less chocolate, more blackish-brown, and therefore darker. 
Underparts darker. Mantle as dark as in the European 
form, C. c. coccothraustes, but of a different shade, the latter 
being a rich chocolate. 

Distribution.—Only known from the type-locality. Birds 
from Azrou are typical C. c. buvryt. 

Type.—In my collection, adult male, Taddert, Great Atlas, 
Morocco, 16. x. 1938. Head moult incomplete. First and 
second primaries in quill. Otherwise in fresh plumage. 

Remarks.—One adult male and four adult females examined. 
Wings of females 95-101 mm. 

Riparia rupestris therese, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Considerably darker than other South European 
and North African specimens examined (46 in all). Crown of 
head blackish-brown as opposed to hair-brown, mantle a 
blacker brown and not so pale as in R. r. rupestris. Under- 
parts, especially abdomen, distinctly darker. 

Distribution.—Two males obtained at Amerzgane on the 
southern slopes of the Great Atlas in the Ouarzazate District 
and a female obtained at Tzi n’Test at 6300 feet in the Great 
Atlas. 

, Type—In my collection, adult female, Tizi n’Test, High 
Atlas, Morocco, 6300 feet, 19. xi. 1938. Body and wing in 
moult. 

Measurements.—Wings of two males 128 and 132 mm., and 
of one female 125-5 mm. 

(Enanthe mesta theres, subsp. nov. 

Description—Compared with Algerian specimens in fresh 
autumn plumage the males are darker and purer dead black 
on the mantle, crown darker smoke, and under tail-coverts 
a darker russet. The females are darker and browner above, 
not so russet or so red on the crown. Throat smoky. 


1939. | 67 [Vol. lix. 

Distribution.—Only known so far from the Tiznit Plain in 

S.W. Morocco. 

Crt 

Type-—In my collection, adult male, near Tiznit, S.W. 
Morocco, 7. xi. 1938. 

Measurements —Wings of seven Moroccan males 9i- 
95 mm., culmen from base 19-5-20°5 mm., and of two females 
88-90 mm., culmen 19 mm. 

Remarks.—Through the kindness of Messrs. Ticehurst and 
Whistler, I have been able to examine six males and three 
females of O. m. mesta from near Laghouat shot in October 
last year. 

Turdus viscivorus theresze, subsp. nov. 

Description.—As T. v. deichlert, but darker on the mantle, 
in fact, as dark as the darkest British specimens, but grey, 
not so yellow. 

Distribution.—Middle Atlas at Oulmes and Azrou, and 
probably in the Great Atlas. 

Type—In my collection, male, Oulmes, Middle Atlas, 
Morocco, 7. xi. 1938. 

Measurements.—Wings of three males 150, 155, 158 mm., 
culmen from base 20-24 mm., and wing of a single female 
150, culmen 23:5 mm. 

Remarks.—In addition to the material in my collection 
I find that three April, June, and July birds from Azrou 
(in the British Museum) are all darker than a single Tunisian 
March bird which is not in very worn plumage. 

I have also, through the kindness of Dr. Ticehurst, seen 
a fresh plumaged male from Djelfa (Algeria) which matches 
Tunisian specimens and is a pale grey compared to this new 
form. 

—@arrulus glandarius theres, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Below, a distinct shade paler and less vinous 
than topotypical G. g. enops. Upper parts as in G. g. enops, 
but the crown varies from being similar to that of G. g. @nops 
to an unstreaked black. Also larger, wings of four measuring 
165, 170, 172, and 178, culmen from base 29, 29, 29-5, and 


td 

Vol. lix.] 68 [1939. 

30 mm., as opposed to wings not exceeding 71 mm. in G. g. enops 
and sometimes as low as 155 mm., and culmen varying from 
28 to 29-5 mm. 

Differs from G. g. whitakert from Tangiers in being darker 
above, less white on crown, and smaller. 

A male and two females collected by Ticehurst near Djelfa 
in autumn 1937 agree with this form, but are small, wings 
161-165 mm., therefore well within the size of G. g. enops, 
but not dark enough below. 

Distribution.—The Middle Atlas about Azrou. 

Type.—In my collection, adult female, Azrou, Middle Atlas, 
Morocco, 4. xii. 1938. 

Measurements —Wing 165 mm., culmen from base 30 mm. 

Remarks.—I have also examined two males and a female 
collected by Lynes at Azrou in June 1919. A male and a 
female obtained by us at Oulmes, also Middle Atlas, are identical 
with G. g. whitakert, but have even more white on the crown, 
wings 165, 166 mm., culmen from base 30, 32 mm., therefore 
not nearly large enough for G. g. whitakert, whose wings vary 
from 176 to 190 mm. (four measured) and culmen 30 to 35 mm. 
It may be that Garrulus minor Verr. (1857—Djelfa, Algeria), 
unfortunately preoccupied, is the same as this form, but 
Djelfa birds seem to be consistently smaller. 

Emberiza striolata therese, subsp. nov. 

Description.—In the adult males, a much deeper chestnut 
below and darker above than specimens from Tunis, Algeria, 
and northern Morocco. I have not examined adult females 
in fresh plumage. 

Distribution—Probably the Anti Atlas and country immedi- 
ately south of it, and the Sous Valley. 

Type.—In my collection. Adult male. Andja, 8.W. 
Morocco, 5. xi. 1938. 

Remarks.—Four males examined from Andja, Agadir, and 
the River Sous. Wings 75-79 mm. Compared with a large 
series of Algerian and Tunisian birds in winter and spring 
plumage. Dr. Ticehurst kindly compared my specimens with 
three autumn specimens from Algeria and finds the former 
darker. 


1939.] 69 [Vol. lix. 

Argya fulva billypayni, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Darker above than A. f. fulva, crown as dark 
as in A. f. maroccana, but mantle intermediate between 
that form and A. f. fulva and lacking the distinct blackish 
shaft-stripes. Tail much paler than in A. f. maroccana, 
underparts darker than A. f. fulva, and about the same as 
in A. f. maroccana. 

Distribution.—Only known from the type-locality. 

Type.—In my collection, male, Ksar es Souk, S.E. Morocco, 
26. xi. 1938. 

Remarks.—Two obtained: wing of male 94 mm., wing of 
female 94 mm. 

Sylvia ticehursti, sp. nov. 

Description.—A small Sylvia of about the size of Sylvia 
cantillans, but with whole crown and mantle pale sandy- 
brown, yellower than in Sylvian. nana, but neither so isabelline 
nor so pale as in Sylvia nana deserti ; but the impression of 
the bird is a distinct desert coloration all over. Wings dark 
brown, secondaries broadly fringed with colour of mantle. 
Tail dark brown with ragged pale fringes. No white in tail. 
Underparts very pale buff. Kar-coverts pale hair-brown. 
A white feather-ring round the eye, and a white streak from 
the lores to behind the eye. 

Soft parts.—Legs pale biscuit-yellow, upper mandible dark 
horn, lower mandible pale yellowish-horn. Iris pale brown. 

Measurements —Wing 54:5 mm., tail long for size of bird— 
58 mm. First primary reaches to 4 mm. beyond primary 
coverts, second primary is 3 mm. short of the third, and the 
third to sixth are equal. The specimen is in very fresh 
plumage, having just completed its moult. 

Distribution.—Unique specimen. Found in desert scrub 
with Sylvia conspicillata and Sylvia deserticolor. 

_ Type—In my collection, female, Tinghir, Ouarzazate 
District, Moroccan Sahara, 24. xi. 1938. 

A new Race of the Moorhen from Scotland. 
Mr. P. A. Ciancry sent the following description :— 

An examination of a long series of freshly moulted autumn 


Vol. lix.] 70 (1939. 

Moorhens from west and north Scotland has shown that the 
birds inhabiting this region are to be distinguished readily 
from those from England; the restricted typical locality of 
Gallinula chloropus (L.). A sufficiency of breeding specimens 
has also been compared from both the regions cited above, 
while Continental material has been freely consulted. As 
the Scottish bird is so obviously distinct, it should be charac- 
terized as a new race, and, therefore, I propose the following 
name : 

Gallinula chloropus vestigialis, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs at once from Gallinula chloropus 
chloropus (L.) in being a considerably darker and bluer grey 
on the under surfaces; whole of head, including nape and 
throat, more intense black; primaries somewhat darker. 
Upper parts frequently darker, but not constantly so, and 
this would not appear to be a reliable characteristic. 

Distribution as at present known.—Specimens have been 
examined from the following counties: Ayrshire, Renfrew- 
shire, Lanarkshire, Dumbartonshire, Stirlingshire, and Suther- 
landshire. In all probability this race will be found to be 
the breeding form throughout the whole of west and north 
Scotland, including the Outer and Inner Hebrides. 

Type.—Female. Notmoulting. Veryfat. Near Bardowie, 
Stirlingshire, Scotland, October 29, 1938. In my collection. 
Wing 169 mm. 

Co-type-—Male. Slight moult. Fat. Near Bardowie, 
Stirlingshire, Scotland, December 24, 1938. In collection of 
Dr. C. B. Ticehurst. Wing 184 mm. 

Remarks.—No_ perceptible difference in measurements. 
I cannot conclude this note without thanking both Dr. C. B. 
Ticeburst and Mr. N. B. Kinnear for their invaluable assistance 
and advice. 

A new Jay from the Balkans. 

Dr. ANDREW KLEINER sent the following description :— 

By the kindness of Messrs. P. Zervas and H. Th. Ziogas 
and the Forest Office of Sparta and Chalcis, I have 
received five Jays from Greece. The Jay of Greece is 


1939.] 71 | [Vol. lix. 

different from the nominate form by the darker grey back, 
the more whitish underparts, and the average smaller size, 
and the black streaks on the head are larger. In appearance 
* this Jay is very closely allied to G. g. cretorwm Meinertz- 
hagen, having also a dark back. The underparts are similar 
to G. g. aloipectus Kleinschm., which race lives in the West 
Balkans. 

I noticed this bird in my paper in ‘Aquila,’ 1935/38, p. 200, 
but at that time I had only one specimen—and one from 
Crete, but the new material from Sparta (1) and Chalcis (2) 
leads me to separate this race as follows :— 

Garrulus glandarius greecus, subsp. nov. 

Description.—G. g. cretorum similis, cum forte tergo griseo, 
sed ventre albicante, lucidiore. Line nigre capitis latiores. 
Probabiliter minor G. g. glandarit. Habitat in Grecia. 

Distribution.—The distribution of this new race is not well 
known. We hope that the trip of Dr. Jordans to S. Bulgaria 
will help to clear up this point. 

Type.—In collectione Instituti Regii Hungarici Ornitho- 
logici, no. 3345, Sparta, Taygetos, 10. ii. 1937. Sex ? 

Measurements.—Sparta: wing 180, 188; tail 159, 160; 
bill 28, 31; tarsus 41, 44 mm. Chalcis: wing 174, 174; 
tail 153, 150; bill 31, 30; tarsus 42, 43 mm. 

Remarks.—Material: Sparta, sex ? 10. ii. 1937, 7. iii. 1938 ; 
Chalcis, sex ? 15. i. 1938. 

Notes on East African Birds. 

Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. Mackworru-PRAED 
sent the following five notes :— 

(1) On the Races of Campethera cailliautii (Malherbe). 

Sclater, Syst. Av. Atthiop. i. 1924, p. 295, recognizes three 
races. Claude Grant, Ibis, 1915, p. 455, expressed the opinion 
that more material might show that C. nyanzzx would have to 
become a synonym of C. cadlliautii. Van Someren, Nov. Zool. 
xxix. 1922, p. 64, recognizes three races. 

Our careful examination of the good series in the British 
Museum collection clearly shows that there is an appreciable 


Vol. lix.] 72 [1939. 

amount of individual variation, and that only two races are 
really recognizable, as follows :— 

CAMPETHERA CAILLIAUTIL CAILLIAUTI (Malh.). 

Chrysopicos cailliautii Malherbe, Rev. Mag. Zool. 1849; 
p. 540: Mombasa, south-eastern Kenya Colony ; of which 
Dendromus matherbei nyanzea Neumann, J. f. O. 1900, p. 204 : 
Mwanza, south end of Lake Victoria, Tanganyika Territory ; 
and Campethera loveridgec Hartert, Bull. B.O.C. xl. 1920, 
p-. 189: Morogoro, Tanganyika Territory, are synonyms. 

Upper parts warmer in tone, inclining to golden or mossy 
green. 

Distribution.—Southern Kenya Colony to Tanganyika 
Territory (except south-west) and Portuguese East Africa, 
as far south as Namapa, Lurio River. 

CAMPETHERA CAILLIAUTIL FULLEBORNI (Neum.). 

Dendromus malherber fullebornin Neumann, J.f.O. 1900, 
p. 204: Tukuyu, south-western Tanganyika Territory. | 

Upper parts colder in tone, inclining to olivaceous. 

Distribution.—Portuguese East Africa from Beira to Ribaue 
(Mozambique), eastern Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, 
southern Belgian Congo, Nyasaland, and south-western Tangan- 
yika Territory (Ufipa and southern Kigoma Districts). 

(2) On the Type-locality of Jynx ruficollis Wagler, Nat. Syst. 
Amph. 1830, p. 118. 

Wagler (footnote i.) states that the type-specimen was 
collected by Krebs in Kaffernlande. We are unable to find 
any publication covering Krebs’s collections from South 
Africa, or where he actually travelled. Reichenow, Vog. Afr. 
i. 1900, p. lix. no. 500, gives a reference to Verz. Samml. 
Sudafr. Nat. 18 August, 1834, Zool. Mus. Universitat. Berlin, 
1834 (preface by H. Lichtenstein), and gives in brackets Samm- 
lung von Krebs. 

In this Catalogue there is nothing to show that the specimens 
enumerated were collected by Krebs, and no localities are 
given except Kafferlandes in the Preface. 

As the generally accepted meaning of old Kaffirland was in 


1939.] 73 [Vol. lix. 

eastern Cape Province, we propose to fix the type-locality 
of Jynx ruficollis Wagl. as Eastern Cape Province, South 
Africa. 

(3) Onthe Type-locality of Jynx ruficollis equatorialis Riippell, 
Mus. Senck. i. 1842, p. 121. 

Southern Abyssinia is the usual locality quoted by most 
authors, and Riippell gives southern Provinces of Abyssinia. 
Neither in his work Reise. Abyss. 1834, nor in the map in his 
Atlas 1840, does he give any indication of what he meant by 
this term, and he himself only travelled in northern Abyssinia 
as far west as the east shores of Lake Tana. 

Under date July 29, 1938, Dr. Mertens kindly informs us 
that the specimen no. 1968 in the Natur-Museum Senckenberg 
is undoubtedly the type; and although there is nothing to 
show who collected it, the original label having disappeared, 
it certainly was not collected by Riippell, and therefore 
Riippell’s statement in the introduction to Mus. Senck. iii. 
1842, p. 119, that the birds described therein were obtained 
on his travels is not correct. Riippell’s southern provinces 
of Abyssinia can only refer to that part of old Abyssinia 
covering Shoa and the adjacent provinces, and we therefore 
propose to fix the type-locality of Jynx ruficollis xquatorialis 
Riipp. as Shoa, central Abyssinia. 

(4) On the Type-locality and distribution of Jynx ruficollis 
pulchricolis Hartlaub, Ibis, 1884, p. 28, pl. 111. 

Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. 1924, p. 304, gives Barbira, 
White Nile, and distribution Upper Nile, east of Bahr-el- 
Gebel (only known from the type); and Sclater & Praed, 
Ibis, 1919, p. 634, give Babira, east of Bahr-el-Gebel (in the 
Mongalla Province of the Sudan or possibly in the Nile 
Province of Uganda). The Map in Mit Emin Pascha in 
Herz von Afrika, 1893 (Stiihlmans) shows that Babira is on 
the Bahr-el-Gebel, about 15 miles south of Wadelai, north- 
western Uganda. 

Through the kindness of Dr. Stresemann, of the Berlin 
Museum, we have had the loan of an adult male and female 
collected by Emin Pascha at Buguera, near Wadelai, on 
March 13 and March 7, 1889. Other specimens have been 


Vol. lix.] 74 [1939. 

recorded from Bozum, Upper Kemo River, and Alima River 
in French Equatorial Africa, and from Ibba, in the southern 
Sudan. 

The distribution of Jynx ruficollis pulchricollis is :—-French 
Middle Congo to north-western Uganda and south-western 
Sudan. 

(5) On the Status of Jynx ruficollis cosensi C. Grant, Bull. 
B.O.C. xxxv. 1915, p. 102: Amala River, south- 
western Kenya Colony. 

Claude Grant in ‘ The Ibis,’ 1915, p. 471, gives wing measure- 
ment for J. 7. cosenst 94-101 mm. and for J. 7. ruficollis Wagl. - 
Nat. Syst. Amph. 1830, p. 118: eastern Cape Province, 90- 
95mm.: but since that date many more specimens have been 
collected. The twenty-five specimens of J. r. ruficollis in the 
British Museum collection measure 85-96 mm., and Dr. Austin 
Roberts has sent us measurements of twenty, 7. e., 89-96 mm., 
and Mr. Fuggles Couchman’s Morogoro specimen is 93 mm. 
The eleven specimens of J. r. cosensi in the British Museum 
collection measure 90-100 mm., Dr. van Someren has sent us 
measurements of eight, 2. e., 95-99 mm., and Granvik, Rev. 
Zool. Bot. Afr. xxv. 1934, p. 57, gives one male 94 and two 
females 94-97 mm. ‘These measurements, J. 1. ruficollis 
85-96 mm. and J. r. cosenst 90-100 mm., show an overlap 
and do not support the character given by C. Grant for 
J. r. cosensi. Since 1915 this Wryneck has been found at 
Marandellas, southern Rhodesia ; Ncheu, western Nyasaland ; 
Morogoro (Ngerengere River), Bukoba (Ihangiro), and 
Mwanza (Loliondo) Districts, Tanganyika Territory; and 
Kigezi, south-west Uganda. Therefore Jynz ruficollis cosensi 
C. Grant becomes a synonym of Jynzx ruficollis ruficollis Wagler, 
the distribution of which is :—South Africa to the Congo mouth 
on the west; and to south-western Uganda and Kenya Colony 
on the east. 

34939 
E LL} ALASED 


7, BULLETIN 
PURCHASED OF THE 

BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. 

No. CCCCXX. 

Tue four-hundred-and-fifteenth Meeting of the Club was held 
in the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, on Wednesday, 
February 8, 1939. 

Chairman : Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON. 

Members present :—Dr. D. A. BANNERMAN ; Dr. P. Manson 
Baur; Miss P. Barciay-SmitrH; F. J. BARRINGTON ; 
Miss M. G. Best; Hon. G. CHarreris (Vice-Chairman) ; 
Col. STEPHENSON CLARKE; H. CuEeave; Dr. J. M. 
Harrison; Mrs. T. E. Hopexin; P. A. D. Hottom; 
Rev. F.C. R. Jourparn ; N. B. KINNEAR; Miss E. P. Leacn ; 
Miss C. LonGFIELD ; Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low (Vice-Chairman) ; 
Dr. P. R. Lowe ; C. W. MackwortH-PRAED ; J. H. McNEILE; 
H. A. MagratH; G. M. Matuews; J. Mavrocorparto ; 
C. A. Norris; C. OnpHam; B. B. Osmastron; Mrs. 
PrimstLEY; W. L. Scitater; D. Seta-Smite; C. R. Stonor 
(Hon. Sec.); B. W. TucKER; Mrs. Boyp Watt; H. WHISTLER ; 
H. F. WitTHERBY ; C. DE WorRMS. 

Guests :—Miss C. Hurcoms; Dr. C. E. HettMayr; Mr. R. 
Houuanp ; Miss Lynes; Mrs. MAcKwWorRTH-PRAED; C. PEASE ; 
Miss Frances Pitt; D. W. Sretu-SmitH ; Miss R. WARREN. 

Members present 35 ; Guests 9. 

[March 1, 1939.] a VOL. LIX. 


Vol. lix.] 76 [1939. 

A new Race of the Indian Bush-Quail. 

Mr. HucH WHIsTLER exhibited specimens of a new race of 
the Indian Bush-Quail which he proposed to name :— 

Perdicula asiatica punjaubi, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from the typical race (Mahratta region, 
restricted to Poona) in its markedly paler coloration. In the 
adult male the upper parts are a paler more sandy brown 
with conspicuous pale barring on the rump, upper tail-coverts, 
and tail. The dark blotching on the scapulars and tertiaries 
is less extensive and conspicuous. The black bars of the lower 
plumage are, as a rule, narrower, and so do not appear quite so 
black. 

In the adult female the upper plumage is similarly paler, 
and the dark blotching of the scapulars and tertiaries is less 
extensive. 

First winter birds, and even the juvenile are similarly paler. 

Distribution.—Punjab and United Provinces, N. India. 

Type.—In the British Museum. Adult male, Ambala, 
Punjab, 1872. Hume Collection. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 
1889.5.10.597. 

Remarks.—Mr. Whistler also exhibited specimens of the 
‘typical race and of the allied Rock Bush-Quail for comparison 
and made some remarks on the plumages of the two species. 

A British Specimen of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo. 
Mr. H. F. Wiruersy exhibited a Cornish specimen of the 
American Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus ameri- 
canus). Particulars of this have appeared in ‘ British Birds,’ 
vol. xxxli. 1938, p. 236. 

A British Specimen of the Killdeer Plover anda Dunlin. 

Mr. C. R. Sronor exhibited a female British-killed speci- 
men of the Killdeer Plover (Charadrius vociferus vociferus), and 
a female Dunlin (Calidris alpina alpina) found dead in the 
grounds of the British Museum of Natural History, South 
Kensington, on December 20, 1938, during the unusually cold 
spell. The particulars of the Killdeer Plover will appear in 
‘ British Birds.’ 


1939.] 77 [Vol. lix. 

Visit to Fair Isle in 1938. 

Mr. C. A. Norris, who last September spent a fortnight 
on Fair Isle with Mr. H. F. Witherby and Mr. P. A. D. Hollom, 
gave a short account of the island and the birds seen there. 

A Little Bunting and an unusually marked Lanceolated 
Warbler obtained on the island were exhibited, together 
with a normal Lanceolated Warbler, and a Scarlet Grosbeak 
in the same plumage as the bird seen on the island. 

The account was illustrated by two maps and a number of 
photographs. 

Discussion. 

(4 

Mr. WITHERBY said that he was “ personally conducted ”’ 
to Fair Isle by Mr. Hollom, who, with Mr. Norris, did all the 
work. He thought they had been exceptionally fortunate 
in seeing so many scarce birds in such a short time, especially as 
there were never more than quite small numbers of migrants 
going through. Under these conditions they found it possible 
to identify quite satisfactorily almost all the birds they saw, 
but great care was necessary, and doubtful birds had to be 
hunted up and put out of cover a number of times before 
their identity could be established with certainty. The 
Lanceolated Warbler was a notable exception, and had they 
not shot it they would never have known what it was. A 
number of other birds occur on Fair Isle which would be equally 
difficult, and an uncertain identification is useless. He 
wished to add his thanks to the islanders for their kindness 
in allowing them to hunt through the crops so constantly. 
Without this permission they would have seen little of great 
interest. 

Mr. N. B. Kinnear and Mr. P. A. D. Hoxttom also made 
some remarks. 

The Ornithological Stations of Rossitten 
and Heligoland. 

Miss PHYLLIS BARCLAY-SMITH gave an account of her visit, 
with Mr. C. I. Blackburne and Mr. Hugh Thompson, to the 
ornithological stations at Rossitten and Heligoland in September 


Vol. lix.] 78 [1939. 

1938, illustrated by slides from photographs by Dr. E. Schiiz, 
Director of the Vogelwarte at Rossitten. She gave a descrip- 
tion of the Kurische Nehrung, its general formation, vast: 
dunes, forests, and the customs of the inhabitants. Miss 
Barclay-Smith also described the great masses of migrating 
birds and the opportunities of observing many different species 
at Rossitten, particularly of raptorial birds, and stressed the 
fact of the great tameness of migrating waders which made 
it possible to study them at very close quarters. She then 
showed slides and gave a general description of Heligoland, 
and concluded with a brief account of the work which is being 
carried on in the study of various aspects of migration under 
the direction of Professor Drost and Dr. Schiiz at Heligoland 
and Rossitten respectively. 

Discussion. 

THE CHAIRMAN said that he had visited both Heligoland 
and Rossitten in September 1908, revisiting the latter in 
October 1910. He had not been fortunate in seeing any very 
striking migration phenomena on Heligoland, but had seen 
enough to appreciate the advantages of the island as a place 
of observation. At that time there was no regular observa- 
tional or ringing work in progress, as it was in the interval 
between Gatke’s day and the establishment of the present: 
Vogelwarte. At that time, also, the fortifications placed some 
restriction on visiting ornithologists. 

He agreed that Rossitten was a place well worth visiting. 
It was interesting and attractive in many ways. If one 
went sufficiently late in the autumn, one had a chance of 
seeing diurnal migration on a vast scale. Witnessing a passage 
of Hooded Crows and other birds in enormous numbers had 
been one of his most memorable experiences. 


BULLETIN 

OF THE 

BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. 

; 

24 APR 1939 No. CCOCXXI. 
PURCHASED 

THe four-hundred-and-sixteenth Meeting of the Club was 
held at the house of the Royal Geographical Society, Ken- 
sington Gore, S.W. 7, on Wednesday, March 8, 1939, preceded 
by a Dinner at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, 8.W. 7, 
in conjunction with the Annual Dinner of the British Orni- 
thologists’ Union. 

~ Dr. Percy R. Lowe, the President of the B. O. U., took 
the Chair during the Dinner, and Dr. A. LANDSBoROUGH- 
THomson, Chairman of the Club, during the subsequent 
proceedings. 

Members of the Union :—Lt.-Col. F. M. Batney; Major 
R. S. P. Bates; A. G. BENNETT; Dr. J. Berry; C. G. 
Birp; Mrs. M. D. BRinpLEY; H.G.CaLkin; R. CHISLETT ; 
E. Conen; C. T. Datcety; BR. Preston DONALDSON ; 
Lord Forrster ; A. K. GIBBoN ; ROLAND GREEN; Dr. C. EL. 
He“imMayrk; Miss A. Hippert-Ware; E. J. HOSsKING ; 
T. C. JEFFREY ; Mrs. H. M. Ratt Kerr; Mrs. F. E. Lemon ; 
D. I. Motreno; H. St. J. B. Poinpy; Miss Francss Pir ; 
Capt. H. Morrry Satmon; Sir M. C. C. Seton; Dr. F. G. 
Swayne; I. M. Toomson; N. Tracy; J. G. WILLIAMS. 

Members of the Club :—Miss C. M. Actanp; Dr. D. A. 
BANNERMAN ; Miss P. Barcuay-SmitH ; Mrs. R. G. BARNEs ; 
F. J. F. Barrineton ; Miss M. G. 8S. Bust; Grorar Brown ; 

[April 21, 1939.] a VOL. LIX. 


Vol. lix.] 80 [1939. 

Dr. J. W. CAMPBELL; Miss B. A. Carter; The Hon. Guy 
CHARTERIS (Vice-Chairman); H. P. O. CLEavE; W. H. 
Doster ; Miss J.M. FERRIER ; Capt. H. A. GILBERT ; Miss E. M. 
Gopman ; Capt. C. H. B. Grant (Hditor) ; Col. A. E. HAMER- 
ton; R. E. Heats; Mrs. T. EK. Hopexin ; P. A. D. HOLLoo ; 
Dr. K. Jornpan; The Rev. F. C. BR. Journpain; Miss E. P. 
LeacH; Miss C. LonarieLp ; Dr. G. CarmicHaEL Low (Vice- 
Chairman) ; Rear-Admiral H. Lynes; T. H. McKirrricx ; 
C. W. MackwortH-PRaED; Dr. P. H. Manson-Banre ; 
G. M. Matnews; Dr. W. N. May; Mrs. D. NIcHOoLLs ; 
E. M. Nicnotson; B. B. Osmaston; A. S. PHILLIPS; 
Mrs. M. Prizstity; Miss G. M. Ruopgs; W. L. ScuaTer ; 
D. Sera-SmitH; Major M. H. Stwonps; Major A. G. L. 
SLADEN (Hon. Treas.); Mrs. R. Steuart; C. R. Stonor 
(Hon. Sec.); The Marquess of Tavistock; Miss D. L. 
Taytor ; B. W. Tuckrer; W. E. Wait; Mrs. H. W. Boyp 
Watt; H. WuHistLeR ; C. DE WoRMS. 

Guests of the Club :—Monsieur Lion Liprens and R. ATKIN- 
SON. 

Guests :—E. L. ARnNoLD; K. R. AsHpy; The Hon. Mrs. F. 
M. BarLEy; Mrs. D. A. BANNERMAN; Mrs. R. S. P. Batss ; 
Herr H. Brentau; The Hon. Mrs. J. Berry; Mrs. M. 
BuackmMorReE; T. A. Bowrinc; Mrs. D. BRINDLEY; Mr. and 
Mrs. H. G. Caukin ; Mrs. J. W. CAMPBELL; Miss E. Carter ; 
Mrs. R. Co1IsLeTt ; Miss V. E. CLARIDGE ; G. P. COLDSTREAM ; 
A. D. ComBry ; G. Cory-Wricut; F. L. C. CowLey-Brown ; 
Mrs. R. M. Craske; C. E. Crompton; Mrs. C. T. Datcery ; 
Mrs. R. PREston Donaupson ; Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Epwin ; 
H. Farmar; R. H. P. G. Ferrier; P. Forrester; T. R. 
GARNETT; H. GasteR; Mrs. H. A. GILBERT; Miss C. E. 
GopMAN ; Miss L. P. Grant; E. Grist; G.R.S. HEATHCOTE ; 
J.J.Hottom ; A. EK. Housman ; MissE. Huse; C.K.Jamzs; 
R.C. James; S.JENyNS; Miss H. Jornpan; C. M. LevERIne; 
Mrs. G. CARMICHAEL Low ; Mrs. P. R. LowE; Miss B. Lynss ; 
Mrs. C. W. MackwortH-PRAED; D. H. Manson-Baur; 
Mrs. P. Martin; Mr. and Mrs. F. Muraatrroyp; A. 
NicHotis ; D. Murray-Rust; C. Pease; W. H. PERRett ; 
Miss P. Potty ; Mrs. A. S. Painiips; Mrs. H. M. Saumon ; 


1939.] 8] [Vol. lix. 

Sir Leorpotp and Lady SaviteE; Mrs. W. L. Scuatrer ; 
Mrs. D. Seru-Smira; H. H. Seton: Sir Henry SHARP ; 
Mrs. M. H. Stmonps; Mrs. A. G. L. SuapEN ; Miss SLADEN ; 
Miss D. Stich; Miss B. N. Sotty; A. H. Spicer; Mrs. A. 
LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON ; Mrs. I. M. THomson ; Mrs. B. W. 
Tucker; Miss T. Wake; E. C. Wart; F. B. B. Weston: 
The Hon. Mrs. H. Wuistuer; Mrs. H. F. WirHersy. 

Members of the Union, 30; Members of the Club, 50; 
Guests of the Club, 2; Guests, 79; and three others; Total 
164. 

Slides of East African Birds. 

Monsieur Li&on Lippens, who had made the journey to 
London from Brussels at the invitation of the Committee of 
the B.O.C., showed some beautiful photographs of East 
African Birds and made the following remarks :— 

Before showing you a few slides, I would like to tell you 
shortly where the photos were taken, and also say a word 
or two concerning bird-life in the Eastern Congo. 

All the photos you will see were taken near Lake Edward, 
which lies exactly on the Equator. Lengthwise, the lake is 
cut in two, one half belonging to the Uganda Protectorate, 
and the other to the Belgian Congo. 

The part of Lake: Edward belonging to the Belgian Congo 
is now entirely encompassed in the Albert National Park, 
where I had the privilege of being game-warden. This park 
is a wonderful zoological and botanical reserve created, as 
you know, at the instigation of our late King, Albert. 

This National Park is favoured with a series of really 
unique sites, rarely to be met with in Africa in such a relatively 
small space. 

It comprises the snowy summits of the Ruwenzori Range, 
the hot plains of Lake Edward, grazed by untold thousands 
of antelopes—not to speak of hippos, buffaloes, and 
elephants,—and the lovely northerly shores of Lake Kivu. 

It has the only living volcanoes in Africa, and several 
extinct ones rising up to well over 13,000 feet. The famous 
Beringers Gorillas make their home and refuge on the slopes 

a2 


Vol. lix.] 82 (19389. 

of these mountains. I say famous, because there was a time, 
not so long ago, when all protectionist Kurope and Africa 
seemed to ring out with the cry: “‘ Make the world safe for 
the Gorilla.”’ 

But for a bird-lover, the nicest spot of all in the Albert 
National Park is undoubtedly Lake Edward itself. This 
lake is one of the richest in the world in the matter of fish, 
which attract a vast and varied multitude of aquatic birds 
on its shores and shallow waters. 

The lake, one of the sources of the Nile, is the haunt of 
innumerable typical African birds such as Pelicans, Egrets, 
Ibises, Senegal Plovers, and so forth, but is also the winter 
quarters of Palzarctic migrants arriving there from Europe 
and Asia by way of the Nile. 

There is also a perpetual coming and going of African 
migrants such as Marabouts, Storks, Plovers, Saddlebills, ete., 
arriving either from the Sudan, in the north, or Madagascar 
in the south-east. 

This makes you understand there is an intensely busy bird- 
life to be seen near Lake Edward and that it opens to the 
ornithologist an extremely vast field of research, of which, 
up to now, very little is known. 

There is so little known as yet, of the biology of many 
African birds, of their breeding habits, their migration, and 
their social associations. 

May I remind you, for instance, of the strange fact that 
no one knows where such conspicuous birds as the countless 
Pelicans living on Lake Edward have their breeding place ? 
It seems almost certain that it is not near the lake. 

I will show you in a few minutes pictures of some banding 
experiments [ had the opportunity of making on Lake Edward, 
and which gave me some interesting results. I am sure you 
will all agree with me how interesting it would be to have 
a permanent ornithological and bird-banding station somewhere 
in Central Africa. I commend this suggestion to British 
Ornithologists, who could carry it out so well. 


1939.] 83 [Vol. lix. 

Film of African Wild Life. 

- Miss Cyntuia LONGFIELD showed an interesting colour-film 
of African Wild Life, a special feature being the flocks of 
Flamingos on Lake Nakuru, Kenya Colony. 

Grey Geese. 

Dr. Berry showed slides and made the following remarks :— 

In connection with the inquiry at present being made 
as to the distribution and status of British wildfowl, some 
confusion has been caused by mistaken identification of Grey 
Geese. As I have often found myself similarly mistaken, 
I have tried to illustrate some common causes of my own 
errors by a series of photographs. 

I. The Greylag—The Greylag is characterized by the con- 
spicuous silver-grey of the fore-wing. Often the silvery 
‘“ shoulder” can be seen even when the wing is folded, but 
frequently it is concealed by the flank-feathers. Other 
species are sometimes mistaken for the Greylag, as the light 
reflected off their wings at certain angles makes these appear 
silvery, although, in fact, they may be dark. Similarly, the 
plumage of birds which have just been in water appears 
much more silvery than when dry. The large head, which 
is paler than the neck and back, and the heavy yellow bill 
with its conspicuous white nail are useful aids to the identi- 
fication of the Greylag. 

Il. The White-fronted Goose-—Grey Geese are at times 
reported as White-fronted because of white feathering round 
the base of the bill. It is important to remember that species 
other than the White-fronted may also exhibit this character, 
especially the so-called Yellow-billed race of the Bean-Goose, 
in which the white “front”? may exceed a centimetre in 
breadth. Although the bills of these Geese may appear 
to be entirely yellow, the nail is amost invariably black, in 
contrast to the white nail of the White-fronted Geese. But 
a more important point is the absence of black feathers on 
the breasts of the Bean-Geese, whereas the breasts of adult 
White-fronted Geese usually are more or less heavily blotched 
or barred with black. 


Vol.. lix.] 84. [1939. 

Ill. The Pink-footed Goose.—Occasionally the Pink-footed 
Goose is confused with the Bean Geese. Here the small, 
rounded head and very short bill of the former differ noticeably 
from the larger, more elongated head and longer bill of the 
latter. Usually the head and neck of the Pink-footed Goose 
appear conspicuously darker than the grey feathering of the 
body. The whole plumage of the Bean-Goose, on the other 
hand, is more uniformly dark, the head and neck being much 
the same shade as that of the body. In the field the Pink- 
foot seems a short plump bird, whereas the Bean is of more 
slender and elegant build. 

The Griffon Vulture in South Spain. 

Mr. R. ArxKinson showed slides and made the following 
remarks :— 

Griffon Vultures are fairly weil distributed over southern 
Spain, where they feed on the dead cattle and donkeys of 
the inhabited plains and breed in the bare sierras. Their 
nesting is colonial, although the habit seems less social than 
due to the often confined choice of nesting ledges and caverns. 
The nests in a large griffonry near Tarifa were spread out, 
on suitable ledges, over at least a hundred yards of cliff edge. 
This colony was situated in very typical Griffon country : 
a broad valley, peasant farmed, rose by bare, boulder-strewn 
ground with a few olive-trees and orange groves lower down, 
to the nesting sierra—a long, narrow, 400 foot high knife- 
edge of rock rising from the rim of the valley. Griffons 
soaring over the cliff betrayed the site of the colony from 
a distance of miles. 

The great size of a Griffon Vulture is its most impressive 
feature ; it has a wing-span of three yards, and the single 
white egg it lays is 34 inches long. The nests varied from 
barely more than scrapes in the soil débris of the ledges 
to bulky piles of branches, lined with dead fronds of the 
hand-palm. At close quarters Griffons bore no sign of their 
carrion eating, and were as clean and well preened as any 
other bird of happier feeding habits. 


1939.] 85 [Vol. lix. 

Photography from hides was comparatively simple, and the 
first close-up photographs of Griffon Vultures were obtained. 
Although it is written that Griffon Vultures never attack 
human beings, I was attacked while lying on a Griffon’s nest ; 
and although Griffons are supposed to be invariably silent, 
this particular bird made loudly ferocious grunting and hissing 
noises. 

Film of the Great Bustard. 

Mr. C. R. Stonor showed Dr. Horst Siewerts’ film of the 
courtship display of the Great Bustard. This film showed a 
number of excellent studies of the Great Bustard in North 
Prussia, also other birds of the same area, including the Stone 
Plover, Curlew, and Lapwing. 

A new Lark from Nyasaland. 
Mr. C. W. Benson sent the following description :— 

Mirafra africana nyike, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from the type of M. a. nigrescens 
Reichenow, Orn. Monatsb. viii. p. 39, 1900: Elton Pass 
in Ukinga, north of Lake Nyasa, with which it has been 
compared by Captain C. H. B. Grant, in being more tawny 
in general colour, and has centre of inner secondaries tawny 
and black, not practically wholly black. Below the markings 
on the chest are rather larger. The flanks are streaked and 
have rufous tips, though these characters are not so conspicu- 
ous as in the type of M. a. nigrescens. Hind claw long, 7. e., 
18-22 mm. as against 16 mm. of hind claw of type of M. a. 
nigrescens, which in turn has a longer and less curved hind claw 
than a specimen collected by Rear-Admiral Lynes from Nason- 
doye, S.E. Belgian Congo (Brit. Mus. Reg. no.1931.12.21.21), 
and also this specimen lacks the flank markings present in 
the type of M. a. nigrescens and in M. a. nyrke. 

Differs from M. a. tropicalis Hartert, Nov. Zool. vii. p. 45, 
1900 : Bukoba, Tanganyika Territory, by the underside being 
less bright, less rufous, and the chest-markings more attenuated, 


Vol. lix.] 86 [1939. 

and V-shaped rather than pear-shaped, while on the upper 
side M. a. nyikx has a generally less rufous appearance. 
It has also a longer hind claw, 7. e., eight specimens of 
M. a. nyike have hind claw measuring 18-22 mm., as against 
twenty-six of WM. a. tropicalis measuring 9-13 mm. 

Soft parts —Bill white, culmen and extreme tip sepia ; 
feet and soles white ; iris red-brown. 

Distribution.—Only known from the Nyika Plateau, northern 
Nyasaland. 

Type——In the British Museum. Adult male. Nyika 
Plateau, at an elevation of 8000 feet, Nyasaland. Collected 
by C. W. Benson on July 6, 1938. Collector’s no. 1400. 
Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1939.1.12.3. ; 

Measurements of type —Wing 101, tail 54, culmen from base 
20, tarsus 37 mm. 

Remarks.—This bird inhabits the short grassland of the 
Nyika Plateau at 7500-8000 feet, and I believe it to be peculiar 
to this area. The first specimen (sex undetermined) was 
collected by the Rev. W. P. Young, and I have added seven 
more specimens (four males, three females), including the type, 
all of which are in the British Museum. 

A nest was found on November 10, 1937, containing two eggs. 
These as well as the female parent, which was caught on the 
nest, are in the British Museum. The six other specimens 
were collected in July, and had sexual organs small. There 
is a difference of size in the sexes. Four males have wings 
98-105 mm. and three females 90-95 mm. 

A new race of Sunbird from Eastern Africa. 

Dr. VAN SOMEREN sent the following description :— 

Cyanomitra olivacea puguensis, subsp. nov. 

Description.—A race of C. o. olivacea with tufted females 
nearest in distribution to C. 0. olivacina Peters, of Inhambane, 
Portuguese East Africa, and C. 0. changamwensis Mearns, of the 
Kenya Coast belt, but actually separating these two races 
along the East African Coast, and differing from both. 


1939. ] 87 [Vol. lix. 

From C. 0. changamwensis, this race differs in being larger, 
a darker purer olive-green from crown to rump ; and in being 
darker on the lower surface, more washed with yellowish- 
green, especially on the throat and flanks. The most striking 
difference, however, is in the size and shape of the bill; in 
this new race the bill is deeper and wider toward the base, 
and is almost parallel at its basal half, and then tapers rapidly, 
whereas in°C. 0. changamwensis the bill is more slender and is 
more gradually curved from a point of the nostril opening 
to the tip. This bill character holds good in both male and 
female of the new race. 

From C. 0. olivacina Peters, the Mafia—Pugu Forest race differs 
in the formation of the bill as described above, and also in 
the colour of the mantle, C. 0. puguensis being darker, and on 
the under surface is less washed with greenish. 

Type.—Male, Kilindoni Forest, Mafia Island, 12. vi. 38. 
Moreau Coll. { Wings: males 58-65, females 54-58 mm., as 
against males 58-60, females 52-56 mm. in C.0. changamwensis. 

Distribution.—So far as is known, this new race extends 
from the Island of Mafia to the mainland forests west of 
Dar-es-Salaam (Pugu Forest). 

General Remarks.—This race is described from a series of 
thirteen skins, kindly submitted to me by R. E. Moreau of 
Amani, who drew my attention to the heavy character of the 
bills of these birds compared to a series of C. 0. changamwensis 
which I had sent him. 

By good fortune, I still had available a small series of 
Cyanomitra olivacea olivacina Peters, taken by J. Vincent 
in Portuguese East Africa and kindly lent to me by the British 
Museum. I was thus able to compare Mr. Moreau’s birds 
with that race, as well as with C. 0. changamwensis Mearns. 
I take this opportunity to record my view that J. Vincent, 
Ibis, 1934, pp. 85-92, was incorrect in sinking the race 
C. 0. changamwensis within C’. o. olivacina Peters, because there 
is a distinct difference in coloration between the two, and, 
moreover, with the material sent to me by Mr. Moreau, it 
would appear that a third race separates the distribution 
of the two mentioned above. I have dealt fully with this 


Vol. lix.] 88 [1939. 

subject in my “‘ Report on the Birds of the Chyulu Range,”’ 
‘Journal of the East Africa and Uganda Natural History 
Society,’ vol. xiv. nos. 1 & 2, now in the press. 

A new Race of Partridge from Manchuria. 
The Marquess HacuisuKaA and Prince Taka-TsuKASaA sent 
the following description :— 

Perdix barbata castaneothorax, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male adult. Similar in size and_ pattern 
to the North Manchurian race, but is decidedly richer in 
colour throughout the body. The upper parts are darker 
chestnut-brown, especially noticeable on the crown and the 
wing-coverts. The forehead, face, chin, throat, and breast 
are cinnamon rufous instead of light buff. 

Measurements of type.—Wing 148, tail 87, tarsus 37, culmen 
14-5 mm. 

Type.—In Prince Taka-Tsukasa’s Museum. Male adult. 
Rotetsuzan, Port Arthur, Southern Manchuria, May 10, 
1925 ; collected by Mr. Nagura, no. 1846. 

Material Examined.—Over fifty specimens from Manchuria 
and North China. 

Remarks.—The typical race wa; described from Nerchinsk, 
Siberian border of north-west Manchuria, and P. suschkini from 
Chabarowsk, Amur district, at the extreme north-east border 
of Manchuria. If the second race is recognizable, which was 
described from two specimens, the two races must be found 
within Manchuria. The Bearded Partridges found in north 
and central Manchuria all belong to one race; but, unfor- 
tunately,as we have no specimens from the two type-localities 
those northern and central birds cannot be identified with 
absolute certainty. However, we may call them P. suschkini 
after Hartert (1921) and Meise (1934), who also did not 
examine any satisfactory material. The new race is found 
commonly in the Liau Tung Peninsula, and the intermediate 
specimens were obtained from Yingkow and Hokamon, north- 
west of Mukden. In Mukden the northern race is met with; 
however, in Jehol it is replaced by Alectoris in the desert. 
They are again found in Peking and westward to Kansu and 
Shensi. 


1939.] 89 [Vol. lix. 

A new Species and eight new Races from 
Peleng and Taliaboe. 

Prof. OscaR NEUMANN sent descriptions of one new species 
and eight new subspecies from Peleng (Peling) Island, east of 
Celebes, and Taliaboe, the most western and largest of the Sula 
Islands. 

These birds were collected by Herr J. J. Menden on an 
expedition arranged—so far as birds are concerned—on behalf 
of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass., 
through Prof. Neumann’s instructions with the much acknow- 
ledged help of the authorities of the Buitenzorg Museum, 
and was made from July to October 1938. 

Only native collectors had once made a bird collection 
on Peleng for the Dresden Museum in 1895, while the ornis 
of Taliaboe Island was hitherto perfectly unknown. 

The types of the species and subspecies described will go 
to the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 

Tyto nigrobrunnea, sp. nov. 

Description.—Adult female head and whole upper side, wing- 
coverts, wings, and tail uniform brownish-black, with very small 
dirty-white spots on interscapulum, rump, and most of the 
wing-coverts. No indication of bars on primaries and tail. 
Some faint white vermiculation on the basal half of the inner 
webs of the primaries and secondaries, and an indication of 
yellowish vermiculation on the inner webs of the tail-feathers, 
almost disappearing on the outer webs and on the two middle 
tail-feathers. Facial disk pinkish-brown, but black around the 
eyes, facial frill brown, most feathers with black edges. Under- 
side a very fine golden brown, thinly vermiculated with black 
and covered all over with black spots, which are far larger than 
the white spots of the upper side. Under wing-coverts like the 
underside, under tail-coverts and thighs almost spotless. 
The white vermiculation is clearly visible on the underside 
of the wings. 

A strong silky gloss on facial disk, a remarkable silky gloss 
on the whole underside, but faint on the upper side of the bird. 
Iris brown, bill greyish-black, according to label, but very 


Vol. lix.] 90 [1939. 

pale in the distal half in the dry skin, feet grey. Feet darker 
than in 7’. rosenbergi. Lower tarsus and toes practically 
bare. 

Wing 283, tail 185 mm. 

Distribution.—Taliaboe, perhaps all Sula Islands. 

Type.—Female, Taliaboe, 20. x. 1938; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—This very small T'yto is at once distinguished from 
all other species of the genus by its very dark coloration, 
almost without any white, except on the underside of the 
wings. 

Columba vitiensis mendeni, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female most similar to Colwmba 
vitensis halmaheira Bonaparte (=albigularis auct. plur.), with 
which it has been hitherto united, but much smaller—wing, 
male 204-219, female 235 mm. (in two cases out of six 225 
and 226 mm., female 208-223 mm.), as against male 237-242, 
female 235 mm., in typical C. v. halmahewra. There is far less 
metallic gloss on the underside, and this gloss is more 
red and less green. The under tail-coverts are pale grey. 
Iris yellow or golden-yellow, eyelid red, bill red (but in dry 
skins only the basal half is red, the distal half yellow, feet 
red or violet). 

Distribution.—Sula Islands. 

Type.—Male, Taliaboe Island, 14. x. 1938 ; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Six males and six females were compared by Strese- 
mann with four specimens from Batjan, which may be regarded 
as typical C. r. halmaheira. As long ago as 1898 Hartert 
(Nov. Zool. v. p. 136) had drawn attention to the small size 
and other peculiarities of the only one female from Sula Besi, 
which he had at his disposal. It appears that a careful 
investigation of the other populations of C. v. halmaheira 
(small islands north of Celebes and different groups of the 
Papuan subregion) is badly wanted. 

Macropygia amboinensis sedecima, subsp. nov. 
Description.—Male similar to Macropygia amboinensis albi- 
capilla from Celebes and Teleng, with which it has been 


1939. ] 91 [Vol. lix. 

hitherto united, but brighter and more suffused with cinnamon 
on the upper side and far more pigmented, therefore darker 
on belly and under tail-coverts. 

Female more different even from male of MW. a. albicapilla 
than the male. Head cinnamon, the hind neck not different 
from that of M. a. albicapilla, but the upper side, and all wing- 
coverts black with broad cinnamon edges, the black and the 
cinnamon in strong contrast. Rump, upper tail-coverts, 
and tail brighter and more cinnamon than in MW. a. albicapilla. 

Chin and upper throat white slightly washed with cinnamon, 
the remaining underside cinnamon, darker on throat and breast, 
where the black bases of the feathers are partly visible, and 
on the under tail-coverts. 

The bird is somewhat smaller than M. a. albicapilla ; wing, 
male and female, 142-158 mm. (most 148-153 mm.), as com- 
pared to 153-165 mm. in M. a. albicapilla. 

Distribution.—Taliaboe, but probably all Sula islands. 

Type.—Male, Taliaboe, 2. x. 1938 ; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Three ad. males, twosemi-ad. males, seven females 
were compared with eight ad. males, three semi-ad. or juv. 
males, and three ad. females from Peleng, and several males 
and females from different regions of Celebes. 

Turnix sylvatica kinneari, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Female larger and much darker on the under- 
side than T'urnix sylvatica maculosa Temminck from the lesser 
Sunda Islands and islands south-west of New Guinea, and 
T. s. beccaru Salvad. from Celebes, and, according to 
Mr. Kinnear, nearest to 7’. s. horsbrughi Ingram from Yule 
Island. 

The whole underside deep maroon, but much lighted up 
in the middle of the belly. The upper side also darker than 
in 7’. s.maculosa and T.s.beccaru. From T'. s. salomonis Mayr. 
(American Museum Novitates, no. 1001.29.12.1938), which 
seems to be somewhat similar as regards colour of underside 
and size, it seems to differ in first line by the colour of the 
crown, as in 7’. s. petersi this is similar to that of 7’. s. maculosa 
and 7’. s. beccari, 


Vol. lix.] 92 [1939. 

Male much darker on the underside than male of 7. s. 
maculosa and of 7’. s. beccarit. 

Wing, female 79-85, male 74-78 mm. 

Distribution.—Peleng Island. 

Type.—Female, Peleng Island, 20. vii. 1938; J. J. Menden 
leg. | 

Remarks.—Four ad. females, one semi-ad. female, six ad. 
males, were compared with several 7. s. maculosa, T. s. 
beccarit, and 7’. s. saturata in the Berlin Museum, and with all 
specimens of available races by Mr. Kinnear in London, and by 
Dr. Junge in Leiden. Named in honour of Mr. N. B. Kinnear. 

A more detailed description of the specimens will be pub- 
lished later on. 

Tyto rosenbergi pelengensis, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Ad.male. Very similar to T'yto rosenbergi rosen- 
bergi (Schlegel) from Celebes, but the feathers of the lower throat 
and upper breast with subterminal broken up black edges, 
thus giving these feathers a somewhat scaled appearance. 
Much smaller than 7’. r. rosenbergv. 

Wing 296 mm., as compared with 335-360 mm. in 
T. r. rosenbergi (fide Meyer and Wiglesworth, ‘ Birds of 
Celebes, <i. p. 110). 

Distribution.—Peleng (Peling) Island. 

Type.—Male, Peleng, 22. viii. 1938 ; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Only this one specimen was collected. 

Caprimulgus maecrurus jungei, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female very similar to Caprimulgus 
macrurus celebensis Ogilvie Grant from Celebes, but the extension 
of the white tips of the two outer pairs of tail-feathers still 
more reduced, 15-17 mm., as compared to 25 mm. in C. m. 
celebensis and about 50 mm. in C. m. macrurus. 

Wing, male 168-183 mm. Iris brown. 

Distribution.—Taliaboe. 

Type.—Male, Taliaboe, 13. x. 38; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Menden collected ten specimens, of which six 
are marked male and four female, If these indications are 


1939.] 93 [Vol. lix. 

correct, then there is no difference, either in size or in colour: 

between the two sexes. Otherwise all these specimens are males, 

as none exhibit the characters attributed to the female of 

C. macrurus by Hartert in the ‘Catalogue of Birds,’ vol. xvi. 
Named in honour of Dr. Junge, Leiden Museum. 

Rhipidura teijsmanni sulaensis, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female similar to Rhipidura terjsmanni 
toradja Stresemann from north-west, central, and south- 
east Celebes, but the terminal edges of the tail-feathers 
somewhat more extended and of same colour as the basal 
two-thirds of the tail-feathers, viz., pure cinnamon, not suffused 
with olivaceous-grey. Female differs from the male in having the 
throat more olivaceous and only the upper portion sooty-black. 

Wing, male 72, female 66 mm., middle tail-feathers, male 85, 
female 79 mm. 

Distribution.—Taliaboe. 

Type.—Male, 11. x. 19388; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Only this one pair was collected. The genus 
Rhipidura is new to the Sula Islands. 

Coracina schistacea petersi, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female similar to Coracina personata 
schistacea Sharpe from the Sula Islands, with which it had been 
hitherto united, but considerably smaller and with a smaller 
and slenderer bill. 

Wing, male 157-158, female 149-154 mm., ascompared with 
male 161-165, female 156-163 mm. in C. s. schistacea. 

Distribution.—Peleng Island. 

Type.—Male, Peleng Island, 17. viii. 1938; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Three males, four females, from Peleng were com- 
pared with six males, five females, of C. s. schistaceus from 
Taliaboe, Sula Islands. 

Named after Mr. James L. Peters, Cambridge, Mass. 

Oriolus chinensis stresemanni, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female most similar to Oriolus 
chinensis frontalis Wallace from the Sula Islands, with which it 


Vol. lix.] 94. (1939. 

had been hitherto united, but smaller and especially with a 
shorter and darker, viz., more red bill. 

Wing, male 146-155, female 143-145 mm., as compared: with 
male 156-162, female 152-155 mm. in O. c. frontalis. Bill, 
male 31-33mm., as against female, 35-37 mm. in O.c. frontalis. 

Distribution.—Peleng Island. 

Type.—Peleng, 15. vii. 1938 ; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Six ad. males, two ad. females, two juv. females, 
were compared with six ad. males, four ad. females, one juv. 
female, of O. c. frontalis from Taliaboe. 

The bill is marked ivory colour in both series, but in the 
dry skin it is darker red in O. c. stresemanni and slightly paler 
in O. c. frontalis. 

9 4 APR 1939 
PURCHASED 


BULLETIN 
13MA / 1939 

PURCHASED 
Betis, ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. 

OF THE 

No. CCCCAXITI. 

THE four-hundred-and-seventeenth Meeting of the Club was 
held on Wednesday, April 12, 1939, at the Rembrandt Hotel, 
Thurloe Place, S.W. 7. 

Chairman : Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON. 

Members of the Club :—Miss P. BarncLay-SmitH ; Mrs. H. W. 
Boyp Watt; Col. S. R. CuarKke; J. DELAcour; A. Ezra ; 
‘Miss J. M. Ferrier; J. FisHer; Capt. H. A. GILBERT; 
Col. A. E. Hamerton; B. G. Harrison; Rev. F. C. R. 
JOURDAIN; Miss EK. P. Leacu; Miss C. LONGFIELD; 
Rear-Admiral H. Lynes; C. W. Mackwortu-PRAkp ; 
G. M. Matsews; Col. R. MEINERTZHAGEN; C. OLDHAM ; 
B. B. Osmaston ; Miss J. RHopEs; W. L. SciateR; The 
Marquess of Tavistock; B. W. Tucker; H. WHISTLER ; 
H. F. WITHERBY. 

Guest of the Club :—Dr. A. S. PARKES. 

Guests :—Mr. and Mrs. J. C. GREENWAY; Miss M. S. 
VAN OOSTALEN. | 

Members of the Club, 26; Guest of the Club, 1; Guests, 3 ; 
Total 30. 

[May 15, 1939,] a VoL. LIX, 


Vol. lix.] 96 [1939. 

The Physiological Basis of Plumage Characters. 
Dr. A. 8. PARKES gave the following talk :— 

It is not possible at present to make any valid generalizations 
about the physiological control of plumage characters in birds, 
but a number of examples may be cited where investigation 
has revealed dependence of the plumage on the hormones 
of the ovary or testis, or of the thyroid gland. Most of the 
available information has been obtained from the study of 
domestic fowl kept under experimental conditions, but there 
can be little doubt that the conclusions will be applicable 
to at least some of the wild species. 

Control by the Ovary.—In most breeds of domestic fowl there 
is sex dimorphism in structure, and often in colour, of the 
plumage. Thus, in the Brown Leghorn, the cock has brilliant 
red, orange, and black display plumage, while the hen is 
sombre fawn and grey. This breed is of particular interest, 
since the plumage characters and the nature of the sex 
dimorphism appear to be identical with those seen in the 
jungle-fowl, the presumptive parent stock of domesticated 
fowl. Removal of the testis from the Brown Leghorn does 
not affect the plumage, while removal of the ovary causes — 
the hen to acquire the display plumage of the cock. Injection 
of ovarian extracts causes the cock’s plumage to become henny. 
In this breed the sex dimorphism in plumage is entirely due 
to the activity of the ovary, and the display plumage of the 
male is merely the neutral or asexual condition. This type 
of plumage control is also found in several other well-known 
species, including Pheasants and Peacocks. The fact that the 
display plumage appears following the removal of ovarian 
influence accounts for the sex reversals in plumage which are 
sometimes seen. Disease which damages the functional 
activity of the ovary will result, at the next moult, in the 
appearance of male-type feathers, and it is possible, therefore, 
for a hen with a previous history of laying to acquire male 
plumage. If this is acquired gradually a sex mosaic pattern 
may appear, due to the intermingling of male and female 
feathers, 


1939.] 97 [Vol. lix. 

Control by Ovary and Testis.—In certain breeds, such as 
the Sebright Bantam, the plumage of the two sexes is identical, 
being henny in character. Removal of the ovaries or testes 
results in the bird acquiring display plumage of a kind which 
would be expected in the males of such a breed. Injection 
of testicular or ovarian hormones to the capon or poularde 
leads to the display plumage reverting to henny type. In 
this breed, therefore, the lack of sex dimorphism is due to 
suppression of display plumage by the hormones of both 
testis and ovary. In addition to the Sebright Bantam there 
are certain other breeds, including strains of Campines and of 
Game Cocks, in which the cock is normally hen-feathered. 
A somewhat similar condition is seen in ducks, in which the 
temporary seasonal assumption of eclipse plumage of female 
type by the drake seems to be dependent on testicular activity, 
since it is not seen in long-standing capon drakes. Removal 
of the ovaries from the duck leads to the appearance of 
permanent display plumage, identical with the nuptial plumage 
of the drake. In this species, therefore, the means of plumage 
control seem to be a combination of those found in the Leghorn 
and in the Sebright. 

Control by the Testis.—Among domestic fowl there seems 
to be no example of sex dimorphism of plumage due to testi- 
cular activity, but the sex dimorphism in the Ruff is reported 
to be of this type. 

Influence of the Thyroid Gland.—In several breeds of fowl 
the characterization of the normal plumage is dependent for 
its full expression on the hormone of the thyroid gland, and 
is disturbed by removal of the gland. In particular deficiency 
of thyroid hormone seems to prevent the deposition of melanin, 
and cause alteration of the structure of the feather by elonga- 
tion of the blade and suppression of barbule formation. 
As a result light coloured, long, and heavily fringed feathers 
are characteristic of thyroid deficiency. Conversely, injection © 
of thyroid hormone increases deposition of melanin and barbule 
formation, thus leading to the production of short, dark feathers 
without a fringe. These feather characters are clearly related 
to those involved in many cases of sex dimorphism, but it is 

q.2 


Vol. lix.] 98 [1939. 

not possible to explain the influence of the ovary and testis 
on plumage as being due primarily to inhibition and stimula- 
tion of the thyroid gland. The dependence ot plumage 
characters on the activity of the thyroid gland implies that 
any environmental condition which influences thyroid activity 
will influence plumage, and it is possible that this is a factor in 
the slight variations in plumage found within the same species 
in different localities. 

Discussion. 

Colonel MEINERTZHAGEN asked the following questions :— 

(a) Can a hormone be isolated ? 

(6) Has any work been done on the effect of ultra-violet rays 
on the hormones which are responsible for pattern or 
pigmentation ? 

(c) Was the lecturer certain about the absence of colour 
change in feathers. He drew attention to experiments 
which had been done on Wigeon passing to and from 
eclipse (Lord William Percy at Alnwick) and to the 
red-brown autumn feathers of the Linnet which change 
to blood-red in spring. The latter is not entirely the 
effect of abrasion. 

Mr. B. W. Tucker said that he would like to allude to two 
points arising out of Dr. Parkes’s very interesting communica- 
tion. These related to the eclipse plumage of ducks and to 
the abnormalities called gynandromorphs. Dr. Parkes had 
suggested that the inhibition of the eclipse plumage by 
castration might be an indirect effect. It seemed to him that 
this view had been clearly substantiated by experiments of 
more recent date than the classical ones of Goodale on the 
subject. It had been shown, though he regretted that, speaking 
from memory, he could not recall the name of the author *, 
that whereas castrated Mallards ordinarily failed to develop 
the eclipse plumage, if feathers were actually plucked in 
castrated birds at the time when the eclipse is nominally 

* The reference in question is: O. Kuhn, Archiv f. Entwicklungs- 
mechanik, exxvil. 1932, pp. 456-541 (esp. pp. 525-533), 


1939. ] 99 [Vol. lix. 

assumed, the new ones come in of the normal eclipse type. 
From this it seems clear that castration does not strictly 
inhibit the eclipse plumage as such, but through some kind of 
physiological disturbance inhibits the moult. The effect is 
therefore of a different nature from the direct hormonic control 
of plumage characters in the fowl and other species. 

With regard to gynandromorphs (abnormalities having 
one side of the body male and the other female—cf. Bull. 
B. O. C. xlviii. 1928, pp. 98-116) Dr. Parkes had remarked that 
the interpretation of these in birds was difficult. In animals 
like insects, where the external sex-characters are determined 
directly by the presence of the male or female number of sex 
chromosomes in the individual cells of the body, gynandro- 
morphs were easily explained in terms of an irregular distribu- 
tion of these chromosomes, so that one side of the body 
received the female number and the other the male. But as 
Dr. Parkes had observed, zoologists had long considered this 
explanation inapplicable to birds, in view of the experimental 
work on the fowl which conclusively demonstrated a control 
of plumage by harmones, which, since they circulate all through 
the body in the blood-stream, could not exert a bilateral effect. 
Consequently other and more complex interpretations had 
been suggested, in terms of differential susceptibility to 
hormonic influence of cells with the male and with the female 
chromosome number, and so forth. But it appeared to him 
that the difficulties in the way of a simple interpretation had 
been largely resolved by investigations in recent years on 
finches and allied birds to which Dr. Parkes had briefly alluded 
at the close of his address. 

Typical gynandromorphs (which are in any case exceedingly 
rare) had been observed chiefly in finches and related birds. 
Now it had been shown by Keck in 1934 that in the House- 
Sparrow (a member of the Plocecdz according to Sushkin, but 
anyhow a very close ally of the finches) the plumage is 
independent of hormonic control. The reproductive organs 
can be removed, and even organs of the opposite sex grafted 
in, and none of these things affects the plumage at all. Subse- 
quently this had also been shown to hold good in the Bullfinch 


Vol. lix.] 100 [1939. 

and up to a point in some weaver-birds as well. Thus in the 
very group of birds in which gynandromorphs had been chiefly 
recorded the plumage was now known to be controlled in 
a quite different way from that demonstrated in the fowl, 
and such gynandromorphs could thus be reasonably explained 
in just the same way asininsects. On the other hand, in the 
group (the game-birds) to which the fowl belongs typical 
gynandromorphs were not known. A fowl described by 
Macklin, though a gynandromorph in respect of its organs 
and certain other characters, had the plumage of a hen, 
and this is what would be expected. The only other gynandro- 
morphic game-bird known, a Pheasant described by Bond, 
was of a very peculiar type, and the most odd thing about it 
was that each individual tail-feather had one half male and 
the other female. It appeared impossible satisfactorily to 
account for this condition in the present state of knowledge, 
but there seemed little doubt that it must represent an 
abnormality of a different type from the ordinary gynandro- 
morph, and one which still required the assumption of some 
sort of differential susceptibility on the two sides of each 
tail-feather to explain it. 

Monsieur J. DeLacour, Mr. J. FisHer, Mr. J. C. GREENWAY, © 
Dr. A. LanpsBoroucH THomson, Mr. B. B. Osmaston, 
Mr. W. L. ScuaterR, The Marquess of Tavistock, and 
Mr. H. F. WirHeErsy also joined in the discussion. 

Some Birds of the American Family Icteride. 

Mr. W. L. ScLatTeR exhibited some birds of the American 
family Icteride, which he had been recently rearranging and 
renaming in the Natural History Museum. 

Among them was the race, [cterus graduacauda richardsont 
Sclater, obtained at Chimalapa in the mountains of southern 
Mexico in 1890 by W. B. Richardson, and a second example of 
Icterus fuertest Chapman, only known hitherto from the unique 
type obtained near Tampico in eastern Mexico. Another 
bird, Icterus gularis tamaulipensis Ridgway, hitherto only 
known from Mexico, was found to range into Texas, and is an 
addition to the B. O. U. * Check-List.’ 


1939.] 101 [Vol. lix. 

A race of the Chilean Blackbird, Notiopsar cureus reynoldst 
Sclater, from Tierra del Fuego, was named after Mr. W./ 2) 
Reynolds, who first obtained the specimens for the Museum. 

Lastly, he showed an example of Oreopsar bolivianus 
Sclater, from southern Bolivia, based on some skins collected 
by Bridges over a hundred years ago, and others by P. O. Simons 
more recently. 

Full details and descriptions will be found in the January 
number of ‘ The Ibis ’ for this year (pp. 140-145). 

A new Race of the Pied Shrike of India. 

Mr. HueH WuHistLeR made the following remarks on the 
Pied Shrike (Hemipus picatus), and exhibited specimens in 
illustration :— 

It has been known for many years that the Pied Shrike 
falls into two races in India and Burma, races so well marked 
indeed that they were originally described as separate species. 
In the northern form, Hemipus picatus capitalis, both the male 
and female have the back brown, but the male is distinguished 
_by having the head glossy-black. In the southern and typical 
form the female is similarly brown-backed and brown-headed, 
but the male has the back black as well as the head. The 
young male in first winter plumage is not to be distinguished 
from the adult female. Birds from Ceylon have hitherto been 
regarded as belonging to the south Indian or typical form. 
A series of Pied Shrikes have just been collected in Ceylon 
in the course of the Ornithological Survey which is being 
conducted by Mr. Malpas and Mr. Phillips on behalf of the 
British and Colombo Museums. On examining these I was 
at once struck by the fact that the females are black-headed 
and black-backed birds indistinguishable from the adult 
males, thereby carrying the evolutionary sequence of the 
colour-pattern of the other two races still further. The 
Ceylon race is, in fact, the most marked and highly developed 
of the three, and must be recognized. As that wonderful 
observer Legge (‘ Birds of Ceylon,’ p. 375) had already noticed 
that females in Ceylon were black-backed, though he had not 


Vol. lix.] 102 (1939. 

in fact realized the significance of the point, I propose to call 
the new race 

Hemipus picatus leggei, subsp. nov. 

Type.—Ceylon Survey Series, no. 284. Adult female 
collected at Ohiya, 5800 feet, Ceylon, on November 29, 
1936. To be deposited in the British Museum. 

Note.—The juvenile plumage of this form is not yet known, 
and it will be of great interest to discover how it falls into the 
plumage sequence of the group. 

A new Genus and Species of Tanager from Central 
Brazil. 
Mr. J. Berwioz sent the following description of a new 
Passerine bird (? Tanagridz) from central Brazil :— 
I feel it more convenient actually to consider this bird, of 
which unfortunately a single specimen was secured, as a new 
generic type, 

RHYNCHOTHRAUPIS, gen. nov., 

with no near ally and a somewhat doubtful systematic 
position, its bill being more icterine in shape than tanagrine 
or fringilline; but its weaker feet, its plumage, general 
appearance, and pattern are closest to those of the Tanagers. 
It differs from most of the South American Tanagers and 
Finches by stouter bill (somewhat intermediate in shape 
between Arremon and Dolichonyx, and even comparatively 
larger, considering the size of the bird), with the base of the 
culmen and the mesorhinium flattened instead of being ridged, 
and the interramal space of the mandible more shortly 
rounded in front. The tail also is comparatively short, with 
long upper and under tail-coverts, reaching at least to its 
middle. 

Rhynchothraupis mesoleuca, sp. nov. 

Finch-like bird with general plumage, including wings and 
tail, uniformly deep black, slightly glossy on the upper 
surface owing to the shiny fringes of all the feathers. On the 
throat a small concealed patch of white at the base of the 
feathers. A large elongated area of pure white occupies 


1939.] 103 [Vol. lix. 

the middle of breast and belly, and merges posteriorly into the 
mixed black and white vent, thighs, and proximal under 
tail-coverts, the longest of which are nearly entirely black. 
Inner and longer under wing-coverts whitish. Wings rounded, 
the fourth quill the longest. Tail rather short and rounded, 
the rectrices wide and soft. 

Bill high at base, stout and conical, compressed laterally ; 
culmen nearly straight, produced on front into a distinct 
and slightly flattened mesorhinium ; nostrils rounded and 
exposed. Bill apparently bluish-grey, becoming whitish along 
the tornia. Feet greyish-black. 

Total length 140; culmen 15; tarsus 17; wing 70; tail 
60 mm. 

Type and unique specimen (in the Paris Museum). Male 
adult, collected at Juruena, north-east of Cuyaba, Matto 
Grosso (Central Brazil), in dry forest, on August 25, 1938, 
by Dr. A. Vellard. 

Until better known this bird can be placed among the 
Tanagride, not far perhaps from the rare Conothraupis specu- 
ligera (Gould) from Peru, both representing aberrant types, 
with a somewhat similar pattern. 

Two new Races of Petrel. 
Mr. Grecory M. Matuews sent the following description of 

a new Prion from New Zealand and one from the Falkland 
Islands. 
Heteroprion belcheri lalfa, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from H. b. belchert in having a wider 
bill, which measures 24 to 25 mm. in length by 10 mm. in 
width. 4H. b. belcheri has a bill measurement of 25 by 8 mm., 
and H. b. serventyi has a billmeasurement of 26 by 11 to 12 mm. 

Distribution.—New Zealand seas. 

Type.—An unsexed adult in my collection. Wing 176; 
tail 88 ; tarsus 30 ; middle toe and claw 37; bill 25 by 10 mm. 
Collected on Kapiti Island in 1934. 

Type-locality.—Kapiti Island, New Zealand. 

Remarks.—It appears from the above that the New Zealand 
subspecies of the thin-billed Prion is intermediate between 
the eastern and western Australian forms. 

a5 


Vol. lix.] 104 [1939. 

Heteroprion beleheri falklandicus, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from H. b. solandert Mathews in being 
larger in all the measurements. 

H. 6b. solandert: wing 184; tail 87; tarsus 29°5; toe 
and claw 34; bill 23 by 10 mm. 

H. b. falklandicus: wing 187:7; tail 94:6; tarsus 32°6; 
toe and middle claw 39°8 ; bill 25-4 by 11 mm. (Average of 
seven skins.) 

Distribution and type-locality.—Breeding on the Falkland 
Islands. 

Type.—In the British Museum. A male collected by J. E. 
Hamilton on January 4, 1931. No. 1932.7.2.21. 

Measurements of type.—Bill 25; wing 188; tail 94; 
tarsus 33; middle toe and claw 40 mm. 

Six new Races from Peling. 
Prof. OscaR NEUMANN sent the following descriptions of 
six new races from Peling Island, east of Celebes. 
The types of these races will be deposited in the Museum of 
Comparative Zoology in Cambridge, Mass. 

Megapodius nicobariensis perrufus, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female. Similar to Megapodius 
nicobariensis bernsteint Schlegel from the Sula Islands, which 
is the only race of Megapodius in which the upper side and 
underside are of about the same colour. But this uniformity 
in coloration is still more perfect. The whole bird is rufous, 
and the olivaceous suffusion, which is so prominent in 
M.n. bernsteint, especially on the upper side, is almost missing. 
The difference is also remarkable on the underside, though 
not so strong as on the upperside. The race is also larger : 
wing of three males and five females 195-206 mm., as against 
182-188 mm. in six males and eight females of WM. n. bernsteinia 
from Taliaboe, Sula Islands, and 185-193 mm. in eight speci- 
mens from Sula Mangoli (vide Mayr in litt.). 

Distribution,—Peling Island, 


1939.] 105 [Vol. lix. 

Type.—Male, Peleng, 8. viii. 1938 ;. J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Dr. Junge (Leiden), Mr. Kinnear (London), and 
Dr. Mayr (New York) were so kind as to compare some of my 
Peling specimens with the type and’ other specimens of 
M. n. bernsteini from Sula Mangoli before I had seen the 
Taliaboe series. 

Rallus torquatus simillimus, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female. Very similar to Rallus 
torquatus sulcirostris Wallace from Sula Mangoli and Taliaboe, 
but larger and slightly more rufous and a little darker on the 
upper parts. Wing: male, 148-165; female, 148-151; as 
against male, 144-154, female, 140-150 mm. in Rallus paguctn 
sulcirostris. 

Distribution.—Peling Island. 

Type.—Male, Peling, 17. viii. 38; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—The difference in colour is very slight, and some 
specimens are scarcely different in this respect. I would not 
have given the Peling population a new name were it not an 
island race. Hartert’s remarks, Nov. Zool. vol. v. p. 136, that 
younger specimens have a finely speckled throat and the adults 
have an entirely black throat seems incorrect. My largest 
males have a speckled throat, while apparently the adult 
females have all black throats. 

Here too Dr. Junge, Mr. Kinnear, and Dr. Mayr were so kind 
as to compare my Peling specimens with Sula specimens in 
their collections, though their results arrived at were not quite 
identical. 

Haliastur indus permistus, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female. Without any shaft-stripes 
on the underside, therefore perfectly resembling Haliastur indus 
girrenera from Australia and New Guinea, but much larger, 
of about the same dimensions as the western races of Haliastur 
indus, viz., H. v. indus, H. 1. intermedius, and H. 1. ambiguus. 
Wing: male, 372 and 383 ; female, 389-406 mm. ; as against 
352-360 mm. in tropical specimens of A. 7. girrenera and 
357--380 mm. in South Australian. 

Distribution.—Peling Island, probably also the Sula Islands. 


Vol. lix.] 106 [1939. 

Type.—Female, 3. vii. 1938, Peling ; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—While the majority of Celebes specimens, viz., 
Haliastur indus ambiguus Briiggemann, have well-marked 
though thin shaft-stripes on the underside, the Peleng series 
(two males and six females) before me is plain white on the 
underside, only one of the two males exhibit a slight indication 
of shaft-stripes. 

Otus manadensis mendeni, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female. Far more grey than even 
the least reddish or brown specimen of Otus manadensis 
manadensis from Celebes. The black stripes, which are so 
conspicuous in O. m. manadensis, are obsolete or even 
wanting. The whole pattern is much finer, more uniform, 
and less variegated. The dimensions are smaller. Wing: 
male, 141; female, 148 mm.; as compared to 147-156 mm. in 
O. m. manadensis. 

Distribution.—Peling Island. 

Type.—Female, Peling, 4. vii. 1938; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Dr. Mayr has compared these two specimens with 
the types of O. m. sulaensis Hartert and O. m. kalidupe Hartert. 
It is, as he writes me, nearest to O. m. kalidupx, but is much 
smaller. Wing in kalidwpx : male, 170; female, 169 mm. 

The unique type of O. m. sulaensis, male, has the same wing- 
length as O. m. kalidupx, viz., 170 mm. Besides that it is 
very rufous and dark. 

It may be that there are two different “ Formenkreise ” 
on the Moluccas and the islands south and east of Celebes, 
of which the larger one must eventually be called Otus magica. 
Perhaps sulaensis and kalidupae are subspecies of magica, 
as well as Otus mentawi Chasen and Kloss from the Mentawi 
Archipelago, west of south Sumatra, which in my opinion is 
most related to Otus magica (Miiller). 

Alisterus amboinensis versicolor, subsp. nov. 
Description.—Male and female. Most similar to Alisterus 
amboinensis dorsalis (Quoy & Gaimard) from north-western 
New Guinea and the western Papuan Islands, but smaller: 


1939. ] 107 [Vol. lix. 

wing, male and female, 173-182 mm., as against 182-196 mm. 
in A. a. dorsalis. It differs from A. a. sulaensis Reichenow 
from the Sula Islands, with which it had been hitherto united 
by its more blue and less green upperside, the interscapulum 
being pure dark blue in all adult specimens, while it is always 
mixed with green feathers in A. a. sulaensis. In my series of 
three males, three females, and three juvenile females there 
is no specimen which has the whole interscapulum green, 
as has the type and other younger females from the Sula 
Islands. 

Distribution.—Peling Island. 

T'ype.—Male ad. Peling, 8. viii. 1938; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Even two young females from Peling with black 
bill and pointed tail-feathers with rosy tips have the larger 
portion of the interscapulum blue and only a green necklace *. 
In my revision of the genus Alisterus, ‘ Verhandlungen des VI. 
Internationalen Ornithologen-Kongresses,’ Kopenhagen, 1926, 
I remarked, on p. 452, “ Perhaps investigations of larger series 
will show differences between the Sula and the Peling popu- 
lations.’ This assumption has now come true. 

Haleyon coromanda pelingensis, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female. Similar to Halcyon coro- 
manda rufa Wallace from Celebes, but much smaller, wing 
106-115 mm., as against 120-126 mm. in H. c. rufa Wallace. 
Culmen 53-56 mm., as against 62-67 mm. in H. c. rufa. 

Distribution.—Peling Island, perhaps adjacent parts of 
Celebes. 

Type.—Peling, 12. vii. 1938; J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—There are several races of Halcyon coromanda on 
Celebes and on the adjacent islands. Even assuming that the 
largest specimens, recorded by Meyer and Wiglesworth in 
‘ Birds of Celebes,’ vol. i. p. 287, are winter visitors from Japan, 
belonging to Halcyon coromanda major 'Temm. & Schl., there 

* There is no specimen in my series which has the bill red as on 
plate vii. of ‘Birds of Celebes.’ In the adult specimens the basal third 
of the upper mandible is coral-red, while the remainder and the lower 
mandible are black. In younger specimens the whole bill is black. 


Vol. lix.] 108 (1939. 

are still larger and smaller specimens there. Mr. Kinnear 
tells me that the type of H. c. rufa Wallace from Macassar, 
Celebes, has a wing-length of 120 mm., therefore 5 mm. more 
than my largest specimen. On the other hand, two specimens 
from Taliaboe, Sula Islands, have wing-lengths of 121 and 
123 mm. and bills of 63-64 mm., and Hartert (Nov. Zool. v. 
p. 129) gives for a series from Sula Mangoli: wing 120-124, 
culmen 63-67 mm. We must therefore, for the time being, 
call this Sula race H. c. rufa, though the distribution seems 
rather strange. 

A careful revision of the races of Halcyon coromanda is 
badly needed. Perhaps the number of subspecies will be con- 
siderably increased. There is very little sexual or individual 
variation in large series from one region. 

A new Race of Forest Warbler from Nyasaland. 

Mr. C. W. BENSON sent the following note on the status of 
the genus Bradypterus in Nyasaland, including the description 
of a new Forest Warbler :— 

1. Preluminary. 

Admiral Lynes, in the J. f. O., Suppl. 19384, pp. 85-86, 
regards Bradypterus nyassx as a race of B. connamomeus, and 
Vincent, in ‘The Ibis,’ 1935, pp. 510-511, considers the 
possibility of there being two representatives of the genus 
in Nyasaland (in addition, of course, to the swamp dweller, 
B. brachypterus)—a long-tailed bird with broad webs and a 
short-tailed with narrow webs. 

When collecting recently on the Nyika Plateau and on 
Nyakhowa Mountain, in Nyasaland, I was surprised and 
interested to find a species of Bradypterus frequenting thick 
grass and bracken growth outside evergreen forest. It had 
a call quite distinct from that of the bird living inside the 
evergreen forest, with which I was already very familiar, and 
which is aptly described by Vincent in ‘The Ibis,’ 1935, 
pp. 511-512. Vincent mentions birds, presumably with the 
calls he describes, as living “ just within or around the edges 
of the forest.” It is certainly true that such calls are 
occasionally to be heard in thick bracken growth outside forest, 
but they are far more frequently heard from the interior of 


1939.] 109 [Vol. lix. 

forest. The true inhabitant of thick grass and bracken growth 
utters a trill not so loud as the “ chit-chit-chit chit ’’ (Vincent) 
of the forest bird. It is usually preceded by a trisyllabic 
“tee, tee, tee.” The alarm call is not so sharp as the 
‘“ chirrip ’’ (Vincent) of the forest bird. 

I have examined all the Nyasaland specimens belonging to 
this genus in the British Museum, and I find that, apart from 
B. brachypterus of swamps, they can be divided into two 
eroups—a long-tailed (B. cinnamomeus nyasse) and a short- 
tailed. It also appears that the former is distinguishable 
by having broad webs to the tail, the latter narrow webs. 
A great many of the specimens have too many of their tail- 
feathers missing for it to be possible for the tail-length to be 
determined. But in the case of those in which it is possible, 
when grouped accordingly, it also becomes evident that there 
is a colour difference. The long-tailed birds differ from the 
short-tailed on the underside in that the wash of pale brown 
colour on the chest is less rufous, more pure brown, and on the 
chin and throat there is little or no wash, resulting in a more 
generally white appearance in that region. The specimens 
with very incomplete tails fall into one or other of the two 
groups as by colour, except for four specimens from the 
Masuku Mts. and one from Nyakhowa Mt., in the north, 
collected by me inside evergreen forest, and with a call similar 
to such birds further south, and which agree closely in colouring 
with B. usambare. In size, too, they correspond closely, 
though none of the tails are complete enough for it to be 
of any value to take their lengths into consideration (except 
that there is no reason to consider them to be long-tailed birds, 
since the longest tail among them (consisting of seven feathers) 
is 64 mm. only (see below). 

2. Summary of Tail-length Measurements. 

Seven Nyasaland specimens with nine feathers or more in 
tail (complete tail has ten feathers) have tail-length 60-67 mm. 
(two males, 61, 63, five ? sex, 60-67 mm.). Habitat interior 
of evergreen forest. 

Seven Nyasaland specimens (completeness of tail not taken 


Vol. lix.] 110 (1939. 

into account, have tail-length 68-80 mm. (four males, 74-80, 
three females, 68-71.mm.). Habitat dense grass and bracken 
outside evergreen forest. Hight specimens of B. wsambarez 
from N.E. Tanganyika and Southern Kenya : 

(a) Ten tail-feathers: two males, 60-65, two females, 
55-61 mm. 

(6) Eight tail-feathers: three males, 58-63, one female, 
55 mm. (as the central pair of tail-feathers in the 
complete tail do not project more than 4 mm. beyond 
the adjacent feathers these measurements may be 
regarded as of value for the present purpose). 

3. Description of a new Subspecies of the Forest Warbler 
Bradypterus usambare. 

I consider that the Nyasaland short-tailed bird should be 
regarded as a race of B. usambare, also clearly a short-tailed 
bird. Both inhabit evergreen forest, and when at Amani, 
N.E. Tanganyika, I at once recognized the call of what I took 
to be the Nyasaland forest bird, which Mr. R. E. Moreau 
informed me was in fact that of B. usambare. I propose 
to name this bird 

Bradypterus usambare granti, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from B. u. usambare in the generally 
less grey tinge of the brown colouring on the underside, 
including the flanks, and in the more rufous, less chocolate 
colour of the upper side. 

Soft Parts.—Bill dark grey, with basal two-thirds of lower 
mandible pale grey ; feet pale brown ; iris dark brown. 

Distribution.—Kverereen forests of Nyasaland at 3000 feet 
and over to as far north as the Vipya Plateau. 

Type.—In the British Museum. Adult male. Lichenya 
Plateau, Mlanje Mt., Nyasaland. Collected by Jack Vincent on | 
December 31, 1931. Collector’s no. 118. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 
1933.3.1.1031. 

Measurements of Type.—Wing 62, tail (complete with ten 
feathers) 60 ; culmen from base 16; tarsus 25-5 mm, 


1939.] ill [Vol. lix. 

Remarks.—Named in honour of Captain C. H. B. Grant, 
to whom I am indebted for his interest and advice regarding 
this problem. 

The ways in which this bird differs from B. connamomeus 
nyasse have already been indicated (tail-length, colour, voice, 
and habitat). Twenty specimens examined. 

4. General. 

It is remarkable that the form B. usambare grant: should 
only now be recognized, although Sir Charles Belcher records 
notes clearly mainly referable to it in his book ‘ The Birds of 
Nyasaland’ (1930), and it was in fact first collected by 
Mr. Alexander Whyte as long ago as the ‘nineties of the last 
century. The colour differences between it and B. cinnamo- 
meus nyasse are not distinctive in the way that they are 
between the two species further north. This is an excellent 
example of how field observations can be of assistance to syste- 
matic work in museums. 

It should be noted that B. connamomeus nyasse has not 
been recorded from between the Nyika and Mlanje, nor do 
I believe that it does in fact occur (also note that Turdus 
olivaceus has not been found between the Nyika and Malosa, 
almost as great a distance). Although there is plenty of 
suitable country for it I have nowhere heard its voice. It. 
should be pointed out that while evergreen forest is not sus- 
ceptible to fire, bracken and grass growth is, and this may 
explain its absence. On the other hand, there is Vincent’s 
suggestion that the type of B. nyasse may have been wrongly 
labelled and in reality have been obtained in northern 
Nyasaland. | 

It is likely that a review of the genus as a whole, which I have 
not had the time to carry out, will show that the name 
B. usambarx will have to be relegated to subspecific status. 
Thus it is possible, for instance, that B. msirt Neave, from 
the southern Belgian Congo, an older name, should be regarded 
as conspecific with B. usambare. B.msiri is only known from 
the type-specimen, which unfortunately has a very incomplete 
tail, and it is not possible to decide whether it is conspecific 


Vol. lix.] 112 (1939. 

with B. usambare or B. connamomeus. In colouring it is 
close to B. usambarz granti, though it is a deeper chocolate 
on the upper side and on the flanksand thighs. Again Moreau, 
in Proc. Zool. Soc. part 4, 1935, p. 882, regards B. mariex 
Madarasz., from Kilimanjaro, as conspecific with B. usambare. 

The distributions of the species considered in this paper 
and their races are as follows :— 

1. BRADYPTERUS USAMBAR. Short-tailed. Habitat in- 
terior of evergreen forest. | 
(a) Bradypterus usambare usambare (of which B. roehli 
Grote, Orn. Monatsb. xxvii. p. 6, 1920: Mlalo, near 
Wilhelmstal, Tanganyika Territory, is a synonym, see 
Sclater and Moreau, Ibis, 1933, p. 23). 
Bradypterus usambare Reichenow, Journ. Orn. 1917, 
p. 891: Usambara, Tanganyika Territory. 
Distribution.—Taita Hills in southern Kenya: North 
Paré, Usambara Mts., Nguru Mts., and Mt. Rungwe, 
in Tanganyika Territory: Masuku Mts. and Nyakhowa 
Mt., in northern Nyasaland. 
Remarks.—Seventeen specimens examined. 

(b) Bradypterus usambare grant. 
Distribution.—Nyasaland to as far north as the Vipya 
Plateau. 

2. BRADYPTERUS CINNAMOMEUS. Long tailed. Habitat 
dense growth such as of bracken and grass outside evergreen 
forest. 

(a) Bradypterus connamomeus cinnamomeus. 

Sylvia ? (Salicaria) cinnamomea Riuppell, N. Wirbelt., 
Vog. p. 111, pl. xlii., 1840: Entschetgab, Simen Prov. 

Distribution.—Abyssinia, Kenya Colony, and Ruwen- 
ZO. 

(b) Bradypterus cinnamomeus rufoflavidus *. 

Bradypterus rufoflavidus Reichenow & Neumann, Orn. 
Monatsb. ili. p. 75, 1895: Kifinika Hut, Kilimanjaro. 

* Although not recognized in the ‘ Systema Avium Aithiopicarum,’ 
this race is recognized by Sclater in Proc. Zool. Soc. part 4, 1935, p. 881. 


1939.] 113 [Vol. lix. 

Distribution.—Kilimanjaro and Usambara Mts., in 
northern Tanganyika Territory. 

(c) Bradypterus connamomeus nyassx (much less gene- 
rally rufous than the two preceding races). 

Bradypterus nyasse Shelley, Ibis, 1893, p. 16: Milanje 
Plateau, 6000 ft., Nyasaland. 

Distribution.—Mlanje Mt., Nyakhowa Mt., Nyika 
Plateau, and Mafinga Mts., in Nyasaland: Njombe, 
in 8.W. Tanganyika Territory: Nguru Mts., in East 
Central Tanganyika Territory. 

Remarks.—Kleven specimens examined. 

Notes on some Eastern African Birds. 

Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. MackworTH-PRAED 
sent the following six notes :— . 

(1) On the Type-locality of Jynz ruficollis Wagler. 

In the Bull. B.O.C. lix. 1939, p. 72, we discussed this 
question. Recently Dr. C. E. Hellmayr has kindly drawn our 
attention to an article by Stresemann in the Journ. fiir. Orn. 
1922, pp. 498-503, entitled “The development of the bird 
collections in the Berlin Museum, under Illiger and Lichten- 
stein.” On p. 501 of this article we learn that Ludwig Krebs 
was a farmer at Uitenhage. We therefore consider that the 
exact type-locality of Jynx ruficollis Wag. can be fixed as 
Uitenhage, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. 

(2) On the Races of Smithornis capensis (Smith) occurring 
in Eastern Africa. 

Van Someren, Nov. Zool. xxix. 1922, p. 99, recognizes five 
races; Sclater, Syst. Av. Atthiop. 1930, p. 305, recognizes 
seven races; Bannerman, Ibis, 1923, p. 718, recognizes six 
races ; and Sclater, Jackson’s Bds. Kenya Colony and Uganda, 
il. 1938, p. 768, recognizes three races, and is correct in bringing 
S. c. camerunensis Sharpe into western Uganda. 

Dr. Stresemann, on behalf of Mr. Moreau, compared Amani 
birds with S. c. suahelicus Grote, and found that they agree. 


Vol. lix.] 114 (1939. 

We have examined carefully the good series in the British 
Museum collection, and find that there is quite considerable 
individual variation—for instance, birds from Natal have 
both olivaceous-grey and olivaceous-brown mantles. It is, 
therefore, on quite general characters that races can be 
separated, and we are only able to recognize three in eastern 
Africa, as follows :— 

SMITHORNIS CAPENSIS CAPENSIS (Smith). 

Platyrhynchus capensis A. Smith, Hl. Zool. 8. Afr. Av. 1839, 
pl. xxvii.: northern Zululand, South Africa ; of which Smith- 
ornis capensis albigularys Hartert, Bull. B.O.C. xiv. 1904, 
p. 73: Canhoga, Angola, becomes a synonym. 

Below white, sometimes tinged with buff, with black 
streaks. Wing 68-75 mm. 

Distribution.—South-eastern South Africa to ‘Aneolet the 
Rhodesias, south-eastern Belgian Congo, Nyasaland and 
Portuguese Kast Africa. 

SMITHORNIS CAPENSIS CAMERUNENSIS Sharpe. 

Smithornis camerunensis Sharpe, Ibis, 1905, p. 469 : River Ja, 
Cameroon. 

Much darker and warmer in general colour both above and 
below, browner on mantle. Wing 69-73 mm. 

Distribution.—Cameroon to western Uganda. 

SMITHORNIS CAPENSIS MEDIANUS Hart. & van Som. 

Smithornis capensis medianus Hartert & van Someren, Bull. 
B. O. C. xxxvi. 1916, p. 59: Kyambu Forest, near Nairobi, 
Kenya Colony ; of which Smithornis capensis meinertzhageni 
van Someren, Bull. B. O. C. xl. 1919, p. 24: Lerundo, Kavi- 
rondo, Kenya Colony, and Smithornis capensis suahelicus Grote, 
O. M. xxiv. 1926, p. 17: Magogoni, Ruvu River, eastern 
Tanganyika Territory, are synonyms. 

Sides of chest and below strongly washed with buff, but 
not so dark as S. c. camerunensis. Wing 64—75 mm. 

Distribution.—Kenya Colony and ‘Tanganyika Territory. 


1939. ] 115 [Vol. lix. 

Some specimens from Portuguese East Africa, north of the 
Zambesi and Nyasaland, show characters of both S. c. capensis 
and S. c. medianus. 

(3) On the Status of Mirafra schillingst Reichenow, J. f. O. 
1916, p. 163: Nijiri, Gonja Plain, west of Kilimanjaro, 
north-eastern Tanganyika Territory. 

Reichenow compared this bird with W. cheniana Smith and 
M. marginata Hawker. Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. ii. 1930, 
p. 309, places it as a race of M.cheniana. Through the kindness 
of Dr. Stresemann, of the Berlin Museum, we have had the 
loan of the two specimens on which MW. schillingst was founded. 
These prove not only that it is a good race, but that it is 
not a race of M. cheniana but a race of Mirafra cantillans 
Blyth, as the following tail measurements show :— 

Mirafra cheniana. 

Males (ten measured) 45-48 mm. 
Females (two measured) 42-45 mm. 

Mirafra cantillans marginata. 

Males (seven measured) 49-52 mm. 
Females (four measured) 47-52 mm. 

Mirafra cantillans chadensis. 

Males (eight measured) 52-57 mm. 
Females (three measured) 47-49 mm. 

Mirafra schillingsv. 

Males (two meaaured) 55 mm. 

It is of interest to note that Reichenow was correct in naming 
one of the specimens (no. 1246, dated December 16, 1903, 
from Gonja Steppe) as Mirafra cantillans in Schilling’s ‘ Mit 
Blitzlicht und Buchse,’ 1905, p. 555, no. 300. The second 
specimen (no. 375, dated January 19, 1903, from Ndjjiri) is 
not recorded in this list, 


Vol. lix.] 116 (1939. 

(4) On the correct reference for Galerida cristata somaliensis. 

Both Reichenow, in the J. f. O. p. 49, and Bianchi, in Bull. 
Acad. Sci. St. Petersb. (5) xxv. p. 62, gave the name G. c. 
somaliensis to this British Somaliland race in 1907; and 
Sclater, Syst. Av. Adthiop. 11. p. 326, 1930, in a footnote states : 
“ It is difficult to say which has priority.” 

Bianchi’s paper on the Alaudide is in the June and 
September 1906 number, and was sent in by him under date 
November 9, 1905. This paper and number is bound up in 
vol. xxv. 1906, but, according to the date on the back of the 
titlepage, was not published until November 1907. We 
submitted this question to Dr. Sherborn, who very kindly 
replied :—‘‘ There is no evidence (or knowledge) that the 
date of Bianchi is other than 1907. See Contem, back of 
titlepage, imprimateur.”’ Therefore the date of Bianchi’s 
Galerida cristata somaliensis ex Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, 1904, 
p. 235: Somaliland, must be accepted as November 1907. 

The date of the J.f.O. in which Reichenow published 
Galerida cristata somaliensis is January 1907 ; and as we know 
that this number came out in January of that year, the British 
Museum copy having been received in London on February 2, 
1907, there can be no question that Reichenow, J. f. O. 1907, 
p. 49: Zeila, British Somaliland, has priority. 

(5) On the Occurrence of Calandrella brachydactila longipennis 
(Eversmann) (Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscou, xxi. 1848, 
p- 219: Lake Ala Kul, Dzungaria, Semiyechensk 
Province, Turkestan, eastern Russia), in Kenya Colony. 

This race of the Short-toed ‘Lark has been recorded by 
Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. ii. 1930, p. 332, van Someren, Nov. 
Zool. xxxvii. 1932, p. 332, and Sclater, Jackson’s Bds. Kenya 
Colony and Uganda, ii. 1938, p. 796; all being based on the 
specimen in the British Museum collection ; a female, taken 
by Lord Delamere at Athi River, Kenya Colony, on November 
14, 1899 (Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1901.2.22.247). 

Meinertzhagen, Nicoll’s Bds. Egypt, i. 1930, p. 184, does not 
give this race as occurring in Kenya Colony. 


1939. ] 117 [Vol. lix. 

We have carefully examined this specimen, and find it is 
an example of Tephrocorys cinerea saturatior (Reichenow). 
Therefore Calandrella brachydactila longipennis does not 
occur further south in eastern Africa than the Sudan. 

(6) On the Generic Status of Tephrocorys blanfordi Shelley, 
Bds. Afr. iii. 1902, p. 128, pl. xxi. fig. 2: Senafé, Eritrea. 

Although Hartert, Vog. Pal. Faun. Enganz, 1933, p. 104, 
considered Calandrella and Tephrocorys to be congeneric, 
we are of the opinion that they are better kept separate, as 
has been done by Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. ii. 1930, and other 
authors. 

Shelley placed his 7’. blanfordi in the genus Tephrocorys, 
as does Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. i. 1930, p. 333, but Bates, 
Ibis, 1936, p. 550, places it in the genus Calandrella, giving 
the opinion that it is closely allied to the Short-toed Larks, 
but is not merely a race of C. brachydactila (Leisler). 

An examination of the series of 7’. blanfordi in the British 
Museum collection shows that it has the first four primaries 
almost of equal length as has T'ephrocorys, whereas Calandrella 
has the fourth primary considerably shorter than the first 
three. In general colour 7’. blanfordi agrees closely with 
Calandrella but has a shorter tail and a different wing charac- 
ter; and agrees with Tephrocorys in the wing character but 
not in the length of the tail. Unless a new genus is created 
for T'. blanfordi, which seems undesirable, we are of opinion 
that it should be left in that genus to which Shelley assigned it, 
and, in view of its shorter tail, that it be treated as a species. 

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BULLETIN 
21 JUN 1939 
PURCHASED 
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. 

OF THE 

No. CCCCAXTITI. 

THe four-hundred-and-eighteenth Meeting of the Club was 
held on Wednesday, May 10, 1939, at the Rembrandt Hotel, 
Thurloe Place, S.W. 7. 

Chairman: Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON. 

Members of the Club:—W. B. ALEXANDER; Dr. D. A. 
BanNnERMAN; F. J. F. Barrincton; Miss M. G. 8. Bzst; 
Mrs. W. Boyp-Watt; A. Ezra; Miss J. M. FERRIER; 
J. Fisher; Miss EK. M. Gopman; Capt. C. H. B. Grant 
(Editor); B. Guy Harrison; P. A. D. Hottom; Dr. E. 
Hopkinson ; The Rev. F. C. R. Jourpain; N. B. Kinnear; 
Major A. G. LAMBART-SLADEN (Hon. Treasurer) ; Miss E. P. 
Lracy ; Miss C. Lonerretp; Dr. P. R. Lowe; WILLouGHBY 
P. Lowe; C. W. Mackwortu-PraEp; Lt-Col. H. A. F. 
MacratH; Dr. P. H. Manson-Banr; G. M. MatueEws ; 
Col. R. MEINERTZHAGEN; R. E. Morgavu; T. H. NEwMan ; 
A. S. Puitires; Mrs. J. B. PriestitEy ; Miss G. M. RHopgs ; 
W. L. Scuater ; B. W. Tucker; H. F. WITHERBY. 

Guest of the Club :—C. L. CoLLENETTE. 

_ Guests :—Mrs. R. Bacon; R. Bacon; Col. A. M. BINNEY ; 
Miss T. Chay; R. A. Fatta; Mrs. MackwortTH-PRAED ; 
Mrs. E. V. Puinites ; Mrs. W. L. ScLaTER. 

Members of the Club, 34; Guest of the Club, 1 ; Guests, 8 ; 

Total 43. 
[June 17, 1939.] a VOL. LIX, 


Vol. lix.] 120 [1939. 

Wild Life in Richmond Park, Surrey. 

Mr. C. L. CoLLENETTE showed some ancient documents 
relating to this Park and said that the Park was enclosed in 
1637, and since that time the boundaries have not altered. 
Of so-called vermin in the Park, foxes, grey squirrels, Crows, 
and to some extent Jays are on the black list. One fox earth 
had numerous remains of Mallard and Tufted Duck scattered 
round its entrance. 

Considering that Richmond Park is well within the built- 
up area of London, some 7 miles from Charing Cross, and with 
St. Paul’s Cathedral within easy view, the figure of 108 species 
for 1938 seems a high one. As the official bird observer for 
the Park I receive records from some twenty-five ornithologists. 

The combined figures of breeding and non-breeding species 
has risen steadily from 83 in the year 1930 to 108 in 1938. 
During this time a considerable area to the west and south 
of the Park has turned from open country into bricks and 
mortar, and, furthermore, streets and shops are far more 
brightly illuminated at night than formerly. Is it not 
probable that birds passing over London at night see below 
them mile after mile of lights and activity, and then the | 
very considerable dark and quiet area of the Park, and that 
they are tempted to descend for a brief rest to a greater extent 
than formerly? As an illustration, in the past four years 
we have had short visits from such birds as Pied Flycatcher 
(twice), Sedge-Warbler (twice), Short-eared Owl, Stone-Curlew 
(three times), Curlew-Sandpiper, Greenshank (twice), Jack 
Snipe, and Water Rail. These rarely or never appeared in the 
earlier records. The species of birds which nest in the Park 
are decreasing. The Wheatear ceased to nest about 1908, 
the Yellow Wagtail about 1912, the Rook in 1924, the 
Nightingale about 1926, and the Nightjar about 1930. The 
Woodlark is gradually becoming scarcer, and at the present 
rate of decrease will not be found in a year or two. The 
majority of these species have left us owing to the restriction 
of nesting areas and less rural condition of the Park owing to 
its increased use by pedestrians, horsemen, and dogs. 


1939.] 121 [Vol. lix. 

On the other hand, of the small ground-nesting birds, 
Tree-Pipits occur in numbers, while a few pairs of Reed- 
and Yellow Buntings, Whinchat, Stonechat, Skylark, and 
Meadow-Pipit are found in the open. 

The majority of the oak- and birch-trees are old and decayed, 
which affords excellent conditions to the Redstart, Tree- 
Sparrow, Nuthatch, Jackdaw, Stock Dove, and the Wood- 
peckers. The Redstart is one of the principal ornithological 
attractions. In April 1935 I located about twenty-five 
separate pairs. During the next year or two they decreased, 
perhaps owing to a programme of lopping the decayed portion 
of the trees by the authorities. This spring (1939) they are 
again distinctly common. 

The Stock Dove is a rather shy bird in the nesting season, 
and it is not easy to estimate the population. In winter, 
however, any number up to about seventy may be seen feeding 
on the food put down for the deer, and I believe that all 
these birds remain to nest.. Tree-Sparrows are not uncommon 
in the nesting season, scattered over the area as single pairs, 
or perhaps two pairs in one tree, in the old and isolated oaks. 
The Blackcap is, in some years, a commoner bird than the 
Whitethroat or Willow-Warbler. The Coal-Tit can always be 
seen in mixed flocks of Tits during the winter, but is usually 
completely absent during the nesting season. Bramblings 
and Hawfinches can be seen practically every winter. Only 
one or two pairs of Hawfinches nest. A male Dartford 
Warbler spent the whole of the winter of 1937/38 in a patch 
of withered bracken. A Great Grey Shrike was commonly 
seen in the winter before last, and less commonly during the 
past winter. 

The Pen Ponds are hardly large enough to attract the 
scarcer waterfowl, but such birds as Goldeneye, Pintail, 
Shoveler, Wigeon, and Goosander are recorded in most years. 
Goosanders are shy birds, and usually leave about 10 or 11 a.m., 
when the first people and dogs come down to the water. 
On some occasions I have counted over fifty, but a more usual 
number is five or ten. The Great-crested Grebe first appeared 
on the Ponds in the year 1899, and since that date has been 

a 2 


Vol. lix.] 122 [1939. 

so well reported in print that I have been able to compile 
an almost complete list of its nesting year by year. Two pairs 
usually nest, and young are frequently reared. 

Waterfowl as a whole do not rear large families. Broods 
of Tufted Duck, Mallard, Coot, and Moorhen usually finish 
with only one or two survivors after the first three or four 
weeks. For this the pike are partly responsible, but perhaps 
the Carrion-Crow is just as much to blame. A Crow has been 
seen to take a duckling from the surface of the water. Tufted 
Ducks have increased as a nesting species, and Sedge- and 
Reed-Warblers occasionally pay a visit to the Sanctuary. 
The Little Grebe, at one time a strangely scarce bird, is now 
present as a rule during the winter, and may become a nesting 
species. 

The heronry which is now in Sidmouth Plantation originated 
with one pair in 1880, and this year numbers sixty-one pairs. 

Remarks on Visits to Museums on the Continent and 
in the United States. 

Colonel R. MEINERTZHAGEN said that during the past few 
years he had visited and worked in many of the larger museums | 
of Kurope and North America. 

In discussing methods with the heads of the various museums 
during his recent visit to the United States he found that 
arranging and maintaining collections is the primary function 
of the staff, though other activities are regarded as no less 
important—contact with collectors and expeditions, even 
though unconnected with the museum, asking for exchange 
of new material, and encouraging young enterprise. 

No less important is considered the contact with potential 
financial resources. No museum can progress on a Govern- 
ment subsidy alone. In the United States the tapping of 
private fortunes has been brought to a fine art, but this is 
no place to discuss the details. It has been said that a 
government museum is at a disadvantage, and cannot properly 
pick up crumbs from the rich man’s table : my answer to that 
is that these crumbs are picked up eagerly enough when 


1939.] 123 [Vol. lix. 

dropped, and that museums in America succeed in obtaining 
much financial help from private sources. 

Our Museum is notoriously under-staffed ; with collections 
which are greater than in any American museum our staff 
is less than half of what one finds in a museum in the States. 
The staffs of American museums are able to go about much 
more than ours. Work in the field is part of the routine, 
while with us it is an exception. Visits to other museums, 
establishing good relations with other workers, and making 
personal contacts is the rule abroad. Incidentally, it may 
not be generally known that the Trustees of the American 
Museum of Natural History have generously offered to pay 
the expenses of any British ornithologist on the staff of the 
British Museum, or recommended by the British Museum, 
who may wish to work on the Rothschild Collection in 
New York. 

The care of specimens and appreciation of good preparation 
was of a high standard in every museum visited. Skins are 
kept in large trays, where no birds lie on top of each other, 
which is infinitely better than placing specimens in boxes : 
trays also obviate the mutilation of specimens to enable them 
to fit in with the box system of storage. Types are kept 
in separate cabinets, or are so clearly marked that they 
can be readily found and removed. (In the Rothschild 
Collection the hundreds of types could have been removed 
in any afternoon by one man.) In Washington and many 
other museums the types are kept in locked cabinets, and are 
not available except by request. Another routine matter, 
which is the invariable rule in most museums visited, is the 
constant removal and degreasing of greasy specimens, so that 
a contaminated specimen does not infect the whole series. 

The high standard of preparation of specimens is very 
marked in America. Russian and American standards in 
this respect are perhaps the best. Experience in the field 
spells appreciation of excellent preparation, and a_ high 
standard in this respect cannot be too strongly stressed. 
A small series of perfect skins is of much more value than 
a large series of old, and in many instances ill prepared, 


Vol. lix.] 124 [1939. 

specimens. This principle is insisted on in all American 
museums. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the 
American museums is the excellence and profusion of educa- 
tional exhibits. The high degree of real art is remarkable. 
The Field Museum in Chicago leads in this respect. 

Any worker in ornithology must be struck by the amount 
of literature turned out by America. In some museums 
publication funds are short, in others they are abundant ; 
but every institution has its own organ in which new work 
appears from time to time. Our British Museum has no such 
organ, although it contributes to the cost of ‘The Ibis’ 
when times are favourable, and much of ‘ The Ibis ’ material 
is work on British Museum collections. The present need for 
perpetuating the Tring “ Novitates ’ offers a golden opportunity 
for the initiation of a British Museum ‘ Novitates.’ The 
lack of some such organ is not generally realized, but delays in 
publication have before now resulted in the loss of types. 

Facilities for work in continental and American museums 
are very elastic. They all have their official hours of opening 
and closing, but the speaker had never been refused access 
for work on Saturday afternoons and even the whole of 
Sundays, often as late as he wished; on one occasion he 
had worked throughout an entire night in the Berlin Museum, 
and was the sole occupant of the building. 

In England we still have the best material in almost every 
branch of natural history, and we have unique opportunities 
within the Empire to maintain this lead. 

Migration in the Mediterranean. 

Dr. D. A. BANNERMAN, who had just returned from a cruise to 
Greece and Istanbul, gave a brief account of his experiences, and 
in particular of the migrants which he had seen on the voyage. 

Leaving ‘Toulon on the evening of April 8 the ship passed 
through the Straits of Bonifacio between Corsica and Sardinia 
the following day, April 9, and from there direct to Naples. 
Few birds were noted on this run; about a dozen Swallows, 
one Black-eared Wheatear, and one Lesser Kestrel, both of 
which last secured a foothold on the two masts and remained 


1939. 125 [Vol. lix. 

there overnight. At dawn the following day it was reported 
that the Kestrel was seen tearing a small bird to pieces, 
presumably the Wheatear. On April 12, “At Delphi, where 
passengers had an opportunity of viewing the celebrated 
ruins, several Egyptian Vultures were observed and a fine 
view was obtained of a Lammergeier. On April 14, while 
driving from Nauplia to Epidaurus, two European Bee-eaters 
were seen at close quarters by the roadside—the first and only 
Bee-eaters seen anywhere in the Archipelago between April 12 
and 21. On April 18 a great number of Alpine Swifts 
were observed at Istanbul. On April 19 a number of Rollers 
had arrived at Troy, but none were to be seen on the Gallipoli 
Peninsula. On the whole migrants were not much in evidence 
until April 22, on which date a remarkable number of species 
were observed. Leaving the island of Melos in the evening 
of April 21, the course was set to Sicily, the ship passing 
between the island of Kythera and the mainland of Greece 
and making for the Straits of Messina. By daylight on April 22 
the ship was well out in the Ionian Sea, the sea was slight 
and wind freshening from the north-west. The following 
fifteen identified species were sighted in the order named :— 

Numerous Swallows. 

1 Common Kestrel, 9. 

1 Woodchat Shrike (typical race). 

1 Whitethroat. 

1 Yellow Wagtail (subsequently killed by Lesser Kestrel). 

5 'Turtle-Doves in one flock and sundry odd _ birds, possibly 
the same scattered flock, but believed different. 

1 Short-eared Owl, settled several times on and in ship’s 
lifeboats, and flew round ship many times, but never 
settled for more than half a minute, and finally dis- 
appeared in daylight. 

1 Whinchat. 

1 Common Wheatear. 

1 Grey Shrike (sp. uncertain). 

6 Lesser Kestrels, followed ship for two or three hours, 
constantly resting on mast, and eventually all six clinging 
on together and apparently remaining for night. 


Vol. lix.] 126 (1939. 

1 Small flock of what I am almost certain were Spoonbills, 
flying close to the waves at some distance off, heading 
due north, which would take them straight up the 
Adriatic. 

1 Norfolk Plover, flying round and round ship, never over 
it, but did not settle, and disappeared before dusk. 

1 European Pratincole, flying over the ship, then close round 
the bows near the water, then round the stern and back 
over the forward upper deck; kept with us as light 
failed, but not seen to settle on ship. 

1 Lesser Ringed Plover, first seen walking on lower deck 
as the ship was nearing Straits of Messina, much 
exhausted, allowed itself to be picked up. Intending 
to save it from the Kestrels kept it for the night in my 
cabin, but it was dead in the morning. Body appeared 
well nourished, and I fail to understand why it did 
not make land, which must almost have been in sight 
when it came aboard. Dusk had fallen before the ship 
had come level with Mount Etna. 

Attention may be drawn to the fact that on April 22 birds 
were passing north the entire day from dawn till dusk, and if, 
as seems probable, they had come from Africa they had chosen 
the widest spot at which to cross the Mediterranean. 

Dr. Bannerman further remarked on the amazing number 
of Levantine Shearwaters (Puffinus yelkouan) which he 
observed in the Dardanelles, Sea of Marmora, and entrance 
to the Bosporus. Steaming slowly up the Dardanelles in the 
evening of April 17 literally thousands of these Shearwaters 
were seen, in flocks of ten to fifty or more individuals passing 
at intervals in a regular stream, the majority of the birds 
passing from east to west with steady unremitting flight. 
Coming on deck as dawn was breaking off Istanbul on the 
following morning (April 18) the flocks were still seen passing 
westwards as if the birds were heading to the Sea of Marmora 
from the Bosporus. On the return voyage the ship dropped 
anchor early in the morning of the 19th at Chanak on the 
Asiatic side of the Dardanelles, and while crossing in a launch 
to Gallipoli thousands more of the flocks of Levantine 


1939.] 127 [Vol. lix. 

Shearwaters were seen: this time the majority were passing 
from west to east, a very few in the opposite direction, keeping 
close to the water as usual. Considering how numerous this 
bird is in the Dardanelles, and must be remarked by so many 
voyagers, it is strange that so little appears to he known of its 
exact movements. Breeding had evidently not commenced 
on the dates in mid-April. The Greek islands alone must 
contain hundreds of nesting colonies, as suitable terrain appears 
to exist along every coastline passed. 

Dr. Bannerman said that he had the curiosity to turn 
up the account of this species in Godman’s ‘ Monograph of 
the Petrels,’ but absolutely nothing was written there of the 
immense numbers which are to be seen in the Dardanelles, 
and practically nothing about its breeding. 

Mr. R. KE. Moreau said he was particularly interested 
in Dr. Bannerman’s observations because on April 3 
Mrs. Moreau and he had seen a very large number of migrants 
in just the same area opposite the middle of the mouth of 
the Adriatic. The ship was on the course Port Said to Straits 
of Messina, and noon position 36° 26’ N., 19°39’ E. During 
the morning the wind was E.S.E., estimated at 20 m.p.h., 
and up till noon the only birds seen were two or three Pipits 
(not Anthus cervinus) and Lesser Kestrels, three Hnanthe ? sp., 
and a Nightingale. Only the last-named settled on board. 
About midday, however, the wind began to back to N.E., 
from which quarter it blew at about 30 m.p.h. for the rest 
of the day, with frequent squalls of cold rain. From about 
15.00 hours onwards great numbers of birds were seen. Repre- 
sentatives of those marked * settled on board, for the most 
part apparently for only a few moments before continuing 
their journey; some species, marked **, spent the night 
on board. The remaining species, which passed straight 
over the ship without appearing to take much notice of it, 
were definitely flying almost due north. 

Lapwing. One. 

**Lesser Kestrels.. Many; six at once were resting on the 
mizzen cross-trees against the mast. 
as 


Vol. lix.] 128 (1939. 

Cuckoo. One. 
Harriers. One party of three, probably Pallid ; one solitary 
Marsh. 
*Hoopoe. One. 
Short-eared Owl. One. 
Short-toed Larks. Party of about twelve. 
*Pipits. A few; not Anthus cervinus. 
**Wagtail, Black-headed Yellow, apparently Motacilla flava 
feldegg. ‘Two males. 
**Wactail sp., apparently Motacilla flava flava. 
*Pied Flycatcher. 1 male. 
**Swallows (H. rustica). Very numerous indeed. Scores spent 
the night on board huddled together in sheltered places. 
Only one was found dead in the morning. 
House-Martins. One small party. 
Swallows (H. rufula). Party of four. 
*Nightingale. One. 
**Wood-Warbler. One ; died in the night. 
*Whitethroat, apparently Sylvia communis. Two. 
*Redstart, Common. ‘Two. 
Redstart, Black. One. 
*Wheatear, Common. Several single ones. 
*Wheatear, Isabelline. At least one. 
*Wheatear Black-eared. Several. 
*Chaffinch. One. 
*Sparrow. One female. (Presumably a Spanish Sparrow.) 
**Tinnets. Small parties. 

On the course by which these birds were travelling they 
had a long way to go to reach any land ; they were, in fact, 
embarked upon about the longest S.—N. crossing to be found 
in the Mediterranean. In view of the repeated statement 
that birds seek the narrow crossings it is of interest to ascer- 
tain whether their presence in the apparently unfavourable 
position where we saw them could have been due to the weather. 
According to information supplied to me by the Meteoro- 
logical Office, on the morning of April 3 a small depression 
was centred between Sicily and Greece and moving east. 
From the wind forces and direction recorded it can be shown 


1939.] 129 [Vol. lix. 

that birds leaving the African coast about dawn on 3rd by the 
Tripoli-Malta ‘narrow crossing”? would not have been 
carried east, while those on the optimum Africa—Greece 
crossing would have been carried westwards but not so far as 
where we saw them. 

A further illustration of the frequent neglect of small 
birds to make the shortest water-crossings was provided the 
following day. We passed Stromboli at 04.00, and thereafter 
set a course to pass inside Elba. We were within twenty miles 
of land all day and usually within sight of it, in perfect almost 
windless weather ; yet a constant trickle of Linnets in small 
parties of both sexes and of Lesser Kestrels, kept passing, 
apparently on the same course as the ship and practically 
parallel with the coast. Chaffinches, Swallows and a Robin 
were also seen from noon (position 40° 19’, 13° 25’) onwards 
throughout the day. 

The Griffon Vulture in South Spain. 

The Rev. F. C. R. JouRDAIN sent the following communica- 
tion :— 

In Bull. B.O.C. (antea, p. 85) Mr. R. Atkinson states 
that the first close-up photographs of Griffon Vultures were 
obtained by him. This is not quite correct: R. B. Lodge 
photographed a Griffon on the nest in 1907; in 1919 J. F. 
Peters obtained “close-up”? photographs in the nesting 
ledges, and W. Verner published figures of young in various 
stages taken at the nest in 1909. 

Mr. Atkinson also says that although “it is written ”’ that 
Griffon Vultures never attack human beings, he was attacked 
while in a nest. This is also incorrect. On Mr. Atkinson’s 
own evidence no attack was made; the bird merely alighted 
on the nest and hissed at him. In his book this noise is 
described as “‘indescribably fearsome.” Griffons do not 
attack human beings. I have known them swoop close to 
one when standing by young in the nest, but a sudden move- 
ment always causes a hasty retreat. The demonstration 
is much on a par with that of a gander, and no more dangerous, 


Vol. lix.] 130 [1939. 

though Mr. Atkinson has described the Griffon as “one of 
the largest and fiercest of all European birds ’’(!). 

Col. W. Verner has described how a bird with a broken 
wing which he had shot sprang at him and bit through his 
coat before he was able to kill it, but almost any wounded 
animal will do as much. A field-mouse will bite hard when 
caught—even a long-eared bat will try to do so—yet these 
animals cannot be said to attack man. 

The statement that Griffons are said to be invariably silent 
(‘all the books say so” according to Mr. Atkinson) is also 
contrary to facts. In the ‘Practical Handbook’ I wrote, 
in 1924, “ Absolutely silent on the wing, it is often noisy on 
the breeding ledges, emitting weird grunts and lowing notes. 
A hissing noise is also occasionally heard at times of excitement, 
as when young are endangered.” Kirke Swann also noted 
that hoarse croaks were uttered on the wing when the birds 
were close to the nests. Verner also describes the hissing, 
but does not mention the grunts or croaks. The works of 
Newton, Dresser, Seebohm, Saunders, Irby, and Coward 
contain no reference to the voice, so it is difficult to under- 
stand what Mr. Atkinson means by “ all the books.”’ 

Seven new Races from Indo-China. 
Messrs. J. DELACOUR and J. C. GREENWAY sent the following 
descriptions :— 

Stachyris striolata helene, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Intermediate between S. s. guttata from 
Burma and Siam and S. s. tonkinensis (=diluta) Kinnear from 
Tonkin and northern Annam. LHar-coverts dark grey as in 
tonkinensis, but underparts of a richer tone, the breast being 
of a darker and more vivid reddish-brown, the flanks and 
abdomen redder and darker without an olivaceous tinge. 
Head, particularly the nape, of a slightly lighter brown. 

Type.—Male in Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, Cambridge, 
Mass., no. 1724, Nam-Khueng, 20 km. west of Ban-Houesai, 
Mekong River, W. Laos, collected by J. Delacour, J. Greenway, 
and F. Edmond-Blance, 17. i. 39. 


1939.] 131 (Vol. lix. 

Measurements of type-—Wing 70, tail 58, tarsus 23, bill 
(from base) 11 mm. 

4 males, 2 females examined, from Xieng-Khouang, Nam- 
Khueng, and Lo-Tiao (1400 m. alt.). Wings, male, 66, 69, 
70, 71 mm.; female, 64, 67 mm.; and numerous specimens 
from Burma and Indo-China. 

Named in honour of Mrs. J. Greenway. 

Brachypteryx leucophrys langbianensis, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Males differ from B. 1. caroline of southern 
China and northern Indo-China in having the underparts 
unspotted and greyish instead of white mottled with brown ; 
the throat is pure white. 

T'ype.—Adult male, field number 2560, Delacour and Green- 
way collection (VII Expedition en Indo-Chine) ; Pic de Lang- 
bian, near Dalat, Annam, March 13, 1939; in Museum of 
Comparative Zoélogy, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. 

Measurements of type-—Wing 61-5, tail 12, tarsus 22, 
bill (from base) 10 mm. 

Zoothera monticola atrata, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from Zoothera m. monticola, which 
ranges in the Himalayas from the valley of the Sutlej to Assam, 
Manipur, and the Chin Hills, in its much darker, blacker 
general coloration. The upper parts appear to be black, 
the feathers being very deep grey or black edged with deep 
black ; the head and wings are tinged with brownish. The 
tips of feathers of the underparts are black. Iris brown ; 
bill black ; legs and feet brown. 

Type.—Adult female, collected by B. Bjorkegren at Chapa, 
Tonkin (5000 ft.), January 29, 1939, in Museum of Comparative 
Zoodlogy, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. 

Measurements of type.—Wing 129, tail 48, bill 26, tarsus 
37 mm. 

Remarks.—Two males and one female from Chapa examined 
(wings 130-134 mm.). The colour of the upper parts is 
much like that of Z. andromadx of Java, which have not 


Vol. lix.] 132 (1939. 

changed colour in the thirty years since they were col- 
lected. Variation in length of wing and bill is very great in 
this species. 

Muscicapula sapphira laotiana, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Immature males differ from M. s. sapphira, 
which ranges from Nepaul to Yunnan, south to the southern 
Shan States, in having the head and neck a greyer brown. 

Females differ from M. s. sapphira in being olive-brown, 
the rump concolorous with the back, instead of orange- 
reddish. The throat is whitish-brown instead of russet, and 
the belly mottled brown and whitish. 

T'ype.—Immature male, field number 1945, Delacour and 
Greenway collection (VII Expedition en Indo-Chine); Col 
de Taloun, 25 km. east of Luang Prabang, Laos, January 27, 
1939, collected by J. Delacour, J. Greenway, and F. Kdmond- 
Blane. 

Remarks.—Two immature males from the southern Shan 
States, collected in 1874 and 1902 and now in the British 
Museum, have grey heads like our birds from Laos. We 
conclude that there has been no great post-mortem change. 

Garrulax moniliger schauenseei, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Nearest to G.m. mouhoti, from 8. Indo-China 
and §.K. Siam, but differs in having the black collar on the 
throat extending to the ear-coverts and connected with the 
line running from the eyes above the ear-coverts, which is 
blackish instead of grey; ear-coverts mixed with black ; upper 
parts darker, more olive than in G. m. mouhott. The forms 
G. m. fuscata and G. m. bakeri from Burma and Siam are paler 
still, but have a similar collar; their nuchal collar is less 
reddish and lighter, and also their flanks are less vivid; 
G. m. fuscata is the paler form and has a nuchal collar brighter 
and better marked than G. m. bakers. 

Iris yellow, bill black, legs and feet horny grey. 

Type.—Male in Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, Cambridge, 
Mass., U.S.A., no 76, Xieng-Khouang, Laos (alt. 1200 m.),’ 
collected 6. xi. 1938 by J. D., J. G., and F. Ed.-Bl. 


1939.] 133 [Vol. lix. 

Measurements of type—Wing 125, tail 132, beak (from 
nostrils) 18, tarsus 40 mm. 
~ Three males, one female examined, from Xieng-Khouang, 
Ban-Houesai and Nam-Khueng (alt. 450 m.), Laos. Wings, 
male 122, 125, 126; female 122mm. ; also numerous specimens 
from 8. Indo-China, Siam, Burma, and the Malay Peninsula. 

G. m. tonkinensis and G. m. pasquiert, from Tonkin and 
Annam, are much smaller and very differently coloured. 

Named in honour of Mr. R. Mayer de Schauensee. 

AEthopyga ezrai blanci, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Nearest to Af. ezrai ezrai from Dakto (1500 m.), 
S. Annam, but has the breast and under tail-coverts flam- 
mulated with orange-red, as in 47. nipalensis, instrad of pure 
yellow. ‘The olive-green of the back is also more golden. 
It resembles closely 47. nipalensis victorize, from Mt. Victoria, 
Burma, but lacks the yellow patch of the back and has a much 
shorter bill. 

Aithopyga e. ezrat is remarkable in lacking the yellow patch 
on the lower back characteristic of other Hthopyga. The two 
forms known at present are very rare birds, confined to 
isolated high mountains. 

Iris dark brown, bill black, legs dark brown. 

Type.—Male in Museum of Comparative Zodlogy, Cam- 
bridge, Mass., U.S.A., no. 191, Phu-Kobo (alt. 2000 m.), 
near Xieng-Khouang, Laos, collected 9. xii. 1938 by J. Dela- 
cour and J. Greenway. 

Wing 52, tail 61, beak 17, tarsus 15 mm. 

Three males examined, from Phu-Kobo. Wings 51, 51, 52 
tails 64, 62, 61 mm. 

Named in honour of M. Francois Edmond-Blanc, who 
obtained the three specimens. 

p) 

Sitta solangie fortior, subsp. nov. 
Description.—Differs from 8S. s. solangix Delacour and 
Jabouille, 1930, known only from the type from Chapa, 
Tonkin, in its darker, bluer, less violet crown, and in the 
colour of the underparts, which are suffused with violet, 
less greyish- brown. 


Vol. lix.] 134 [1939. 

T'ype.—Adult male, field number 2602, Delacour and 
Greenway collection (VII Expedition en Indo-Chine); Pic 
de Langbian, near Dalat, Annam, March 14, 1939; in Museum 
of Comparative Zodlogy, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A. 

Measurements of type-—Wing 83, tail 45, tarsus 17, bill 
(from base) 14 mm. 

Material.—Three specimens including the type, and two 
unsexed topotypes of S. solangiz. 

Remarks.—Further field study will determine the relation- 
ship of S. solangiz to S. frontalis. It is not improbable that 
the species is a form of the latter which breeds at higher 
altitudes. 

A new Race of Skylark from South Kiusiu. 
The Marquis Yamasuina sent the following description :— 

After having compared fifteen specimens of Skylarks from 
Kagoshima Prefecture with seventy-five specimens of 
A. a. japonica from other localities in Japan I have found 
that the former group differs (as mentioned below) from the 
latter ; therefore I propose to name it 

Alauda arvensis kagoshime, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Similar to A. a. japonica, but the black stripes 
on the crown are broader and more sharply defined. Five 
out of the fifteen specimens examined have the streaks almost 
equal to that of the widest individuals among A. a. japonica, 
but the remaining ten have the stripes decidedly wider and 
more intensive than those of any specimen of A. a. japonica. 

T'ype.—Male adult, no. 24918 in Yamashina Collection. 
Sakurajima, Kagoshima Prefecture, 21. x. 1917. 

Measurements.—Male, female adults. Wing 88-101, tail 
52-64, exposed culmen 12-14 mm. 

Distribution.—1 should restrict the range of this new sub- 
species to Kagoshima Prefecture, but intermediate characters 
are sometimes found among the specimens from warmer 
but more northern countries, such as Fukuoka Pref. (rarely), 
Shizuoka Pref., and Kanagawa Pref. 


1939.] 135 [Vol. lix. 

Remarks.—It has been long considered that A. a. arvensis 
and A. a. gulgula have been looked upon as distinct species 
owing to their different wing formule. <A. a. arvensis occupies 
the north, and migrates into A. a. gulgula country during 
winter ; the latter appears to be sedentary. MHartert rightly 
considered them as subspecies to each other in his book, Abh. 
und Ber. Zool. und Authr. Mus. zu Dresden, 1922, p. 19. 

The present new subspecies geographically occupies the 
southernmost A. a. arvensis group in Japan, while in Formosa 
A. a. gulgula group are met. The newrace has the inter- 
mediate wing formula of the former two species. The variation 
in the length between fourth and fifth primaries are also smaller 
among the birds from Fukuoka, Shizuoka, and Kanagawa 
compared to the typical A. a. japonica, which shows 3-5-5 mm. 
instead of 4-7 mm. in that of the latter. 

A. a. japonica sometimes migrates in winter to Kagoshima 
Pref. and the Riukiu Islands, and I have examined those 
migrants in Prince Taka-Tsukasa’s collection from Kagoshima 
Pref. and three more in Dr. Kuroda’s collection taken in the 
Riukiu Islands. 

It is now necessary to restrict the type-locality of A. a. japon- 
ica. Those birds collected by Siebold and described by 
Temminck and Schlegel very likely came from either southern 
Hondo or northern Kyushu, but nothing is known about its 
precise locality, so I propose to restrict the type-locality 
of A. a. japonica to northern Hondo in order to avoid complica- 
tion with my new form. 

It is remarkable that the wing formula of this new subspecies 
is intermediate between those of A. a. sala and A. a. japonica, 
which is indicated by the following table :— 

Variations of length 
between 4th and 
Sth primary. 

mm. 
AGE SOUMOCKOIN NII? ho aS ste stable a % in LSS 6-2-1] 
A. a. quelparte (synonym : nigrescens) .. 4-7-2 
A ORO PONTEG Wire ho S8 0808 58 al SOON 3-7 
A. a. kagoshime, subsp. nov. .......... 2:7-4:-7 
A. a. sala (synonym : wattersi) .....,.; 1-2-5 


Vol. lix.] 136 [1939. 

Notes on Eastern African Birds. 
Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. MackwortH-PRAED 
sent the following note :— 

On the Races and Distribution of Tephrocorys cinerea 
(Gmelin). 

Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. il. 1930, p. 333, recognizes four 
races, and has suggested that 7’ .c. anderssoni occurs in Kenya 
Colony ; but most South African ornithologists are of opinion 
that 7'.c.anderssoni (Tristram), Ibis, 1869, p. 434: Otjimbinque, 
Damaraland, is a synonym of 7’. c. cinerea. Roberts, Ann. 
Transv. Mus. xi. 1926, p. 224, is of opinion that Alauda 
spleniata Strickland, Contr. Orn. 1852, p. 152: Damaraland, 
is quite distinct from T'ephrocorys cinerea; and Friedmann, 
Bull. 153, U.S. Nat. Mus. 1937, p. 38, carries this a step 
further by saying he “* cannot repress a suspicion that spleniata 
may be a good form with an even wider range than Roberts 
gives it.”’ Reichenow, Vog. Afr. iii. 1904, p. 377, has placed 
both Alauda spleniata and Megalophoneus anderssoni as 
synonyms of 7’. cinerea. Through the kindness of the Cam- 
bridge and Liverpool Museums we have had the loan of the 
types of A. spleniata and M. anderssoni. There is no doubt — 
that both were collected by Andersson in Damaraland, the 
former being a bird in the pale phase and the latter being 
a bird in the dark phase, and as both are completing the 
moult there can be no question of fading. That dark and light 
phases occur in the same area is shown by specimens from 
Little Namaqualand, 7. e., Brit. Mus. Reg. nos. 1905.12.29.1448 
and 1449, dated April 18 and 27; from Damarland, Brit. 
Mus. Reg. nos. 1907.2.17.60 (in light phase, Oct. 7) and 70 
(in dark phase, Nov. 2); Eastern Cape Province, Brit. Mus. 
Reg. no. 1930.12.20.10 (dark phase, February); Brit. Mus. 
Reg. no. 1889.9.13.178 (light phase, October); Transvaal, 
Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1878.12.31.744 (light phase); Brit. Mus. 
Reg. no. 1905.12.29.1456 (darker phase). 

Our examination of the types and the large series in the 
British Museum collection leaves no doubt that A. spleniata 
and M. anderssoni are synonymous, 


1939.] 137 (Vol, lix. 

Owing to the prevalence of dark and light phases throughout 
its range we are only able to recognize three races, which, 
except for 7’. c. erlangert, can only be distinguished by the 
more northern birds being generally darker and richer in 
tone, although odd individuals do not conform to this character, 
and some specimens from South Africa and eastern Africa can 
be very closely matched. 

The races and distribution are as follows :— 

TEPHROCORYS CINEREA CINEREA (Gmelin). 

Alauda cinerea Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1, pt. 2, 1789, p. 798: 
Cape of Good Hope; of which Alauda spleniata Strickland, 
Jardine’s Contr. Orn. 1852, p. 152: Damaraland; and 
Megalophoneus anderssoni Tristram, Ibis, 1869, p. 434: 
Otjimbinque, Damaraland, are synonyms. 

Usually tawny edges to feathers of mantle. 

Distribution.—South Africa north to Damaraland (perhaps 
Angola), Bechuanaland, and the Transvaal. 

TEPHROCORYS CINEREA ERLANGERI Neum. 

Tephrocorys cinerea erlangert Neumann, J. f. O., 1906, p. 239 : 
Sheikh Mohamed, headwaters Juba River, south Abyssinia ; 
of which Tephrocorys cinerea fuertes: Friedmann, Proc. Biol. 
Soc. Wash. xlv. 1932, p. 63: northern Abyssinia, is a synonym. 

Black patches on sides of chest. 

Distribution.—Abyssinia. 

TEPHROCORYS CINEREA SATURATIOR (Reichw.). 

Calandrella cinerea saturatior Reichenow, Voég. Afr. iii. 
1904, p. 376 : Kondeland, south-western Tanganyika Territory. 

Generally darker in colour than 7’. c. cinerea and with 
usually chestnut edges to feathers of mantle. 

Distribution.—Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, northern 
Rhodesia, and south-eastern Belgian Congo, to Uganda and 
Kenya Colony. 


Vol. lix.] 138 (1939. 

NOTICE. 

All manuscript for publication in the ‘ Bulletin’ should be 
addressed to the Editor, Captain C. H. B. Grant, The Cottage, 
15a Emperor’s Gate, London, S.W.7; not to 58a Ennismore 
Gardens, London, S.W. 7. v7 


BULLETIN 

24 JUL 1939 pe ol 

PURCHASED 
an wish ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB. 

No. CCCCXXIV. 

Tae four-hundred-and-nineteenth Meeting of the Club was 
held at the Rembrandt Hotel, Thurloe Place, on eee 

June 14, 1939. 

Chairman : Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON. 

Members present :—Miss C. M. ActAND; Dr. D. A. BANNER- 
MAN; Miss R. Barnes; F. J. F. Barrineton; Mrs. A. 
Boyp-Wattr; Hon. G. CHARTERIS (Vice-Chairman) ; Miss 
J. M.-Ferrier; Capt. H. Girperr; Capt. C. H. B. Grant 
(Editor); Col. A. E. Hamerton; R. E. Heatu; P. A. D. 
Hottom; Dr. E. Hopkinson; N. B. KiInnEA«R; Miss E. P. 
LeacH ; Miss C. Lonearieitp ; Dr. G. CarmicHAaEL Low (Vice- 
Chairman); P. R. Lowe; J. McKirrrick; C. W. Mack- 
WORTH-PRAED ; G. M. Matuews ; Col. R. MEINERTZHAGEN ; 
R. E. Morgau ; J. H. Newman; H. Pease; K. B. Rooke; 
W. L. Sctater ; D. Seta-SmirH; C. R. Stonor (Hon. Sec.) ; 
B. W. TucKEr. 

Guests of the Club :—R. A. FALLA ; Mrs. R. E. Mornav. 
Guests :—L. BoHMANN; Miss THERESA Chay; H. G. 
DEIGNAN; A. R. Morrison; Mrs. C. W. Mackwortu- 
PRAED ; Mrs. A. L. THomson ; Mrs. B. W. Tucker. 
Members, 31; Guests of the Club, 2; Guests, 7; Total, 40. 
[July 21, 1939.] a VOL. LIX, 


Vol. lix.] 140 [1939. 

Honour to Mr. Mathews. 

THE CHAIRMAN took the opportunity of publicly congratulating 
his predecessor in office, Mr. Gregory Mathews, on the C.B.E. 
which he had received in the Birthday Honours List: it was 
the more appropriate that it should be mentioned on this 
occasion because the honour had been bestowed in respect of 
services to ornithology. Mr. Mathews would not be with them 
again for some time, as he was shortly paying an extended 
visit to Australia. He would receive an especially warm 
welcome there in view of his recent generous gift of his 
collection of ornithological books to the National Library at 
Canberra. 

Two new Races of Larks from Africa. 

Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. MackwortH-PRAED 
exhibited and described the following two new races :— 

(1) In‘ The Ibis,’ 1934, p. 39, Lynes records an adult female 
specimen from Nasondoye, south-eastern Belgian Congo, as 
Mirafra africana nigrescens, remarking that it should be com- 
pared with the type. This we have done, and find that it 
differs in lacking the flank-markings and in having a shorter and 
more curved hind claw. Nor does this specimen agree with 
any other race. Through the kindness of Dr. Schouteden of 
the Congo Museum, Tervueren, we have had the loan of an 
adult male from Kanzenze (Congo Mus. no. 22741), collected 
by Monsieur G. F. De Witte on August 17, 1931, to which our 
attention has been drawn by Dr. J. P. Chapin. This specimen 
agrees well with Lynes’ bird, except for being a rather deeper 
brown on the chest. Dr. Chapin, in a letter dated February 1, 
1939, is of opinion that it represents an undescribed race, and 
he points out that Nasondoye and Kanzenze are only fifteen 
miles apart. 

We propose to name this race in honour of Dr. James P. 
Chapin, as follows :— 

Mirafra africana chapini, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Above very dark ; blackish-brown centres to 
feathers very broad and narrow light edges ; basal half and 


1939.] 141 [Vol. lix. 

edges of feathers of crown rufous, apical half with black 
central streaks ; below fulvous; chest more or less deeper 
brown, with good-sized black spots; flanks slightly deeper 
brown. Darker than any other race except M. a. nigrescens 
Reichw. and MW. a. nyikze Benson, but differs from both of 
these in being rather smaller; more generally darker above ; 
and in having smaller and less strong markings on the chest ; 
no dark streaks down flanks, streaks on head not starting at 
base of feathers, hind claw shorter and more curved. 

Distribution.—South-eastern Belgian Congo. 

Type.—In the British Museum. Adult female, Nasondoye, 
south-east Belgian Congo. Collected by Admiral H. Lynes on 
January 3, 1931. Collector’s no. 1410. Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 
1931.12.21.21. 

Co-type.—In the Musée du Congo Belge, Tervueren, Belgium. 
Adult male, Kanzenze, south-east Belgian Congo. Collected 
by G. F. De Witte on August 17/19, 1931. Collector’s no. 2119. 
Congo Mus. Reg. no. 22741. 

Measurements of type-—Wing 90, tail 54, exposed part of 
culmen 16, tarsus 30, hind claw 12 mm. 

Measurements of co-type.—Wing 101, tail 69, exposed part 
of culmen 18, tarsus 33, hind claw 10-5 mm. 

Remarks.—The only specimens examined are the type and 
co-type. 

(2) In ‘ The Ibis,’ 1924, p. 699, Lynes places his Zalingei and 
Kallokitting specimens as near Galerida cristata alexanderi 
Neumann (Bull. B. O. C. xxii. 1908, p. 45: Bautchi, northern 
Nigeria); and a specimen from Jebel Marra, collector’s 
no. 452 (Brit. Mus. Reg. no. 1920.12.22.531), also agrees 
with the Zalingei and Kallokitting specimens, and has been 
named by Lynes on the original label G’. c. alexanderi. 

It appears to us that these Zalingei, Kallokitting, and 
Jebel Marra birds will have to be separated as a different 
race, and we propose for it 

Galerida cristata zalingei, subsp. nov. 
Description.—Size equal to G. c. alexanderi Neum., but 
general colour nearer to, though warmer than, G.. c. isabellina. 
@ 2 


Vol. lix.] 142 [1939. 

Distribution.—Western Sudan, Jebel Marra to Kallokitting. 

Type.—In the British Museum. Adult male, Zalingei, 
western Sudan, May 16, 1921. Lynes—Lowe Coll. Brit. Mus. 
Reg. no. 1922.12.8.1601. 

Measurements of type—Wing 101, tail 51, culmen from 
base 19, tarsus 26, hind claw 11 mm. 

Remarks.—The three specimens, dated May 16/17 and 
June 1, are just completing the moult, have very broad edges 
to the feathers, and are thus more uniform rich isabelline on 
the upper surface than either G. c. rsabellina or G. c. alexandert ; 
the seven others, taken in August, September, and October, 
are showing distinct signs of wear, and, in consequence, the 
upper parts are darker, and the streaks on the chest are clearer 
and darker. In this worn dress it approaches in appearance 
G. c. alexanderi, but is not quite so dark. 

Culmen and wing measurements of the three races are :— 

G.c. isabellina. 

Culmen from 

base. Wing. 

mm. mm. 
Males (seven) S.tur. ware 20-21 99-100 
Females (two). .....:... 19-20 99-104 

G. c. alexanderi. 

Culmen from 

base. Wing. 

mm. mm. 
Males (fine). scrvud Oto caine 17-20 99-104 
Females (four) ........ 15-19 90-94 

G.c. zalinger. 

Culmen from 

base. Wing. 

mm. mm. 
Males (eight). uum: «5/5 18-20 =101-103 
Females (three) ........ 18-19 93-96 

A Nestling Storm Petrel from the Canary Islands. 

Dr. D. A. BANNERMAN exhibited, on behalf of Dr. H. B. 
Cott, a nestling Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) from 
the Canary Islands, and made the following remarks :— 


1939.] 143 [Vol. lix. 

I have at long last received definite proof of what I have 
suspected for many years—that our common Storm Petrel 
(H. pelagicus) breeds in the Canary Islands. It is known, 
of course, to breed in the Mediterranean on the Hormigas 
off the east coast of Spain and on several other islands such 
as Malta, Corsica, Sardinia, and Elba. 

In the Atlantic I believe I am right in stating that, with 
one doubtful exception, no breeding place has been actually dis- 
covered south of the Bay of Biscay, though I shall be surprised 
if it does not nest on the Berlingas. 

In 1914 I published in ‘ The Ibis’ a fairly comprehensive 
survey of the nidification records of the Petrels and Shear- 
waters in all the N. Atlantic islands—the Azores, Madeira, 
Desertas, Porto Santo, Salvages, Canary Islands, and Cape 
Verde Islands, and I then showed that although the Common 
Storm Petrel was reputed once to have bred on the Desertas, 
on the strength of three eggs in the British Museum ex 
Tristram coll. (said to have been collected in 1849, probably 
by Dr. Frere), there was no corroborative evidence, and Padre 
Schmitz, the well-known authority on Madeiran birds, did not 
consider this Storm Petrel to be a breeding bird anywhere in 
the group. It is, however, an occasional, not by any means 
numerous, visitor in winter to the seas of Madeira and the 
Canaries. 

Exactly twenty-six years ago, in the month of June 1913, 
I spent a week on the tiny island of Montafia Clara in the 
eastern Canaries, and on the 9th secured in a cave an adult 
Storm Petrel with the sex organs enormously developed, which 
led one to suppose the female bird was nesting somewhere in 
the vicinity, but search as we did in that and all the neigh- 
bouring islands no trace of a nesting bird was found. 

There was one rock, however, which I did not land upon— 
the Roque del Este—nothing more than the top of a crater 
rearing itself above the waves just within sight of Lanzarote, 
and a very difficult place to land upon. LHighteen years after 
my visit Dr. Hugh B. Cott, now a lecturer in zoology at 
Cambridge University, succeeded in landing on the Roque 
del Este, and some of you may recollect that he collected 
a number of migratory birds which he found dead on the 


Vol. lix.) 144 [1939. 
Roque and which I exhibited at this Club (cf. Bull. B. O. C. 
lii. 1931, p. 52). 

Unknown to me at the time Cott collected a young Petrel 
which was put in spirit and not examined again. This was 
believed at the time to be a young Madeiran Fork-tailed 
Petrel (Cymochorea castro castro). A few months ago Dr. Cott 
sent this spirit-specimen to me for determination, and I had 
it converted into a skin. 

I exhibit it to-night, together with the adult which I obtained 
myself in 1913, and you will see that it is undoubtedly a 
' juvenile Hydrobates pelagicus with the down still adhering 
to the underparts. This definitely establishes the bird as 
a breeding species in the Canary Islands. 

For purpose of comparison I exhibit in the same box 
a juvenile Cymochorea castro castro from the Desertas. Its 
much larger bill and feet would alone distinguish it at any age. 

The two photographs illustrate the Roque del Este, and were 
taken by Dr. Cott at the time of his visit. 

Perhaps it will not be out of place at this date, after a lapse 
of eighteen years, to call attention to some of the facts which 
emerged from the breeding records of the Petrels and Shear- 
waters in the various Atlantic island groups. ; 

I have never really been able to understand what, if anything, 
governs the nesting season. 

Take, for instance, the Madeiran Fork-tailed Petrel, which 
breeds in all the islands from the Azores to the Cape Verdes 
except, oddly enough, the Canary Islands. If you refer to 
my paper in ‘ The Ibis,’ 1914, pp. 438-494, you will find stated 
on p. 453 that C. castro may be found engaged in nesting 
duties in every month of the year—the breeding season 
not only varies considerably in each separate group of islands, 
but even in some cases in each individual island of the same 
group. In Porto Santo, for instance, the bird has two main 
breeding seasons, the first from June to September, the 
second from October till December. 

Does the same thing happen when the Common Storm Petrel 
nests in the extreme southern part of its breeding range. 


1939.] 145 | [Vol. lix. 

Although I did not actually prove it, | believe the bird which 
I took in the Canaries on June 9 to have been breeding, and 
now Dr. Cott has taken this young bird in a neighbouring 
island on September 20. 

Petrels and Shearwaters are very conservative, and as 
regards the smaller species at any rate I do not believe they 
readily leave a nesting colony, no matter how badly they are 
harried, and start a colony elsewhere. If the contrary was 
the case, surely we should find the Madeiran Fork-tailed 
Petrel breeding in the Canary group and the delightful Frigate 
Petrel, Pelagodroma marina hypoleuca, starting colonies in 
the Desertas, Porto Santo, or Canaries, instead of restricting 
its range to the Salvages and to two islands in the Cape 
Verde group. 

There are still so many interesting problems connected with 
Petrels and Shearwaters awaiting investigation that I hope 
some of our younger members will turn their attention to 
this most fascinating group of ocean birds. 

I am delighted to hear that that great authority on the 
habits of British Petrels, Mr. Norman Lockley, is leaving 
almost at once for the Berlinga Islands off Portugal, and then 
the Desertas, with a view to studying the Petrels he may find 
there. I have no doubt he will return with much valuable 
information, and I hope he will come here in October and 
tell us of his discoveries. 

Parental Care by some African Swallows and Swifts. 

Mr. R. E. Moreau gave a preliminary account of some 
results obtained from three thousand hours of observations 
at nests of Hirundinide and Micropodide at Amani. Three 
species of Swallow (Hirundo), a Rock-Martin (Ptyonoprogne), 
a Bank-Martin (Psalidoprocne), and three species of Swift 
(Micropodidz) are resident locally, and most of them are 
particularly suitable for intensive observation. The ultimate 
object is to obtain enough data for a statistical investigation 
of the extent to which the rhythms of parental behaviour 
are specific in such a group of closely allied and associated birds. 


Vol. lix.] 146 (1939. 

Africans are available at Amani who have shown themselves 
apt and reliable for making long series of observations. Their 
primary duty is to record the times of the parent birds’ 
arrivals and departures during a continuous period of at least 
five hours on any one day. The time rain begins and stops 
is also noted, an indication of its intensity being obtained 
from the local meteorological station. The observers are at 
liberty to note other events that seem to them interesting, 
and by this means accounts have been obtained of, e.g., egg- 
removal by the parents and the procedure when the young 
make their first flight. For the five species on which attention 
has been focused about 60,000 events in all have up to the 
present been recorded, not nearly enough for the ultimate 
purpose in view, but enough, when analysed, to provide 
an indication of the behaviour rhythms of each species. 
Specific accounts are being prepared ; that of Hirundo smith 
has been accepted for the Proc. Zool. Soe. London, that of 
the Bank-Martin for ‘ The Ibis.’ 

Hirundo smith and the Rock-Martin (Ptyonoprogne 
rufigula) build “ half-cups ” stuck on a vertical face, usually 
close under overhead cover. H. abyssinica builds a “ retort,” 
often on the basis of a Ptyonoprogne nest. The Swift, 
Micropus caffer struebellii, is at Amani entirely dependent on 
H. abyssinica for providing its nests, which it lines thickly 
with feathers stuck all over the inside. The Bank-Martin 
(Psalidoprocne holomelena nassaica) uses (does not excavate) 
a hole in an earth bank. 

The share of the sexes in incubation varies considerably 
in the five species. In H. smithw, the only one in which 
the sexes are clearly distinguishable, the female alone sits, 
and some of the females will not allow their mates on the nest 
until the young are hatched. In H. abyssinica both parents 
are constantly in and out of the nest. In the Rock-Martin 
collaboration is especially close. Beautifully smooth in- 
stantaneous change-overs are a feature of the incubation, 
and sequences of as many as a dozen occur practically without 
the eggs being uncovered at all. In the Bank-Martin there is 
no evidence that more than one parent incubates. In the 


1939.] 147 [Vol. lix. 

Swift both apparently do, and they spend an appreciable 
amount of time in the nest together. 

The percentage of day-time during which the eggs are 
brooded varies a good deal from day to day within the species, 
and almost certainly is not a specific character. In each of 
the species dealt with the percentage covered has varied 
between about 30 and 70, except in the Rock-Martin, where 
in seven nests the variation is 50-90 per cent. (This last is 
governed largely by the proportion of change-overs that are 
instantaneous.) There is at present no evidence of tighter 
sitting in any species as hatching approaches, and no correlation 
between percentage of time incubated and “ standard ” 
temperature. 

The favourite duration of the individual spell on eggs 
has been investigated by constructing frequency curves. 
The present indication is certainly that this rhythm is specific. 
Hirundo abyssinica nearly always sits 1-4 minutes, H. smithia 
2-7, the Rock-Martin 2-12, the Bank-Martin 8-24, the Swift 
11-30. The usual periods for which the eggs are left uncovered 
show a marked correlation, species by species, with the favourite 
spells “on,” being 1-6, 2-7, 2-7, 4-20, and 4-30 minutes 
respectively. All species are, of course, liable occasionally, 
and for no discernible cause, to be off their eggs for much 
longer periods, H. abyssinica having the lowest extreme 
maximum interval and the Swift the highest. 

The extent to which the young are brooded varies between 
the species and also considerably (and not always inversely 
with the number in brood) within the species. In general 
it may be said that the young are incubated as much as the 
eggs for the first 3-4 days after hatching and to an appreciable 
extent (at least 20 per cent. of the time) for about half the 
fledging period in each species. The Swift again is altogether 
more irregular in its attentions ; there is one record of newly- 
hatched young (which survived) being visited only once, for 
one minute, in five hours. 

The rate at which the parents bring food to the nest increases 
steadily during the first half of the nesting period. Later, 
and especially in the last week, a surprising degree of stability 

ad 


Vol. lix.] 148 [1939. 

is attained. In calculating feeding-rates the hour is an 
inconveniently short time-unit, and one of 200 minutes has 
been adopted. It seems clear that the smaller the brood the 
more feeds the individual receives. For example, in the 
Rock-Martin 1 young, 44; 2 young, 70, 74, 79; 3 young, 
102, 108, 111. (Hach of these figures is an average from at 
least 40 hours observations spread over a week.) 

Kspecially in comparing specific feeding-rates it is necessary 
to exclude rainy periods, because some species are much more 
affected than others. The Rock-Martins become inactive 
when any rain at all begins. Hirundo smithw is not quite 
so sensitive, and it continues to bring food if flying termites 
are about in the rain. The other species seem much less 
affected by rain. 

The averages from blocks of strictly comparable data give 
the following specific comparisons :— 

Feeding-rate for three young in Rock-Martin 106, in 
Hirundo abyssinica 60. 

Feeding rate for two young in Hirundo smith 85, in the 
Rock-Martin 75, in the Bank-Martin 15, in the Swift only 4. 
There is no correlation between feeding-rate and duration of 
fledging period, except that the Swift is by far the longest 
in the nest. (This is probably on account of its exceptional 
wing-length rather than a result of short food supply ; it is 
known that in European Swifts food is brought in packets.) 

A surprising thing happened when two young Rock- 
Martins from a nest that had fallen were transferred to another 
three miles away that contained only one young, about the 
same age. The feeding-rate by the foster parents immediately 
rose from about 45 to 200-300, averaging 221 for the whole 
of the last week in the nest. 

A point in which Rock-Martins differ from all the other 
species is their extremely restricted foraging area. For 
example, at one nest for brood after brood all the insects are 
caught by constant sweeping in a single quadrant of a circle 
with radius about 40 yards and within 10 yards of the ground. 

In conclusion, while it cannot be emphasized too strongly 
that more data are required for results based firmly on expert 
statistical treatment, the preliminary indications are that 


1939.] 149 [Vol. lix. 

certain rhythms—as distinct from patterns—of parental 
behaviour are specific, especially the duration of individual 
spells on the eggs, the duration of intervals when the eggs 
are left uncovered, and the rate at which the young are fed. 

Wild Life in New Zealand. 

Mr. R. A. Fatua made the following remarks :— 

To appreciate fully the changes in bird life in New Zealand 
it is necessary to consider the original condition of the fauna 
as a whole and subsequent effects of a century of European 
civilization. 

The fauna may be considered as characteristic in the main 
of an extensive oceanic archipelago, but with traces, neverthe- 
less, of conditions which must formerly have been more 
continental. It is difficult otherwise to account for the earlier 
existence of several genera and species of the large struthious 
Moas and of Swans, Geese, Crows, and Eagles now represented 
by subfossil remains. The former land-mass, whether larger 
or smaller, must yet have been isolated from northern con- 
nection before the spread of mammals, a class represented 
by only two indigenous bats. The native reptiles include 
the primitive Sphenodon. In their family relationships the 
endemic birds are not directly Australian, but show affinities 
with Papuasian stock, of which they may be regarded as a 
fringe. The Waders and Ducks are evidently derived from 
migrant arctic stock; endemic Duck, Snipe, and Plovers 
are now no longer migrants, but there is seasonal movement 
still of other Waders to and from the Pacific Arctic. In 
sea-birds there is a small tropical element and a very. large 
Antarctic one represented by Petrels, Penguins, and marine 
Cormorants. Of the 215 species of birds on the New Zealand 
list about one half are sea- and shore-birds. In the absence 
of mammalian predators there was a larger proportion than 
usual of endemic land-birds lacking either power of flight 
or instinctive habits of caution. 

The first human inhabitants, the Maoris, cannot be considered 
to have had a very marked influence on plant or animal life, 
but the changes brought about by European settlement have 


Vol. lix.] 150 (1989. 

been drastic and far-reaching. The chief of these are :— 
(a) Destruction of the forest. It is estimated that forests in 
1840 covered more than 75 per cent.of the country; the present 
area is less than 10 per cent. As the remnant is mainly in 
mountainous country, birds deprived of lowland forest into 
which they were accustomed to descend to winter have become 
extinct or very scarce. This has been one of the factors in the 
extinction of the Huia (Heteralocha). It is now considered 
that slow destruction of much remaining forest may be 
attributed to enormous herds of introduced deer, mainly red, 
but including fallow, Virginian, and Japanese. Government 
deer-culling operations are now accounting for tens of thousands 
of deer annually. Sub-alpine vegetation is also affected by 
herds of thar and chamois. (b) Introduced predatory mam- 
mals. Originally intended to deal with a prior introduction, 
the rabbit, stoats and other mustelids are now a menace 
to bird-life. With rats, dogs, and cats, they must be ac- 
counted. the principal destroyers of small native ducks, some 
insectivorus small birds, flightless Rails, and Kiwis. It may 
be noted that a polecat common in some parts appears to be 
descended from introduced ferrets. (c) Introduced birds. 
The factor of alien avian competition has been added to the 
initial difficulties of the native birds and their chances of 
re-adjustment rendered slight. Everywhere in cultivated 
areas the common birds are now Starling, Sparrow, various 
Finches, Skylark, Song-Thrushes, and Blackbird. There are 
some 25 or 30 alien species strongly established, mainly 
European, but including Indian Myna, Australian Magpie, 
and Californian Quail. 

In the last 25 years some equilibrium has been apparent. 
There has been some extension of range of a few imported 
birds, notably Starlings and lesser Redpoles. While many 
of the natives show no signs of recovery others have shown 
adaptability and increased slightly. The Honey-eaters Anthor- 
nis and Prosthemadera are more numerous near towns than 
for some years past. Kiwis, in the extreme north and extreme 
south (Stewart Island), are holding their own. 

Ornithology in New Zealand still offers ample scope. Basic 
descriptive work on native birds is still needed, for the com- 


1939.] 151 [Vol. lix. 

plete life-histories, and distribution of half the species are 
imperfectly known. The study of introduced species has 
hardly been begun, and it offers opportunity to test the value 
and permanence of subspecific characters as well as habits. 
In comparative studies of bird behaviour primitive New 
Zealand genera have yet to be included. A little is being 
done already in these fields, and advantage is taken as far as 
possible by New Zealand ornithologists of the field and study 
technique which is being so successfully developed in Great 
Britain and America. 

A new Race of Warbler from South Annam. 

Messrs. J. DELAcouR and J. GREENWAY sent the following 
description :— 

Phylloscopus reguloides ticehursti, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Resembles P. r. fokiensis Hartert from S.E. 
China and N. Indo-China, but has more white in the tail, 
the outer pair of rectrices being whitish, and has a different 
wing formula, the second frimary being equal, or less than, 
the 9th, usually equal to the 10th. 

Type.—Male adult. Langbian Peaks, collected by J. Green- 
way, March 4, 1939, no. 2355, in the collection of the Museum 
of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. 

Remarks.—Hight specimens examined from the Langbian 
Peaks, S. Annam, alt. 6000 ft. 

Wing-measurements: Males 59, 61, 60, 59, 60, 60 mm.; 
females 54,55 mm. 

Named in honour of Dr. C. B. Ticehurst, to whom all orni- 
thologists are indebted for his excellent Monograph of the 
Phylloscopi. 

New Races of a Rail and a Fruit Pigeon from 
Micronesia and Palawan. 

The Marquess HacuisuKA sent the following descriptions :— 
Poliolimnas cinereus micronesiz, subsp. nov. 
Description.—Similar to P. c. collingwoodi Mathews from the 

Phillipine Islands, but lighter ; upper parts washed with light 
buff especially noticeable at the edge of wing-coverts ; 


Vol. lix.] 152 [1939. 

ear-coverts, side of neck, breast, and flanks light slate and 
not so smoky as in P. c. collingwoodi ; belly and undertail 
coverts more buffish chestnut. The new race is also allied 
to P. c. brevipes (Ingram) of Vulcan Island, but the latter is 
much paler and washed with isabelline ; therefore, the new 
race constitutes intermediate characteristics of the north and 
western races. 

Distribution.—Micronesia, where it is only known from the 
following islands—Guam, Koror, Yap, and Truk. 

Type.—Male. Yap Island, Caroline Islands, December 11, 1930, 
in the Marquess Yamashina’s Collection, Reg. no. 8733, Tokyo. 

Measurements of type—Wing 90, tail 52, culmen 20, tarsus 
40 mm. 

Remarks.—EHighteen specimens of P. ¢. micronest# were 
compared with nine allied races. I have found no appreciable 
difference in the measurements, but the new form has on the 
average a shorter bill. 

Philippine Islands. Micronesia. 
culmen culmen 
mm. mm. 
Wee ee ste ato oe 23-24 21-22 
Female-o[tsn). 13 20% 21-23 20-21 

Jantheenas vitiensis anthracinus, subsp. nov. 

Description.—When held towards the light the upper 
surface of head, from bill to nape, is brilliantly tinged with 
deep purple ; chin, cheeks, ear-coverts, and throat smoky- 
black, palest on the chin ; nape and neck rich purple ; breast, 
wing-coverts, back, and rump deep bottle-green, and the 
remaining under surface also has the same tinge of green, 
but not so rich. Primaries and rectrices black; bare skin 
around the eyes; bill, nostrils, and legs horny flesh-colour 
in the dry specimen. 

Type.-—Male. Lumbucan Island, Palawan. Collected by 
G. Castaneda ; Feb. 2, 1936. In Hachisuka Collection, Tokyo. 

Measurements of type-—Wing 23; tail 160; tarsus 29; 
culmen 19 mm. 

Remarks.—Jantheenas vitiensis has been recorded from sixteen 
representative Philippine Islands, but recorded for the first 
time from the Palawan Region. A pair of beautiful specimens 


1939.] 153 [Vol. lix. 

were procured by a Filipino naturalist, Mr. G. Castaneda, of 
Manila, and sent tome in Tokyo. This beautiful large Fruit- 
Pigeon is, a as rule, a very rare bird found along the coast, 
and for this reason it probably escaped the attention of all 
the former collectors in Palawan. The new form, when 
compared with J. v. griseogularis, is smaller and the plumage 
has no purple tinge, especially noticeable on the breast, except 
on the head and nape, and the throat has no shade of grey 
or whitish feathers. This new race is also closely related to 
J. metallica, but the latter has more uniform metallic-green 
throughout the body, and the throat is whiter. 

This Pigeon has also been recorded from Pula Tiga, a small 
island off North Borneo, and according to normal zoogeo- 
graphical distribution, it probably should belong to the present 
new race. 

I would like to take this opportunity to suggest the union 
of J. v. vitiensis and J. janthina group under one species with 
respective subspecies. I have already expressed the opinion 
(Hachisuka, Bds. Philip. Is., p. 206, 1932) that there is an extra- 
ordinary resemblance between J. janthina from the dependent 
Japanese islands and J. metallica from Lesser Sunda Islands. 

We have now reached the difficult problem of determining 
the nomenclatorial priority between the two names. Accord- 
ing to Dr. C. D. Sherborn’s ‘ Index Animalium’ Columba 
janthina 'Temminck was published in ‘ Planches Coloriées ’ in 
September 1830, but the publication month of Columba 
vitiensis Quoy et Gaimard in the ‘ Voyage of Astrolabe’ in 

1830 is not known. 
- Until more details are known, I shall tentatively apply 
J.v. vitiensis for the specific name of the vitiensis-janthina 
group of Pigeons. Much the same difficulty has been met 
with in the generic name for the Green Magpie, i.e., Kitta 
Temminck (July 1826) and Cissa Boie (1826). 

Six new Races of Australian Birds from 
North Queensland. 
Mr. G. M. Matruews and Prof. Oscar NEUMANN sent the 

descriptions of six new races, which were collected on a 
Zoological research expedition, to north-western and northern 


Vol. lix.] 154 [1939. 

Queensland by Gabriele Neuhauser, Ph.D., now Mrs. G. Scott. 
The expedition was made from autumn 1937 to spring 1938. 
The collection is in the possession of Prof. Neumann in Bevlin. 

Ninox (Hieracoglaux) connivens enigma, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from H. connivens occidentalis Ramsay, 
in its much smaller size. 

Distribution.—Pentland, Central Northern Queensland. 

Type.—A male, Pentland, April 12, 1938. 

Measurements of type-—Wing 246, tail 145, tarsus 48, 
culmen from cere 16, from base of skull 28 mm. 

Measurements of the wings of Cape York birds: 275, 286, 
268, 287, 280, 283, 267, the average being 278 mm. 

Eremiornis earteri queenslandicus, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from Hremiornis cartert carter North, 
in lacking the decided reddish tinge on the upper surface ; 
the forehead is lighter reddish-brown ; the eye-stripe not so 
pronounced ; it is also smaller. 

Distribution.—Cloncurry District of north-west Queens- 
land. 

Type.—Female. Mallan, Cloncurry, February 26, 1938. 

Measurements of type.—Total length 125, wing 51, culmen 10, 
tail 62, tarsus 14 mm. 

Males from Western Australa measure: wing 55-56, 
tail 63-68, while a female from Hall’s Creek, the nearest 
locality to Queensland, measures total length 154, wing 56, 
culmen 12, tail 71, tarsus 15 mm. 

Remarks.—The discovery of this subspecies in the western 
part of Queensland extends the distribution of the species. 

Colluricincla phzea flavescens, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from C. p. oblita Mathews, from Pentland 
in having much less grey in the head; the back and tail are 
brown, not grey as in oblita : the under surface is suffused with 
yellowish, recalling swperciliosa. 

Distribution.—Cloncurry District, Queensland, 


1939.] 155 [Vol. lix. 

Type.—A male, Mallan, Cloncurry, North-western Queens- 
land, February 15, 1938. 

Measurements of type.—Wing 128, tail 102, tarsus 32, culmen 
21 mm. 

Remarks.—The subspecies Colluricincla phea oblita must 
be admitted. 

The species name is T'urdus phxus Forster 1794 ; this name 
is older than Turdus harmonica Latham, 1801. 

Plectoramphus lanceolatus gabriele, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from P. 1. lanceolatus Gould, in being 
smaller and in having the tail decidedly darker ; the under 
surface is white, not greyish-white. 

Distribution.—Pentland, Central Northern Queensland. 

Type.—A male, Pentland, April 14, 1938. 

Measurements of type.-—Wing 111, tail 102, tarsus 25, culmen 
16 mm. | 

Remarks.—The discovery of this form so far north should 
be recorded. 

Philemon (Microphilemon) citreogularis pseudonymus, 
subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from M. c. citreogularis in being much 
browner above; the young birds have white throats, not 
yellow ; no yellow on the chest or elsewhere. 

Distribution.—Mallan, Cloncurry, Queensland. 

Type.—A male, Mallan, February 2, 1938. 

Philemon (Microphilemon) citreogularis frater, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Differs from typical birds in being distinctly 
grey above and pure grey on the under surface. 

Distribution.—Pentland, Queensland. 

Type.—A male. Pentland, March 30, 1938. 

Measurements of type-—Wing 135, tail 113, tarsus 28, 
culmen 30 mm. 


Vol. lix.] 156 (1939. 

A New Race of Honey-eater from Queensland. 
Mr. G. M. MatuHews read the following description :— 
Plectoramphus lanceolatus queenslandicus, subsp. nov. 
Description.—Larger than P. 1. gabriela and intermediate in 
coloration between it and the typical form. 
Distribution.—Talwood, South-central Queensland. 
Type.—Male, Talwood, June 2, 1923. Collected by 
G. H. Wilkins. In the British Museum, No. 1925-11-1-692. 
Measurements of type-——Wing 115, tail 99, tarsus 26:5, 
culmen 17 mm. 

Two new Races from Sula Islands. 

Prof. OscaR NEUMANN sent descriptions of two new species 
collected by Mr. Menden on Taliaboe, Sula Islands. 

Artamus monachus sulaensis, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Male and female. Perfectly similar in colour 
to A. m. monachus Bp. from Celebes, but smaller, wing 142- 
151 mm. as compared to 154-162 mm. in A. m. monachus. 

Distribution.—Sula Islands (Taliaboe, Mangoli, Besi). 

Type.—Male. 'Taliaboe, Sept. 24, 1938, J. J. Menden leg. 

Remarks.—Menden collected 7 males, 3 females on Taliaboe. 
Wing 148-152mm. Mr. Kinnear was so kind as to send me the 
wing-lengths of the three specimens, collected by Allen on 
Mangoli or Besi, 145, 148, 149 mm., and Hartert Nov. Zool. 
v. p. 133, records only one specimen, collected on Besi by 
Doherty, 142 mm. 

Zosterops atrifrons sulaensis, subsp. nov. 

Description.—Female. Similar to male and female of Zos- 
terops atrifrons subatrifrons Meyer and Wiglesworth, but the 
yellow of the throat finer and darker, not so pale as in 
Z. a. subatrifrons, perhaps also slightly larger. Wing 56 mm., 
as compared to 50-54 mm. in five females of Z. a. subatrifrons 
from Peleng. 

Distribution.—Sula Islands. 

Type.—Female. 'Taliaboe, November 19, 1938, J. J. Menden 
leg. 


1939.] 157 (Vol. lix. 

Notes on Eastern African Birds. 

Capt. C. H. B. Grant and Mr. C. W. MackwortH-PRAED 
sent the following four notes :— 

(1) On the Status of Poicephalus cryptoxanthus zanzibaricus 
Bowen, Auk, 1932, p. 86: Zanzibar Island. 

Through the kindness of the Zanzibar Museum and Mr. R. H. 
W. Pakenham we have been able to examine three adult 
specimens of this race from Zanzibar Island. We find on com- 
parison that these in no way differ from the birds of the mainland 
from Tanganyika Territory to Portuguese East Africa. There- 
fore Poicephalus cryptoxanthus zanzibaricus Bowen becomes 
a synonym of Poicephalus cryptoxanthus Peters. 

(2) On the Status of Mirafra pulpa Friedmann, Occ. Papers, 
Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. v. 1930, p. 257: Sagan River, 
southern Abyssinia. 

As the regulations of the United States National Museum 
do not allow types to be sent abroad, Dr. Friedmann has most 
kindly sent us three very excellent photographs which show 
an upper view, side view, and under view of the type. 

These photographs show that W. pulpa is not allied in any 
way to Mirafra passerina Gyldenstolpe, Ark. Zool. Stockh. 
xix. (A), no. 1, 1926, p. 24: Mohapoani, Bechuanaland, but 
that it agrees perfectly with specimens in the British Museum 
collection of Mirafra cantillans marginata Hawker, Bull. 
B. O. C. vii. 1898, p. 55: Ujawagi, eastern Abyssinia, in 
pattern of plumage markings, size of bill, length of tail, tarsus, 
etc., as does the general description given by Friedmann. 
We are therefore satisfied that Mzirafra pulpa Friedmann must 
become a synonym of Mirafra cantillans marginata Hawker. 

(3) On the Races of Mirafra africana Smith occurring in 
Eastern Africa. 

Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. i. 1930, p. 310, recognizes seven 
races in HKastern Africa; van Someren, Nov. Zool. xxix. 
1922, p. 175, recognizes three races. Friedmann, Bull. 153, 
U.S. Nat. Mus. 1937, p. 22, suggests that this Lark has colour 


Vol. lix.] 158 | (1939. 

phases. Van Someren expresses the view that MW. harterti 
has nothing to do with the W. africana group, and states 
that the young are very different from M. a. tropicalis at all 
ages (Nov. Zool. xxxvii. 1932, p. 335). We are not, however, 
told why WM. harterti should be a distinct species or how the 
young differ. Hartert, Nov. Zool. xxvi. 1929, p. 164, does not 
_ recognize M. a. harterti, though he recognizes both WM. a. athi 
and M. a. dohertyt. 

In view of the above opinions we have carefully examined 
the series in the British Museum collection, and through the 
kindness of Dr. Stresemann of the Berlin Museum, we have 
had the loan of the type of Mirafra nigrescens Reichenow. 

There is undoubtedly individual variation locally. 

The British Museum has a very good series of these Larks, 
and a careful examination shows that only four races can 
be recognized in Kastern Africa, and that we are unable to 
agree that WM. harterti is not a form of M. africana, there being 
no character that differentiates it from typical WM. africana. 
The races we are able to recognize are as follows :-— 

MIRAFRA AFRICANA NIGRESCENS Reichw. 

Mirafra nigrescens Reichenow, Orn. Monatsb. viii. 1900, 
p. 39: Elton Plateau, Ukinga, about 35 miles north of Lake 
Nyasa, south-western Tanganyika Territory. 

A dark race ; centres of feathers of upper parts broad and 
black ; inner secondaries almost wholly black ; wing-coverts 
with well-marked black centres; streaks on chest strong, 
especially on sides of chest ; flanks streaked and ends of lower 
flank feathers brownish ; black streaks on head starting from 
base of feathers, and thus no tawny bases. Wing 92 mm. ; 
hind claw 16 mm. long and rather straight. 

Distribution.—South-western Tanganyika Territory. 

MIRAFRA AFRICANA TROPICALIS Hart. 

Mirafra africana tropicalis Hartert, Nov. Zool. vii. 1900, 
p- 45: Bukoba, north-western Tanganyika Territory ; of 
which Mirafra africana ruwenzoria Kinnear, Bull. B. O. C. 
xli. 1921, p. 189: Mokia, south-eastern Ruwenzori Mts., 
Uganda, is a synonym. 


1939.] 159 [Vol. lix. 

General tone of colour warmer and with much less black 
above: Wing 86-109 mm. Hind claw usually shorter and 
more curved, 9-13 mm. 

Distribution.—Uganda to northern Tanganyika Territory 
from Bukoba District to the Mbulu District, south to the 
Tringa District *. 

MIRAFRA AFRICANA ATHI Hart. 

Mirafra africana athi Hartert, Nov. Zool. vii. 1900, p. 46 : 
Athi Plains, Kenya Colony; of which Mirafra africana 
doherty Hartert, Bull. B. O. C. xix. 1907, p. 93: Escarpment, 
Kenya Colony ; and Mirafra africana harterti Neumann, Bull. 
B. O. C. xxii. 1908, p. 45: Kiboko River, South Ukamba, 
Kenya Colony, are synonyms. 

Colder and greyer in general tone of upper parts. Wing 
87-102 mm. Hind claw similar to M. a. tropicalis. 

Disiribution.—Kenya Colony to north-eastern Tanganyika 
Territory at Loliondo and Ngare Nairobi. 

MIRAFRA AFRICANA KURR& Lynes. 

Mirafra africana kurre Lynes, Bull. B.O.C. xliii, 1923, 
p- 95: Kurra, Darfur, western Sudan, of which Wirafra batesi 
Bannerman, Bull. B.O.C. xiii. 1923, p. 163: bet. Jos and Ibi, 
Bauchi Plateau, Northern Nigeria, is a synonym. 

A vinous wash on the mantle. Wing 88-99 mm. Hind 
claw similar to M. a. tropicalis. 

Distribution.—Western Sudan. 

The straighter and longer hind claw of M. a. nigrescens 
and M. a. nyike Benson, Bull. B. O. C. lix. 1939, p. 85, Nyika 
Plateau, northern Nyasaland, would at first sight appear 
to be a specific character, but as these birds are in all other 
respects M. africana and the hind claws in Larks are liable to 
individual variation in length, probably due to the type of 
country they inhabit, we are of opinion that they are better 
_ left as one group. 

* The single specimen from Njombe, Iringa District, collected by 
Lynes on December 31, 1931, has a hind claw of 15-5 mm. and therefore 
approaches M. a. nigrescens in this respect ; but otherwise agrees with 
M. a. tropicalis, 


Vol. lix.] 160 [1939. 

(4) On the Races of Motacilla flava occurring in Eastern Africa. 

Sclater, Syst. Av. Aithiop. ii. 1930, p. 338, gives ten races, 
these being based mainly on specimens recorded in literature. 

The British Museum does not possess specimens from 
Eastern Africa, of Motacilla flava beema Sykes ; Motacilla flava 
cinereocapilla Savi; or Motacilla flava melanogrisea Homeyer. 

Blanford, Obs. Geol. & Zool. Abyss. 1870, p. 381, records 
one specimen of M. f. cinereocapilla from Abyssinia ; Butler, 
Ibis, 1909, p. 392, records M. f. cinereocapilla from the Sudan ; 
Zedlitz, J.f.O. 1911, p. 45, records six specimens of MM. f. 
cinereocapilla from Eritrea and Abyssinia ; van Someren, Nov. 
Zool. xxv. 1918, p. 284, records M. f. cinereocapilla from 
W. Elgon; Nov. Zool. xxix. 1922, p. 183, MW. f. beema from 
Kenya Colony, and Nov. Zool. xxxvii, 1932, p. 337, M. f. 
cinereocapilla from Uganda and Kenya Colony; Meinertz- 
hagen, Ibis, 1921, p. 666, records M. f. cinereocapilla from 
Uganda ; Count Gyldenstolpe, Sv. Exped. Cent. Afr. 1920-1, 
records a specimen of MW. f. beema ; and Friedmann, Bull. 153, 
U.S. Nat. Mus. 1937, p. 249, records specimens of W. f. cinereo- 
capilla from Abyssinia. 

Through the kindness of Count Gyldenstolpe, Colonel | 
Meinertzhagen, Dr. Friedmann, and Dr. van Someren, we have 
had the loan of the above specimens. 

Our examination shows that Blanford’s specimen is 
M. f. flava ; Butler’s specimen is M. f. flava ; Zedlitz’s speci- 
mens are WMotacilla cinerea (3), M. f. feldegg (2), and 
M. f. flava (1); Zedlitz had himself corrected the names on 
the three specimens of Motacilla cinerea, but we cannot find 
that he published these corrections. 

Van Someren’s specimens are WM. f. flava, M. f. thunbergi, 
M. f. dombrowski. M. f. flavissima, and M. f. lutea; Count 
Gyldenstolpe’s specimen is M. f. thunbergi ; Friedmann’s speci- 
mens are M. f. flava and M. f. dombrowskiv. 

There are, therefore, only two definite records of MW. f. cinereo- 
capilla and M. f. beema, occurring in Kastern, Africa and both 
are in the Meinertzhagen collection, i.e., WZ. f. cinereocapilla, 
adult male in full breeding dress from Entebbe, Uganda, 
dated April 3, 1915, and M. f. beema, adult male in full 
breeding dress from Nairobi, Kenya Colony, dated March 27, 1916, 


1939.] 161 [Vol. lix. 

We can find no evidence that M. f. melanogrisea occurs in 
Kastern Africa. 

The considerable number of specimens we have examined 
shows that M. f. flava, M. f. dombrowsku, M. f. thunbergi, 
M. f. lutea, and M. f. feldegg occur in the non-breeding season 
in quite considerable numbers, M. f. flava being, perhaps, 
the most abundant. M. f. flavissima is by no means uncom- 
mon, and that M f. cinereocapilla, M. f. beema, and M. f. 
kaleniczenkii are very rare. The latter is a new form for 
Eastern Africa, the British Museum having two adult males, 
one from Eritrea and the other from Abyssinia. 

NOTICE. 

All manuscript for publication in the ‘ Bulletin’ should be 
addressed to the Editor, Captain C. H. B. Grant, The Cottage, 
15a Emperor’s Gate, London, S.W.7; not to 58a Ennismore 
Gardens, London, S.W. 7. te 

Corrigenda to Vol. lix. 

rg 

. 27, line 22, for “* Poicephalus fuscicapillus tanganide’”’ read Poi- 
cephalus fuscicapillus tanganike. 

. 48, line 1, for “ 15 males, 14 females ”’ read 5 males, 4 males. 

. 52, line 13, for“ C. a. abingdoni”’ read C. a. abingoni. 

. 90, line 138, for ‘* Columba vitensis’”’ read Columba vitiensis. 

. 90, lines 15/16 should read, male 204—249, female 208-223 (in two 
cases out of six 225 and 226 mm.) as against 

. 90, line 36, for ““ Teleng ’’ read Peleng. 

. 90, line 4, for “* from male ”’ read from female. 

. 91, line 36, for “ 7. s. petersi’”’ read T. s. kinneari. 

. 93, line 21, for “‘ Coracina wpersonata schistacea’’ read Coracina 
schistacea schistacea. 

P. 93, line 30, for “ schistaceus ”’ read schistacea. 

P. 94, line 5, for “ against female ”’ read against male. 

P, 104, line 31, for “‘ M. n, bernsteinii’”’ read M, n, bernsteini. 

Pd ro Fd 

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QA JUL 1939 
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INDEX. 

{Names of new species and subspecies are indicated by clarendon type 
under the generic entry only ; vernacular, or common, 
names are shown in ordinary type. | 

abessinicus, Mesopicos goertx, 53. 

abingdoni kavirondensis, Campo- 
thera, 51. 

abingoni, Campethera abingoni, 52, 
161. 

—— kavirondensis, 
52. 

—— mombassica, Campethera, 52. 

smithi, Campethera, 51, 52. 

abyssinica, Hirundo, 146, 147, 148. 

abyssinicus, Dendropicos, 52. 

Algypius monachus, 44, 45. 

chincou, 17. 

danielt, 16, 17. 

zequatorialis, Jynx ruficollis, 73. 

ALthopyga ezrai blanei, subsp. nov., 
133. 

Campethera, 

ezrai, 133. 

nipalensis victoriz, 133. 

afer melanogaster, Pternistis, 19. 

tornow?t, Pternistis, 19. 

africana athi, Mirafra, 158, 159. 

chapini, Mirafra, 140. 

—— dohertyi, Mirafra, 158, 159. 

harterti, Mirafra, 158, 159. 

—— kurre, Mirafra, 159. 

——, Mirafra, 157, 158, 159. 

nigrescens, Mirafra, 85, 140, 
141, 158, 159. 

—— nyikx, Mirafra, 85, 86, 141, 
5D: 

ruwenzoria, Mirafra, 158. 

tropicalis, Mirafra, 85, 86, 
158, 159. 

africanus macarthuri, Francolinus, 
he 

uluensis, Francolinus, 7. 
Afropavo congensis, 33. 
Alauda arvensis arvensis, 40, 135, 

VOL. LIX, 

Alauda arvensis gulgula, 135. 

japonica, 134, 135. 

—— —— kagoshime, subsp. nov., 
134, 135. 

linnbergi, 135. 

nigrescens, 135. 

—— —— quelparte, 135. 

——. —— sala, 135. 

wattersi, 135. 

cinerea, 137. 

—— spleniata, 136. 

alba, Crocethia, 34. 

, Motacilla alba, 62. 

albicans, Dendropicos, 52. 

albicapilla, Columba, 46. 

, Macropygia amboinensis, 90, 

——————d 

albigularis, Columba vitiensis, 90. 

albipectus, Garrulus glandarius, 71 

Alca torda torda, 31. 

Alectoris, 88. 

barbara barbara, 64, 65. 

—— ——— therese, subsp. nov., 
64. 

alexanderi, 
142. 

Alisterus, 107. 

amboinensis dorsalis, 106, 
107. 

—— —— sulaensis, 107. 

——. —— versicolor, subsp: nov., 
106. 

alpina, Calidris alpina, 76. 

ambiguus, Haliastur indus, 
106. 

amboinensis albicapilla, Macro- 
pygia, 90, 91. 

dorsalis, Alisterus, 106, 107. 

sedecima, Macropygia, 90. 

d 

Galerida cristata, 141, 

105, 


Vol. lix.] 

amboinensis sulaensis, Alisterus, 
LOT. 

— — versicolor, Alisterus, 106. 

americana columbiana, Fulica, 56, 

57. 

peruviana, Fulica, 56. 

americanus, Coccyzus americanus, 
76. 

Ammomanes deserti payni, 63. 

anderssoni, Megalophoneus, 
137. 

, Tephrocorys cinerea, 136. 

andromadzx, Zoothera, 131. 

angolensis boydi, Dryoscopus, 6. 

—— cameroonensis, Dryoscopus, 
6. 

Anthornis, 150. 

Anthoscopus parvulus aureus, 
subsp. nov., 41. 

citrinus, 42. 

parvulus, 41, 42. 

senegalensis, 41. 

anthracinus, Janthenas vitiensis, 
152. 

Anthus cervinus, 127, 128. 

spinoletta meinertzhageni, 31. 

Arctonetta fischeri, 31. 

ardesiaca, Fulica, 57. 

Argya fulva billypayni, subsp. nov., 
69. 

—— —— fulva, 69. 

maroccana, 69. 

armillata, Fulica, 57. 

Arremon, 102. 

Artamus monachus monachus, 156. 

sulaensis, subsp. nov., 

136, 

156. 
arvensis, Alauda arvensis, 40, 135. 
guigula, Alauda, 135. 
japonica, Alauda, 134, 135. 
—— kagoshime, Alauda, 134, 135. 
lonnbergi, Alauda, 135. 
—— nigrescens, Alauda, 135. 
—— quelpartx, Alauda, 135. 
—— sala, Alauda, 135. 
—— wattersi, Alauda, 135. 
asiatica punjaubi, Perdicula, 76. 
assumptionis, Egretta garzetta, 
26. 
Astrapia, 57, 58, 59. 
—— mayeri, sp. nov., 57, 61. 
—— nigra, 60. 
-—— rothschildi, 60. 
splendidissima, 60. 
stephaniz, 59, 60. 
feminina, 60. 
athi, Mirafra africana, 158, 159. 
atra, Fulica, 40. 
atrata, Zoothera monticola, 131, 

164 

(1989. 

atrifrons subatrifrons, 
156. 

—— sulaensis, Zosterops, 156. 

aureus, Anthoscopus parvulus, 41. 

australis, Nannorchilus leucogaster, 
15. 

ayresvi, Cisticola, 8, 9. 

imatong, Cisticola, 8. 

—— mauensis, Cisticola, 8, 9. 

Zosterops, 

Babbler, Hill, 43. 

bakeri, Garrulax moniliger, 132. 

Bantam, Sebright, 97. 

barake, Campethera taeniolama, 27. 

barbara, Alectoris barbara, 64, 65. 

—— theresx, Alectoris, 64. 

barbata castaneothorax, Perdix, 88. 

barbatus, Molpastes barbatus, 63. 

batesi, Mirafra, 159. 

beccarui, Turnix sylvatica, 91, 92. 

Bee-eater, 125. 

beema, Motacilla flava, 160, 161. 

belcheri falklandicus, Heteroprion, 
104. 

——, Heteroprion belcheri, 103. 

— lalfa, Heteroprion, 103. 

—— serventyi, Heteroprion, 103. 

solandert, Heteroprion, 104. 

bengalensis, Centropus, 51. 

——, —— toulou, 51. 

—— javanicus, Centropus, 51. 

bernsteini, Megapodius nicobarien- 
sis, 104, 105, 161. 

bicolor, Campylorhynchus, 10. 

, Heleodytes, 10. 

billypayni, Argya fulva, 69. 

Blackbird, 150. 

, Chilean, 101. 

Blackcap, 121. 

blanei, Afthopyga ezrai, 133. 

blanfordi, Tephrocorys, 117. 

bocagei, Laniarius, 6. 

bolivianus, Oreopsar, 101. 

Bower-Bird, Satin, 22. 

boydi, Dryoscopus angolensis, 6. 

brachydactila longipennis, Calan- 
drella, 116, 117. 

Bradypterus, 108. 

brachypterus, 108, 109. 

—— cinnamomeus, 108, 112. 

cinnamomeus, 112. 

—— —— nyassex, 109, 111, 1138. 

rufoflavidus, 112. 

—— marie, 112. 

msiri, 111. 

—— nyassx, 108, 111, 113, 

roehli, 112. 

rufoflavidus, 112, 


1939.] 

Bradypterus usambarz, 109, 110, 
Khe 12. 

——. —_— granti, subsp. nov., 110, 
dk - he: 

—— usambarez, 110, 112. 

brachypterus, Bradypterus, 108, 109. 

Brachypteryx leucophrys langbi- 
anensis, subsp. nov., 131. 

caroline, 131. 

Brambling, 121. 

brevipes, Poliolimnas cinereus, 
12. 

britannica, Carduelis carduelis, 40. 

brunneicollis cahooni, Troglodytes, 
14, 15. 

—— colimex, Troglodytes, 14. 

- compositus, T'roglodytes, 13. 

culequita, Troglodytes, 12, 13, 

14 

—— guerrerensis, Troglodytes, 12, 
14. 

nitidus, Troglodytes, 13. 

——, Troglodytes, 11, 12, 138. 

Bullfinch, 99. 

Bunting, Lapland, 40. 

——, Little, 77. 

——, Reed, 121. 

——, Yellow, 121. 

buryt, Scotocerca inquieta, 65. 

Bustard, Great, 85. 

, Western Little, 31. 

buvryt, Coccothraustes coccothraus- 
tes, 66. 

caffer struebellui, Micropus, 146. 

cahooni, Troglodytes brunneicollis, 
14,15. 

cailliautii, Campethera, 71. 

——, —— catlhhautin, 72. 

——., Chrysopicos, 72. 

—— fiilleborni, Campethera, 72. 

Calandrella, 117. 

brachydactila 
bh6, L17. 

—— cinerea saturatior, 137. 

Calcarius lapponicus, 40. 

Calidris alpina alpina, 76. 

canutus, 34. 

cameroonensis, Dryoscopus angolen- 
sis, 6. 

camerunensis, Dryoscopus, 6. 

, Smithornis, 114. 

, —— capensis, 113, 114. 

Campethera abingoni abingoni, 52, 
161. 

+. —-—. kawirondensis, 52. 

—— —— mombassica, 52. 

= —— synth, B1,. 52, 

longipennis, 

165 

[Vol. lix. 

Campethera cailliautii, 71. 

—— —— cailliautii, 72. 

—— —— fiilleborni, 72. 

loveridgei, 72. 

—— nyanze, 71. 

—— teniolxma, 26, 27. 

—— —— barake, 27. 

—— hausburgi, 27. 

Campothera abingdoni kavironden- 
sis, 51. 

Campylorhynchus bicolor, 10. 

capistratus, 10. 

chiapensis, 10. 

griseus, 10. 

cantillans chadensis, Mirafra, 115. 

marginata, Mirafra, 115, 157. 

——, Mirafra, 115. 

——., Sylvia, 69. 

canutus, Calidris, 34. 

capensis camerunensis, Smithornis, 
Gs emg a 

—— medianus, Smithornis, 114, 
LPs. 

—— meinertzhageni, Smithornis, 
114. 

——, Platyrhynchus, 114. 

——, Smithornis, 113. 

——, —— capensis, 114, 115. 

—— suahelicus, Smithornis, 
114. 

capistratus, Campylorhynchus, 10. 

capitalis, Hemipus picatus, 101. 

Caprimulgus macrurus, 93. 

—— celebensis, 92. 

—— —_— jungei, subsp. nov., 92. 

macrurus, 92. 

Carduelis carduelis britannica, 40. 

carduelis britannica, Carduelis, 40. 

caroline, Brachypteryx  leuco- 
phrys, 131. 

, Galerida theklx, 65. 

carteri, Hremiornis cartert, 154. 

—— queenslandicus, Hremiornis, 
154. 

castaneothorax, Perdix barbata, 88. 

castro, Cymochorea castro, 144. 

celebensis,- Caprimulqus macrurus, 
92. 

centralis, Dendropicos, 52. 

Centropus bengalensis, 51. 

—— javanicus, 51. 

—— grill, 50, 51. 

toulou, 51. 

—— —— bengalensis, 51, 

—— —— grillw, 51. 

toulou, 51. 

cervinus, Anthus, 127, 128. 

chadensis, Mirafra cantillans, 115. 

Chaffinch, 128, 129. 

113, 

a2 


Vol. lix.] 

Chaicophaps indica formosanus, 46. 
pileata, 46, 47. 
—— yamashinai, subsp. nov., 
45, 47. 
changamwensis, 
vacea, 86, 87. 
chapini, Mirafra africana, 140. 
Charadrius dubius curonicus, 31. 
hiaticula hiaticula, 48, 49, 

Cyanomitra  oli- 

50. 
—— major, 17, 48. 
septentrionalis, 49. 
tundre, 17, 18, 40, 49. 
—— vociferus vociferus, 76. 
Chaunonotus, 6. 
cheniana, Mirafra, 115. 
chiapensis, Campylorhynchus, 10. 
, Heleodytes, 10. 
chilensis, Fulica, 57. 
chincou, Algypius monachus, 17. 
——, Vultur, 16, 17, 45. 
chinensis frontalis, Oriolus, 93, 94. 
stresemanni, Oriolus, 93, 94. 
Chlidonias hybrida, 31. 
Chlorophoneus, 6, 7. 
chloropus, Gallinula, 40. 
. chloropus, 70. 
—— vestigialis, Gallinula, 70. 
Chrysopicos cailliautit, 72. 
cineracea, Egretta, 24. 
: gularis, 24, 25. 
, Herodias, 25. 
cinerea, Alauda, 137. 
—— anderssoni, Tephrocorys, 136. 
—— erlangeri, Tephrocorys, 137. 
—— fuertesi, Tephrocorys, 137. 
——, Motacilla, 160. 
—— saturatior, Calandrella, 137. 
, Tephrocorys, 117, 137. 
-——, Tephrocorys, 136. 
——., _—— cinerea, 136, 137. 
cinereocapilla, Motacilla flava, 160, 
161. 
cinereus brevipes, Poliolimnas, 152. 
—— collingwoodi, Peliolimnas, 
| 5) hid ay 
—— micronesix, Poliolimnas, 151, 
be. 
cinnamomea, Sylvia ? (Salicaria), 
112. 

——__. 

cinnamomeus, Bradypterus, 108, 
112. 

—— cinnamomeus, 112. 

—— nyassx, Bradypterus, 109, 
LIL TS. 

rufoflavidus, Bradypterus, 

112, 

Circus macrourus, 31. 

Cissa, 153, 

166 

(1939. 

Cisticola, 33. 

—— ayresii, 8, 9. 

imatong, subsp. nov., 8. 

mauensis, 8, 9. 

citreogularis frater, Philemon (Mi- 
crophilemon), 155. 

——, Microphilemon citreogularis, 
155. 

—— pseudonymus, Philemon 
(Microphilemon), 155. 

citrinella, Hmberiza, 40. 

citrinus, Anthoscopus parvulus, 42. 

Coccothraustes coccothraustes bu- 
ory, 66. 

—— —— coccothraustes, 66. 

——— —— theresa, subsp. nov., 
66. 

cocothraustes buvryi, Cocco- 
thraustes, 66. 

, Coccothraustes coccothraustes, 

———. 

theresx, Coccothraustes, 66. 
Coccyzus americanus americanus, 

colimex, Troglodytes brunneicollis, 
14. 

collingwoodi, Poliolimnas cinereus, 
151, 152. 

Colluricincla phzea flavescens, 
subsp. nov., 154. 

oblita, 154, 155. 

Columba albicapilla, 46. 

—— yanthina, 153. 

—— pileata, 46. 

—— vinacea, 20. 

—— vitiensis, 158. 

albigularis, 90. 

—— —— halmaheira, 90, 161. 

—— —— mendeni, subsp. nov., 
90. 

columbiana, Fulica americana, 56, 
57. 

communis, Sylvia, 128. 

compositus, Troglodytes brunneicol- 
las, 13: 

congensis, Afropavo, 33. 

connivens enigma, Ninox (Hieraco- 
glaux), 154. 

Conothraupis speculigera, 103. 

conspicillata, Sylvia, 69. 

Coot, 40, 56, 57, 122. 

, Chilean, 57. 

Coracina schistacea petersi, subsp. 
nov., 93 

—— —— schistacea, 93, 161. 

corax, Corvus, 63. 

Cormorant, 149. 

coromanda major, Halcyon, 107. 

—— pelingensis, Halcyon, 107, 


1939.] 

coromanda rufa, Halcyon, 107, 108. 

Corvus corax, 63. 

cosensi, Jynx ruficollis, 74. 

Cowbird, 37. 

cranchiui, Pternistis, 19. 

cretorum, Garrulus glandarius, 71. 

Crex crex, 40. 

cristata alexanderi, Galerida, 141, 
142. 

—— isabellina, Galerida, 141, 142. 

somaliensis, Galerida, 116. 

zalinget, Galerida, 141, 142. 

Crocethia alba, 34. 

Crow, 120, 149. 

——, Hooded, 78. 

cryptoxanthus, Poicephalus, 27, 
157. 

» —— zanzibaricus, 
P57. 

Cuckoo, 128. 

——, Yellow-billed, 76. 

culequita, Troglodytes brunneicollis, 
12, 13, 14. 

cureus reynoldsi, Notiopsar, 101. 

Curlew, 85. 

——, Stone, 120. 

curonicus, Charadrius dubius, 31. 

Cyanomitra olivacea changamwen- 
sis, 86, 87. 

—— —— olwwacea, 86. 

—— —— olwacina, 86, 87. 

—-—— —— puguensis, subsp. nov., 
86, 87 

Cymochorea castro castro, 144. 

Cyphorinus pusillus, 15. 

Poicephalus, 

danieli, A’gypius monachus, 16, 17. 

deichleri, Turdus viscivorus, 67. 

Dendromus matherber fiilleborni, 72. 

nyanzea, 72. 

Dendropicos abyssinicus, 52. 

albicans, 52. 

centralis, 52. 

—— fuscescens, 52, 53. 

—— hartlaubi, 52. 

—— lafresnayi, 52, 53. 

—— lepidus, 52. 

-—— massaicus, 52. 

deserti paynmi, Ammomanes, 63. 

, Sylvia nana, 69. 

deserticolor, Sylvia, 69. 

dimorpha, Egretta, 24, 25. 

; garzetta, 26. 

——, —— gularis, 24. 

dohertyi, Murafra africana, 
159. 

——, Turdus, 47. 

158, 

167 

[Vol. lix. 

Dolichonyx, 102. 

dombrowsku, Motacilla flava, 160, 
161. 

don, Francolinus squamatus, 42, 
43. 

dorsalis, Alisterus amboienensis, 
106, 107. 

Dove, Bronze-winged, 45. 

, Stock, 121. 

——, Turtle, 125. 

Dryophoneus, gen. nov., 6. 

Dryoscopus, 5, 6, 7. 

—— angolensis boydi, nom. nov., 
6. 

—— —— cameroonensis, 6. 

—— camerunensis, 6. 

—— senegalensis, 6. 

dubium pelingense, Scissirostrum, 
47, 48. 

, Scissirostrum dubium, 47. 

dubius curonicus, Charadrius, 31. 

Duck, 149. 

, Tufted, 120, 122. 

dumasi, Turdus, 47. 

Dunlin, 76. 

Eagle, 149. 

Egret, 5, 24, 82. 

——, Madagascar Black-billed, 
25. 

Egretta cineracea, 24. 

—— dimorpha, 24, 25. 

garzetta, 24, 25. 

—— —— assumptionis, 26. 

—— —— garzetta, 26. 

—— gularis, 24, 25, 26. 

cineracea, 24, 25. 

dimorpha, 24, 26. 

gularis, 24. 

—— schistacea, 24, 26. 

Eider, Fischer’s, 31. 

Emberiza citrinella, 40. 

—— striolata theres, subsp. nov., 
68. 

enigma, Ninox (Hieracoglaux) con- 
nivens, 154. 

Epimachus, 59. 

EHremiornis carteri carteri, 154. 

queenslandicus, subsp., 
nov., 154. 

erlangeri, Tephrocorys cinerea, 137. 

EHrolia minuta, 23. 

erythronotus, T'urdus, 47. 

Erythrospiza, 63. 

githaginea_ therese, 

nov., 64. 

—— zedlitzi 64. 

subsp. 


Vol lix.] 

ezrai, Athopyga ezrai, 133. 
blanei, Atthopyga, 133. 

falcinellus, Plegadis falcinellus, 23. 

Falco naumanni naumanni, 23. 

falklandicus, Heteroprion belcheri, 
104. 

feldegg, Motacilla flava, 128, 160, 
161. 

feminina, Astrapia stephanizx, 60. 

Finch, 99, 150. 

fischeri, Arctonetta, 31. 

Flamingo, 5, 83. 

flava beema, Motacilla, 160, 161. 

dombrowskui, Motacilla, 160, 
161. 

—— feldegg, Motacilla, 128, 160, 
161. 

—— flavissima, Motacilla, 160, 
161, 

—— kaleniczenkii, Motacilla, 161. 

—— lutea, Motacilla, 160, 161. 

——, Motacilla, 160. 

——., —— flava, 128, 160, 161. 

—— thunbergi, Motacilla, 160, 161. 

flavescens, Colluricincla phxa, 154. 

flavissima, Motacilla flava, 160, 
161. 

Flycatcher, Pied, 120, 128. 

fokiensis, Phylloscopus reguloides, 
151. 

formosanus, 
46. 

fortior, Sitta solangizx, 133. 

Francolin, 42. 

——, Grey-wing, 7. 

Francolinus africanus macarthuri, 
subsp. nov., 7. 

uluensis, 7. 

squamatus doni, subsp. nov., 

42, 43. 

Chalcophaps «indica, 

schuetti, 42. 

usambarex, 43. 

uzungwensis, 43. 

frater, Philemon (Muicrophilemon) 
citreogularis, 155. 

Fregella, 10. 

Fregolla, 10. 

Frengandria, nom. nov., 10. 

frontalis, Oriolus chinensis, 93, 94. 

SSS Sitta, 134. 

fuertesi, Icterus, 100. 

, Tephrocorys cinerea, 137. 

Fulica americana columbiana, 56, 
57. 

—___— ——— peruviana, subsp. nov., 
56. 

ardesiaca, 57. 

L68 

(L939. 

Fulica armillata, 57. 

atra, 40. 

chilensis, 57. 

filleborni, Campethera cailliautir, 
72. 

, Dendromus malherbei, 72. 

fulva, Argya fulva, 69. 

—— billypayni, Argya, 69. 

—— maroccana, Argya, 69. 

fuscata, Garrulax moniliger, 132. 

fuscescens, Dendropicos, 52, 53. 

fuscicapillus tanganyikx, Poice- 
phalus, 27, 161. 

gabrielz, Plectoramphus lanceolatus, 
155, 156. 

Galerida cristata alexanderi, 141, 
142. 

—— —— isabellina, 141, 142. 

somaliensis, 116. 

zalingei, subsp. nov., 
141, 142. 

—— theklzx caroline, 65. 

—— —— rujicolor, 65. 

—— —— thekle, 65. 

——— —— theresa, subsp. nov., 
65. 

Gallinula chloropus, 40. 

—— chloropus, 70, 

—— —— vestigialis, subsp. nov., 
70. 

Garganey, 23. 

Garrulax moniliger bakeri, 132. 

fuscata, 132. 

mouhoti, 132. 

pasquiert 133. 

—— schauenseel, subsp. 

nov., 132. 

tonkinensis, 1338. 

Ga rulus glandarius albipectus, 71. 

cretorum, 71. 

—— —— glandariui, 71. 

—— —— grecus, subsp. nov., 

—— 

——_—_—_. 

Th 

—— —— enops, 67, 68. 

—— —— theres, subsp. nov., 
67. 

whitakert, 68. 

—— minor, 68. 

garzetta assumptionis, Egretta, 26. 
—— dimorpha, Egretia, 26. 

——., Hogretta, 24, 25. 

garzetta, 26. 

mendeni, Turdus, 47, 

— 

( Geokichla ) 
48. 

girrenera, Haliastur indus, 105. 
githaginea_ theresx, LHrythrospiza, 
64, 


1939.] 

githaginea zedlitzi, Erythrospiza, 64. 

glandarii, Garrulus glandarius, 71. 

glandarius albipectus, Garrulus, 71. 

cretorum, Garrulus, 71. 

glandarw, Garrulus, 71. 

grecus, Garrulus, 71. 

—— enops, Garrulus, 67, 68. 

—— theresex, Garrulus, 67. 

—— whitakeri, Garrulus, 68. 

Glareola pratincola pratincola, 23. 

goertz abessinicus, Mesopicos, 53. 

Golden-eye, 121. 

Goldfinch, 40. 

Goosander, 121. 

Goose, 149. 

, Bean, 83, 84 

——., Grey, 83. 

——, Greylag, 83. 

——., Pink-footed, 84. 

——, White-fronted, 83. 

graduacauda richardsoni, Icterus, 
100. 

grecus, Garrulus glandarws, 71. 

granti, Bradypterus usambare, 110, 
111, 112. 

Grebe, Great-crested, 121. 

——, Little, 122. 

Greenshank, 120. 

grillii, Centropus, 50, 51. 

,» —— toulou, 51. 

grisea, Scotocerca inquieta, 65. 

griseogularis, Janthenas vitiensis, 
153. 

grisescens, 
gaster, 15. 

griseus, Campylorhynchus, 10. 

, Heleodytes, 10. 

Grosbeak, Scarlet, 77. 

guerrerensis, Troglodytes brunnei- 
collis, 12, 14. 

Guinea-Fowl, 61. 

gularis cinereacea, Egretta, 24, 25. 

—— dimorpha, Egretta, 24. 

——., Hgretia, 24, 25, 26. 

gularis, 24. 

——, Heleodytes, 11. 

—— tamaulipensis, Icterus, 100. 

gulgula, Alauda arvensis, 135. 

gulielmi massaicus, Poicephalus, 
pee 

Nannorchilus — leuco- 

permistus, Powephalus, 27. 
guttata, Stachyris SUL 130. 
gutturalis, Irania, 24. 

Halcyon coromanda major, 107. 
_ —— —— pelingensis, subsp. nov., 
107. 

rufa, 107, 108. 

169 

[Vol. lix. 

Haliastur indus ambiguus, 105, 
106. 

gurrenera, 105. 

indus, 105. 

intermedius, 105. 

—— —— permistus, subsp. nov., 
105. 

halmaheira, Columba vitiensis, 90, 
161. 

harmonica, Turdus, 155. 

Harrier, 128. 

——., Pallid, 31. 

harterti, Mirafra, 158. 

, —-— africana, 158, 159. 

hartlaubi, Dendropicos, 52. 

hausburgi, Campethera 
leema, 27. 

Hawfinch, 121. 

helenx, Stachyris striolata, 130. 

Heleodytes, 10. 

bicolor, 10. 

chiapensis, 10. 

griseus, 10. 

—— gularis, 11. 

—— jocosus, 11. 

—— minor, 10. 

—— narinosus, 11. 

—— occidentalis, 11. 

—— rufinucha nigricaudatus, 10. 

Hemipus picatus, 101. 

——— capitalis, 101. 

“es picatus leggei, subsp. nov., 

02. 
Herodias cineracea, 25. 
procerula, 25. 

teenio- 

Heron, 24. 

——, Night, 5. 

Heteroprion belcheri belcheri, 103. 

—— —— falklandicus, subsp. 
nov., 104. 

—— —— alfa, subsp. nov., 103. 

serventyi, 103. 

—— solanderi, 104. 

hiaticula, Charadrius hiaticula, 48, 
49, 50. 

major, Charadrius, 17, 48. 

septentrionalis, Charadrius, 

—— tundre, Charadrius, 
40, 49. 

(Hieracoglaux) conniwens enigma, 
Ninox, 154. 

Hieracoglaux connivens occidentalis, 
154. 

Hirundo, 145. 

abyssinica, 146, 147, 148. 

rufula, 128. 

—— rustica, 128. 

—— smithu, 146, 147, 148. 

7, 13; 


Vol. lix.] 

holomelena massaica, Psalido- 
procne, 146. 

Honey-eater, 150. 

Hoopoe, 128. 

horsbrughi, Turnix sylvatica, 91. 

hybrida, Chlidonias, 31. 

Hydrobates pelagicus, 142, 143, 
144, 

hypoleuca, Pelagodroma marina, 
145. 

Ibis, 82. 

, Glossy, 5, 23. 

Icter ie fuertesi, 100. 

—— graduacauda richardsoni, 100. 

—— gularis tamaulipensis, 100. 

imatong, Cisticola ayresv, 8. 

indica formosanus,- Chalcophaps, 
46. 

pileata, Chalcophaps, 46, 47. 

—— yamashinai, Chalcophaps, 45, 
47 

indus ambiguus, Halastur, 105, 
106. 

—— girrenera, Haliastur, 105. 

——, Haliastur indus, 105. 

intermedius, Haliastur, 105. 

permistus, Haliastur, 105. 

inquieta buvryt, Scotocerca, 65. 

grisea, Scotocerca, 65. 

saharx, Scotocerca, 65. 

——., Scotocerca inquieta, 65. 

—— striata, Scotocerca, 65. 

—— theresx, Scotocerca, 65. 

intermedius, Haliastur indus, 105. 

Trania gutturalis, 24. 

isabellina, Galerida cristata, 141, 
142. 

Jackdaw, 121. 

janthina, Columba, 153. 

——, Janthenas, 153. 

Janthanas janthina, 152. 

metallica, 153. 

—— vitiensis, 153. 

anthracinus, subsp. 
nov., 152. 

—— —— griseogularis, 153. 

japonica, Alauda arvensis, 134, 
135. 

javanicus, Centropus bengalensis, 
51. 

Jay, 70. 

jocosus, Heleodytes, 11. 
jungei, Caprimulgus macrurus, 92. 
Jyngipicus obsoletus nigricans, 53. 

170 

(1939. 

Jynx ruficollis, 72, 73, 113. 
—— xquatorialis, 73. 
—— —— cosensi, 74. 

—— —— pulchricollis, 73, 74. 
ruficollis, 74. 

— 

kagoshimex, Alauda arvensis, 134, 
135. 

kaleniczenkir, Motacilla flava, 161. 

kalidupx, Otus manadensis, 106. 

RSE Campetheraabingoni. 
52 

——, Campothera abingdoni, 51. 

Kestrel, Common, 125. 

, Lesser, 124, 125,.127, 129. 

kinneari, Turnix sylvatica, 91,161. 

Kite, Black, 5, 31. 

Kitta, 153. 

kiwuensis, Pseudoalcippe pyrrho- 
ptera, 43, 44. 

Kiwi, 150. 

Knot, 34. 

kurre, Mirafra africana, 159. 

lafresnayi, Dendropicos, 52, 53. 

lalfa, Heteroprion belcheri, 103. 

lanceolatus gabrielz, Plectoramphus, 
155, 156. 

——, Plectoramphus lanceolatus, 
155. 

—— queenslandicus, 
phus, 156. 

Landrail, 40. 

langbianensis, Brachypteryx leuco- 
phrys, 131. 

Laniarius, 7. 

—— bocaget, 6. 

Lanius minor, 24. 

laotana, Muscicapula sapphira, 
132. 

lapponicus, Calcarius, 40. 

Lapwing, 85, 127. 

Lark, 85, 140, 157. 

, Crested, 141. 

——, Short-toed, 117, 128. 

leggei, Hemipus picatus, 102. 

Leghorn, Brown, 96, 97. 

lepidus, Dendropicos, 52. 

leucogaster australis, Nannorchilus, 
15. 

—— grisescens, Nannorchilus, 15. 

—— musicus, Nannorchilus, 15. 

——, Nannorchilus, 15. 

——, leucogaster, 15. 

leucophrys carolinx, Brachypteryx, 
131. 

—— langbianensis, 
131. 

Plectoram- 

Brachypteryx, 


1939. 

leucura, Hnanthe, 63. 

Linnet, 98, 128, 129. 

longipennis, Calandrella brachy- 
dactila, 116, 117. 

linnbergi, Alauda arvensis, 135. 

loveridget, Campethera, 72. 

Loxia, 63. 

lugens, Zinanthe, 63. 

lutea, Motacilla flava, 160, 161. 

Lyre-Bird, 22. 

macarthuri, Francolinus africanus, 
Macropygia amboinensis albi- 

capilla, 90, 91. 
sedecima, subsp. nov., 

90. 

macrourus, Circus, 31. 

macrurus, Caprimulgus, 93. 

» —— macrurus, 92. 

—— celebensis, Caprimulgus, 92. 

—— jungei, Caprimulgus, 92. 

maculosa, Turnix sylvatica, 91, 92. 

magica, Otus, 106. 

Magpie, Australian, 150. 

——, Green, 1538. 

major, Charadrius hiaticula, 17, 
48. 

——., Halcyon coromanda, 107. 

malherber filleborni, Dendromus, 
ie: 

nyanzea, Dendromus, 72. 

Mallard, 98, 120, 122. 

manadensis kalidupx, Otus, 106. 

mendeni, Otus, 106. 

——, Otus manadensis, 106. 

—— sulaensis, Otus, 106. 

Marabou, 82. 

marginata, Mirafra cantillans, 115, 
157. 

mariz, Bradypterus, 112. 

marina hypoleuca, Pelagodroma, 
145. 

maroccana, Argya fulva, 69. 

Martin, Bank-, 145, 146, 147, 148. 

——, House-, 36, 128. 

, Rock-, 145, 146, 147, 148. 

massaica, Psalidoprocne  holo- 
melena, 146. 

massaicus, Dendropicos, 52. © 

, Poicephalus gulielmi, 27. 

meaensis. Cisticola ayresit, 8; 9. 

mayert, Astrapia, 57, 61. 

mechowi, Melierax metabates, 63. 

medianus, Smithornis capensis, 
114, BLS: 

Megalophoneus anderssoni, 
137. 

136, 

171 

[Vol. lix. 

Megapodius nicobariensis perrufus, 
subsp. nov., 104. 

bernsteini, 104, 105, 161. 

meinertzhagent, Anthus spinoletta, 
31. 

——, Smithornis capensis, 114, 

melanogaster, Pternistis afer, 19. 

Melierax metabates mechowi, 63. 

metabates, 63, 64. 

—— —— therese, subsp. 
63. 

mendent, Columba vitiensis, 90. 

,» Otus manadensis, 106. 

, Turdus (Geokichla), 47, 48. 

mentawi, Otus, 106. 

Menura, 22. 

mesoleuca, Rhynchothraupis, 102. 

Mesopicos goertz abessinicus, 
53. 

nov., 

metabates mechouwi, Melierax, 63. 

——, Melierax metabates, 63, 64. 

—— theresx, Melierax, 63. 

metallica, Janthenas, 153. 

micronesie, Poliolimnas cinereus, 
151, 152. 

Microphilemon citreogularis citreo- 
gularis, 155. 

—— —— frater, Philemon, 155. 

(——) pseudonymus, Phile- 
mon, 155. 

Micropus caffer struebellii, 146. 

migrans, Milvus, 31. 

Milvus migrans, 31. 

minor, Garrulus, 68. 

——, Heleodytes, 10. 

——, Lanius, 24. 

minuta, Hrolia, 23. 

Mirafra africana, 157, 158, 159. 

—— —— athi, 158, 159. 

—— —— chapini, subsp. nov., 

140. 

—— —— dohertyi, 158, 159. 

os harterti, 158, 159. 

—— —— kurre, 159. 

—— —— nigrescens, 85, 140, 141, 
158, 159. 

subsp. nov., 85, 

86, 141, 159. 

—— —— ruwenzoria, 158. 

—— —— tropicalis, 85, 86, 158, 
159. 

—— batesi, 159. 

cantillans, 115. 

—— —— chadensis, 115. 

—— —— marginaia, 115, 157. 
—— cheniana, 115. 

—— harterti, 158. 

nigrescens, 158. 
passerina, 157. 


Vol. lix.] 

Mirafra pulpa, 157. 

schillingsi, 115. 

mesta, Gnanthe mesta, 67. 

theresxe, Ginanthe, 66. 

Molpastes, 63. 

barbatus barbatus, 63. 

mombassica, Campethera abingoni, 
52. 

monachus, Algypius, 44, 45. 

, Artamus monachus, 156. 

—— chincou, Afgypius, 17. 

—— danieli, Mgypius, 16, 17. 

—— sulaensis, Artamus, 156. 

moniliger bakert, Garrulax, 132. 

fuscata, Garrulax, 132. 

mouhoti, Garrulax, 132. 

—— pasquiert, Garrulax, 133. 

—— schauenseei, Garrulax, 132. 

tonkinensis, Garrulax, 133. 

monticola atrata, Zoothera, 131. 

, Zoothera monticola, 131. 

Moorhen, 40, 69, 122. 

Motacilla alba alba, 62. 

cinerea, 160. 

flava, 160. 

beema, 160, 161. 

cinereocapilla, 160, 161. 

dombrowsku, 160, 161. 

feldegg, 128, 160, 161. 

flava, 128, 160, 161. 

—— flavissima, 160, 161. 

—— kaleniczenkwi, 161. 

—— lutea, 160, 161. 

thunbergi, 160, 161. 

mouhoti, Garrulax moniliger, 132. 

msiri, Bradypterus, 111. 

Muscicapula sapphira laotiana, 
subsp. nov., 132. 

sapphira, 132. 

musicus, Nannorchilus leucogaster, 
15: 

Myna, Indian, 150. 

ee 

nana, Sylvia nana, 69. 

—— deserti, Sylvia, 69. 
Nannorchilus, 10. 

—— leucogaster, 15. 

australis, subsp. nov., 

15. 
a grisescens, 15. 
—_— —— leucogaster, 15. 
musicus, 15. 
narinosus, Heleodytes, 11. 
naumanni, Falco naumanni, 23. 
nicobariensis bernsteini, Megapo- 
dius, 104, 105, 161. 
perrufus, Megapodius, 104. 
Nightingale, 120, 128. 

172 

[1939. 

Nightjar, 120. 

nigra, Astrapia, 60. 

nigrescens, Alauda arvensis, 135. 

,» Mirafra, 158. 

——, africana, 85, 140, 141, 
158, 159. 

nigricans, Jyngipicus obsoletus, 53. 

nigricaudatus, Heleodytes rufinucha, 
10. 

nigrobrunnea, Tyto, 89. 

Ninox (Hieracoglaux) connivens 
enigma, subsp. nov., 154. 

nipalensis victoriz, Afthopyga, 133. 

nitidus, Troglodytes brunneicollis, 
13. 

Notiopsar curzeus reynoldsi, 101. 

Nuthatch, 121. Renee os 

nyanzx, Campethera, 71. 

nyanzea, Dendromus malherber, 72. 

nyasx, Pseudoalcippe pyrrhoptera, 
43. 

nyassx, Bradypterus, 108, 111, 113. 

. cinnamomeus, 109, 111, 
113. 

nyikx, Mirafra africana, 85, 86, 
141, 159. 

oblita, Colluricincla pha, 154,155, 
obsoletus nigricans, Jyngipicus, 53. 
» Yungipicus obsoletus, 53. 
occidentalis, Heleodytes, 11. 
Gnanthe, 127. 

leucura, 63. 

— lugens, 63. 

meosta mosta, 67. 

therese, subsp. nov., 

66. 
cenops, Garrulus glandarius, 67, 68. 
olivacea changamwensis, Cyano- 

mitra, 86, 87. 

——, Cyanomitra olivacea, 86. 
olwacina, Cyanomitra, 86, 

87. 

—— puguensis, Cyanomitra, 86, 
87. 

olivaceus, Turdus, 111. 

olwacina, Cyanomitra oliwvacea, 86, 
87. 

Oreopsar bolivianus, 101. 

Oriole, 23. 
Oriolus chinensis frontalis, 93, 94. 
stresemanni, subsp. 
nov., 93, 94. 

oriolus oriolus, 23. 

Otis tetrax tetrax, 31. 

Otus magica, 106. 

—— manadensis kalidupex, 106. 
—— —— manadensis, 106. . 


1939.] 

Otus manadensis mendeni, subsp. 
nov., 106. 

sulaensis, 106. 

—— mentawi, 106. 

Owl, Short-eared, 120, 125, 128. 

Paradise Bird, 57, 58. 

, Shaw Mayer’s, 61. 

Partridge, 88. 

parvulus, Anthoscopus parvulus, 
41, 42. 

aureus, Anthoscopus, 41. 

—— citrinus, Anthoscopus, 42. 

senegalensis, Anthoscopus, 41. 

pasquiert, Garrulax moniliger, 133. 

passerina, Mirafra, 157. 

payni, Ammomanes deserti, 63. 

Peacock, 96. 

, Congo, 33. 

pelagicus, Hydrobates, 142, 1438, 
144. 

Pelagodroma 
145. 

pelengensis, T'yto rosenbergi, 92. 

Pelican, 82. 

pelingense, Scissirostrum dubium, 
47, 48. 

pelingensis, 
107. 

marina hypoleuca, 

Halcyon coromanda, 

Penguin, 149. 

Perdicula asiatica punjaubi, subsp. 
nov., 76. 

Perdix barbata castaneothorax, 
subsp. nov., 88. 

—— suschkint, 88. 

permistus, Haliastur indus, 105. 

——, Poicephalus gulielm, 27. 

perrufus, Megapodius nicobariensis, 

04. 

peruviana, Fulica americana, 56. 

petersi, Turnix sylvatica, 91, 161. 

, Coracina schistacea, 93. 

Petrel, 103, 149. 

, Fork-tailed, 144. 

——., Frigate, 145. 

——, Medeiran Fork-tailed, 145. 

——, Storm-, 10, 142. 

phexa flavescens, Colluricincla, 154. 

—— oblita, Colluricincla, 154, 155. 

pheus, Turdus, 155. 

Pheasant, 96, 100. 

Philemon (Microphilemon) citreo- 
gularis frater, subsp. nov., 155. 

( ) pseudonymus, 
subsp. nov., 155. ; 

Phylloscopus reguloides fokiensis, 
151. 

173 

[Vol. lix. 

Phyiloscopus reguloides ticehursti, 
subsp. nov., 151. 

picatus capitalis, Hemipus, 101. 

——, Hemipus, 101. 

legget, Hemipus, 102. 

Pigeon, 37, 38, 39. 

——, Fruit, 151. 

puleata, Chalcophaps indica, 46, 47. 

——, Columba, 46. 

Pinicola, 63. 

Pintail, 121. 

Pipit, 127, 128. 

——, Hebridean Rock-, 31. 

——, Meadow., 121. 

——, Tree-, 121. 

Platyrhynchus capensis, 114. 

Plectoramphus lanceolatus gab- 
rielz, subsp. nov., 155, 156. 

lanceolatus, 155. 

—— queenslandicus, 
nov., 156. 

Plegadis falcinellus falcinellus, 23. 

Plover, 82, 149. 

——, Killdeer, 76. 

——, Lesser Ringed, 126. 

——, Little Ringed, 31. 

——, Norfolk, 126. 

——, Ringed, 17, 49. 

——, Senegal, 82. 

——, Siberian Ringed, 40. 

, Stone, 85. 

Poicephalus cryptoxanthus, 27, 157. 

zanzibaricus, 157. 

fuscicapillus tanganyikex, 27, 
161. 

—— gulielmi massaicus, 27. 

permistus, 27. 

Poliolimnas cinereus brevipes, 152. 

collingwoodi, 151, 152. 

micronesiz, subsp. 
nov.,. 151, 152. 

pratincola, Glareola pratincola, 23. 

Pratincole, European, 126. 

procerula, Herodias, 25. 

Prosthemadera, 150. 

Psalidoprocne, 145. 

holomelena massaica, 146. 

Pseudoaclippe pyrrhoptera kiwuen- 
sis, 43, 44. 

— nyase, subsp. nov., 43. 

pyrrhoptera, 43. 

tanganyice, 44. 

pseudonymus, Philemon (Muicro- 
philemon) citreogularis, 155. 

Pternistis afer melanogaster, 19. 

tornow2, 19. 

cranchir, 19. 

Ptyonoprogne, 145. 

—— rufigula, 146. 

subsp. 


Vol. lix.] 

Puff-back, Pink-footed, 5. 

Puffinus yelkouan, 126. 

puguensis, Cyanomitra olivacea, 
86, 87. 

pulchricollis, Jynx ruficollis, 73, 
74. 

pulpa, Mirafra, 157. 

punjaubi, Perdicula asiatica, 76. 

pusillus, Cyphorinus, 15. 

Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, 63. 

pyrrhoptera kivuensis, Pseudoal- 
cuppe, 43, 44. 

—— nyasx, Pseudoalcippe, 43. 

——, Pseudoalcippe pyrrhoptera, 
43. 

—— tanganyicx, Pseudoalcippe, 

4. 

Quail, Californian, 150. 

, Indian Bush-, 76. 

queenslandicus, Hremiornis carteri, 
154. 

——, Plectoramphus lanceolatus, 
156. 

quelpartxe, Alauda arvensis, 135. 

Rail, 150, 151. 

——, Water, 120. 

Rallus torquatus simillimus, 
subsp. nov., 105. 

—— sulcirostris, 105. 

Ramphastos vitellinus, 61. 

Razorbill, Northern, 31. 

Redpoll, 150. 

Redstart, 121. 

——, Black, 128. 

, Common, 128. 

reguloides fokiensis, Phylloscopus, 
151. 

—— ticehursti, Phylloscopus, 151. 

reynoldsi, Notiopsar curzus, 101. 

Rhipidura teijsmanni_ sulaensis, 
subsp. nov., 93. 

toradja, 93. 

Rhynchothraupis, gen. nov., 102. 

mesoleuea, sp. nov., 102. 

richardsoni, Icterus graduacauda, 
100. 

Riparia rupestris rupestris, 66. 

—— —— therese, subsp. nov., 
66. 

Robin, 129. 

roehli, Bradypterus, 112. 

Roller, 125. 

Rook, 120. 

rosenbergi pelengensis, T'yto, 92. 

, T'yto, 90. 

rosenbergi, 92. 

, 

174 

[1939. 

rothschildi, Astrapia, 60. 

rufa, Halcyon coromanda, 107, 108. 

rujicollis equatorialis, Jynx, 73. 

cosenst, Jynax, 74. 

——, Jynx, 72, 73, 113. 

——, —— ruficollis, 74. 

—— pulchricollis, Jynx, 73, 74. 

ruficolor, Galerida theklex, 65. 

rufigula, Ptyonoprogne, 146. 

rufinucha nigricaudatus, Heleodytes, 
10 

rufoflavidus, Bradypterus, 112. 
——, cinnamomeus, 112. 
rufula, Hirundo, 128. 

rupestris, Riparia rupestris, 66. 
—— theresx, Riparia, 66. 

rustica, Hirundo, 128. 

ruwenzoria, Mirafra africana, 158. 

Saddlebill, 82. 

saharzx, Scotocerca inquieta, 65. 

sala, Alauda arvensis, 135. 

(?Salicaria) cinnamomea, Sylvia, 
112. 

salomonsis, Turnix sylvatica, 91. 

Sanderling, 34. 

Sandpiper, Curlew, 120. 

sapphira laotiana, Muscicapula, 
132. 

, Muscicapula sapphira, 132. 

saturata, Turnix sylvatica, 92. 

saturatior, Calandrella cinerea, 137. 

, Tephrocorys cinerea, 117, 
137. 
schauenseeit, Garrulax moniliger, 
lee: 

schillingst, Mirafra, 115. 

schistacea, Coracina schistacea, 93, 
161. 

——., Egretta, 24, 26. 

—— petersi, Coracina, 93. 

schuetti, Francolinus squamatus, 
42. 

Scissirostrum dubium dubium, 47. 

——— —-— pelingense, subsp. nov., 

47, 48. 

Scotocerca inquieta buvryi, 65. 

= grisea, 65. 

—— —— inquieta, 65. 

—— —— sahare, 65. 

—— —— striata, 65. 

—— —— therese, subsp. nov., 
65. 

sedecima, Macropygia amboinensis, 
90. 

senegalensis, Anthoscopus parvulus, 
41. 


1939.] 

senegalensis, Dryoscopus, 6. 

septentrionalis, Charadrius hiati- 
cula, 49. 

serventyt, Heteroprion belcheri, 103. 

Shearwater, 144, 145. 

, Levantine, 126. 

, Manx, 36. 

Shrike, Bocage’s, 6. 

——, Red-backed, 36. 

——, Great Grey, 121. 

——., Grey, 125. 

——., Pied, 101. 

——, Woodchat, 125. 

Shoveler, 23, 121. 

similimus, Rallus torquatus, 105. 

Sitta frontalis, 134. 

—— solangizx, 134. 

fortior, subsp. nov., 

133. 
—— —— solangiz, 133. 
Sky-Lark, 40, 121, 134, 150. 
smithi, Campethera abingoni, 51, 
2, 

smithui, Hirundo, 146, 147, 148. 

Smithornis camerunensis, 114. 

—— capensis, 113. 

camerunensis, 113, 114. 

—— —— capensis, 114, 115. 

—— —— medianus, 114, 115. 

—— —— meinertzhageni, 114. 

—— —— suahelicus, 113, 114. 

Snipe, 149. 

——., Jack, 120. 

solanderi, Heteroprion belcheri, 104. 

solangie fortior, Sitta, 133. 

——, Sitta, 134. 

——, solangizx, 133. 

somaliensis, Galerida cristata, 116. 

Sparrow, 128, 150. 

——., House-, 99. 

——, Tree-, 121. 

speculigera, Conothraupis, 103. 

spinoletta meinertzhageni, Anthus, 
ol. 

splendidissima, Astrapia, 60. 

spleniata, Alauda, 136. 

Spoonbill, 5, 126. 

squamatus doni, Francolinus, 42, 
43. 

—— schuetti, Francolinus, 42. 

usambarx, Francolinus, 43. 

—— uzungwensis, Francolinus, 43. 

Stachyris striolata guttata, 130. 

helenz, subsp. nov., 

130. 

tonkinensis, 130. 
Starling, 36, 38, 39, 40, 150. 
stephanie, Astrapia, 59, 60. 
jeminina, Astrapia, 60, 

175 

[ Vol. lix. 

Stint, Little, 23. 

Stonechat, 121. 

Stork, 82. 

——, White, 37, 38. 

Streptopelia vinacea, 19, 20. 

stresemanni, Oriolus chinensis, 93, 
94. 

striata, Scotocerca inquieta, 63. 

striolata guttata, Stachyris, 130. 

—— helene, Stachyris, 130. 

—— theresx, Emberiza, 68. 

—— tonkinensis, Stachyris, 130. 

struebellui, Micropus caffer, 146. 

Sturnus vulgaris vulgaris, 40. 

suahelicus, Smithornis capensis, 
113, 114. 

subatrifons, Zosterops atrifrons, 156. 

sulaensis, Alisterus amboinensis, 
107. 

——, Artamus monachus, 156. 

——, Otus manadensis, 106. 

——, Rhipidura teyjsmanni, 93. 

——., Zosterops atrifrons, 156. 

sulcirostris, Rallus torquatus, 105. 

Sunbird, 86. 

suschkini, Perdix, 88. 

Swallow, 36, 128, 145. 

Swan, 149. 

Swift, 145, 147. 

——, Alpine, 125. 

sylvatica beccaru, Turnix, 91, 92. 

—— horsbrughi, Turnia, 91. 

—— kinneari, Turnia, 91, 161. 

—— maculosa, Turnix, 91, 92. 

—— petersi, Turnix, 91, 161. 

—— salomonsis, Turnia, 91. 

—— saturata, Turnix, 92. 

Sylvia, 61. 

cantillans, 69. 

—— communis, 128. 

—— conspicillata, 69. 

—— deserticolor, 69. 

—— nana deserti, 69. 

—— —— nana, 69. 

2? (Salicaria) cinnamomea, 
112. 

—— ticehursti, sp. nov., 69. 

teniolema barakse, Campethera, 

——, Campethera, 26, 27. 

hausburgi, Campethera, 27. 

tamaulipensis, Icterus gularis, 100. 

Tanager, 102. 

tanganyicx, Pseudoalcippe pyrrho- 
ptera, 44. 

——, Turdinus, 44, 


Vol. lix.] 

tanganyikx, Poicephalus fuscica- 
pilus, 27, 161. 
teijsmanni sulaensis, Rhipidura, 

toradja, Rhipidura, 93. 

Tephrocorys, 117. 

blanfordi, 117. 

cinerea, 136. 

anderssoni, 136. 

—— —— cinerea, 136, 137. 

—— —— erlangert, 137. 

—— —— fuertesi, 137. 

saturatior, 117, 137. 

Tern, Noddy, 35. 

——, Sooty, 35. 

——, Whiskered, 31. 

tetrax, Otis tetrax, 31. 

theklz carolinx, Galerida, 65. 

——. Galerida theklz, 65. 

—— ruficolor, Galerida, 65. 

—-— theresx, Galerida, 65. 

theresx, Alectoris barbara, 64. 

——., Coccothraustes coccothraustes, 
66. 

——, Emberiza striolata, 68. 

——., Erythrospiza githaginea, 64. 

——., Galerida thekle, 65. 

——., Garrulus glandarius, 67. 

——, Melierax metabates, 63. 

——, “nanthe mesta, 66. 

——., Riparia rupestris, 66. 

——., Scotocerca inquieta, 65. 

——, Turdus viscworus, 67. 

Thrush, Song-, 150. 

thunbergi, Motacilla flava, 160, 161. 

ticehursti, Phylloscopus reguloides, 
La. 

——, Sylvia, 69. 

Tit, Coal-, 121. 

——, Least Penduline, 41. 

tonkinensis, Garrulax moniliger, 
ldo; 

, Stachyris striolata, 130. 

toradja, Rhipidura teijsmanni, 93. 

torda, Alca torda, 31. 

tornowt, Pternistis afer, 19. 

torquatus simillimus, Rallus, 105. 

sulcirostris, Rallus, 105. 

totanus, Tringa, 63. 

Toucan, Sulphur-and-White- 
breasted, 61. 

toulou bengalensis, Centropus, 51. 

, Centropus toulou, 51. 

—— grillii, Centropus, 51. 

Tringa totanus, 63. 

Troglodytes, 10. 

brunneicollis, 11, 12, 13. 

—.._—. —_—. ranoon?, 14, Lb. 

—— —— colime, subsp. nov., 14. 

176. 

(1939. 

Troglodytes brunneicollis com- 
positus, 13. 

culequita, subsp. nov., 

12,,.13,, 14. 

subsp.nov., 

12, 14. 

—— nitidus, 13. 

tropicalis, Mirafra africana, 85, 
86, 158, 159. 

tundrx, Charadrius hiaticula, 17, 
18, 40, 49. 

Turdinus tanganyice, 44. 

Turdus dohertyi, 47. 

—— dumasi, 47. 

—— erythronotus, 47. 

—— (Geokichla) mendeni, sp. nov., 
47, 48. 

—— harmonica,\} 

—— olivaceus, 111. 

—— phezus, 155. 

—— viscivorus deichleri, 67. 

—— —-— therese, subsp. nov., 
67. 

Turnix sylvatica beccarvi, 91, 92. 

—— —— horsbrughi, 91. 

—— —— kinneari, subsp. nov., 
91, 161. 

—— ———. maculosa, 91, 92. 

—— —— petersi, 91, 161. 

—— —— salomonsis, 91. 

—— —— saturata, 92. 

Tyto nigrobrunnea, sp. nov., 89. 

rosenberg?, 90. 

—— —— pelegensis, subsp. nov., 

mde 

—— —— rosenbergi, 92. 

uluensis, Francolinus africanus, 7. 

usambarxe, Bradypterus, 109, 110, 
ie EL 

——, —— usambare, 110, 112. 

——., Francolinus squamatus, 43. 

—— granti, Bradypterus, 110, 111, 
wi: 

uzungwensis, Francolinus squama- 
tus, 43. 

versicolor, Alisterus amboinensis, 
106. 

vestigialis, Gallinula chloropus, 70. 

victorix, Althopyga niaplensis, 133. 

vinacea, Columba, 20. 

——.,, Streptopelia, 19, 20. 

viscivorus deichlert, Turdus, 67. 

—— theresx, Turdus, 67. 

vitellinus, Ramphastos, 61. 

vitiensis albigularis, Columba, 90. 

—— anthracinus, Janthenas, 152. 

——, Columba, 1°28. 


1939.] 

vitiensis griseogularis, Janthenas, 
£53. 

—— halmaheira, Columba, 90, 161. 

——., Janthenas, 153. 

mendeni, Columba, 90. 

vociferus, Charadrius vociferus, 76. 

vulgaris, Sturnus vulgaris, 40. 

Vultur chincou, 16, 17, 45. 

Vulture, Black, 44, 45. 

——, Eastern Griffon, 16, 17. 
——, Griffon, 84, 85, 129, 130. 
——, Palearctic Griffon, 16. 

Wagtail, 
128. 

—-—, Moroccan Pied, 62. 

, Yellow, 120, 125. 

Warbler, 151. 

——., Dartford, 121. 

——., Forest, 108, 110. 

——., Grass.-, 8. 

——., Lanceolated, 77. 

——, Reed-, 122. 

——., Sedge-, 120, 122. 

——, Willow-, 121. 

, Wood.-, 128. 

wattersi, Alauda arvensis, 135. 

Wheatear, 120. 

, Black-eared, 124, 128. 

——, Common, 125, 128. 

——., European, 62. 

——, Seebohm’s, 62. 

Black-neaded Yellow, 

177 

[Vol. lix, 

Whinchat, 121, 125. 
whitakeri, Garrulus glandarius, 68. 
Whitethroat, 121, 125, 128. 
Wigeon, 98, 121. 

Wood-Lark, 120. 
Woodpecker, 52, 121. 

Wren, American, 10. 

——, Brown-throated, 11, 14. 
——, Cactus, 10, 11. 

, White-bellied, 15. 
Wryneck, 36. 

yamashinai, Chalcophaps 
45, 47. 

yelkouan, Puffinus, 126. 

Yellow-hammer, 40. 

Yungipicus obsoletus obsoletus, 53. 

indica, 

zalinget, Galerida cristata, 141, 142. 

zanzibaricus, Poicephalus crypto- 
xanthus, 157. 

Zavattariornis, 32. 

zedlitzi, Erythrospiza githaginea, 
64. 

Zoothera andromade, 131. 

—— monticola atrata, subsp. nov., 
131. 

monticola, 131. 

Zosterops atrifrons subatrifrons, 
156. 

—— —— sulaensis, subsp. nov., 
156. 


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



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