ae a aa Sy peet eats af res ooh euros Lr et aoa tot: ao 4 ats oth ay ek Wh 9) a I: Aen a toe, Se es Me a ae Z Feite bare agastod ars Pee as mei di be Mo i wy ek A EAS aw ‘ Ree wee wie We Retin ie te Wit ret eee ee ye) tas eae . oe & " one Z vrs ATER, aa a 4 iv. =) vip t a ‘ BULLETIN of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB EDITED BY Dr. J. F. MONK Volume 101 1981 Aor Mes. ke NAT. HIST. € 8 APR 1982 PREFACE It has been possible to publish more pages in Volume ror than originally expected. This has resulted from the very satisfactory response to promotion of sales of the Bulletin initiated and carried out by the Hon. Secretary. The Bulletin is now being subscribed for more widely than ever before in its history, a reflection which must prompt gratitude in any editor for the high standard of submissions from authors which allows such a develop- ment to occur, especially during an economic depression. While I was abroad from April to early September, the Club was very fortunate to be able to call on the services of C. W. Benson and his long experience with the Bulletin. I am most grateful to him for seeing the June and September issues into print and for editing with his usual expertise some of the papers, as well as others submitted during my absence, in addition that is to his own heavy load of work at Cambridge. This is the first year that J. H. Elgood has compiled the index and we are indebted to him for performing this important but generally thankless task. I am, as always, delighted to be able to thank referees, authors and the printers for their patience and co-operation over the last twelve months. JAMES F. MONK COMMITTEE 1980-1981 1981-1982 D. R. CALDER, Chairman (1980) D. R. CALDER, Chairman (1980) B. Gray, Vice-Chairman (1980) B. Gray, Vice-Chairman (1980) Dr. J. F. Monk, Editor (1976) Dr. J. F. Monk, Editor (1976) R. E. F. PEA, Hon. Secretary (1971) R. E. F. Peat, Hon. Secretary (1971) Mrs. D. M. Braptey, Hon. Treasurer (1978) Mrs. D. M. Brap ey, Hon. Treasurer (1978) C. F. MANN (1977) R. D. CHANCELLOR (1979) R. D. CHANCELLOR (1979) J. G. PARKER (1979) J. G. PARKER (1979) R. A. N. CROUCHER (1980) R. A. N. CROUCHER (1980) Revd. G. K. McCuttocu, 0.B.£. (1981) ISSN 0007 - 1595 Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club Edited by Dr. J. F. MONK Volume 101 No. 1 March 1981 FORTHCOMING MEETINGS Tuesday, 19 May 1981 in the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College, Prince’s Gardens, $.W.7 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. Mr. C. F. Mann, joint author of The Birds of Hast Africa, published last year, will speak on Forest Birds in Kenya. Those wishing to attend should send their accept- ance with a cheque for £4.95 a person to the Hon. Secretary at 2 Chestnut Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3AR (telephone Sevenoaks [0732] 50313) to arrive not later than first post on Thursday, 14 May. Tuesday, 7 July 1981 at the same venue and time Mr. J. H. Elgood will speak on The Birds of Nigeria. Tuesday, 15 September 1981 speaker being arranged. Tuesday, 17 November 1981 Mr. Peter Hayman. Tuesday, 12 January, 1982 Dr. T. J.Seller. Tuesday, 2 March 1982 Professor Gordon Orians. Gifts or offers for sale of unwanted back numbers of the Bulletin are very welcome The Club has no reference copies of Vol. 48 and many earlier issues; these would be very specially appreciated COMMITTEE D. R. Calder (Chairman) B. Gray (Vice-Chairman) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) Mrs. D. M. Bradley (Hon. Treasurer) Dr. J. F. Monk (Editor) R. D. Chancellor J. G. Parker C. F. Mann RA. N. Croucher © British Ornithologists’ Club 1981 239 [ Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] Bulletin of the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 101 No. 1 Published: 20 March 1981 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The 1981 Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Club will be held in the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College, Prince’s Gardens, London, S.W.7 at 6 p.m. on Tuesday 19 May 1981. AGENDA 1. Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting (Bu//. Brit, Orn. C7. 100 : 135). 2. Report of the Committee and Accounts for 1980. 3. The Bulletin. 4. Election of Officers. The Committee proposes that: (a) Mrs. D. M. Bradley be re-elected Honorary Treasurer, (b) Mr. R. E. F, Peal be re-elected Honorary Secretary, (c) The Reverend G. K. McCulloch, O.B.E., be elected a member of the Committee vice Mr. C. F. Mann, who retires by rotation. 5. Any other business of which notice shall have been given in accordance with Rule (7). By order of the Committee, RONALD EB. E.;,PEAL Honorary Secretary. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR 1980 In 1980 there were 41 new Members, 6 Members resigned and 6 were struck off under Rule (4). There was a gratifying rise of over 10% in the paid-up membership to 342 (including 6 Honorary Members) and there was an increase of 14°% in non-member subscribers to the Bu//etin, who numbered 159 at the close of the year. It is with deep regret that the Committee reports the deaths of Miss Phyllis Barclay- Smith, C.B.E., Member 1933-1980, Dr. L. H. Brown, O.B.E., Ph.D., Subscriber/Member 1974-1980 and Mr. E. R. Parrinder, C.B.E., Member 1945-1980, all well-known and much- liked Members. Dr. Brown was the speaker in May last when he drew a large attendance on a subject neat to his heart. Meetings were held in the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College in January and alternate months thereafter: A special meeting in April, with an enlarged programme to mark the hundredth volume of the Bu/letin, saw an attendance of 71, the largest for over 20 yeats. In May there was held, in addition, the first recorded Meeting of the Club outside London, the Harrison Zoological Museum and the Sevenoaks Wildfowl Reserve being visited. Numbers at the six customary Meetings were a little more than in 1979 and attendances for all Meetings totalled 306, the most since 1962. Charges for dinner rose from £4.30 in January to £4.75 in November. The Club was accepted by the Charity Commission for registration as a charity during the year. Captain Collingwood Ingram, who joined the Club in 1901, had his tooth birthday on 30 October 1980. A card depicting White’s Thrush Zoothera dauma, specially drawn by Mr. R. Hume, was sent with the Club’s good wishes. Dr. David Harrison and Mr. J. H. Elgood both kindly presented the Club with back numbers of the Bu//etin, Dr. Harrison giving over 2,000 copies, which are much appreciated. Gifts or offers of Bulletin back numbers ate most welcome and the Club is especially in need of Vol. 48 and before, as there are very many of these issues of which the Club does not possess a copy. Despite the strength of sterling, inflation continued at a very high rate, with postage costs up 41% on 1979 and printing charges up 15 %. A larger Bulletin circulation would help much to contain costs and it is hoped that Members, who are in touch with institutions that do not obtain the Bu//etin and should hold it, will encourage them to subscribe. 1980 was notable for publication of Volume too of the Bulletin, a special issue of which was published in March, consisting of 132 pages, with a special front cover amusingly [Ball B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] 240 designed by Robert Gillmor and a back cover with reproduction of the first issue of the Bulletin describing the Inaugural Meeting of the Club on 5 October 1892 and of the pro- gramme of the joint meeting of the BOU/BOC at dinner on 8 March 1939. The latter was referred to as the “‘last of an era’”’ by the late Phyllis Barclay-Smith in her reminiscences, which together with those of 7 other of the Club’s most senior members formed a most entertaining and intriguing section of the issue. It was sad that 3 of these members, Miss Barclay-Smith, Dr. David Bannerman and Baron de Worms, had died before their con- tributions were published. The second and major half of the issue was devoted to papers on the advances of ornithology in the past half century and covered in 18 important zoo-geographical reviews a worldwide scene, omitting unfortunately Scandinavia, the Middle East and the Pacific. The Editor is very glad to be able to thank the authors for their ungrudging co-operation, involving them in considerable work and research as well as calling on their expertise on behalf of the Club. The issue opened with the Chairman’s Foreword, in particular thanking The Royal Society, the Mount Trust, the B.O.U. and British Petroleum Co. Limited for their generous financial support. This was followed by a short and enlightening history of both the Club and the Bulletin by the Hon. Sec., Ronald Peal, and for once a lucid explanation was given as to why the Club’s centennial volume and the Club’s centenary do not coincide. The year’s remaining 3 issues of the Bulletin consisted of 106 pages and happily have covered much the same scale of subjects as in recent years. With one exception (Vol. 53) Vol. 100 was the largest annual volume of the Bu//etin in the history of the Club. Delay in publication has inevitably been increased by devoting one issue to invited papers, but it seems likely that the delay in 1981 will not be greatly longer than the usual 6—9 months. The audited accounts for 1980, which are not yet available, will be tabled at the Annual General Meeting and published in a later number of the Bu//etin. Members wishing to see a copy may enquire from the Honorary Treasurer. The seven hundred and thirty-second Meeting of the Club was held in the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College, London, $.W.7 on Tuesday 13 January 1981. The attendance was 30 Members and Io guests. Members present were: D. R. CALDER (Chairman), Captain Sir THOMAS BARLOW> K. BRETTON, Dr. G. BEVEN, Mrs. DIANA BRADLEY, Dr. R. A. CHEKE, R- CHANCELLOR, P. J. CONDER, S. CRAMP, The Earl of CRANBROOK, O. J. H. DAVIES, R. J. FARMER, A. GIBBS, D. GRIFFIN, P. HOGG, M. J. L. HURWOOD, A. M. HUTSON, Revd. G. K. McCULLOCH, C. F. MANN, Dr. J. F. MONK, E. M. NICHOLSON? R: BE, F. PEAL, 'P. 5. REDMAN, Pr J. SELLAR WS, Ayia oe tei M. R. TAYLOR, K. V. THOMPSON, A. VITTERY, J. F. WALSH and Lieut.-Col. LG WHITE, Guests present were: Mrs. G. BEVEN, D. BRADLEY, Miss SARAH CONDER, Mrs. P. HOGG, Mrs. I. McCULLOCH, B. V. M. O’BRIEN, W. H. PARK, Mrs, R. E. F. PEAL, R, W. TURNER and Mrs. B. VITTERY. Mr. Stanley Cramp, O.B.E., spoke on “Ornithology and Conservation in Europe’’. In the course of his interesting address he dealt especially with the recent E.E.C. Directive on bird protection. A note on Bensch’s Rail Monias benschi from Madagascar by D. A. Turner Received 28 April 1980 Rand (1936) describes Bensch’s Rail as “‘a terrestrial bird of the low brush forest in the Sub-desert’’, commenting that there was no evidence at all that it ever flies. Later Milon et a/. (1973) merely comment that like other members of the family it flies poorly and always seems to prefer to escape from danger by running away, no matter what degree of danger facing it. During the past 10 years I have had the opportunity of spending many hours observing this species in southwestern Madagascar where its range 241 [Bull_B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] appears to be restricted to the dense Didiera woodland between two rivers, the Mangoky and the Fiherenana. Over much of the area it is common and at times abundant, and once its distinctive call is known, it is quite easy to locate as small groups move about through the dry Didiera woodland that is so characteristic of the southwestern corner of the island. In the evening of 19 February 1980 while walking through an area of dense Dédierea thicket some 28 km north of Tulear, I heard a group of these birds calling, but for some time was unable to locate them, until quite unexpectedly I noticed a pair calling from the lower branches of a tree 10-12 feet above the ground. This in itself surprised me as I too had always believed them to be entirely terrestrial in habits. The pair continued to climb around the branches of the tree despite their rather ungainly gait, constantly bobbing up and down just as they do when walking through the brush. As dusk was fast approaching I assumed the birds were settling down to roost for the night, but after a few moments and obviously aware of my presence less than 20 yards away they became rather agitated and to my utter amazement flew away. Whereas the female flew down to the ground with a rather weak flight, the male flew strongly and purposefully on an almost direct flight for some yards until lost from sight in the dense brush. This is, as far as I can ascertain, the first instance of this species, or any Mesite actually flying, and certainly disproves all previous statements that Momzas benschi is a flightless bird. Although not in any way related to the Rallidae, all three Mesites of Madagascar possess well developed wings, and it seems probable that all are quite capable of flight, but that due to their being terrestrial birds of either forest or dense scrub they rarely need to do so. References: Milon, P., Petter, J. J. & Randrianasolo, G. 1973. Faune de Madagascar, XX XV Oiseaux. ORSTOM Tananarive: CNRS Paris. Rand, A. L. 1936. The distribution and habits of Madagascar birds. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 72: 143-499. Address: D. A. Turner, P.O. Box 48019, Nairobi, Kenya. © British Ornitholologists’ Club 1981. A new subspecies of Axairetes agraphia (Tytannidae) from northern Peru by Thomas S. Schulenberg and Gary L. Graham Received 14 April 1980 In 1978 we were part of a field party from the Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology (LSUMZ) that conducted an ornithological investi- gation of the previously unexplored mountains lying between the Rios Utcubamba and Chiriaco, in the Department of Amazonas, northern Peru. _ This range, known locally as the Cordillera Colan, rises above the arid Rio Marafion valley to an elevation of at least 3450 m. At approximately 3050 m, cloud forest gives way to pajona/, a wet grassland with scattered bushes and low trees. In the upper reaches of the forest, from 2950 m up to treeline, we [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(1)] 242 collected a series of Axairetes (= Uromyias) agraphia. (See Traylor (1977) on reasons for merging these genera.) Prior to 1978, this Peruvian endemic was known only from the Quillabamba — Ollantaitambo area of the Rio Urubamba drainage, Department of Cuzco (Chapman 1919, Parker & O’Neill 1980); from the Cordillera Vilcabamba, Department of Cuzco (Weske 1972); and from the Cordillera Carpish, Department of Hudnuco (O’Neill & Parker 1976). In 1979 another LSUMZ field party collected a specimen at Mashua, 3350 m, east of Tayabamba on the trail to Ongon, Department of La Libertad, about half way between the Cordilleras Colan and Carpish. The Cordillera Colan population appears to be a well-marked new sub- species that we propose to call: Anairetes agraphia plengei subsp. nov. Type: Adult male (skull 60% ossified); Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology No. 88474; Cordillera Colan, NE La Peca, about 5°34’S, 78°19'W, Department of Amazonas, Peru, elevation 3025 m; 29 August 1978; collected by T. S. Schulenberg; original number 988. Diagnosis: Breast pattern similar to A. agraphia squamigera O’Neill & Parker in having the breast feathers tipped as well as edged with white. Differs from all known populations of A. agraphia by the following charac- ters: upperparts, especially back, and all but outer pair of retrices dark olivaceous-brown, not warm buff-brown; background colour of breast whiter with no yellow tinge; sides of breast greyer without a yellow-brown — tint; belly whiter, extent and intensity of yellow much reduced. Measurements of the type (mm): Wing (chord) 57-3, tail 66.4, tarsus 18.3, culmen from base 13.7; weight io g. Range: Known only from the type locality. Specimens examined: Anairetes agilis (20). Colombia, 6 unsexed (American Museum of Natural History = AMNH 132238, 143574-143575, 176544, 499063-499064); Ecuador, 11¢¢ (AMNH 124625-124626, 124623, 173410- 173411, 180462, 183992, 499057-499058, 499060-499061), 209 (AMNH 499059, 499062), 1 unsexed (AMNH 145874). A. agraphia agraphia (11). Dpto. Cuzco, Peru: Cordillera Vilcabamba, 12°36’S, 73°30’W, 4¢6¢d (AMNH 820544-820547), 12 (AMNH 820548); Cordillera Vilcabamba, 12°37’S, 73°33’W, 16 (AMNH 820398), 399 (AMNH 820399, 820448, 820460); 24 km NE Abra Malaga, 1¢ (LSUMZ 78796); San Luis, 1g (LSUMZ 78797). A. agraphia squamigera (2). Dpto. Huanuco, Peru: Bosque Cutirragra, 14 (LSUMZ 74301, holotype); Punta de Esperanza, 14 (LSUMZ 79704). A. agraphia squamigera > plengei (1). Dpto. La Libertad, Peru: Mashua, 14 (LSUMZ 92837). A. agraphia plengei (5). Dpto. Amazonas, Peru: Cordillera Colan, 43d (LSUMZ 88470, 88472-88474), 19 (LSUMZ 88471). Etymology: It is a pleasure to name this new flycatcher for Manuel A. Plenge, in recognition of his contributions to our knowledge of Peruvian birds, and of the assistance he has so generously offered visiting orni- thologists. 243 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] Remarks: The specimen from Mashua (LSUMZ 92837), a locality geo- graphically between the type localities and known ranges of squamigera and plengei, resembles squamigera ventrally, but dorsally the characters approach plengei. A specimen of squamigera from Huanuco (LSUMZ 79704) shows some reduction in the intensity of yellow on the abdomen, but not enough to fall within the known variation of plengei. There appears to be no significant size variation within the species. In addition to the 5 skins from Cordillera Colan, we preserved 3 complete (LSUMZ 90079-90081) and 2 partial (LSUMZ 88470, 88474) skeletons. The LSUMZ also contains a previously unreported alcoholic specimen (LSUMZ 76902) collected at Punta de Esperanza, Department of Huanuco. Most of our specimens from the Cordillera Colan were caught in mist-nets. We saw Aunairetes agraphia plengei in life on only 4 occasions during 3 weeks of fieldwork. Our brief observations on its behaviour are similar to those reported in Parker & O’Neill (1980). Anairetes agraphia closely resembles A. agi/is, a monotypic species which occupies similar habitats from southwestern Venezuela to northern Ecuador (Traylor 1979). Morphological differences between these 2 taxa were reviewed by O’Neill & Parker (1976). Although 3 subspecies of A. agraphia are now recognized, the distinguishing characters of the species are consistent throughout its range. We feel that the relationship of these taxa are best expressed by maintaining each as a separate species, and by considering each to be an allospecies within the Axairetes agilis supetspecies. Acknowledgements: Philip J. Barbour, Linda J. Barkley, David R. Hunter, Manuel Sanchez, Klaus Wehr and Morris D. Williams participated in and helped to make the 1978 expedition to Cordillera Colan a success. We ate most grateful to John S. MclIlhenny, E. W. Mudge, H. Irving Schweppe, Laura R. Schweppe, and Babette M. Odom for their support of the fieldwork of the LSUMZ. Antonio Brack E., Marc Dourojeanni R., Susana Moller H., and Carlos Ponce P. of the Direccién General Forestal y de Fauna of the Ministetio de Agricultura, Lima, Peru continue their support of the LSUMZ field studies. We acknowledge the continued cooperation of Aeroperu. Gary R. Graves, John P. O’Neill, Theodore A. Parker, III, and J. V. Remsen, Jr., read and commented on the manuscript. We gratefully acknowledge a grant to Schulenberg in 1979 from the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund. Without the help of Gustavo del Solar R. of Chiclayo, Peru, our expedition would not have been the success it was. References : Chapman, F. M. 1919. Descriptions of proposed new birds from Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 32: 253-268. O'Neill, J. P. & Parker, T. A. III. 1976. New subspecies of Schizoeaca fuliginosa and Uromyias agraphia from Peru. Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 96: 136-141. Parker, T. A. III & O'Neill, J. P. 1980. Notes on little known birds of the upper Urubamba Valley, southern Peru. Auk 97: 167-176. Traylor, M. A. Jr. 1977. A classification of the Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae). Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 148: 129-184. — 1979. ““Tytrannidae” in Traylor, M. A., Jr. (Ed.) Checklist of Birds of the World. Vol. VIII: 1-245. Cambridge. Mass.: Museum of Comparative Zoology. Weske, J. S. 1972. The distribution of the avifauna in the Apurimac Valley of Peru with respect to environmental gradients, habitat, and related species. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Norman, Oklahoma: Univ. Oklahoma. Address: T. S. Schulenberg and G. L. Graham, Museum of Zoology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70893, USA. © British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] 244 A new subspecies of Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus from the Negev Desert, Israel by Bertel Brunn, Fleinrich Mendelssohn and John Bull Received 20 May 1980 The difference in appearance between the Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos* tracheliotus of the relatively recently discovered Negev population and the African birds is so pronounced that we decided to investigate the taxonomic status of this new population. The Lappet-faced Vulture was first described as Vultur tracheliotus by J. R. Forster (im Levaillant (1791): Reise Innere Afrika, Vol. 3: 363, pl. 12): type locality, Cape Colony, South Africa. In 1829 H. Smith (# Griffith’s (1829) Animal Kingdom 6: 164) described the northern population from Nubia (Sudan) as Vu/tur nubicus. It was said to lack the ear-lappets so characteristic of the birds found further south. The border between the 2 populations (now T. t. tracheliotus and T. ¢. nubicus) is, for unclear reasons, usually given as being the Zambezi River (Friedmann 1930), but our investigation indicates that both the distinguishing features of, as well as the border between, the 2 previously described subspecies have been erroneously stated in the past. _Meinertzhagen (1930) pointed to the probable cause of the confusion. He states: “A narrow fold of skin, about a quarter of an inch wide and four inches long, runs from in front of the ear down the neck and forms a type of lappet — a feature which almost disappears in dried skins.” Later, he com- ments: “If dried skins are examined, these lappets cannot be found as they shrivel up. But out of the many hundreds of birds seen alive in Egypt, not one could be said to be devoid of lappets.”’ Hence the size of the lappets, as well as their actual colour, cannot be ascertained from examining skins, which will invariably lead to the conclusion that T. +. nubicus, the subspecies without lappets, is found throughout the species’ range. The fading and shrink- ing of the wattles in dried specimens presumably is the reason why nubicus has not been recognized in most recent publications. Examination of 49 skins at The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), the National Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum, the British Museum (Natural History), the Tel Aviv University and the Giza Zoo indeed reveal that even remnants of lappets are very rare, even in South African birds. The colour of the head and neck in the specimens varies from pale orange to (most commonly) pale brownish, very different from the vivid colours of most live birds. There was, however, a difference, not invariable, in the colour of the thighs of the adult birds (which are best distinguished from immatures by the lack of down on the head). All immatures have brown thighs but in the adults of African origin the colour is found to vary. Of 26 adults skins from Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa and Angola and 2 from the southernmost part of Sudan only 2 had brown thighs, all the others having cream or white thighs. A photograph of an adult bird from Rhodesia (P. F. Mundy) as well as 3 from Kenya (B. Bruun and H. Mendelssohn) show white thighs. In contrast 1o adult skins from Egypt *Torgos is considered by some to be a synonym of Aegypius; e.g. Stresemann and Amadon in Mayr & Cottrell: Checklist of Birds of the World Vol. I (revised) 1979: 307-309; Amadon in Condor 79 (1977): 413-416. 245 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] and northern Sudan revealed only 2 with cream coloured thighs, the remainder having brown thighs. The overall plumage colour in this latter group, in contrast with the thighs, appeared somewhat paler. Examination of 7 live birds from Kenya (6 in the Baltimore Zoo and one in the Giza Zoo) revealed large lappets, bright red head and white or cream thighs in all. A single live bird from Egypt in the Regent’s Park Zoo, London, revealed a pink head, definite but somewhat smaller lappets and brown thighs. Measurements did not significantly differ in the 2 groups when either specimens or live birds were measured. It thus appeares that the two subspecies T. ¢. tracheliotus and T. ¢. nubicus can best be separated by the thigh colour of the adult (white to cream in nominate fracheliotus, brown in nubicus), size of lappets (very large in tracheliotus, somewhat smaller but quite distinct, in subicus) and colour of head (bright red in ¢racheliotus, pink in nubicus). If these distinguishing characteristics are used it is found that the border between the two subspecies lies in Sudan at about 15°N (if thigh colour alone is considered) or in Somalia and Ethiopia at about 8°N (if field descriptions are primarily relied upon), but certainly not at the Zambezi River almost 1500 miles further south as the vulture flies. Puertes’ illustration of a Lappet-faced Vulture from Ethiopia (from either a live bird or a freshly killed specimen) clearly shows the enormous lappets and bright red colours of head and neck so characteristic of nominate tracheliotus (Fuertes 1930), while the Somalia birds (Archer & Godman 1937) appear to be of the nominate race as they have white or cream thighs and are said to have livid red heads and necks. However, the statement that they lack lappets below the ears is most puzzling and requires clarification. In West Africa this is a scarce vulture (Bannerman 1930) and scant data exist. Pending further information, West African birds may be assigned to nominate ¢racheliotus. Examination of the Negev birds shows significant differences from both of the African subspecies great enough to justify separation of this population as a distinct, new subspecies. This may be called: . Torgos tracheliotus negevensis, subsp. nov. Type: male AMNH ¥# 824179; collected by Heinrich Mendelssohn in northern Negev, Israel, 10 August 1957 as immature: kept in captivity in Tel Aviv until its death 27 May 1979. Diagnosis: Differs from all races of T. tracheliotus by having greyish-brown head with pink nape and only, even in live birds, the smallest vestige of lappets. A thick covering of down on the head persists in the adult of negevensis in contrast to the almost completely naked heads of adults of both tracheliotus and nubicus. The thighs of adults are dark brown or brown, never light brown (aubicus) or white (tracheliotus). The colour of the back and upper wings is paler brown than in nubicus, which in turn is not as dark as in tracheliotus. Immatures less than 1-2 years of age cannot with certainty be distinguished from the other 2 subspecies, but after that age the head and neck of both ¢racheliotus and nubicus are pink or red, whereas negevensis remains greyish brown. Immatures of all 3 subspecies have brown or dark brown thighs. Measurements: Although negevensis to us appeared larger than the other 2 subspecies, measurements have failed to confirm this. [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] 246 Range: The only known breeding population is found in the southern part of the Negev Desert in Israel. Remarks: It will be evident that nubicus is to some extent intermediate between the southern nominate zracheliotus and the northern negevensis. The latter however is the most distinct of all populations of the species. In the field it is strikingly different from its African counterpart, closely resembling the Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus and best distinguished by the one or two faint bands of light brown along the underwing coverts. The feet of the Lappet-faced Vulture are lead grey, but yellow in the Cinereous Vulture. From above, some contrast between the upperwing-coverts and the darker flight feathers is noticeable in the Lappet-faced Vulture. The Lappet-faced Vulture is best distinguished from the Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus by its larger size, darker colour and flat silhouette when soaring (the Griffon Vulture soars with wings in a shallow V), and only slight, as opposed to very strong, contrast between the upper wing-coverts and the darker flight feathers. The redness present on the nape of the Negev birds during court- ship or excitement is often not distinguishable in the field, and the head may look uniformly pale brown. History: The first indication of a population existing in the Negev occurred in 1938 when Dr. Rodenko, a Russian medical doctor who practiced in Jaffa, shot an immature bird at Nebi Nussa near Jericho. The skin was brought to the taxidermist associated with H.M., who noted the lack of skin folds in this bird; but the first seen by H.M. in nature were during an expedition to the Negev in 1945 (an expedition that was without permission, H.M. finishing up in prison), when the Lappet-faced Vulture was common. H.M. was impressed by the large numbers of their huge nests, which were conspicuous features of the landscape of the Arava Valley. At that time, there were not many herds of goats, but there were many gazelles on which the Lappet- faced Vultures might have been feeding. In 1946 Hardy (1947) obtained a Lappet-faced Vulture that had been caught in a jackal trap near Nurnub, southeast of Beer Sheba. It was for a time housed in H.M.’s small zoo in Tel Aviv, and later sent to the London Zoo, where it was on display until its death in 1971. Since then our knowledge of the Lappet-faced Vultures in the Negev has greatly increased, but has unfortunately coincided with a marked decrease in the population. In 1975 only 6 nesting pairs were found, and in 1979 only 4, of which only 3 were able to produce young. Nests are con- spicuous in trees in the wadis, and it is unlikely that recent counts have under- estimated to any degree. The cause of this decline is not clear. Pellets found near the nests indicate that the main food is goat carcasses, yet despite a great increase in the goat population during the last 10 years, the Lappet-faced Vulture population has declined. Recently however, the Israeli government decided to urge the Bedouins to reduce their herds because the over-grazing was destroying the natural habitats and the southern Negev, where most of the Lappet-faced Vultures nest, is one of the areas in which herds of goats were almost completely eliminated. So, at the present time at least, the Lappet-faced Vultures have been deprived of their main food. The Israel Nature Reserves Authority supply some food, but only once a week, which is not enough to rear the nestling, though recently feeding has been intensified, aided by funds from the World Wildlife Fund. Young birds spend about 6 | months with their parents, but then leave the area and disperse, apparently 247 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] scattering over a large area such as Arabia (Courtenay-Thompson 1972, Gallagher 1967, Warr 1978), in which they are not offered any kind of protection, and being so conspicuous have little chance of surviving to maturity. In the Negev only adult birds are seen, with their young of that year, but no immatures. Formerly, when the population was larger, im- mature birds occurred in the Jordan Valley as far north as Jericho and in the western Negev, where some (or perhaps many) died by feeding on thallium poisoned rodents (Mendelssohn 1975). The Negev population of the Lappet-faced Vulture at present consists of probably less than a score of birds. The Tel Aviv University, under the directorship of H.M., has initiated a captive breeding programme on the basis of 4 birds, 3 of which are 4 years old and the fourth an adult which was found in 1978 with an injured wing. Such a captive breeding programme may be the only way of saving this subspecies from extinction. Acknowledgements; We have received continuous and invaluable help from Dean Amadon. Others who have generously given us advice are David Ferguson, John Fitzpatrick, Michael D. Gallagher, S$. Graham, Philippe Grandjean, Hassan Hafez, Harry Hoogstraal, Michael Jennings, Ben King, Lawrence Mason, James F. Monk, Peter F. Mundy, D. W. Snow, Frank Walker, F. E. Warr, George Watson and David Wood. Their help is greatly appreciated. References: Archer, = F. & Godman, A. J. 1937. Birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden. Vol. 1. London. Courtenay-Thompson, F. C. W. 1972. Checklist Birds of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia Nat. Hist. Soc. J.6. Friedmann, H. 1930. Birds of Ethiopia and Kenya Colony. Bu//. 153, U.S. Nat. Mus. Fuertes, L. A. 1930. Album of Abyssinian Birds and Mammals. Chicago. Gallagher, M. D. 1977. Birds of Jabal Akhdar. The Scientific Results of the Oman Flora and Fauna Survey 1975.]. Oman Study. Spec. Rep. 1: 27-58. Hardy, E. 1947. The Northern Lappet-faced Vulture in Palestine—a new record for Asia. Auk 65: 471-2. Meinertzhagen, R. 1930. Nicholl’s Birds of Egypt. London. Mendelssohn, H. 1975. Report on the status of some bird species in Israel in 1974. Bulletin of the International Council for Bird Preservations X11: 265-270. Warr, F. E. 1978. Birds recorded in the Arabian Gulf States. Priv. printing. Addresses: Dr. Bertel Bruun, 52 East 73rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10021, U.S.A. Dr. Heinrich Mendelssohn, Dept. of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, 155 Herzl Street, Tel Aviv, Israel. John Bull, Dept. of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, New York 10024, U.S.A. © British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. Nineteenth Century bird records from Tristan da Cunha by W. R. P. Bourne and A. C. F. David Received 8 May 1980 At the beginning of the 19th century Tristan da Cunha was the most impor- tant breeding-place for seabirds in the temperate South Atlantic. It also had 3 highly-distinct landbirds: a flightless moorhen Ga//inula nesiotis, a thrush Nesocichla eremita, and a bunting Nesospiza acunhae. By the end of the century the moorhen, the bunting, and breeding by 2 of the largest seabirds, the Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans and a giant petrel Macronectes sp., had been recorded for the last time, while many of the other birds had become [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(1)] 248 hard to find. Beintema (1972) has reviewed the information about the moor- hen, whose very existence had been doubted (Eber 1961), and Brooke (1979) some other old records. It may be useful to examine the old records again in the light of an unpublished account by John MacGillivray, who visited the island in H.M.S. Hera/d in November 1852 and appears to have left the best early report. The history of the Tristan group and Gough Island to the south has been reviewed by Wace & Holdgate (1976). The islands appear to have been discovered by the Portuguese in 1505-6, and in the following century were explored by the Dutch, who found little use for them. They are first known to have been exploited by John Patton of the vessel Industry, probably from Philadelphia, who spent 9 months there in 1790 and obtained 5600 sealskins for the China market. They were visited again, briefly, by Lord Macartney’s embassy to China on 31 December 1792; they found that there were still many seals, sea-lions (elephant seals?), penguins and albatrosses, and that the low ground was still covered in sedge and small shrubs. Unfortunately the weather compelled them to leave before they could walk round the island, which is a pity in view of the value of their observations at St Paul Island (Staunton 1797, Barrow 1806). NINETEENTH CENTURY RECORDS 1813. In February—March 1813, before colonisation, Mr Lewis Fitzmaurice, Master of H.M.S. Semiramis, reported in his journal (at the Hydrographic Department) that there were “thousands of birds” in the vicinity, and “the number of birds which surrounded the ship were innumerable . . . we had a short interval of calm in which we caught a great number of Albatrosses with a hook and line some of them measuring from tip to tip of the wings Land: 14: teeta: 1816-17. The island was visited by a number of warships at the time of formal colonisation, including H.M.S. Griffon, H.M.S. Julia H.M.S. Phaeton, H.M.S. Racoon and H.M.S. Spey. Between them their masters recorded in their journals that there were a great number of seals, sea lions and penguins, ample wood, celery and sorrel, but no venomous reptiles or vermin of any sort. Lt. D. Rice (1816) of H.M.S. Falmouth reported that ‘the earth being continually wet and in a sodden state and undermined by deep holes made by the birds that frequent the Mountains, vegetation is consequently back- ward ... wild goats are not very plentiful as we have seen but one and that on the side of the Snowy Peak. Wild Hogs are numerous but the thick cover of the lower hills on the western side of the island makes it extremely difficult to take them as they confine themselves to the most difficult and inpenetrable and unfrequented places”. There are numerous references to shooting parties. Captain Dugald Carmichael (1819) arrived with the garrison on 28 November 1816 to investigate the natural productions of the island, climbed the peak on the following 8 January and left on 30 March. He makes it clear that despite the presence of casual visitors and introduced animals for at least a quarter of a century there was still much vegetation on the low ground, and implies that most of the breeding birds were found where it was more open higher up the mountain, where petrel burrows penetrated the soil in. all directions. The fate of his specimens is discussed by Stresemann (1953); aatey 0s ea ee A all Sel c - ome “we cate 249 [Bull B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] they were placed in the Bullock collection and sold at auction when it was dispersed in 1819. Most have now been lost, but some of the most important survive. In addition to the 3 landbirds and more obvious seabirds, Carmichael reports the presence of 6 petrels, including a giant petrel Macronectes sp., the Broad-billed Prion Pachyptila vittata, “‘Procellaria cinerea’ and 3 smaller species. It is usually assumed that “‘P. cinerea” was the Grey Petrel, which was given this name by Gmelin. Stresemann thought that the specimen had been lost; however, it was bought by Leach, who was associated with the British Museum, and was doubtless the Kerguelen Petrel Pverodroma brevirostris, at that time still undescribed, which still survives in the British Museum’s Sub-department of Ornithology at Tring (Elliott 1957). The type of Fregetta tropica melanoleuca Salvadori from Tristan (via the Bullock Collec- tion) at Turin (Bourne 1962) is doubtless one of his smaller petrels. 1824. The eccentric itinerant artist Augustus Earle (1832) was left behind by his ship the Duke of Gloucester on 26 March 1824 and rescued by the Admiral Cockburn on its way to Australia in November (Wace 1969). He does not appear to have been a very good naturalist, since he was the first to report 2 canards regularly retailed by subsequent authors, that the penguins lay 3 eggs and that the moorhen had a spur on its wing. Possibly they can be attributed to the ““Governor’’, Corporal William Glass, described by Nolloth (1856) as a Scottish peasant from Kelso, who stayed behind when the garrison was evacuated in 1821 and led the community until he died in 1853. Earle describes and illustrates how Glass set about energetically “improving”’ the island with traditional Scottish techniques, constructing half a dozen sturdy stone houses, burning the natural vegetation, planting potatoes, rearing cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and dogs, and slaughtering the wildlife. Cats had already run wild and wiped out feral chickens. 1829. H.M.S. Jaseur called on 18 January, and the Commander, M. Lyons, reported that “William Glen (sic) the Senior or oldest inhabitant... stated... that wild Hogs and Goats were very numerous, the former destructive to their cultivated ground”. 1835. Stirling (1843) saw the gallinule on 12 October on the way to the Indian Ocean. 1842. We are indebted to Dr. Nigel Wace for notes and a partial copy of the records made by Oswald Brierly (1842, Milner & Brierly 1869), who visited Tristan 18-21 March on the yacht Wanderer on the way to Australia. He reported the presence of geese, ducks, Muscovy ducks, a thrush and a bird like the Green Linnet (Greenfinch Carduelis chloris), and that they left with pigs, sheep, monkeys (presumably from South America?), albatrosses and Island Cocks alive on the deck. They obtained 2 of the latter, described as having red legs (Earle said they were yellow) and a short wing with a spur; they were heard “‘chuckling” in the vegetation and were caught with dogs on moonlit nights. Brooke (1979) quotes a comment by Layard (1867) on the number of albatrosses that he saw at Tristan at Christmas 21 years earlier. In the note on specimens collected by Nolloth (1856), discussed later, Layard reports “Corporal Glass mentioned to me in 1842 that the only bird that they had besides sea-fowl was a water-hen . . .”, which indicates that Layard’s visit also occurred in 1842, though he does not appear to have discovered much [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] 250 else about the island. He states that he figured 2 caterpillars, which suggests that there may still be an account of his visit to be located somewhere. 1852. Popular attention was first directed to the moorhen by a brief note by Gurney (1853) reporting that a Mr. Strange of Sidney had met someone familiar with a “‘wingless” bird (then very fashionable) on Tristan. This could have been Earle, who lived in Sydney in the late 1820s, or Brierly, who remained in Australian waters until 1850. It seems more likely that it was John MacGillivray, who called at Tristan on the way to Australia in H.M.S. Herald on 11-12 November 1852 (Denham 1853). He collected the type of the native thrush (Gould 1855) but left the ship in Australia, so that his notes, summarised later, were never published. 1856. Captain M. S. Nolloth (1856) landed on 18 March 1856 to report on the state of the island for the Governor of Cape Colony, Sir George Grey. The low ground around the settlement had largely been cleared, and the rest of the underwood up to a sharp line at 400 ft had been affected over the last 7 years by a disease which caused small white spots. He reported that the Island Cock had green feet, and that large numbers of seabirds still came to roost on the high ground after dark, where the islanders took many eggs, especially from the albatross and black sea-eaglet. He notes that the last hogs had been shot within the previous decade and that goats were becoming scarce, and speculated that wild cats were taking the goats’ kids. He saw numerous mice but was told no rats had yet been seen. i, Nolloth’s specimens were examined by E. L. Layard, who lists the Common Albatross Diomedea exulans, Mollymaw D. melanophrys, 2 species of petrel Procellaria and 2 of tern, and eggs of these, the penguin and “‘gallimele”. One of his eggs labelled “‘Dzomedea melanophris Tristan da Cunha E.L.L. 676’, bought at a London sale in 1907 and now at Aberdeen, measures 92.5 x 60 mm, which is too short for that species and agrees with the Yellow-nosed Albatross Diomedea chlororhynchos. 1861. The various accounts of the “‘gallimele”’ aroused the curiosity of Sir George Grey, and Buller (1888) reports the outcome. “In the course of time a deputation from the inhabitants came to Cape Colony to seek relief from the Governor on account of a general failure of the crops, and a young girl (a native of the island) remained behind as a servant at Government House. After several years she was seized by a yearning to revisit the island of her birth .. . Sir George told her that she might go, but that he would never take her back unless she brought with her some of the flightless rails, with which she professed to be quite familiar. A year afterwards the girl presented herself at Government House bringing with her a cage containing five of these birds. They were put at once into the aviary, and during the night two of them had their heads torn off by jackals in an adjoining compartment. The three survivors wete forwarded to Dr. Sclater, who then characterised and named this hitherto unknown species”’. According to Sclater (1861) all the birds were sent to England, though 2 more died on the way and arrived in spirit. An immature was described as the type and deposited in the British Museum, where it was eventually joined by the survivor when it died in the London Zoo. There is also a large but otherwise typical moorhen’s egg which was obtained for Lady Grey by the Tristan clergyman, W. F. Taylor. These 3 specimens appear to be all that remains of this bird. Beintema (1972) could trace only one skin because the 251 [Bull,B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] others were then being moved from London to Tring. They will all be _ discussed elsewhere. 1867. In the remark book of H.M.S. Ga/atea at the Hydrographic Depart- | ment it is reported that the Tristan indigenous tree was much reduced by cutting and disease, and that the wild goats which used to be seen in flocks of _ two or three hundred had not been found for 2-3 years. 1868. Lt. R. M. Sperling (1872) visited Tristan in H.M.S. Racoon, where he secured eggs of the Wandering Albatross and giant petrel and was informed that the feral cats were preying upon the moorhen. According to Layard (1868) Sperling also obtained a singularly marked white egg attributed to a “black petrel”, which seems likely to have belonged to the Brown Noddy Anous stolidus, described to MacGillivray as a “grey petrel’’. 1869. Layard (1869 a,b) reports that Captain G. T. Een of the schooner Telegraph brought back a consignment of live gallinules, 3 specimens of the “island thrush” in alcohol and its eggs, a finch (Hyphantornis ?) and a “lot of eges of sea-fowl” from “the islands around Tristan da Cunha’’, Some more gallinules were sent to the London Zoo, and Beintema (1972) has identified 3 sterna at Cambridge and a skin that reached New York in the Rothschild Collection as those of the Gough Moorhen Ga/linula comeri, the first known specimens. Brooke (1979) has confirmed that the Te/egraph left Gough Island on 31 May, and the specimens from there may have included also the first examples of the Gough Bunting Rowettia goughensis. The vessel could also have visited the Tristan group, however, in which case the “finch” could have been the Tristan Bunting Nesospiza acunhae, which was not in fact described until 1873 from a specimen collected by Carmichael (Stresemann 1953), and possibly also an example of the extinct population from the main island of Tristan. Although Layard sent a collection of eggs to the British Museum in that year (Walters 1979), unfortunately none of the above specimens can be traced there (C. J. O. Harrison and M. J. Walters zm “itt.). 1873. The naturalists on H.M.S. Cha/lenger spent most of their time in the Tristan group exploring the outlying islands, and only visited the main island on 15 October 1873, where they collected some conflicting information. They were informed that the bunting was extinct (Suhm 1876, Campbell 1877), that the gallinule was now rare and only found high in the hills (Suhm 1876), but that the Wandering Albatross and giant petrel still bred (Moseley 1879). Suhm (1876) and Wyville Thomson (1878) reported that rats were present, but Moseley (1879) specifically states that they were not, though he also thought that there had formerly been rabbits (as well as pigs and goats), which also seems rather doubtful. Campbell (1877) finally discovered that the penguins only lay 2 eggs; he was informed that they appear about 12 August and lay about a fortnight later; the eggs were starting to hatch at the time of his visit. At this point there ensues a gap in the ornithological records of a genera- tion, during which the islanders fell on hard times, since, with the advent of steam, ships ceased to pass by and call for fresh food on the way to Australia, while seals and whales had become scarce. They therefore had to fall back on their own resources. Traditionally their visits to the outer islands to obtain birds started about 1870 (Wace & Holdgate 1976), when they were also reported by the naturalists of the Cha//enger to be exterminating the feral [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] 252 animals that had been allowed to multiply on Inaccessible Island. This suggests that by then the number of birds was beginning to decline markedly on the main island. By the time that the record was resumed in the early years of this century by Mrs. Barrow (1910) some species were extinct there and the others were becoming hard to obtain. The damage has been attributed to rats, generally considered to have arrived with a shipwreck in 1882 (Brander 1940). It seems clear from the accounts summarised above that the decline must have started much earlier, and was probably cumulative over many decades. The impact of the hogs may have been serious on the low ground before the island was colonised. Earle (1832) found cats running wild by the 1820s, and by the 1850s the excellent observer Nolloth (1856) considered that cats were a threat even to young livestock, while later, Sperling (1872) was informed that they were responsible for the decline of the gallinule. The vegetation even appears to have declined, affected by a fungus in the 1850s (Nolloth 1856). There cannot have been much left for the rats. OBSERVATIONS BY JOHN MACGILLIVRAY John MacGillivray was the son of the greatest British ornithologist of his day, William MacGillivray, the friend of J. J. Audubon, and their children were brought up together (MacGillivray 1910). He was born in 1821, made important pioneer observations in the Outer Hebrides when he was only 19, and subsequently abandoned medical studies at Edinburgh to become naturalist successively on H.M.S. Fly (1842-6), H.M.S. Rattlesnake (1846-50) and H.M.S. Hera/d (1852-5) during the exploration of the southwest Pacific. He was an excellent field observer and collector who kept good notes but failed to write them up. He eventually fell out with the Navy and was discharged at Sydney, where he had his family, in 1855, but continued to collect in the area until his death in 1867 (Whittell 1954, Calaby 1974). MacGillivray spent 8 hours on Tristan da Cunha on 12 November 1852, during which time he walked through the settlement to the Hillpiece and back to the shore with Peter Green, a Dutch sailor who had been there 16 years, who told him what was known about the natural history of the island. He made 16 pages of closely-written notes in his journal (MacGillivray 1852-5), and prepared a summary for Sir Francis Beaufort preserved in the records of the Hydrographic Department. While this appears to be the best account of the birds of the island before the Norwegian expedition of 1937-8 (Hagen 1952), this statement merely demonstrates the difficulties facing an ornithological historian. MacGillivray states that in common with many later observers he often had difficulty identifying the garbled composite descriptions of the birds he was given, and he sometimes jumped to unjustified conclusions about their identity. Much of the information is no longer new, so it has been summarised with interpretive comments and references to other information in parentheses. (Rockhopper) Penguin Exdyptes chrysocome. Lays 2 eggs, sometimes 3, starting about 28 August at one colony and 8-9 September at another. (Elliott (1957) also discusses variations in laying date.) Goney (Wandering Albatross) Diomedea exulans. Tristan was still “a great breeding place”’ with nests scattered all over the summit. Eggs laid at Christ- mas gave rise to chicks which fledged in November (a trifle optimistic ?) if the eggs were not taken by the boys, one of whom had died of exposure. The 253 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)} old birds changed over at the nest, and ate large squid. (They were extinct by the end of the century.) Molly or Mollymawk (Yellow-nosed Albatross) Déomedea chlororhynchos. This appeared to be the most abundant bird at the time of his visit (when it - would have been incubating). Numbers were feeding over the kelp offshore, and following porpoises at 35°58’S, 06°34’E on 20 November. Peeoo (Sooty Albatross Phoebetria fusca). First reported at 36°29'S, 31°50’W on 1 November, but the information given for the island appears more applicable to the next species and is given there. (Mrs. Rowan remarks that his route would not have taken him near the breeding-places.) Nelly or Stinker (Giant Petrel Macronectes sp.). There was only one small “rookery”, where it made “‘a small nest of decayed grass among the tussocks immediately behind the beach” and laid one long white egg, larger than that of the Molly, in August. (The laying date of this extinct population therefore agrees with that of the Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli, though Gough birds have green tips to the bill like the southern species M. giganteus (Bourne & Warham 1966, Johnstone e¢ a/. 1976).) Eglet or Black Eglet Procelaria atlantica Gould (~Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera). This was considered locally to be the most plentiful bird on the island. They arrived in July to dig long, winding burrows and then ‘cleared out”’ for a month before laying (apparently the first description of the pre-laying exodus of petrels). The birds were located with dogs and extracted from their holes with long, hooked sticks. (The description may also apply to the Atlantic Petrel Pterodroma incerta, which is more numerous on the low ground and nests a little later, but otherwise behaves similarly, on Gough Island. The reason for the name “eaglet”, now modified to “haglet”, will be obvious to anyone who has handled the birds.) Mud-bird. “This was never seen except on top of the mountain, where it breeds amongst ice and snow. I conjecture it to be Procellaria mollis Gould, as it is said to be half grey, half white, and the size of a pigeon.” (The species which characteristically nests high in waterlogged holes on Gough Island is the Kerguelen Petrel Pterodroma brevirostris, collected on Tristan by Car- michael.) Whale-bird. Most abundant. (This name was used by sailors for prions, now included among the “‘night-birds” on Tristan. It was probably the Broad-billed Prion Pachypéila vittata, but there may have been some room for confusion.) Night-bird. Reported to be smaller than the whale-bird, prone to come to fires at night, and to lay in December. (This name is often applied to nocturnal petrels indiscriminately elsewhere. “Nighthawk” is now most often used for the smaller gadfly petrels, but sometimes also for the Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis. The species which lays in December and occurs over the low ground inland at night on Gough Island is the Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodrama mollis.) (White-chinned Petrel) Proce//aria (aequinoctialis) conspicillata. One collected at 36°01’S, 05°20’W on 15 November, and many following porpoises with albatrosses on 20 December. (Possibly this implies that the distinctive local race was more numerous then ?) (Grey Petrel Proce/laria cinerea and Great Shearwater Pufinus gravis ?). Myriads of “Pufinus cinereus” were seen by MacGillivray (1852) from 28°W [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(1)] 254 to 14°E when passing Tristan in the Rattlesnake in January 1847. During the voyage of the Hera/d he saw “‘Procellaria hasitata” (then sometimes used for the Grey Petrel) from 36°29’S, 31°50’W on 1 November. On 15 November he found “Pufinus cinereus’ sitting on the water in flocks and collected several as well as the White-chinned Petrel discussed earlier. (Grey Petrels breed in the winter and appear to disperse south in summer, so most of these birds were probably Great Shearwaters. He narrowly missed anticipating the discovery of its breeding-place by over half a century, but the Tristanians do not appear to have been aware of the great colony on Nightingale Island at that time either.) (Little Shearwater Pufinus assimilis.) A small shearwater with the distinctive flight of this species was first seen with the large shearwaters on 1 November and again at sea off Tristan, where he speculated whether it was the night bird already discussed. “Thalassidroma fregetta”. A specimen was recognised and it was said to be abundant and to come to fires at night. (This name was used for the White- faced Storm-petrel Pe/agodroma marina as well as storm-petrels of the genus Fregetta at that date; either might be expected and confused with the other. He later identified his specimen as F. tropica.) (Common Diving-Petrel) Pe/ecanoides (urinatrix). Seen off the landing-place. Sea-hen (Great Skua Catharacta skua). Ubiquitous; a pair followed 2 chicks out to the vessel. King-bird (Antarctic Tern Sterna vittata). Breeds in holes in the rocks in December. Woodpigeon (Brown Noddy Axous sto/idus). Described as a “grey petrel’’ and identified as “Procellaria glacialoides” (subsequently encountered as a vagrant by the naturalists of the Challenger), though a flock of dark terns was noticed from the boat. Woodhen, Woodcock, or Island Cock (Gallinula nesiotis). Reported to have become scarce on the cleared land, but still common elsewhere and heard clucking in the vegetation on the Hillpiece. It was said to be black all overt with white patches under the wings and tail, which was kept cocked, and a red shield at the base of the bill. It was caught with dogs. (It seems possible that the variation reported in the amount of white on the flanks and in the colour of the legs, said to be green, yellow, or red, may be due to age ?) Thrush (Nesocichla eremita). Very tame, and sometimes caught with a string attached to a stick, and kept in captivity. The nest was made of grass and constructed half way up a tree in the branches. It laid 4-5 speckled eggs. The stomach of the type contained earthworms and millipedes but no insects. Greenbird (Tristan Bunting Nesospiza acunhae). An uncommon small green bird the size of a sparrow, but probably a finch. Acknowledgements: We ate particularly indebted to Sir Hugh Elliott, Mrs. M. K. Rowan and Dr. Nigel Wace for assistance with historical material and comments on a draft in the light of their local knowledge. Also Mr. R. K. Brooke, Dr. Martin Holdgate, Dr. M. E. Richardson and Mr. Michael Walters for various additional assistance. References: Barrow, J. 1806. Voyage to Cochinchina in the years 1792 and 1793. London. Barrow, K. M. 1910. Three years in Tristan da Cunha. London. Beintema, A. J. 1972. The history of the island hen (Gal/linula nesiotis) the extinct flightless gallinule of Tristan da Cunha. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 92: 106-115. wt : 255 [Bull,.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] Bourne, W. R. P. 1962. Accounts of Fregetta storm-petrels. Jn Palmer, R. S. (ed.), Handbook of North American Birds. Vol. 1: 252. New Haven. Bourne, W. R. P. & Warham, J. 1966. Geographical variation in the giant petrels of the genus Macronectes. Ardea 54: 45-67. Brander, J. 1940. Tristan da Cunha 1506-1902. George Allen and Unwin: London. Brierly, O. 1842. Diary kept on board R.Y.S. Wanderer (Capt. Bushby, R.IN.) voyaging from Plymouth to Australia. Ms ML A 528, Mitchell Library, Sydney, Australia. Brooke, R. K. 1979. Some mid-XIX century bird collections from Tristan da Cunha. Cormorant 7: 24-26. Buller, W. L. 1888. A History of the Birds of New Zealand. 2nd edition. Vol. 2: 104. London. Calaby, J. 1974. Article on John MacGillivray. Jn Pike, D. (ed.), Australian Dictionary of Biography 5: 155. Melbourne. Campbell, G. 1877. Log-/etters from the Challenger. Macmillan: London. Carmichael, D. 1819. Some account of the island of Tristan da Cunha and its natural productions. Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond. 12: 483-513. Denham, H. M. 1853. A day on Tristan d’Acunha. Nautical Mag. 22: 183-189. Earle, A. 1832. Narra:ive of a nine months’ residence in New Zealand in 1827, together with a Journal of a residence on Tristan d’ Acunha. London. (Reprint edited by E. H. McCormick, Oxford University Press, 1966.) Eber, G. 1961. Vergleichende undersuchungen aum flugfalngen Teichuhn Gallinula chloropus and an der flugfahigen Inselralle Gallinula nesiotis. Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 12: 247-315. Elliott, H. F. I. 1957. A contribution to the ornithology of the Tristan da Cunha group. Ibis 99: 545-586. Gould, J. 1855. On some new species of birds collected by Mr. McGillivray. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1855: 165. Gurney, J. H. 1853. Ona wingless bird of Tristan da Cunha. Zoologist 1853: 4017. Hagen, Y. 1952. The birds of Tristan da Cunha. Res. Norwegian Sci. Exped. Tristan da Cunha 1937-38, 20. Johnstone, G. W., Shaughnessy, P. D. & Conroy, J. W. H. 1976. Giant Petrels in the South Atlantic: New data for Gough Island. S. Afr. J. Antarct. Res. 6: 19-22. Layard, E. L. 1867. The Birds of South Africa. Cape Town. — 1868. The South African Museum. S. Afr. Mag. 2(2): 702-704. — 1869a. The South African Museum. S. Afr. Mag. 2(3): 467-468. — 1869b. Further notes on South African ornithology. [bis 2(5): 361-378. MacGillivray, J. 1852. Voyage of the Rattlesnake. London. — 1852-5. Journal of Observations aboard H.M.S. Herald. Ms ADM7-851 and 852, Public Record Office, London. MacGillivray, W. 1910. The Life of William MacGillivray. London. Milner, J. & Brierly, O. 1869. The Cruise of the Galatea. London. Moseley, H. N. 1879. Notes by a Naturalist on the Challenger. London. Nolloth, M. S. 1856. Visit of H.M.S. Frolic to Tristan da Cunha. Nautical Mag. 25: 401-415. Rice, D. 1816. Journal. Hydrographic Department Misc. Papers Vol. 87 (Ca4). Sclater, P. L. 1861. On the Island Hen of Tristan da Cunha. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1861: 260-263. Sperling, R. M. 1872. (Letter). Jbis 1872: 74-79. Staunton, G. L. 1797. An authentic account of an embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China. 3 Vols. London. Stirling, W. 1843. Narrative of the wreck of the ship Tiger. Exeter. Stresemann, E. 1953. Birds collected by Captain Dugald Carmichael on Tristan da Cunha 1816-1817. [bis 95 : 146-147. [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] 256 Suhm, R. von Willemoes. 1876. Preliminary report . . . on observations made during the earlier part of the voyage of H.M.S. Challenger. Proc. Roy. Soc. London 24: 583-585. Wace, N. M. 1969. The discovery, exploitation and settlement of the Tristan da Cunha Islands. Proc. Roy. Geog. Soc. Austr., S. Austr. Branch Jo: 11-40. Wace, N. M. & Holdgate, M. W. 1976. Man and nature in the Tristan da Cunha Islands. ILU.C.IN. Monograph 6. Walters, M. 1979. Eggs from the collection of E. L. Layard. Bu//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 99: 40. Whittell, H. M. 1954. The Literature of Australian birds. Perth. Wyville Thomson, C. 1878. Voyage of the Challenger. The Atlantic. London. Addresses: W. R. P. Bourne, Zoology Department, Aberdeen University, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, Scotland. Lt. Cdr. A. C. F. David, R.N., Hydrographic Department, Taunton, Somerset TA1 2DN, England. © British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. Distribution and biology of the White-cheeked Cotinga Zaratornis stresemanni, a high Andean frugivore by Theodore A. Parker, III Received 30 May 1980 Though the avifauna of the massive Cordillera Occidental of the Peruvian Andes is now relatively well known, few of its endemic species have been studied in detail. Especially interesting from a biogeographical and ecological standpoint are those birds that inhabit the relict Temperate Zone woodlands that occur on the western slopes of the range between latitudes 8°S and 14°S, in an elevational range of 2500 m to 4500 m. One of the most exciting discoveries made by Maria and Hans-Wilhelm Koepcke during their explora- tions of these woodland patches was the previously undescribed White- cheeked Cotinga Zaratornis stresemanni. This thrush-sized bird was found, surprisingly, less than 70 air km east of Lima in the Oreopanax association forest of Zarate, above the Rimac River valley at 2700 m. The species was described from 2 female specimens collected in October 195 3 (Koepcke 1954). When news of the discovery reached American ornithologists in 1954, another specimen, a female collected by M. A. Carriker above Yanac in northern Ancash in March 1932, was discovered in the collection of the Philadelphia Academy of Sciences, where overlooked for more than 20 years (Bond 1955). Males of this cotinga were not known until found in 1966 in an isolated Polylepis woodland in the upper Santa Eulalia Valley, the next valley north of the Rimac, at more than 4000 m (Liithi 1970). When I visited Yanac in 1976, the sexes had never been found together, and there was speculation that long distance migrations (e.g. across the Rimac Valley) must join them for the reproductive period (Liithi 1970). Furthermore, the apparent separation of males and females into 2 distinct habitats, with the former occurring in higher Po/ylepis and the latter in Oreopanax, led the Koepckes to conclude that if either habitat were destroyed by man the species might become extinct. This seemed corroborated by the fact that Zaratornis could not be found by them above Yanac where the Oreopanax groves just above ——— 257 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1) ] the village had been greatly reduced by local people. I now believe that this interesting bird is more or less resident in one habitat, Po/ylepis woodland, and that post-breeding dispersal accounts for individuals or groups of individuals that occur in other (lower) areas, like the forest of Zarate. Because of the enigmatic nature of this species, and because of the paucity of information of Andean cotingas in general, I became interested in Zaratornis and from 1974 to 1978, while working for the Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology (LSUMZ), I was able to observe this bird in 3 localities. Because of the lack of information on Po/y/epis woodlands, I include a list of conspicuous plant genera represented in them, and some of the other characteristic bird species found in them. Morphological data from specimens of Z. stresemanni in the LSUMZ are presented in Table 1. TABLE I Mensural data from specimens of Zaratornis stresemanni in the LSUMZ. Sex wing (chord) _ tail tarsus weight locality mm mm mm g 63561 3 III 85 25.7 52:5 Santa Eulalia 78601 3 115 86 26.5 46 Santa Eulalia 78602 3 114 87 25.5 = Santa Eulalia 82016 3 114 84 26.0 56.5 Tutapac (Yanac) 34665 9 III 87 26.5 47 Zarate 34666 9 112 86 26.8 52 Zarate 34667 g 114 87 26.8 55 Zarate 82015 2 Dg 90 — 54 Tutapac Typical soft part colours are as follows: iris red; bill light bluish-grey; tarsi and feet dark brown. DISTRIBUTION Since the discovery of Zaratornis at Zarate in 1953, this bird has been found in 7 localities, 6 on the western slopes of the Western Andes, and one on the western flank of the Eastern Andes in the upper Marafidn River drainage. From north to south the localities and the elevations at which Zaratornis was found are as follows: Tayabamba (3250 m), Departamento de La Libertad (sight record by LSUMZ personnel, M. Robbins, pers. comm.); above Yanac (Bond 1955) and Quebrada Tutapac (3650-4250 m), c. 25 km by trail south of Yanac, Dpto. Ancash (pers. obs.); Quebrada Llanganuco (c. 3400- 4300 m), east of Yungay, Dpto. Ancash (sight records by E. Mackrill and J. Rowlett, pers. comm.); Quebrada Quicar (c. 3700 m), east of Chancay, Dpto. Lima (sight record by T. Mischler, pers. comm.); c. 13 km W. Milloc (3600-4200 m) in the upper Santa Eulalia Valley, Dpto. Lima (Liithi 1970, and pets. obs.); and Pampa Galeras (3650 m), c. 50 km east of Nazca, Dpto. Ayacucho (Brokaw 1976, and pers. obs.). The known elevational range of the species is 2700 to 4240 m. I predict that the bird will eventually be found to inhabit the Po/ylepis zone of western Dpto. La Libertad, and it may in fact range south to northern Dpto. Arequipa. My observations were made in 3 of the above localities: Quebrada Tutapac, the upper Santa Eulalia Valley, and Pampa Galeras. HABITAT The habitat of Zaratornis is Polylepis spp. (Rosaceae) woodland surrounded by shrubbery and grassland. At the northern end of the distributional range [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] 258 of the species these isolated tracts grow on steep, rocky slopes of deep quebradas, often glacial valleys, separated from one another by high puna grasslands and rugged snow-covered mountains. Most of the habitat there is remote and difficult to reach. In the south Po/y/epis is more accessible. The woodlands at Pampa Galeras occur on moderate slopes that rise above great expanses of level grasslands. At Zarate this bird has been found in a relict Temperate Zone forest of a variety of tree species (see Ferreyra 1978). On the study sites Zaratornis was noted mainly in small groves less than one hectare in size, separated from each other by grassy and shrub-dotted areas or rockslides. Average tree height on the 3 sites was as follows: Tutapac — 5 m, Santa Eulalia - 5 m, Pampa Galeras — 3.5 m. The largest trees in the first 2 localities had diameters at breast height (DBH) of up to 80 cm. Other promi- nent plant growth noted were woody shrubs of the following Compositae: Gynoxys spp. (very common at Tutapac), Vernonia sp. (at the lower edge of the Santa Eulalia woods), Chuguiraga sp. (Santa Eulalia and Pampa Galeras), Senecio spp. and Baccharis spp. (all localities). Lupinus spp. (Leguminosae) were also prominent in all localities, and a Berberis sp. (Berberidaceae) was noted at the Santa Eulalia site and at Pampa Galeras. All these shrubs grow mainly along the edges of the woodlands. The ground below the trees is covered with grasses and other herbaceous growth. Of greatest importance to the cotinga is the presence in the Po/ylepis of two conspicuous, orange-flowered mistletoes of the Loranthaceae, Tristerix chodatianus at Tutapac and Santa Eulalia, and (probably) Ligaria cuneifolia at Pampa Galeras. The former was the only fruit-producing plant observed at Tutapac, and certainly the most important one found in the upper Santa Eulalia Valley. At Pampa Galeras Ligaria was the only observed food source for Zaratornis. Koepcke (1958) mentioned Phrygélanthus peruviana (=Tristerix secundus) as an important food item for the cotingas Zaratornis and Ampelion rubrocristata. Clumps of these 3 mistletoes grow at or near the ends of Polylepis branches at all heights in the trees. Characteristic bird species that inhabit Po/y/epis woodlands (and spend most of their time in or under the trees) at Tutapac (1), in the upper Santa Eulalia Valley (2), and Pampa Galeras (3) include:— Aglaeactis cupripennis (1, 2), Metallura phoebe (all) (this and the last hummingbird species are important pollinators of the mistletoe flowers), Leptasthenura yanacensis (1), L. pileata (all), Cranioleuca antisiensis (1, 2), Grallaria andicola (1, 2), Scytalopus magellanicus (1), Ochthoeca oenanthoides (all), O. rufipectoralis (1), O. leucophrys (2, 3), Oreomanes fraseri (all), Xenodacnis parina (1, 2), Atlapetes rufigenis (1), A. nationi (2), Carduelis atrata (all), C. uropygialis (2), and C. crassirostris (all). Conspicuous mammals observed in association with Polylepis at Tatapac wete White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus, Taruca or Peruvian Huemul Hippocamelus antisiensis, and Mountain Viscacha Lagidium peruanum. Climatologically Po/ylepis woodlands are part of the arid Puna Zone environment. Rains fall mainly from January to March, often in the form of snow or ice. Tovar (1973) provides the following data for Pampa Galeras :— annual rainfall there during 1966-1969 averaged 822 mm, of which 663 mm fell during the above 3-month period; only 13 mm were recorded from May to September, while October to December received a range of 23.4 to 49.3 mm; warmest average daily temperatures were noted during the wet months (January to March = 6.3°C), while the coolest period was June to August (3°C); average daily highs ranged from 10.9°C (March) to 13.6°C (September to November); lows were 6.7°C (July) to 1.5°C (January); 259 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] throughout most of the year days are warm and sunny, and nights are clear and cold. Unfortunately, weather data for localities at the northern end of the range of Zaratornis are not available. Zaratornis — MISTLETOE INTERDEPENDENCE One of the most interesting aspects of Zaratornis ecology is its apparent -mutualism (or perhaps symbiosis) with the mistletoes Trzsterix and Ligaria. At Tutapac and in the Santa Eulalia Valley this cotinga was seen to feed solely on the fruits of Tristerix chodatianus. The elevational and geographic distribution (Ancash to Ica) of this little-known plant (J. Kuijt, in litt.) coincides closely with that of Zaratornis. At Pampa Galeras the cotinga appeared to be dependent on another mistletoe, probably Ligaria cuneifolia (see Tovar 1973). In all 3 localities, the seeds of these plants were being dispersed, through regurgitation, onto Po/y/epzs branches. During foraging bouts, the cotinga perched on mistletoe clumps and swallowed up to 5 berries in succession. Within a few minutes individuals flew to another perch site, either an exposed calling perch or a sheltered limb within the foliage of a tree. There, after 5-10 minutes more, the sticky seeds were regurgitated, one by one, and wiped onto the surface of the limb. I never saw a seed fall to the ground during this process and assume that a very high proportion of all fruits taken are successfully dispersed in this manner. The exposed dead branches of calling perches were thickly covered with regurgitated seeds, and examination of less frequently used perch sites of living branches and limbs also revealed seeds, a few in various stages of germination. The seeds, quite large for mistletoes (A. Gentry, pers. comm.), are apparently always regurgitated. Zaratornis was the only frugivorous bird observed on all study sites, and is probably the sole dispersal agent for mistletoes growing above 3000 m. It appears that both species of mistletoes produce fruit throughout the year, though fruit seemed to be less abundant during the dry months August-— October. This might account for the post-breeding dispersal of part of the Zaratornis population and subsequent appearance of the species in wooded areas at lower elevations (e.g. Zarate). Obligate interdependence of birds and mistletoes has been reported previously for the avian genera Euphonia and Dicaeum (Kuijt 1969: 45-46). Interestingly, at least some species in these genera have specialized digestive tracts for handling large numbers of small mistletoe seeds. The Zaratornis - mistletoe interdependence represents a different type of co-adaptive system, whereby relatively small numbers of large fruits are taken, and a high pro- portion of their seeds are dispersed to a possible germination site. It is tempting to speculate on the degree to which this bird and its food plants may have co-evolved. Detailed studies of the biology of both these organisms are needed before such a process can be understood. GENERAL BEHAVIOUR Almost nothing has been written about the behaviour of Zaratornis or its 2 close relatives Ampelion rubrocristata and A. rufaxilla. Farrand (in Snow 1973) wrote: “In its [Zaratornis] general behaviour it is very like Ampelion _ rubrocristata. In a manner very reminiscent of that species it often pops up suddenly onto a dead snag and sits upright, looking about rather nervously. [Bull.B.O.C. 198r: 101(1)] 260 The flight of Zaratornis is very similar to that of Ampe/ion and both species approach a perch flying low and making a final upward sweep, rather like that of a kestrel or shrike.”” As noted by Koepcke (1958), individuals characteristically perch quietly, often for long periods, atop a tree on a favourite exposed branch. This is apparently a part of nesting or feeding territory surveillance, though Ampelion rubrocristata occasionally hawks insects from the air about such perches (pers. obs.). Though I have never seen Zaratornis take an insect in any manner, I would expect them to do so ‘from time to time. At seemingly long but regular intervals, loud songs or calls are uttered from the calling perches (see below). When disturbed, a bird perched in the open usually bobbed its head and flicked its wings and tail in a nervous manner. Birds on territory (see under nesting behaviour) often pursued conspecifics that had entered the defended area. Territories of mated pairs at Tutapac were small, averaging (very) approximately 100 mx 60 m (n=6). Twice I observed a display between members of a mated pair. In both instances this occurred after both birds had been foraging. One individual (the sexes are monomorphic) flew from a mistletoe clump to a conspicuous calling perch where it was soon joined by the second bird. Both faced each other, and, while less than a foot apart, bowed towards each other slightly, and began head bobbing and wing flicking. After 30-Go seconds, these displaying birds regurgitated Trzsterzx seeds onto the exposed surface of the Polylepis branch. During this type of display no sounds were uttered. Similar posturing and behaviour were exhibited by members of feeding aggregations (4-10 individuals) noted in August and September in the Santa Eulalia Valley. | VOCALIZATIONS Like other cotingas, Zaratornis has a rather limited, unmusical repertoire. The primary song of the species, which under normal conditions is repeated 3-6 times at intervals of 30 to 60 seconds, is a loud, low-pitched series that may be written as: “reh-reh-reh-reh-rrrrrrrrrrr-ré-ré.”’ It averages c. 4 seconds in length, and falls within a frequency range of 2-4 kHz (see Plate 1). This vocalization speeds to a roll towards the middle and ends with 2-3 emphatic notes; it is nasal in quality and sounds rather froglike at a distance. It is given by both members of territorial pairs, usually from the tip of an exposed calling perch, and also by members of feeding aggregations during the non- breeding season. Calling normally begins in the morning (8.00-9.00) when sunlight first illuminates a woodland. One calling bird is usually answered by several others in adjacent groves. Calling is most frequent during early morning and late afternoon. A regularly heard disturbance call uttered by incubating birds upon being flushed from a nest, and also by adults engaged in intra-specific territorial encounters, is a drawn-out “raaaaaaah’’. Contact notes between members of pairs or feeding aggregations are short but similar in quality to other vocalizations (“‘reh” “‘reh” “‘reh” etc.). While calling, birds remain upright and almost motionless. Tape-recordings of this species are on deposit at the Cornell University Library of Natural Sounds. NESTING BEHAVIOUR Prior to 1976, Zaratornis had not been found breeding. The female specimen ee AY Rh IE wip POE am | [BaU.B.0.G, 157 tov) 261 (SUTETTITAY “CW AG 0104) ‘7uuDMasadJS SIUAOJDADZ JO SBBI PUY ISON "CI DILL J 4s Ped VL. 22S . MUDLMASIAIS SIUAOJDADZ JO BuUOS Kivu vl ed ee ARAARAEL ALI T We =< ~£ =v =S =Q mi 8 ZH [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] 262 Plate 2A (left). The right tarsal joint and hypotarsus in Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus cygnus (left) and Mute Swans C. olor (right). (a) Anterior view of tibiotarsal condyles. (b) Anterior view of tarso- metatarsal head. (c) Internal hypotarsal ridge. (d) Posterior view of hypotarsus. (e ) Proximal view of tarsometatarsal head, posterior side downwards. Threequartets actual size, Photography by M. J. Ashby. See Northcote (p. 266). Plate 2B (below). Sooty Falcon Falco concolor. Left. Perched in dead. tree. Note dark patch in front of eye, large feet and long wings Right. In flight. Note long wings and dark primaries. (Taken from 35 mm colour slides by R, Liversidge.) See Liversidge, Richardson and Gubb (p. 268). 263 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] collected by Carriker above Yanac in March 1932 was stated to be in “‘breed- ing”’ condition, but with no further details. Frank P. Frazier, Jr. accompanied the Koepckes and Hans Liithi on their 1966 visit to the upper Santa Eulalia Valley, when the first male specimens were obtained, and recently made available the following notes from that trip (in litt.): “March 26.... Once we started getting into the woods I saw a bird in a treetop which I recognized ... as Zaratornis. We didn’t see more until a bit later, when we reached a clear spot in the woods. We found that there were plenty of Zaratornis in these woods (which cover maybe 30 acres, more vertical than otherwise), appearing to be in pairs. Dr. [Maria] Koepcke found what she thought was an old nest, and saw birds carrying bits of the loose bark of the trees, presumably nesting material. We collected 3 specimens, one of which seemed a bit clearer in plumage and perhaps is a male (hitherto unknown). She said Zaratornis went in groups or individually in Zarate, but [she] never [found] any sign of breeding there. Apparently it does here . . . she was most pleased at her findings here about ‘her’ bird.” The above specimens were indeed males, and the above locality has since been proved to be a breeding area. Between 23 and 31 May 1976, I found 4 nests in active use in Quebrada Tutapac. A fifth was found in the upper Santa Eulalia Valley on 6 May 1978. All were discovered by locating presumably mated pairs in small, isolated tree groves away from the larger wooded areas that occur in ravines or along the bases of cliffs. In both localities these groves were on the south slopes of the quebrada, and received up to 3 more hours of sunlight daily than the north slopes. Considering the very low (freezing) night and early morning temperatures of this environment, the added hours of warmth may influence nest site selection. Though mistletoe was present in trees on the north slopes, few cotingas were seen there, and no nests were found despite diligent searching. All nests were well hidden within large clumps (0.5—1 m dia.) of Trésterix near the ends of tree branches from 4-7 m above ground, and within 1-3 m of a trunk. All were fully shaded by surrounding mistletoe branches and foliage of Polylepis. The fifth nest, which resembled the others very closely in overall size and construction (Plate 1) was collected (LSUMZ-MDW #2312). It was a well- made, rather deep cup of mosses and greenish-grey lichens, the latter being especially concentrated around the perimeter of the cup, which was lined with coarse green and yellow grasses; a few small (15-70 mm) twigs had also been incorporated into that structure. This nest had an outside diameter of 140 X 160 mm, an outside depth of 83 mm, an inside diameter of 76 x 80 mm, and an outside depth of 42 mm. It contained 3 eggs measuring 32.4 x 21.6, 32.6 X 22.1 and 33.3 x 21.6 mm. These were Greenish Glaucous of Ridgway (1912), with a distinct wreath of brownish and greyish-brown flecks about the larger end, and a few additional flecks of the same colours scattered over the entire egg. Two of the 4 Tutapac nests contained 2 young and one egg, a third held 2 eggs and one nestling, and a fourth, which definitely contained at least one young bird, could not be reached for closer examination. One of the above eggs was collected but broken before measurements could be taken (LSUMZ, not catalogued). The nestlings of the 3 examined nests were well-feathered for their small size, and resembled adults in colouration. All were very quiet [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] 264 in the nest and held their eyes closed even as I lifted them out for closer examination. Only 2 adults, presumably a male and a female, were observed in the immediate vicinity of each nest site. At nests with eggs, one bird appeared to be doing most, if not all, of the incubation. Incubating adults could almost be touched before flushing to a nearby limb. The second adult of a pair usually appeared only after the first had flushed and uttered alarm calls, or when taped songs were played within the nesting area. Both adults fed nestlings regurgitated fruit; generally only one adult visited the nest at a time. Of each pair, one adult, presumably the male, was definitely more aggressive and vocal in response to playbacks of songs. Due to work obligations I was unable to obtain detailed information on incubation or feeding rates. CONSERVATION Despite its rather restricted geographical and elevational distribution, Zaratornis Stresemanni does not appear to be a threatened species. In all 3 of my study areas it was a relatively common bird, and similar suitable habitat surely occuts in many (often inaccessible) quebradas throughout its range. That this unique cotinga is a bird of such restricted habitat does, however, mean that its survival is assured only as long as suitable tracts of its habitat are preserved. A study of the population dynamics of this and other avian species that inhabitat Po/y/epis woodlands is badly needed; such studies will enable us at least to make educated guesses concerning what is “‘suitable” in terms of reserves. As mentioned by Ferreyra (1977), Po/ylepis woodlands of the Peruvian Andes have probably been greatly reduced in size over the last several thousand years. The scarcity of wood at these elevations in the dry Western Andes has pressured man into cutting Po/y/epis, or quefiua as the local people know it, for building purposes, especially roof beams, fence rails and firewood, but at present large tracts of this forest type exist, mainly on steep slopes far from villages. Although cutting, especially for firewood, should be expected to continue, I was told in Yanac that the introduction of eucalyptus there in the 1920’s and 1930’s lessened the need for Polylepis wood. While in that region, I noticed surprisingly little habitat disturbance, aside from over- grazing from livestock, in the Po/ylepis zone directly above the village (3500 m). Farther away, in my Tutapac study area, no evidence of man could be found. Fortunately Zaratornis seems to prefer small, open groves of trees on steep quebrada slopes. It may never have been numerous in the larger tracts of forest that probably once grew in shaded valleys and on more moderate slopes. Today large areas of suitable habitat remain, protected by law, in the Cordillera Blanca south of Yanac. Most of this mountain range is included in the recently created Parque Nacional de la Cordillera Blanca. Additionally, most of the Po/y/epis habitat at Pampa Galeras in Ayacucho is within the boundaries of the Reserva Nacional de Pampa Galeras. These 2 refuges provide protection for a great diversity of Andean vertebrates and plants. Above Lima, suitable Po/y/epis habitat is under little human pressure at the present time, but this may change in the future. The establishment of a Polylepis reserve in the Department of Lima is highly recommended. This would greatly facilitate badly needed studies of the flora and fauna of this distinct environment. 265 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(1)] TAXONOMY I agree with Snow’s (1973) decision that Zaratornis and Ampelion are closely related. Similarities can be seen in behaviour (e.g. head bobbing, wing and tail flicking displays in Zaratornis are similar to those of Ampelion), vocaliza- tions (Ampelion’s long calls or “‘song”’ and call notes are quite like those of Zaratornis in quality and pitch) and nest construction (see Vuilleumier 1969 for A. rubrocristata). Doliornis sclateri, a third member of this group, is morphologically quite like Ampelion (and Zaratornis), but is divergent vocally; it should also be considered congeneric with Ampelion. Another cotingid-like group that resembles Ampe/ion is the Phytotomidae. Behaviour- ally and vocally plant-cutters are quite similar to Zaratornis and Ampelion (pers. obs.). Ames (1971) found similarities in syringeal morphology between Phytotoma and Heliochera (= Ampelion). Acknowledgements: | am grateful to G. R. Graves, J. P. O’Neill, J. V. Remsen, T. S. Schulenberg, and D. Snow who read the manuscript and offered helpful suggestions for its improvement. I thank F. Frazier, E. Mackrill, T. Mischler, M. Robbins, and J. Rowlett for allowing me to use their unpublished observations. M. D. Williams helped with the nest description, and he also preserved the eggs and nest and supplied the photo of them. A. Gentry and R. Ferreyra kindly aided with plant identifications, and J. Kuijt provided information concerning current mistletoe taxonomy. J. Gulledge and R. Beck prepared the sonogtaph. Two additional friends deserve special mention; Manuel Plenge provided constant support for this study, and transportation to Po/ylepis woodlands above Lima, and Reyes Rivera aided greatly with the field work at Tutapac. Arturo and Helen Koenig made my stays in Lima enjoyable. Thanks are also due to Antonio Brack E., Marc Dourojeanni R., Susana Moller H. and Carlos Ponce P. of the Direccion General Forestal y de Fauna of the Ministerio de Agri- cultura, Lima, Peru, who supported this work and provided the necessary permits for it. Financial support was generously provided by J. S. Mcllhenny and the LSUMZ. References: Ames, P. 1971. The morphology of the syrinx in passerine birds. Bull. Peabody Mus. Nat. Hist. 37: 1-194. Bond, J. 1955. Additional notes on Peruvian birds II. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. 108: 227-247. Brokaw, H. P. 1976. Birds of Pampa Galeras, Peru. De/marva Ornithol. 11: 26-30. Ferreyra, R. 1976. Endangered Species and Plant Communities in Andean and Coastal Peru. Symposium, New York Bot. Gard., N.Y., U.S.A. — 1978. Flora y vegetacion del monte de Zarate. Bol. Colonia Suiza en el Peru. Setiembre 1978: 51-58. Koepcke, M. 1954. Zaratornis stresemanni nov. gen. nov. spec., un cotingido nuevo del Peru. Publ. Mus. Hist. Nat.“ Javier Prado’, Ser. A.(Zoologia) 16: 1-8. — 1958. Die Végel des Waldes von Zarate. Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 9: 167-168. Kuijt, J. 1969. The Biolog y of Parasitic Flowering Plants. Univ. of Cal. Press: Berkeley. Lithi, H. 1970. Blick in die Natur: der geheimnisvelle Zaratornis. Bol. Colonia Suiza en el Pera 5/2 15-17: Ridgway, R. 1912. Color Standards and Nomenclature. Washington, D.C., published by the author. Snow, D. 1973. The classification of the Cotingidae (Aves). Breviora 409: 1-27. Tovar, O. 1973. Comunidades vegetales de la reserva nacional de vicufias de Pampa Galeras, Ayacucho, Peru. Pub/. Mus. Hist. Nat. “* Javier Prado’’, Ser. B (Botania) 27: 1-32. Vuilleumier, F. 1969. Field notes on some bitds from the Bolivian Andes. Jbis 111: 599-608. Address: Theodore A. Parker, III, Museum of Zoology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La 70893, U.S.A. © British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: t01(1)] 266 Differences in weight and habit of Whooper Cygnus cygnus cygnus and Mute C. o/or Swans in relation to differences in their long bones by Ex. Marjorie Northcote Received 3 July 1980 Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus cygnus are smaller and more terrestrial in their habits than Mute Swans C. o/or, and, in addition, the former are migratory whereas the latter fly only short distances (Cramp & Simmons 1977). Differences in the long bones may be related to these differences in weight and habit. Whooper Swans have longer legs than Mute Swans (Table 1), (comparing femur and tarsometatarsus lengths P wmMagoneg Yysiusg—suorpu0q Aa ate oe "" ysnzz, yUNOPy woruy ,sIsIdojoyNUIO YSHII ts Aj2190g [ehoy 6L61 raquisseq ISIE Je aouLleEg aNa,j NILATINg ++ gInqIpuadxg 3J9AO sUIODU] JO ssooxy “ppp” 6L61 saquiedeq ISIE Ww DUEIeg GNn,j TVYANHS ee ee og6r ‘Jaquisc0q ISIE Je Sv JOY soUL[ eg ‘yeoIg SBpisg voz “YdMarIIYI SDUEpIOII" Ur ore Aay3 ey AzIWI99 pur sn 0} payuasord uosjewsOFUT puL sJsYyNOA ‘sxHOO 9Yy2 WOT; 9}ep Ivy} UO Papua seAA 943 10; JUNODIDY amnypusdxg pur owosu] pur og61 soquiesaq IsI£ 3e se jo9Yg oUETeEG PpoyreIe oY porvdoid savy aK ‘aInjIpuedxe jo speay IBIDeds Jopun s}uNOdDV Og61 oy} ur pasdyeue uaaq aary squnOdDy 6/61 943 ut sasusdxg sJomnsvaz], puke snoouUr][2dsII UI papnout sosuadxgq agony SSgF zhzF a ae HUNLIGNAdXY WIAO AWOON]T AO sstOxy Shr ry ——_ £gS‘b OL ol : puny Isnzy, L6¢ z6$ 2 . : : vs pun,y [eruey AWNOONT LNSALSIANT ers Ill as > oi ‘* a ATHORY SNOLLVNOG Lro‘t ————_ ioz‘é —_———_ ¢Lr*1 $x1*1 oe ee - ee oe oe sroqisosqus blLg*r Lgg‘t “* = “2 fe suondrizosqng sraquoyy CGHAIZOTY SNOLLAIWOSaNS F aj F F AWOONI 6L61 og61 0g61 Joquiscaq ISIE popus Iva dy} JOJ JUNODY sINITpusdxy pure swoouy 275 [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] GODMAN, B. GRAY, D. GRIFFIN, P. HOGG, Revd. G. K. McCULLOCH, C. F. MANN Po) OLIVER, J. G. PARKER, R, EF. F. PEAL, E. M. RAYNOR, Dr. C,:G; plac o.. oH. oLATHAM, K. V. THOMPSON, C,E. WHEELER, Lieut.-Col, TC, WHITE and M. W. WOODCOCK. Guests present were: E. J. BACK, Mrs. J.D. BACK, Miss M. BARRY, Mts. G. BEVEN, D. BRADLEY, Dr. JUDITH A. COLES, A. C, ELEY, Miss K. FRANCIS, J. KING, Mrs, I. McCULLOCH, Mrs. C. F. MANN, Mrs. P. J. OLIVER, Miss M. SAUNDERS, and Mrs. B. J. WOODCOCK. Mr. C, F. Mann gave an address on “Forest Birds in Kenya’’, illustrated with colour slides of many of the bird species inhabiting Kenya forests, which was much appreciated. The forest avifaunae of Kenya were considered in four sections; West, Central, Coast and Isolates. Comparisons were made between these areas and some attempt was made to show the affinities between them. The effect of altitude on distribution was also discussed. Speculation was made on the origins of the forest avifaunae, contrasting the late R. E. Moteau’s ‘pluvial theory’ with more recent pollen analysis studies, which suggest that the forested ateas of tropical Africa may never have been much greater in the past than they are today. Resistance to arthropod-borne diseases was suggested as a possible factor in altitudinal distribution. Last record of the Cebu Island subspecies of the Orange-bellied Flowerpecker Dicaeum trigonostigma pallidius by Dorothy M. Richardson and Allan ]. Baker Received 2 June 1980 The Cebu Island subspecies of the Orange-breasted Flowerpecker, Dicaeum trigonostigma pallidius, is now believed to be extinct. Salomonsen (1967) lists as the last record of this taxon a specimen collected on Cebu Island in 1906. According to Rabor (1959) this specimen was collected by R. C. McGregor. However, the Royal Ontario Museum collection contains a skin collected by J. J. Mounsey (JJM 514) at Camp Ialiti, Cebu Island, on 26 July 1910 (data from original field collector’s label). The Royal Ontario Museum specimen (ROM 56154) is greyish-blue above, and although the mantle feathers are not well preserved, two have bright orange distal ends, characteristic of D. trigonostigma (Sharpe 1885). The underparts are almost uniform pale yellow except for a brighter yellow suffusion on the upper breast feathers. These features distinguish the specimen from D. ¢. dorsale, which is endemic to the neighbouring islands of Masbate, Panay and Negros. The latter is much darker blue above and brighter yellow below (Delacour & Mayr 1946, du Pont 1971) and the breast is bright orange (Bourns & Worcester 1894). Immature males of D. ¢. dorsale have streaks of orange on the breast (Bourns & Worcester 1894), ruling out the possibility that Mounsey’s specimen was a vagrant from neighbouring islands. There is evidence that Mounsey was indeed collecting on Cebu in 1909-10, although Rabor (1959) claims that no serious collecting was done there between 1906 and 1947. The skin discussed above was originally part of J. H. Fleming’s collection (JHF 24408), now in the Royal Ontario Museum. That collection had “some six hundred and twenty-five skins from the Philippines . . . collected between 18 April 1909 and 21 November 1910, by J. J. Mounsey, an engineer. It appears that the places visited by him were [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 276 Mindoro, Luzon, Samar, Leyte, Cebu and Mindanao” (Hachisuka 1931). The Royal Ontario Museum has 7 birds of the genus Dicaeum collected by Mounsey between 1 May 1909 and 12 October 1910. One, Dicaeum a. australe, was also collected at Camp Ialiti, Cebu, but on 24 July 1910. We conclude that D. trigonostigma pallidius was extant on Cebu Island until at least July of 1910. Acknowledgements: We thank Dr. F. Salomonsen for his assistance with the literature and Pat Urquhart for secretarial assistance. References: Bourns, F. S. & Worcester, D. C. 1894. Preliminary notes on the birds and mammals collected by the Menage scientific expedition to the Philippine Islands. Occ. Pap. Minn. Acad. Nat. Sci.: 1-64. Delacour, J. & Mayr, E. 1946. Birds of the Philippines. New York: MacMillan. du Pont, J. E. 1971. Philippine Birds. Greenville: Delaware Museum of Natural History. Hachisuka, M. 1931. The Birds of the Philippine Islands, with notes on the mammal fauna. 1. London: Witherby. Rabor, D. S. 1959. The impact of deforestation on birds of Cebu, Philippines, with new records for that Island. Auk 76: 37-43. Salomonsen, F. 1967. Family Dicaeidae, flowerpeckers. Jz Paynter (ed.), Check-list of Birds of the World. XII. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sharpe, R. B. 1885. Catalogue of the Passeriformes or perching birds, in the collection of the British Museum. Fringilliformes. 1. London. Address: D. M. Richardson and Dr. A. J. Baker, Department of Ornithology, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Ms5S 2C6. © British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. Specimens of extinct, endangered or rare birds in the Merseyside County Museums, Liverpool by C. T. Fasher Received 10 June 1980 This inventory covets specimens of extinct, endangered or rare bird taxa held by the Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Merseyside County Museums. Two major collections form the nucleus of these holdings. That of Lord Edward Smith Stanley, later XIIIth Earl of Derby, was bequeathed to the City of Liverpool in 1851 and was the foundation of the present institution. Canon H. B. Tristram’s first collection was sold to the museum in 1896, whilst his second went to the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia in 1906. Most Derby and Tristram material is reasonably well documented and the former is also supported by archival records held in the Merseyside County Museums, the City of Liverpool Library or at Knowsley Hall, Liverpool. An account of many of the type specimens included in these collections has been published by Wagstaffe (1978). The criterion for inclusion of a taxon in the present list is mention by King (1978-1979), Fisher e¢ a/. (1969) or Greenway (1967), while the recogni- tion of a taxon as extinct follows Greenway (1967) and Morony ef a/. (1975). NOTATION Unless otherwise indicated, each specimen is adult and in the form of a cabinet skin. The order and nomenclature of Peters (1931-1970) is followed 277 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] except where Morony e¢ a/. (1975) or Greenway (1967) are used in place of the unpublished volumes 8 and 11. coll. —collected by. ex. —unsexed specimen. nee. —treceived from. n.l. —unlabelled specimen. - » —extinct taxon. [D] —collection of the XIIIth Earl of Derby. [T] —collection of Canon H. B. Tristram. B.M.N.H. —British Museum (Natural History), London. | eee} —British Trust for Ornithology. Pek 1. L. —Royal Institution, Liverpool. R.S.B.A. | —Royal Society and British Association joint committee for the Zoology of the Sandwich Islands (donated by Alfred Newton, President). ~U.S.N.M. —United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington. Z.S.M. —Museum of the Royal Zoological Society, London. Non-Passerines Spheniscus demersus (Linnaeus): 2 exx.—off the Cape of Good Hope, coll. E. L. Layard, [T]. g—Seal Island, Table Bay, S. Africa, [D] leg. Warwick 1845. Imm.¢, 2 exx. (1 mounted)—n.1. Diomedea albatrus Pallas: second year 3, 1 ex.—Hakodati, Japan, coll. Pryer, [T] leg. H. Seebohm. Procellaria parkinsoni G. R. Gray: juv.—Wellington, New Zealand, coll. 1873, [T]. Pterodroma caribbaea Carte: g—Cinchoma Point, Jamaica, coll. W. Bock 17.11.1879, [T] leg. E. Newton. Pterodroma phaeopygia phaeopygia (Salvin): g—Wenman Island, Galapagos Group, coll. R. H. Beck 3.8.1897, leg. W. Rothschild 1899. Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera (Gould): 1 ex.—Makira, Solomon Islands, coll. G. E. Richards, [T]. Phalacrocorax carunculatus carunculatus (Gmelin): juv.—Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand, leg. W. L. Buller 1901. INannopterum harrisi (Rothschild): g—Narborough Island, Galapagos Group, coll. G. M. Green, leg. Rosenberg 1902. Zebrilus undulatus (Gmelin): 1 ex.—River Amazon, [D] leg. J. Gould 1835. 1 ex.—[D] leg. Tucker 1834. Both these specimens are described and figured in Forbes (1901). 1 ex.— [D]. Geronticus eremita (Linnaeus): 3, 2, imm.9—Saracenic Castle, Birajak, R. Euphrates, coll. H. B. Tristram 9.6.1881, [T]. Tristram (1882) describes the collection of these 3 birds. $— Sahara, coll. H. B. Tristram 3.6.1856,[T]. g¢—Ethiopia, [D] leg. J. Gould. Geronticus calvus (Boddaert): 3 ¢9—Transvaal, S. Africa, coll. T. Ayres 1871, [T]. 2 ¢s— [D] from Derby Aviary (one died in 1846). Imm.—South Africa, coll. Tucker 25.2.1839, [D}. 1 ex., imm.—South Africa, coll. Burk, [D]. Nipponia nippon (Temminck): 1 ex.—Shanghai, China, coll. Michie, [T] leg. Swinhoe 1889. Imm.—Japan,[T]. 1ex.—yYezo, Japan, [D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1841. Lophotibis cristata (Boddaert): g—Malagasy, [T] leg. Liverpool Museum (previously from E. Gerrard). 4 33,2 9 9—Malagasy, leg. E. Gerrard. Nesochen sandvicensis (Vigors): type specimen—Hawaiian Islands, [T] leg. Z.S.M. (previously obtained from T. C. Eyton). ?—Hawaiian Islands, [D] (died in Derby Aviary 1837). Juv.—[D] (hatched in Derby Aviary 13.4.1834 and died two days later). Chloephaga rubidiceps Sclater: $—Falkland Islands, coll. W. Gunn, on Sir J. Franklin’s expedition, [T]. 1 ex.—Falkland Islands, coll. J. D. Hooker, [D] leg. W. Hooker 1845. 9— Falkland Islands, [D] leg. B. Isaacson 1844. 1 ex.—Falkland Islands, coll. Whittaker, [D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1842. 1 ex.—Falkland Islands, coll. Antarctic expedition, JD] leg. B. Isaacson. 1 ex.—leg. B.M.N.H. 1898. (Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 278 Dendrocygna arborea (Linnaeus): 1 ex.—Almezein, Santa Domingo, coll. A. S$. Toogood 1887,[T]. 1 ex.—Jamaica, [T]leg. T.C. Eyton. g—[D] (died in Derby Aviary 1847). Asarcornis scutulata (S. Miller): 2 ??—Kaitta Djawa, Sumatra, coll. H. O. Forbes, [T]. Nesonetta aucklandica G. R. Gray: ?—Auckland Islands, coll. Travers 1894, [T]. 2 36, 2 ¢9—Auckland Islands, leg. W. Buller 1901. + Rhodonessa caryophyllacea (Latham): é—Bengal, India, [T] leg. Lilford (died in Lilford Aviary 1882). 236, ?—[D]leg. T.C. Eyton. 9?—leg. H. A. Fooks 1962 (died in Calcutta Zoological Gardens 1930). 9 (mounted)—n.1. +tCamptorhynchus labradorius (Gmelin): 3g (mounted)—Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, coll. J. W. Wedderburn, Apr. 1852, [T] leg. J. W. Wedderburn 1876. Imm.¢ (mounted)—[D] leg. J. Gould 1833. ¢(mounted)—North America, [D] leg. T. C. Eyton. Mergus octosetaceus Vieillot: s—Bahia, Brazil, leg. C. J. Leyland 1859. Buteo galapagoensis (Gould): imm:?—Albemarle Island, Galapagos Group, coll. Harris 21.11.1897. g—Albemarle Island, coll. Beck 18.11.1897. 1 ex.—Albemarle Island, coll. Harris 15.11.1897. All 3 leg. W. Rothschild 1899. Buteo solitarius Peale: 1 ex.—Island of Hawaii, coll. Aug. 1891, [T] leg. S. B. Wilson. Leucopternis polionota Kaup: 1 ex.—{D]. Mor phnus guianensis (Daudin): 1 ex. (mounted)—n.1. Harpia harpyja (Linnaeus): 1 ex. (mounted)—n.1. Pithecophaga jefferyi Ogilvie-Grant: 1 ex.—Philippine Islands, leg. B.T.O. 1969 (previously Hewitt collection, died in Paignton Zoo). Haliaeetus albicilla (Linnaeus): $—Christiansund, Nordmore, Norway, coll. B. Hansen 28.10.1926, leg. C. Richmond-Brown 1966. 2 exx. (mounted)—n.1. Falco peregrinus anatum Bonaparte: 9—Beaverhills Lake, Alberta, Canada, coll. W. Rowan 4.8.1938. $—Beaverhills Lake, coll. W. Rowan 20.8.1929. ?—Beaverhills Lake, coll. W. Rowan 24.9.1924. g—Crescent Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada, coll. S. K. Patten 22.9.1924. 9—Drumheller, Alberta, coll. W. Rowan, May 1924. All 5 leg. B.T.O. 1969 (previously Hewitt collection). Imm.—Swan Island, Maine, U.S.A., coll. Dyer 25.2.1867. Falco peregrinus cassini Sharpe: 3, 1 ex.—Chile, [D] leg. Bridges 1842. Falco punctatus Temminck: 1 ex.—Maurtitius, coll. 1873, [T] leg. A. C. Smith. Falco araea (Oberholser): 2 33, 9—Feélicité, Seychelles, coll. H. L. Warry 1879, [T]. s— Seychelles, coll. E. P. Wright 1868, [T] leg. A. Newton. Megapodius laperouse senex Hartlaub: 1 ex.—Pelew Islands, coll. Kubary 1878, [T]. Macrocephalon maleo S. Miller: 1 ex.—North Celebes, coll. von Faber 1883, [T] leg, Leiden Museum. Crax alberti alberti Fraser: 2—[D]. Crax pinima Pelzeln: ?—Brazil; [D]. Pipile jacutinga (Spix): 1 ex.—[D]. Oreophasis derbianus G. R. Gray: 1 ex.—Volcan de Fuego, Duenas, Guatemala, [T] leg. O. Salvin. Type specimen: g—Volcan de Fuego, coll. J. Quifiones c. 1843, [D] leg. C. Klee per J. Bates. +L ympanuchus cupido cupido (Linnaeus): g—leg. W. H. Barrow 1957 (previously Adcock collection). +Coturnix novaezelandiae Quoy and Gaimard: ¢—Plains, Port Cooper, Middle Island, New Zealand, coll. F. Strange 4.4.1849, [D] leg. J. Gould 1850. $—-New Zealand, coll. F, Strange, [D] leg. J. Gould 1850. g—New Zealand, [D] leg. Warwick 1845. 3, ? (mounted)—n.1. tOphrysia superciliosa (J. E. Gray): type specimens: ¢, ?—Himalayas, India, [D] leg. Tucker 1836. Tragopan melanocephalus (J. E. Gray): 3, ?—Kooloo, coll. G. Henderson (3 Feb. 1870), [T]. ?—Northwest Himalayas, [T] leg. J. H. Gurney. g—India, [D] leg. Lockett 1849. Imm. g—[D] leg. Warwick 1848. g—[D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1831. 9—[D] leg. Tucker 1831. Imm.g—Punjab, India, coll. F. H. Kirby, leg. F. H. Kirby 1872. $—Gurwhal, India. g—n.l. 9% (mounted)—n.1. Tragopan blythi(Jerdon): g—leg. Spedan-Lewis Trust 1975. Tragopan caboti (Gould): 3 (mounted)—Himalayas, India. Crossoptilon crossoptilon crossoptilon (Hodgson): é—Ta-Chun-Lu, Tibet, coll. Pratt 1890, [T] leg. H. Seebohm 1893. Hierophasis swinhoii (Gould): ?—Tamsui, Formosa, coll. R. Swinhoe, Mar. 1865; [T]. g—Formosa, coll. R. Swinhoe, [T]. Juv.—leg. E. Bartlett 1871 (died in Zoological Gardens, London). ¢—Formosa, leg. H. Bright. Lobiophasis bulweri Sharpe: 3, 9—Mt. Kalulong (2000 ft), Borneo, coll. C. Hose, May 1893, [J]. Catreus wallichii (Hardwicke): $—Gurlaah-in-Kotckhaie, coll. G. Henderson 6.2.1871, [T]leg. G. Henderson. ?—{D]leg. J. E. Gray 1845. $—Himalayas, [D] leg. Tucker 1832. _ $—[D]. 2 juvs.—leg. L. Fraser 1866 (died in Zoological Gardens, London, 1865). g— - Punjab, leg. F. H. Kirby 1872. ¢(mounted)—n.1. _ Syrmaticus ellioti (SSwinhoe): 2 33, ?—Ningpo, China, coll. R. Swinhoe 1872, [T]. g— leg. Meinertzhagen 1904 (died in captivity 1893). Polyplectron emphanum Temminck: $—Palawan, Philippines, coll. A. Everett, Feb. 1894, eg. E. Gerrard 1899. 3 (mounted)—leg. Cheltenham College Museum. Mesoenas unicolor (Desmurs): $—Savary, Malagasy, coll. Audebert 2.4.1878, [T] leg. Leiden Museum. Grus americana (Linnaeus): 1 ex. (mounted)—n.1. +Cabalus modestus (Hutton): 1 ex.—Mangare, Chatham Islands, coll. W. Hawkins 1892, [T] leg. H. O. Forbes. 1 ex. (pelvis only)—Chatham Islands. Tricholimnas sylvestris (Sclater): 1 ex.—Lord Howe Island, coll. E. L. Layard, [T]. + Nesoclopeus poeciloptera (Hartlaub): 1 ex.—Rewa river, Fiji Islands, coll. 1881, [T] leg. V. Williamson. tPorzanula palmeri Frohawk: 1 ex. (skin with attached sternum)—Laysan Island, coll. Palmer 1892, [T] leg. Hartlaub. t Pareudiastes pacificus Hartlaub and Finsch: 1 ex.—Samoa, coll. S. J. Whitmee 1873, [T]. ?—Punai, Samoa, coll. S. J. Whitmee 1872, [T]. tPorphyrio albus (White): 1 ex. (mounted) (the type of Porphyrio stanleyi Rowley)—? Lord Howe Island, [D] leg. W. Bullock 1819. Rhynochetos jubatus J}. Verreaux and Des Murs: $—Baie du Sud, New Caledonia, coll. E. L. Layard 4.7.1878, [T]. 1 ex. (complete skeleton)—-New Caledonia, leg. E. Gerrard 1883. Chloriotis nigriceps (Vigors): $—Sirsa, Punjab, India, coll. G. Henderson 1870, [T]. s— D] 279 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] Haematopus ostralegus meadewaldoi Bannerman: g—lIsla Graciosa, Canary Islands, coll. E. G. Meade-Waldo and H. B. Tristram 7.4.1890, [T]. Vanellus macropterus (Wagler): 2 exx.—Timor, [D] leg. J. Gould 1841. Thinornis novaeseelandiae (Gmelin): 4 ? 9—S.E. Island, Chatham Islands; coll. W. Hawkins 7.5.1892, 12.5.1892, [1]. 9—Chatham Islands, coll. W. Hawkins, leg. H. O. Forbes 1898. Numenius borealis (J. R. Forster): g—Picton, Nova Scotia, Canada, coll. McCullock 3.3.1835,[D]. 2 exx. (mounted)—leg. Cheltenham College Museum 1963. 1 ex. (mounted) —leg. Scarborough Museum 1963 (previously British Armitage collection). Coenocorypha aucklandica pusilla (Buller): 3 $3, 9—S.E. Island, Chatham Islands, coll. W. Hawkins, May 1892, [T]. 2 99—S.E. Island; coll. W. Hawkins May 1892, leg. H. O. Forbes 1898. Coenocorypha aucklandica huegeli (Tristram) : type specimen—The Snares, off New Zealand, coll. A. von Hiigel 23.11.1874, [T]. This specimen is figured in Sir Walter Buller’s “‘Birds of New Zealand” (2nd Ed.) as Gallinago pusilla Buller. Coenocorypha aucklandica aucklandica (G. R. Gray): 1 ex., juv.—Mount Teviot, Auckland Islands, coll. J. McIvor, Dec. 1874, [T] leg. A. von Higel. Himantopus himantopus novaezelandiae Gould. 1 ex.—New Zealand, coll. 1865, [T] leg. C. J. Langlands. 1 ex.—New Zealand, [D] leg. Stanley 1845. Himantopus himantopus knudseni Stejneger: g—Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, coll. Jan. 1893, [T] leg. S. B. Wilson. + Rhinoptilus bitorquatus (Blyth): 1 ex.—E. India, coll. 1850, [T] leg. T. C. Eyton. Larus audouinii Payraudeau: 1 ex.—{D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1841. 1 ex.—[D]. Sterna balaenarum (Strickland): g—Robben Island, S. Africa, coll. E. L. Layard 22.11.1869, {T]. 1ex.—Damaraland, S. Africa, coll. C. J. Andersson, [T]. + Pinguinus impennis (Linnaeus): osteological material—n.]. 1 egg—{D]. tRaphus cucullatus (Linnaeus): osteological material—leg. H. P. Higginson 1866 and W. Stanley 1867. + Raphus solitarius (Sélys-Longchamps): osteological material—[T]. Ptilinopus roseicapilla (Leeson): 2 6$—Guam, Marianne Islands, coll. 23.2.1895, 5.7.1895, leg. W. Rothschild 1899. Drepanoptila holosericea (Temminck): g—Moindou, New Caledonia, coll. E. L. Layard 18.10.1881, [T]. ?—Dombea, New Caledonia, coll. E. L. Layard 13.6.1878, [T]. Ducula whartoni (Sharpe): —Christmas Island, coll. J. J. Lister 1.10.1887, [T]. Ducula goliath (G. R. Gray): d—Yahoué, New Caledonia, coll. E. L. Layard 2.10.1880, Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae chathamensis (Rothschild): g—Chatham Islands, coll. W. [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)]} 280 Hawkins, May 1892,[T]. 1 ex.—Chatham Islands, coll. W. Hawkins, leg. H. O. Forbes 1898. Cuiba trocaz trocaz Heineken: ¢—Madeira, [T] leg. Lilford Aviary (died in 1891). 3— Madeira, coll. F. D. Godman 26.6.1871, [T]. g¢—Madeira, coll. 26.2.1884. Columba trocaz bollii Godman: g$—La Galga, Palma, W. Canaries, coll. H. B. Tristram 20.4.1889, [T]. ¢—Gomera, W. Canaries, coll. H. B. Tristram 12.5.1888, [T]. ?—laurel forest, St. Ursula (4200 ft), Teneriffe, coll. H. B. Tristram 27.4.1888, [T]. 9?—Gomera, coll. E. G. Meade-Waldo 1888, leg. Lilford Aviary (died 1890). Columba junoniae Hartert: g—Palma, W. Canaries, coll. H. B. Tristram 20.3.1890, [T]. 9—La Galga, Palma, coll. H. B. Tristram 20.4.1889, [T]. _¢$—Gomera, W. Canaries, coll. H. B. Tristram 9.5.1888, [T]. 3, imm.—San Ambrosio, Valli Ermoso, Gomera, coll. H. B. Tristram, May 1888, [T]. ?—Gomera, coll. H. B. Tristram 9.5.1888, leg. W. H. Barrow 1957- Columba jouyi (Stejneger): 1 ex.—Riu Kiu Islands, Japan, coll. M. Namiye, Jan. 1887, [T]. Nesoenas mayeri (Prévost): 1 ex.—Mauritius, [D]. +Ectopistes migratoria (Linnaeus): imm.—Old Soldier’s Home, Columbia, coll. E. Coues 14.10.1859, [T] leg. E. Coues. $—Nebraska, coll. F. V. Hayden, [T] leg. U.S.N.M. g— N. America, [T]. imm.—coll. Dyson, [D] leg. Dyson 1849. imm.—{[D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1842. g—[D] leg. W. Bullock Museum. 6, 9—{D]. 3s—U.S.A., coll. Gough, leg. Rushton 1922. g—leg. E. R. Paton 1914. 2 66 (1 mounted)—leg. Salisbury, South Wilts and Blackmore Museum. 2 66 (1 mounted), 9—n.l. 2 eggs—leg. R. Wallace (previously from Jefferys 1904). Streptopelia picturata rostrata (Bonaparte): 2 exx.—Marianne, Seychelles, coll. H. Warry 1879, [T]. 1 ex.—Cousin Island, Seychelles, coll. H. Warry 1879, [T]. 1 ex.—Seychelles, coll. E. P. Wright 1868, [T] leg. A. Newton. Claravis godefrida ((Temminck): ?—[D] leg. Tucker 1836. g—{D]. Gallicolumba rubescens (Viellot): 2 9 9—Marquesas Islands, leg. H. Bright 1927. Imm.— (first bred in Europe) leg. H. Bright 1927. $—Nukahiva, Marquesas Islands, leg. H. Bright 1926. 7 Didunculus strigirostris (Jardine): 3, 1 ex.—Samoa, coll. 1874, [T] leg. S. J. Whitmee. 1 ex. —Mammea, Samoa, [T]leg.S. J. Whitmee. 2 34 (mounted)—Samoa. Strigops habroptilus G. R. Gray: 1 ex.—New Zealand, coll. W. Fox, [T]. 1 ex.—[T] leg J. H. Gurney. 1 ex. (mounted)—coll. 24.6.1901. 1 ex. (mounted)—leg. Warrington Museum 1976. 1 ex.—Lake Wanaka, South Islands, leg. Hutton. 9 (mounted)—Lyall Bay. $, 2 exx.(mounted)—n.l. 5 exx.—n.]. tNestor productus (Gould): 1 ex. (previously mounted)—Phillip Island, coll. 1788, [T]: bought by Gov. Phillip in 1788 and then passed to Dr. Leach. The bird was then bought by XIiith Earl of Derby at Christie’s sale of 1811, Tristram subsequently obtaining the specimen by exchange in 1873. 1 ex.—Phillip Island, [D] leg. Tucker 1833. This bird was given to Captain Sturt, probably by John Gould, to bring to England. It has a very long bill with a strongly grooved culmen. Vini peruviana (P. L. S. Muller): 1 ex.—Tahiti, [D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1844. 1 ex.— Society Islands, [D] leg. Nightingale. g—[D]. Vini ultramarina (Kuhl): 2 exx., imm.—Marquesas Islands, coll. J. L. Green, Mar. 1880, [T]. 1ex.—Marquesas Islands, [T] leg. E. Verreaux. 1 ex.—{D] leg. T. M. Williams 1847. 1 ex.—Marquesas Islands, [D] leg. B. Isaacson 1845. 1 ex.—{D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1845. 1 ex.—Nukuhiva, Marquesas Islands, [D] leg. J. Gould 1843. 1 ex. (partial albino)—{D] leg. J. Leadbeater. Anodorhynchus glaucus (Viellot): 1 ex.—Brazil, [D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1835. + Ara tricolor Bechstein: ?—Mexico, [D] (died in Derby Aviary). Arratinga guarouba (Gmelin): 1 ex.—Brazil, [D] (died in Derby Aviary 1838). 9—Cayenne, [D] leg. W. Bullock Museum. tConuropsis carolinensis carolinensis (Linnaeus): 1 ex.—Danford, Florida, coll. Loud, Mar. 1884, [T] leg. H. K. Coale. 1 ex.—Fort Colt, coll. C. S. McCarthy, [T] leg. U.S.N.M. 1 ex. —[D] (died in Derby Aviary 1812). Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha pachyrhyncha (Swainson): 1 ex.—Mexico, [D] leg. Tucker. 1 ex. —Mexico, [D]. 1ex.—{D]. 1ex.—leg. Bootle Museum 1915 (previously from R.I.L.). Pyrrhura cruentata (Wied): 1 ex.—[D] leg. Warwick 1848. 1 ex.—South America, [D] leg. W. Bullock museum. 1 ex.—leg. Bootle Museum 1915 (previously from R.I.L.). Touit melanonotus (Wied): 1 ex.—near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, [D] leg. Warwick 1848. 1 ex. —Brazil, [D] leg. Tucker 1831. Touit surda (Kuhl): $—Bahia, Brazil; coll. E. Huster, [T] leg. H. K. Coale. g—near 281 [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(2)] Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, [D] leg. Warwick 1848. g$—Pernambuco, Brazil, [D]. 3s—leg. Warrington Museum 1976. 2 ¢é—n.l. Amazona vittata vittata (Boddaetrt): 1 ex.—{D] (died in Derby Aviary 1835). Amazona pretrei (Temminck): 1 ex.—Rio Grande, Brazil, [D] leg. Johnson 1837. Amazona brasiliensis (Linnaeus): 1 ex.—Brazil, [D]. Amazona guildingii (Vigors): syntype—St. Vincent Island, coll. L. Guilding 1826, [T] leg T. C. Eyton 1881 (previously from Z.S.M. 1826). 1 ex.—St. Vincent Island, [D] leg Tucker. 1 ex.—St. Vincent Island, leg. Norwich Castle Museum (previously from A. Extra). Amazona imperialis Richmond: 1 ex.—[D]. 9—Island of Dominica, Lesser Antilles, coll. 10.12.1902, leg. W. H. Barrow 1957. Coracopsis nigra barklyi E. Newton: 1 ex.—Seychelles, coll. 1880; [T]. 2 exx.—Praslin Island, Seychelles, coll. H. L. Warry 1879. [T]. + Psittacula eupatria wardi (E. Newton): imm.g—Seychelles, coll. H. L. Warry, June 1881, . 9—Mahé, Seychelles, coll. H. L. Warry, Mar. 1880, [T]. Psephotus pulcherrimus (Gould): imm.$—Oakey Creek, Darling Downs, New South Wales, coll. 13.7.1844, [D] leg. J. Gould 1845. | s—Condamine River, Darling Downs, coll. 17.5.1844, [D] leg. J. Gould 1845. g—New South Wales, [D] leg. Williams 1845. Neophema chrysogaster (Latham): $—Actaeon Islands, Tasmania, [D] leg. J. Gould 1840. 9—Tasmania, [D] leg. J. Gould 1840. Imm.—Hobart Town, Tasmania, [D] leg. W. Holme 1828. 3 (mounted)—n.]. Neophema pulchella(Shaw): 2 2 9—Victoria; coll. S. B. Piers, [T]. g—New South Wales, [T] leg. R. M. Middleton.?—New South Wales, [D] (died~ in Derby Aviary 1844). g—New South Wales, [D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1836. g—Hobart, Tasmania, [D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1836. ?—New South Wales, [D] leg. J. Leadbeater. 9— New South Wales, leg. R. Wagstaffe (previously Gee collection). ?—leg. Ismay. ¢ (mounted)—n.]. Neophema splendida(Gould): $, 2—Swan River, Australia, [D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1846. Eunymphicus cornutus uvaeensis (Layatd and Layard): type specimens: 3, 9—Uvea, Loyalty Islands, coll. E. L. Layard 25.7.1880, [T]. Imm.—n.l. Cyanoramphus novaezelandiae cookii (G. R. Gray): é—Norfolk Island, coll. W. Crowfoot 1886, [T] leg. P. H. Metcalfe. 1 ex.—[D]. This bird is the type of C. magnirostris Forbes and Robinson, formerly considered to be a synonym of C. zealandicus (Latham) (see Sims 1953). + Cyanoramphus zealandicus (Latham): ?—Tahiti, [D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1845. g—Tahiti, [D] leg. J. Banks (previously from W. Bullock Museum). Cyanoramphus auriceps forbesi Rothschild: 1 ex.—Chatham Islands, leg. W. Rothschild 1927 (previously Palmer collection). Cyanoramphus malherbi Souancé: 1 ex.—South Island, New Zealand, coll. P. Seymour 1891, [T]. ?—Port Cooper, coll. F. Strange, [D] leg. J. Gould 1850. 1ex.—n.]. Pezoporus wallicus flaviventris North: 1 ex.—South Australia, coll. Peele; [T]. 1 ex.— Australia, [D]. Pezoporus wallicus wallicus (Kerr): 1 ex.—Australia, coll. W. Hornby 17.5.1847, [D]. 3 exx. —Australia, [D]. 1 ex.—leg. J. Ismay. 2 exx.(1 mounted)—n.1. “hana occidentalis Gould: 1 ex.—Australia, [D] leg. Sturt (previously from J. Gould 1847). Phaenicophaeus pyrrhocephalus (Pennant): 1 ex.—Ceylon, [T]. 1 ex.—[D]. 1 ex. (mounted) —n.l, + Coua delalandei (Temminck): 1 ex.—Malagasy, [D]. (See Morgan 1975.) Ozus insularis (Tristram): type specimen—Mahé, Seychelles, coll. H. L. Warry, Apr. 1880, [T]. a novaeseelandiae undulata (Latham): 1 ex.—Norfolk Island, coll. P. H. Metcalfe 1888, Sceloglaux albifacies albifacies (G. R. Gray): 2 exx.—New Zealand, coll. E. Stanley, [D] leg. E. Stanley. °?—Otago, South Island, New Zealand, leg. E. Gerrard. t Aegotheles savesi Layard and Layard: type and unique specimen: g—Tonque, near Noumea, New Caledonia, coll. M. Savés 11.4.1880, [T]. Ramphodon dohrnii (Bourcier and Mulsant): g—Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, leg. Taylor collection. Coeligena prunellei (Boutciet): ¢ (mounted)—[D] leg. Williams 1847. 3 (mounted)—[D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1842. 3, 9—New Granada, Columbia, S. America, coll. J. Nichol 1962, leg. J. Nichol collection. 1 ex. (mounted)—leg. Taylor collection. 1 ex. (mounted)—n.l. Pharomachrus mocino mocino de \a Llave: —Rashé, Vera Paz, Guatemala, coll. O. Salvin, Mar. 1860, [T]. Imm. 9—[D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1844. 2 33, ?—Coban, Vera Paz, coll. [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 282 3 - Lattre, June 1843, [D]. 2 ¢s—[D]. dé—Guatemala. 4 3¢(2 mounted), ? (mounted) —an.l. Halcyon cinnamomina cinnamomina Swainson: 3, '—Guam, Marianne Islands, coll. W. Rothschild 29.1.1895 (3), 4.2.1895 (9), leg. W. Rothschild 1899. Brachypteracias leptosomus (Lesson): é—interior of Malagasy, coll. A. Majastre 24.4.1881, [T]. 1ex.—Malagasy, coll. W. D. Cowan, [T]. Brachypteracias squamigera Lafresnaye: ?—Mointenbato, Malagasy, coll. Audebert 5-5-1878, [T] leg. Leiden Museum. 1 ex.—Malagasy, coll. W.D. Cowan, [T]. Atelornis pittoides (Lafresnaye): 1 ex.—Ankafana, South Betsileo, Malagasy, coll. W. D. Cowan, Mar. 1881, [T]. 1 ex.—Malagasy, coll. Crossley, [T]. Altelornis crossleyi Sharpe: 1 ex.—Malagasy, [T] leg. E. Gerrard. Rhinoplax vigil (J. R. Forster): 1 ex. (mounted)—Malay Peninsula, coll. Glasspoole, leg. Norwich Museum. 1 ex. (mounted)—North British Borneo. Dryocopus javensis richardsi Tristram: type specimen: 9?—Tssu-Shima Island, Japan, coll. G. E. Richards 24.8.1875, [T]. Dendrocopos borealis borealis (Viellot): g—Rosewood, Florida, U.S.A., coll. G. W. Chamberlain 18.11.1883, [T] leg. H. K. Coale. g—-North Ametica, coll. J. G. Bell 30.8.1847, [T]leg. U.S.N.M. 34, 9—[D] leg. W. Bullock Museum 1811. $—U.S.A., [D]. Campephilus principalis principalis (Linnaeus): g—Louisiana, [T] leg. U.S.N.M. 9— Texas, coll. Drummond, Feb. 1835, [D]. 2 63,2 ??—[D]. Campephilus imperialis (Gould): 3, ¢—Mexico, [D] leg. J. Gould. Passerines Myrmotherula erythronotus (Hartlaub): g—South America, [D] leg. J. Gould 1831. %—{D] leg. Tucker 1831. Pyriglena atra (Swainson): g—[D] leg. Johnson 1833. . Calyptura cristata (Vieillot): 1 ex.—[D] leg. J. Warwick 1849. 1ex.—[D]. 1 ex.—n.l. Cotinga maculata (Miller): imm.é—Brazil, [D] leg. Rumford 1835. g—leg. Bootle Museum 1915 (previously from R.I.L.). ¢(mounted)—leg. Connell. g—n.l. Cephalopterus penduliger Sclater : 1 ex.—{[D] leg. W. Hooker 1843. Pitta gurneyi Hume: —Bankasoon, Burma, coll. W. Davison 16.4.1877, [T]. Xenicus longipes longipes (Gmelin): 3, 9—Karamea Ranges, South Island, New Zealand, coll. 1895, leg. H. B. Tristram 1898. 9—New Zealand, [T]. Xenicus longipes stokesti Gray: g—Taupo, North Island, New Zealand, coll. J. von Haast, Aug. 1866, [T]. tXenicus lyalli (Rothschild): 1 ex. (formerly spirit specimen)—Stephens Island, New Zealand, leg. H. B. Tristram 1898. Neodrepanis hypoxanthus Salomonsen: g—east of Tananarive, Malagasy, coll. W. D. Cowan, July 1881, [T]. Coracina typica (Hartlaub): ¢, ?—Maurtitius, coll. E. Newton, Nov. 1866, [T]. Hypsipetes borbonicus borbonicus (J. R. Forster): 9—Reunion, coll. H. H. Slater 1875, [T]. Hypsipetes borbonicus olivaceus Jardine and Selby: 3—Maurtitius, coll. H. H. Slater 1874, [T]. 1 ex.—Mauritius, [T] leg. T. C. Eyton. Xenopirostris polleni (Schlegel): 3, ?—Malagasy, coll. J. Wills 1893, [T]. ¢—Malagasy, coll. Grandidier, [T] leg. Leiden Museum. Oriolia bernieri Geoffroy: $3, imm.g—Savary, Malagasy, coll. Audebert 16.3.1878 and 17.11.1877(imm), [T] leg. Leiden Museum. Troglodytes troglodytes hirtensis Seebohm: 9, 1 ex. (formerly spirit specimens)—St. Kilda, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, leg. A. G. Ferguson 1905. Troglodytes aedon mesoleucus (Sclater): 2 ¢d—Fonds St. Jacques, St. Lucia, coll. G. A. Ramage, Apr. 1889, [T]. Nesomimus trifasciatus trifasciatus (Gould): 3, ?—Gardner Island, Galapagos Group, coll. Drowne (é), Hull ( 2) 31.10.1897, leg. W. Rothschild 1899. Ramphocinclus brachyurus sanctaeluciae Coty: 3, 9—Fonds St. Jacques, St. Lucia, coll. G. A. Ramage 26.3.1889 (4), 1.4.1889 (9), [T]. Copsychus sechellarum Newton: 4 exx.—Marianne, Seychelles, coll. H. L. Warry 1879, [T]. Cichlherminia lherminieri sanctaeluciae (Sclater): ‘3—Fonds St. Jacques, St. Lucia, coll. G, A. Ramage 23.3.1889, [T]. Phaeornis palmeri Rothschild: $—Kauai Island, Hawaiian Islands, coll. S. B. Wilson, Sep. 1888, [TT]. Turdus poliocephalus pritzbueri Layard: neotype: imm.é—Lifu Island, Loyalty Islands, coll. C. L. Layard 10.1.1878, [T] (see Wagstaffe 1978). 4 34,2 99—Kepeneku, Lifu Island, coll. E. L. Layard, Aug. 1878, [T]. ee eee ee ee 283 [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] Turdus poliocephalus mareensis Layatd and Tristram: type specimen: $—Maré Island, Loyalty Islands, coll. E. L. Layard 22.5.1879, [T]. 3 ¢¢, ?—Maré Island, coll. E. L. Layard, Oct. 1879 (2), Oct. and Nov. 1881, June 1882, [T]. Turdus poliocephalus poliocephalus Latham: imm. (with attached sternum)—Norfolk Island, coll. W. M. Crowfoot 1887, [T]. ¢—Norfolk Island, coll. E. L. Layard, Oct.1879 [T]. 3, 9— Norfolk Island, coll. J. H. Brenchley June 1865, [T] leg. Tweeddale Collection. 1 ex.—[D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1836. 3g—Norfolk Island, leg. Norwich Museum 1941. Paradoxornis heudei David: —Nanking, China, coll. F. W. Styan, Feb. 1890, [T]. 9— Nanking, coll. Heude, Dec. 1872, [T]. Picathartes gymnocephalus (Temminck) : imm.—Gabon, coll. Ussher, [T] leg. J. H. Gurney. t Gerygone igata insularis Ramsay: 1 ex.—Lord Howe Island, coll. Saunders 1888, [T]. Petroica traversi (Buller): 3, ?—Little Mangare, Chatham Islands, coll. W. Hawkins 1892, [T]. Terpsiphone corvina (E, Newton): 3 3¢, imm.¢, ?—Ladigur, Seychelles, coll. H. L. Warry 1879, [T]. 3, 9—Seychelles, coll. 1880,[T]. 3, 9—[T]. Terpsiphone bourbonnensis desolata Salomonsen: $—Mauritius, coll. H. H. Slater 1875, [T]. ? 9—Mauritius, [T] leg. A.C. Smith. g—Mauritius, [T] leg. E. Newton. Pomarea mendozae (Hartlaub) : imm.—Marquesas Islands, coll. J. Green, Mar. 1880, [T]. Metabolus rugensis (Hombron and Jacquinot): 4 3$¢ (black and white plumage)—Truk Island, Caroline Islands, coll. T. Kubary 1878 (one in June), [T] leg. Museum Godeffroy, Hamburg. ¢ (cinnamon and white plumage)—Truk Island, coll. T. Kubary, June 1878, [T] leg. Museum Godeffroy. Turnagra capensis tanagra (Schlegel): ¢—North Island, New Zealand, coll. F. Strange, [D] leg. J. Gould 1850. Turnagra capensis capensis (Spatrman): 3, ?—Tiopo, South Island, New Zealand, coll. J. von Haast, Sep. 1873, [T]. 1 ex.—South Island, coll. Lyall, [T]. Imm.—South Island, [T] leg. Eyton Museum. 9—Port Cooper, coll. F. Strange, [D] leg. J. Gould 1850. g—[D] leg. J. Gould 1850. 2 exx.—[D] leg. E. Stanley 1845. $—{D] leg. I. E. Warwick 1845. 1 ex. —[{D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1841. 3, ?—Stephens Island, New Zealand, leg. W. Buller 1901. Anthreptes pallidigaster Sclater and Moreau: ¢, ?—Amani (3000 ft), Eastern Usambara Mts., Tanzania, coll. J. G. Williams 23.9.1960, leg. J. G. Williams 1966. Meliphaga cassidix (Gould)*: 9—Gaskell, Melbourne, Victoria, coll. E. P. Ramsay, Jan. 1873, [IT]. $—Western Port Bay, Port Philip Heads, Victoria, coll. S. B. Piers, [T]. 9— Victoria, coll. S. B. Piers, [T]. Notiomystis cincta cincta (Du Bus): 9—New Zealand, coll. Lyall 1850, [T]. g¢—New Zea- land,[T]. 3, ?—New Zealand. aaa braccatus (Cassin): 3, ?—Kauai, Hawaiian Islands, coll. Sep. 1888, [T] leg. S. B. Wilson. + Moho nobilis (Metrem): 3—Kaawaloa, Hawaii, coll. S. B. Wilson 26.5.1887, [T]. 1 ex.— Hawaiian Islands, [D] leg. Brooke 1830. 1 ex.—Hawaiian Islands, possibly coll. J. Cook, [D] leg. W. Bullock Museum. 2 exx.—Hawaii, leg. H. H. Jones 1878. t Anthornis melanura melanocephala Gtay: 3, ?—Chatham Islands, coll. W. Hawkins 1895, [T]. 2 ¢¢—Chatham Islands, coll. Lyall, [T]. Lencopeza semperi Sclatet: 2, 1 ex.—Fonds St. Jacques, St. Lucia, coll. G. A. Ramage 5.4.18809, [T]. Palmeria dolei (Wilson): imm.$—Haleakala, (5000 ft.), Maui, Hawaiian Islands, coll. R. C. L. Perkins, May 1896, leg. R.S.B.A. 1900. 3—Molokai (4-5000 ft.), Hawaiian Islands, coll. R. C. L. Perkins 9.7.1893, leg. R.S.B.A. 1900. Hemignathus obscurus procerus Cabanis: ¢, 9—Kauai, Hawaiian Islands, coll. S. B. Wilson. Sep. 1888, [T]. 3, ?—Kaholuamano, Kauai, coll. R. C. L. Perkins Oct. 1895, leg. R.S.B.A, 1900. + Hemignathus obscurus obscurus (Gmelin): ?—Hawaiian Islands, coll. J. K. Townsend, [D] leg. J. J. Audobon, June 1838. 9—above Amaulu (2000 ft.), Hilo, Hawaii, coll. R. C. L. Perkins, Dec. 1895, leg. R.S.B.A. 1900. Hlemignathus lucidus hanapepe Wilson: $—Kauai, Hawaiian Islands, coll. S. B. Wilson, Sep. 1888, [T]. 1ex.—[D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1846. 1 ex.—Kauai, [D]. Hemignathus lucidus affnis Rothschild: imm.3—Haleakala, Maui, Hawaiian Islands, coll. R. C. L. Perkins, Oct. 1896, leg. R.S.B.A. 1900. Hlemignathus wilsoni Rothschild: ¢—Mana, Hawaii, coll. S. B. Wilson, Mar. 1888, [T]. Imm. $—Kau, Hawaii, coll. R. C. L. Perkins, June 1895, leg. R.S.B.A. 1900. *Zosteropidae: Merseyside County Museums once held a large number of specimens, including several types. They are now missing and it is feared they were destroyed when the museum was bombed during the Second World War. [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 284 Loxops coccinea coccinea (Gmelin): $—Hilo, Hawaii, coll. C. J. Wetmore May 1875, [T]. 3, imm. ?—Kau, Hawaii, coll. R. C. L. Perkins June 1895, leg. R.S.B.A. 1900. Loxops coccinea ochracea Rothschild: g—Haleakala, Maui, Hawaiian Islands, coll. R. C. L. Perkins, May 1896, leg. R.S.B.A. 1900. tLoxops coccinea rufa (Bloxam): $—Oahu, Hawaiian Islands, coll. J. K. Townsend, [D] leg. J. J. Audobon, 1838. Paroreomyza maculata bairdi (Stejneger): 9—Kauai, Hawaiian Islands, coll. S. B. Wilson, Sep. 1888, [T]. Paroreomyza maculata flammea (Wilson): 8, 2, imm.—Molokai, Hawaiian Islands, coll. R.C. L, Perkins, May 1893 (9), 18.6.1893 (d), 25.6.1893 (imm.), leg. R.S.B.A. 1900. [Possibly extinct]. Paroreomyza maculata montana (Wilson): g—Lanai, Hawaiian Islands [possibly extinct], coll. R. C. L. Perkins, Jan. 1894, leg. R.S.B.A. 1900. Psittirostra psittacea (Gmelin): $—Kaawaloa, Hawaiian Islands, coll. S. B. Wilson 31.5.1887, [IT]. ?—Hawaiian Islands, [T] leg. Jardine Museum 1886. Type specimens: 3, ?—Hawaiian Islands, [D] leg. Leverian Museum 1806. —Hawaiian Islands, [D] leg. J. Leadbeater 1849. + Loxioides palmeri (Rothschild): 9—Hawaii, coll. S. B. Wilson, Jan 1893, [T]. Loxioides bailleui (Oustalet): g—Hawaii, coll. S. B. Wilson 14.6.1887, [T]. tLoxioides kona (Wilson): 9—Mauna Loa (4000 ft.), Kona district, Hawaii, coll. R. C. L. Perkins, Sep. 1892, leg. R.S.B.A. 1900. Agelaius xanthomus xanthomus (Sclater): g—N. Puerto Rico, coll. R. Swift, [T] leg. U.S.N.M. 1ex.—{[D] leg. Bridges 1842. tQuiscalus palustris (Swainson): é—Rio Lerma, Mexico, leg. Bootle Museum 1915 (previously R.I.L.). Carduelis cucullata Swainson: g—Ortinoco, Venezuela, coll. H. K. Coale, [T]. ?—South America, coll. H. K. Coale, [T]. 3—‘‘Spanish Main”’, [D] (died in Derby Aviary 1846). Foudia sechellarum Newton: 8, 9—Seychelles, coll. H. L. Wartry, June 1882, [T]. 2 99— Marianne, Seychelles, coll. H. L. Warry 1879, [T]. Foudia flavicans Newton: 3—Rodrtiguez Island, coll. J. B. Balfour, [T]. + Aplonis fusca hulliana Mathews: 3 exx.—Lord Howe Island, coll. E. Saunders 1888, [T]. tNecropsar leguati Forbes: type and unique specimen—‘Madagascar” (but perhaps from Met Island, off Rodriguez, fide Peters et a/. 1962 (15) ), [D] leg. M. Verreaux 1850. Callaeas cinerea wilsoni (Bonapatte): 1 ex.—Wellington, North Island, New Zealand, coll. W. Buller, June 1873, [T]. 1 ex.—North Island, coll. F. Burton, [T]. 1 ex.—coll. M. McDorniele, [D]. Callaeas cinerea cinerea (Gmelin): 2 exx.—South Island, New Zealand, [T]. Type speci- men—Queen Charlotte Sound, coll. J. Cook, [D] leg. Leverian Museum 1806. 1 ex.—[D] leg. E. Stanley 1849. 1 ex.—[D] leg. E. Stanley 1845. 1 ex.—[D] leg. Warwick 1845. 2 exx.—[D]. 2 exx. (mounted)—n.]. Creadion carunculatus carunculatus (Gmelin): imm. (mounted)—n.1. + Heteralocha acutirostris (Gould): $ (mounted)—n.1. Artamus leucorhynchus pelewensis Finsch: 9—Palau Islands, coll. T. Kubary, [T] leg. Museum Godeffroy, Hamburg. Corvus tropicus Kerr: 9—Kona, Hawaii, coll. S. B. Wilson, Mar. 1888, [T]. Acknowledgements: 1 am grateful to Dr. M. J. Largen (Keeper of Vertebrate Zoology, Metseyside County Museums) for his extensive advice during the preparation of this paper. I would also like to acknowledge a considerable debt to Mr. P. J. Morgan (National Museum of Wales) and Mr. R. Wagstaffe for the benefit of their unpublished research on the Liver- pool collections and to others who have given advice and assistance, including C. W. Benson, W. R. P. Bourne, J. M. Forshaw, D. T. Holyoak, W. B. King, G. Y. McInnes, D. G. Medway, P. Paton and the staff of the Subdepartment of Ornithology, British Museum (Natural History). References: Fisher, J., Simon, N. & Vincent, J. 1969. The Red Book (Wildlife in Danger). 1.U.C.N. and Collins: London. Forbes, H. O. 1901. Note on a species of Bittern (Zebrilus pumilus) from South America. Bull, Liv. Mus. 3(2): 61, pls. 1-2. Greenway, J. C. 1967. Extinct and Vanishing Birds of the World. 2nd Ed. Dover Publications: New York. King, wa B. 1978-1979. 1.U.C.N. Red Data book. Vol. 2 (Aves). I1.U.C.N., Morges, Switzer- land. 285 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] Morgan, P. J. 1975. A catalogued specimen of Coua delalandei (Temminck) (Cuculidae) in : Merseyside County Museums, Liverpool. Bull, Brit. Orn. Cl. 95(2): 663-4 -Morony, J. J., Bock, W. J. & Farrand, J. 1975. Reference List of the Birds of the World. Ametican Museum of Natural History : New York. Peters, J. L. 1931-1970. Check List sf Bibds of the World. Vols. 1-15. Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mass. Sims, R. W. 1953. On the status of Cyanorhamphus magnirostris (Forbes and Robinson). Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 73(9): 104-105. Tristram, H, B. 1882. Ornithological notes of a journey through Syria, Mesopotamia and Southern Armenia in 1881. Ibis (4)6: 415-416. Wagstaffe, R. 1978. Lype specimens of Birds in the Merseyside County Museums. Metseyside County Museums: Liverpool. Address: Clem Fisher, Dept. Vertebrate Zoology, Merseyside County Museums, William Brown Street, Liverpool L3 8EN. © British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. Preliminary review of the Clay-coloured Robin Turdus grayi with redesignation of the type locality of the nominate form and description of a new subspecies by R. W. Dickerman Received 28 July 1980 In attempting to identify the races of specimens of Turdus grayi collected on the Pacific lowlands and in the Motagua River Valley of Guatemala during the course of studies of mosquito transmitted viruses, it became necessary to re-evaluate the geographic variation throughout the range of the species. Such a major revision was not possible with the currently available material due to the paucity of specimens in unworn plumage and also in part due to post-mortem colour changes. However, it seems important to clarify the status of the nominate population, since the designation of the type locality by Griscom (1930) appears erroneous. Because of the resultant recognition of the characters of the true nominate population, it also becomes necessary to rename the widely distributed race that has long been considered to be Turdus grayi grayi. The species was described by Bonaparte (1837) from a collection of birds obtained during a “‘fortnight’s scientific tour” in Guatemala by Col. Velazquez de Leon. The location of the species type is unknown. Hellmayr (1938) wrote that the type was in the Lord Derby Collection, which went to the Liverpool Museum. Wagstaffe (1978) did not include it in the list of the types of the Merseyside County Museums (=Liverpool Museum), and M. J. Largen, current Keeper of Zoology kindly confirmed by letter that the Velazquez types were not in that collection. They apparently never were in the Derby Collection. The confusion may have arisen because Bonaparte presented reports on 3 collections at the same meeting of the Zoological Society of London. The third was on a collection by Leadbeater and the statement is made (Bonaparte 1838: 119) that birds from Leadbeater were to be part of the Derby Collection. Velazquez apparently landed at Ystapa (=Ixtapa), the only Pacific port then in use (San Jose was not established until 185 3 — Squier 1858) and prob- ably travelled via Naranja and Escuintla to Palin, and thence either through [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 286 Antigua or Lago Atitlan to Guatemala City.* All the species he obtained occur along this route, contra Griscom (1930: 6) who erroneously thought “Pachysylvia (=Hylophilus) decurtata’”’ was restricted to the Caribbean rain forest (see also Phillips 1966). Further, Griscom, in justification of his designation of the Department of Alta Vera Paz, Guatemala as the type locality of Bonaparte’s Turdus grayi, wrote (1930: 6) “It is apparent that Col. Velasquez must have bought a collection of the trade-skins of the day .. .”. Yet in recounting the history of Guatemalan ornithology (Griscom 1932: 4), he cited Bonaparte’s 1837 paper as the earliest record of ornithological collecting in Guatemala and stated that it was from 1842 onwards that collectors began visiting the country and training Indian hunters in making trade skins. The type of Turdus grayi was without doubt taken along the highway from Ixtapa to Guatemala City. Griscom (1930: 6) wrote “Post- mortem color change in this species is so pronounced that specimens taken prior to 1900 are usually worthless for subspecific comparison. It con- sequently makes “ttle or no difference whether the type still exists or not’? (italics mine). This is true where subtle colours, especially olive and grey, are involved, but is less true in the case of deeply coloured forms. Although the Port of San Jose was not in use in the 1830’s, the road from Ystapa passed nearby and there are specimens of “‘wmbrinus” from San Jose. Van Tyne & Trautman (1941) restricted Bonaparte’s Scolopacinus rufiventris to San Jose. I therefore designate San Jose as the type locality of Turdus grayi Bonaparte. With this identification of the nominate form, the following subspecies of IT. grayi may be recognized from Central America in this preliminary review. These are arranged geographically north to south. Turdus grayi tamaulipensis Turdus grayi tamaulipensis Nelson, Auk vol. 14, p. 75, 1897; type locality Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Diagnosis: Ventrally this and microrhynchus are the palest of the known subspecies; their bellies are creamy or pinkish-buff, the flanks and breast are buffy. Dorsally, tamaulipensis (collected 1941), microrhynchus (1958), linnaei (1964), and megas from Guatemala (1969) are inseparable. Range: Central Nuevo Leon and southern Tamaulipas and northern Veracruz inland to southeastern San Luis Potosi, and the arid northern part of the Yucatan in Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo, extending south to at least northern Belize. Discussion: At present the population of the Yucatan Peninsula is designated tamaulipensis, although it is disjunct from the remaining range of that form by several hundred kilometers, with the very dark form /anyoni (subsp. nov. described below) occupying the intervening region. There is insufficient useful material from the Yucatan to evaluate its relationship to genuine tamaulipensis or to megas of Guatemala, which is in closer geographic proxim- wih Turdus gtayi microrhynchus Turdus grayi microrhynchus Lowery and Newman, Occ. Pap. Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology no. 22, p. 5-8, 1949; type locality Santa Maria del Rio, central-southern San Luis Potosi, Mexico. *Route determined from road map of the Department of Guatemala published in “‘Atlas Guatemalteco en ocho cartas”, Formadas y grabadas en Guatemala, 1832. : 287 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] Diagnosis: Similar in colour to samaulipensis but bill decidedly smaller and shorter. Range: Known only from the vicinity of the type locality. Discussion: This form was based on 4 males and 2 females. I have seen 2 additional specimens and those indeed do have small bills. The extent of the range of this form has yet to be determined. Turdus grayi lanyoni subsp. nov. Type: Adult male no. 824182, American Museum of Natural History, collected in the [San Andres] Tuxtla Mountains, o.; km west of Cerro Balzapote, Veracruz, Mexico on 8 November 1974 by Mario A. Ramos, prepared by Richard J. Oehlenschlager (original field no. “MEX — 5422”). Diagnosis: Darker dorsally and ventrally than tamaulipensis, microrhynchus, linnaei, ot megas; nearer grayi but less deeply ochraceous ventrally, belly much paler, dorsally similar to nominate gray7. Range: Veracruz and Caribbean drainage of Oaxaca (integrades with linnaei north of Matias Romero at Sarabia), southeast through Tabasco, across the base of the Yucatan Peninsula into southern Belize south to at least Lago Izabal, Guatemala, and through the humid Caribbean slopes of Chiapas into the tropical northern interior of Guatemala. Remarks: With Griscom’s assignment of the type locality of grayi to Alta Vera Paz, the name has been used for all dark populations north (and indeed south) of Guatemala. Because of the ecological variation within Alta Vera Paz, moderately typical examples of 2 or even 3 forms could probably be found there (i.e. grayi, /anyoni, and perhaps megas). In northern Veracruz, along the Lago Tamiahua (Moctezuma) and in adjacent Puebla (Rancho Ajengibre, Tuxpan Road) /anyoni integrades with tamaulipensis. The detailed zones of intergradation with the adjacent southern subspecies have yet to be determined. Turdus grayi linnaei Turdus grayi linnaei Phillips 1966, Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. vol. 86, pp. 127-128; type locality Las Delicias, Chiapas, Mexico. Diagnosis: Ventrally similar to tamaulipensis but with belly, undertail coverts and throat slightly deeper in colour, more ochraceous, rather than creamy-buff; breast slightly darker and greyer. Slightly paler ventrally with somewhat greyer flanks than megas from Guatemala. Range: Mote xeric habitats of Pacific Oaxaca and adjacent lowlands of Chiapas, extending south in the interior of Chiapas to at least the Guatemala border. Extent of range in Guatemala is unknown. Remarks: This is a weak race and was not compared with megas in the original description. In a detailed revision, /7nnaei may not be separable from the normal variation within megas, although at present the range appears to be separated by the dark forms gray# and /anyont. Turdus grayi grayi Bonaparte Turdus grayi Bonaparte. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 1838, p. 116; type locality by above redesignation San Jose, Dept. Escuintla, Guatemala. Turdus grayi umbrinus Griscom. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Novit. no. 438, pp. 5-6, 1930; type locality Finca El Cipris, near Mazatenango, Pacific lowlands of northwestern Guatemala. [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 288 Diagnosis: Darker and browner dorsally, similar to /anyoni; ventrally the most deeply ochraceous of all the subspecies. Range: Northwestern Guatemala, apparently extending north in the humid habitats of the mountains of southern Chiapas to Mapastepec. In Guatemala intergrades towards megas at San Jose and Panajachel. Discussion: Of the 21 specimens labelled “‘umbrinus” by Griscom in the AMNH collection, only 6 are in unworn plumage of use for comparisons. Hight juveniles are more richly coloured than a juvenile /anyoni and much more so than 3 juveniles of wegas as defined below. Monroe (1968) could not distinguish “wmbrinus’’, as individuals of the “dark type” occur at random in Honduras; moreover, the latter are likely to be intergrades with /anyoni, which may extend southward across the humid lower Montagua Valley. Actually, the range of grays is separated from the dark Honduran birds by the Guatemalan portion of the range of megas. Turdus grayi megas Turdus grayt megas Miller & Griscom 1925. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Novit. no. 138, pp. 3-4; type locality Matagalpa, Nicaragua. Diagnosis: Paler throughout than grayi or /anyoni, ventrally slightly darker and buffer than /imnaez, markedly darker than tamaulipensis. Range: From Pacific lowlands of Guatemala; near San Jose and Motagua River Valley (except the lower portion) south through Central America to Nicaragua. Discussion: Miller & Griscom (1925) had available 3 specimens from Guatemala which they listed with a question mark as T. grayi grayi [ie. lanyoni|. "Those specimens, all from the Lawrence collection, lack further data, but probably are /anyoni. However, Anthony collected at least one readily identifiable wegas and probably others, but wear and bleaching is so advanced that it is not worth conjecturing the original colours of some birds, since there are good series available to provide a concept of the range in Guatemala. The one good megas available to Griscom was taken at ‘‘Puebla” [= near Quirigua, Motagua Valley] and was originally labelled as castus. On the label that name has been mostly erased and a line drawn through it; a question mark has been added, I believe by Griscom, and “= grayi Lg” has been added in his handwriting. It is a pale greyish-backed bird that is even greyer than a paratype of megas. Within the extensive range of megas as given above there may be distinctive populations that warrant recognition, but this awaits further study (for example the dark specimens from Honduras reported by Monroe 1968). The type and paratypes of megas are not separable from specimens from the Pacific lowlands and Motagua Valley of Guatemala collected in 1969, although they do differ, as does grayi, from tamaulipensis as described by Miller & Griscom. hey Turdus grayi casius Planesticus casius Bonaparte, Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, vol. 41, p. 657, 1855; type locality, Panama. Diagnosis: A. moderately pale race like megas but browner, less greyish; darker than tamaulipensis, browner than /innaei, much paler and less richly coloured than /anyoni or grayi. Range: Costa Rica, Panama, and adjacent Colombia, northwestern Choco on the Gulf of Uraba. 289 [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(2)] Discussion: ‘The tanges of megas and casius in Nicaragua have yet to be determined. Key to Subspecies of Turdus grayi 1. Dorsally pale and grey to greyish olive or greyish brown 2 1. Dorsally notably dark and brown 5 2. Culmen short (less than 19 mm) microrhynchus 2. Culmen larger 3. Dorsally greyish brown casius 3. Dorsally greyish olive 4 4. Flanks and undertail coverts paler : linnaei 4. Flanks and undertail coverts darker megas 5. Belly ochraceous, breast flanks and undertail coverts deep ochraceous grayi 5. Belly paler buffy ochraceous, breast, flanks and undertail coverts paler lanyoni Acknowledgements: The curators of the James Ford Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota; the Delaware Museum of Natural History and the Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology are acknowledged for lending me fresh plumaged specimens from their collections. Allan R. Phillips was most helpful and stimulating with his critical aid. Some of the material was collected under permits from the Ministerio de Agricultura de Guatemala while carrying out research supported in part by U.S. Public Health Service Research Grant AI-6248 from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and in part by Research Contract DA-49-193-MD-2295 from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command. References: Bonaparte, C. L. J. L. 1837. [Birds collected by Colonel Valasquez de Leon during a fort- night’s scientific tour in Guatemala.] Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond: 114-119. Griscom, L. 1930. Studies from the Dwight collection of Guatemalan birds. III. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. Novit. 438: 1-18. Griscom, L. 1932. The distribution of bird-life in Guatemala. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 64: 1-439. Hellmayr, C. E. 1938. Catalogue of birds of the Americas and adjacent islands. Vol. 2. Zool, Series, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. 430, no. 13. Miller, W. De W. & Griscom, L. 1925. Notes on Central American birds, with descriptions of new forms. Amer. Mus. Novit. 183: 3. Montoe, B. L. Jr. 1968. Three new subspecies of birds from Honduras. Occ. Pap. La. State Univ. Mus. of Zool. 26: 1-7. Phillips, A. R. 1966, Further systematic notes on Mexican birds. Bu//, Brit. Orn. Cl. 86: 148-159. Squier, E. G. 1858. Lhe States of Central America. New Yotk: Harper Bros. van i J. & Trautman, M. B. 1941. New birds from Yucatan, Occ. Pap. Univ. Mich, Mus. ool, 439: 1-11. Wagstaffe, R. 1978. Type specimens of Birds in the Merseyside County Museums (formerly City of Liverpool Museums). Liverpool: Merseyside County Museums. Address: Dr. R. W. Dickerman, Dept. of Microbiology, Cornell University Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10021, U.S.A. © British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. A newly described species of Melignomon (Indicatoridae) from Liberia, West Africa by P. R. Colston Received 7 October 1980 This is the second publication (see Forbes-Watson 1970) on the ornithological results of the survey initiated by the IUCN Nimba Research Committee on the ecology of the Nimba area in Liberia, West Africa. [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 290 Eleven specimens of a new honeyguide* were collected by A. D. Forbes- Watson and other members of the Nimba Research Laboratory between 1965 and 1974. They form part of a large collection of skins presented to the B.M.N.H. by the IUCN which are the subject of a major report (Colston, in press). Their measurements are given in Table tr. TABLE I Measurements of M. e/sentrauti and M. zenkeri (mm and gm), M. eisentrauti(6 33,5 22) M. zenkeri(2 33,3 22) wing $3 79-86 (mean 83.2) wing $$ 79-81 (mean 80) tail $3 47-52 (49.8) tail 3S 45-50 (49) bill $d 12-13 (12.8) bill do D2 (12) tarsus gd 15-17 (16) tarsus 3d 15-16 (iss) weight gd 21-29 (25.5) wing 92 78-82 (mean 80.6) wing 992 ' F275 (mean 73.3) tail 22 46-50 (47.4) tail 22 45-46 (45.7) bill 292 = 12-13 (12.4) bill Oy AES (12) tarsus 92 I5-17 (15.8) tarsus 99 14-16 (15) weight 992 18-24.9 (22.4) Description. Similar to M. zenkeri but larger (see Table 1) and with brighter more olive-yellow upperparts, much paler, greyer underparts, and con- siderably more white on the outer tail feathers, which are also broader and less graduated in length. The head is olive-green, merging into a brighter olive-yellow on the back and rump (dusky olivaceous, merging into olive- brown on the back in zenkeri); the wings-are washed with brighter yellowish- green (olive-brown with duller green edgings in zenker7); and the underparts are pale grey with a faint green wash across the upper breast, becoming whiter towards the lower belly and undertail coverts (olive brown and paler on the belly in zenker7). The primaries and 2 central pairs of tail feathers are black (brownish in zenkeri), and the underwing coverts are pale greyish-white (olivaceous-yellow in zenkeri). The bill is small and pointed as in zenkeri, but is distinctly paler, yellowish-brown (blackish in zewker7). The legs are pale yellow (dull greenish-yellow in zenker7). M. ecsentrauti is a much brighter bird above but greyer below than zenkerz. Annual Cycle (from collectors’ labels and skins). None of the birds was considered to be in breeding condition. Sep and Nov g¢ were slightly worn and June and Aug ¢¢ were in fresh plumage. An Oct 2 was in worn con- dition and the remaining 99 were mostly in fresh plumage. Food. Recorded as insects, yellow wax (or pollen?), small fruits and some seeds. Differences between young M. eisentrauti and M. zenkeri. In addition to the 11 specimens from Mt. Nimba, there is a single specimen in the B.M.N.H. collection from Cameroun. It was collected by Dr. W. Serle in secondary forest at Bakebe and previously thought by Serle to be an immature specimen of M. zenkeri (Serle 1959: 65). The bird is a J in fresh plumage and does not *A copy of this paper, proposing a new name, was sent to Dr. M. Louette in October 1980, shortly after it had been submitted for publication. Dr. Louette has since seen fit to describe the new honeyguide without informing us of his intention (Louette 1981, a new species of honeyguide from West Africa, Rev. Zool. Afr. 95: 131-135—Melignomon eisentrauti). His paper came to hand while this one was in proof and it has been possible to do little more than delete the proposed name and substitute e/sentrauti for it in the text and table. 291 [Bull B.O.C. 1981: 10 1(2)] appear to differ significantly from Nimba adult specimens of ecsentrauti. Its gonads were recorded as small. The skull was partially pneumatised and it was probably a bird of the year. Its legs were noted as orange-yellow. The bill was also orange-yellow with some brownish areas. The wing measures 76 mm, tail 45 mm and bill 12 mm. Six B.M.N.H. specimens of zenkeri include a juv ¢ recently fledged, collected by G. L. Bates on 22 March 1906 at Bitye on the River Ja in the Camerouns (B.M.N.H. No. 1911.5.31.137). Its bill was only partially formed and the tail half grown. The plumage is dark greenish above and considerably duskier greyish-green below. Serle remarks that he examined the short series of adult zenkeri obtained by Bates now in the B.M.N.H. However, he failed to note the significance of the juvenile in that collection. Had he done so he would have realised that his own much brighter yellow-green (? imm) specimen from Cameroun did not fit the plumage sequence of zenkeri. The tail pattern of the juv zenkeri is identical to that of the adult and quite different from that of e7sentrauti. Dr. Serle himself remarked on this difference: “The amount of white on the four outer pairs of rectrices is much greater. The outermost pair are white tipped light brown, the brown tip extending 15 mm along the outer web and 4 mm along the inner web; the next pair are white narrowly edged with brown to 12 mm from the tip along the outer web only; the next pair are entirely white’’. Remarks. The genus Me/ignomon was long thought to consist of a single species, M. zenkeri. With the discovery of e/sentrauti, a species apparently en- demic to the Upper Guinea forest, and as far as is known, allopatric with zenkeri (see Snow (1978), map 374), it seems probable that the genus consists of 2 species in a single super-species. M. zenkeri is found from the southern Camerouns to the northern part of the Congo forest east to Semliki. It seems likely ezsentrauti will be found in other areas of the Upper Guinea forest. References : Forbes-Watson, A. D. 1970. A new species of Me/aenornis (Muscicapinae) from Liberia. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 90: 145-148. Serle, W. 1959. Note on the immature plumage of the Honey-guide Melignomon zenkeri Reichenow. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 79: 65. Snow, D. W. (Ed.) 1978. An Atlas of Speciation in African Non-passerine Birds. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist.: London. White, C. M. N. 1965. A Revised Check-list of African Non-passerine Birds. Government Printer: Lusaka. Address: P. R. Colston, Sub-department of Ornithology, British Museum (Natural History), Tring, Hertfordshire, England, ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. A House x Somali Sparrow Passer domesticus x P. castanopterus hybrid by J. S. Ash & P. RB. Colston Received 18 August 1980 A bird resembling a g House Sparrow Passer domesticus was found by J.S.A. consorting with a small colony of Somali Sparrows P. castanopterus on 6 March 1980 in a sea-cave at Hal Hambo (01°54’N, 45°o5’E), 31 km south- west of Mogadishu, Somalia. As there were problems concerning its identification it was collected the following day, and identified at the British [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 292 Museum of Natural History, Tring, by P.R.C. and Derek Goodwin as a hybrid between these 2 species. FIELD IDENTIFICATION At first the bird was thought to be P. domesticus, as it was clearly very different from the dozen or so P. castanopterus present; but closer observation showed that it possessed several puzzling features—notably a poorly defined white wing bar, no white supercilium—merely a pale patch near the base of the bill, and a creamy-yellowish wash on the whitish cheek patches and down the centre of the greyish underparts. From the limited literature available in Somalia it was tentatively identified as P. d. indicus, with the possibility, however, that it might be a hybrid. Its grey crown and rump ruled out all races of the Rufous Sparrow P. zagoensis, except for insularis and hemileucus, and these 2 Socotran forms were excluded because they both show a dark line overt the eat coverts—a character found throughout the range of P. dagoensis. MUSEUM IDENTIFICATIONS The hybrid. The specimen was compared with long series of Passer spp. in the British Museum collection, together with a typical g P. ¢. castanopterus collected on 26 June 1979 from the same site as the specimen under review. It was confidently identified beyond reasonable doubt as a P. domesticus x castanopterus hybrid, for the following reasons: basically it is P. domesticus sharing features of P. castanopterus, notably the yellowish cheeks; some of the black feathers on the mantle have whiter edges than in P. domesticus and are — more akin to features shown by castanopterus; the normal conspicuous white wing bar of a 5 domesticus is reduced to a narrow white line in the hybrid (castanopterus lacks a white wing bar); the rest of the plumage and the size of the specimen agrees with P. domesticus. Description of hybrid. The whole of the top of the head from base of bill, grey; a small pale patch (reduced supercilium) near the base of the bill; a natrow chestnut band extending from just in front of and above the eye, over the ear coverts and round the nape; rest of the upperparts with near- black and whitish streaks on a greyish ground colour; rump grey; a black bib, scaly below; near white cheek patches washed with pale yellow; rest of underparts grey, but with pale yellow down the centre; wings chestnut with black streaks on coverts, and a single rather poorly defined whitish wing bar; bill black; tarsi yellowish-brown; wing-length 73 mm; weight 23.7 g; testes partly developed (8 mm). Registration Number: 1979-11-2. The local 3 P. castanopterus obtained the same day is the eastern, nominate form P. ¢. castanopterus, and is typical in all respects. Wing-length 70 mm; weight 17.8 g; testes partly developed(z mm). Registration Number: 1979-11-1. POSSIBILITIES OF ORIGIN The origin of such a specimen clearly must be from somewhere within the present range of P. castanopterus, so that a review of the knowledge of this species’ distribution in East Africa, and also that of P. domesticus, is necessary. Distribution of P. castanopterus. The species’ range is confined to the horn of Africa. The eastern, nominate race is common and widespread throughout Somalia and southeastern Ethiopia between 2° and 12°N and east of 41°E. It is the town sparrow of this region, but also has a rural distribution, and is particularly associated with the coast in eastern Somalia. The small colony at Hal Hambo found by J.S.A. is 167 km southwest of the nearest known 293 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] P. castanopterus colony, at Demodo (02°40’N, 46°14’E), and 206 km southeast of another fringe colony, at Baidoa (03°07’N, 42°38’E). A western population, separated as P. c. fulgens, occurs in southwest Ethiopia in the Lakes Stephanie and Rudolf area and extends into northern Kenya. We can find no evidence to support the statements in Mackworth- Praed & Grant (1960) that it occurs in south central Ethiopia, nor that it is found in south Ethiopia (Urban & Brown 1971). The latter authors’ reference to southeast Ethiopia should refer to the nominate form. Distribution of P. domesticus. The House Sparrow is virtually unknown in Somalia and adjoining Ethiopia and Kenya. The reference in Mackworth- Praed & Grant (1960) to P. d. niloticus at Berbera (10°26’N, 45°o2’E), “where it was probably introduced”, presumably refers to the adult ¢ specimen (niloticus) in the British Museum collected by Dr. R. E. Drake-Brockman at Berbera on 9 April 1905 (Registration Number: 1905-6-1-9). However, we ate unable to trace any report of this species in the literature from this locality, or from anywhere else in Somalia, and in particular it is not alluded to in Hall & Moreau (1970), White (1963) or Archer & Godman (1961). For Kenya, Mackworth-Praed & Grant state that the House Sparrow P. d. indicus “probably now occurs at Mombasa”. P. L. Britton (é “ite. 19.4.80) has very kindly provided a detailed review of the present situation at Mombasa, which appears to be the only Kenya locality for P. domesticus. Following the discovery by him of a pair in April 1979, subsequent investi- gations by several observers revealed a small thriving breeding population; but all the indications were that this seemed to be a fresh introduction (probably by accident from a ship or ships), and that there was no previous evidence that it had ever become established on the East African mainland. There are no records from Ethiopia. Conclusion. The present hybrid can only have been bred within the range of P. castanopterus. It is unlikely that the P. domesticus parent involved originated from Mombasa, well outside the range of P. castanopterus, especially as all the birds in the small colony at Hal Hambo appear to be typical castanopterus. Berbera, as another possible source, and within the range of P. castanopterus, is over 1000 km away and there is no evidence that P. domesticus is there now. We must conclude therefore that the hybrid has atisen from a pairing between these two Passer species at an undiscovered site in Somalia, probably not too far distant from Hal Hambo, almost certainly involving a House Sparrow which arrived by a ship-assisted passage within the range of the Somali Sparrow. To the best of our knowledge this is the only known occurrence of a Passer domesticus x castanopterus hybrid. Hybrid P. domesticus x montanus ate not uncommon (Rooke 1957, Richardson 1957). Acknowledgements: We thank Derek Goodwin for his help in the identification of specimens, and Peter Britton for his valuable notes on the status of Passer domesticus in Kenya. References : Archer, G, & Godman, E. M. 1961. Birds of British Somaliland and the Gulf of Aden, Oliver & Boyd: Edinburgh & London. Hall, B. P. & Moreau, R. E. 1970. An Aflas of Speciation in African Passerine Birds, British Museum (Natural History): London, [ Bull. B.O.C. 1981: to1(2)] 294 Mackwotth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1960. African Handbook of Birds of Eastern and North Eastern "Africa. Longmans Green: London. Richardson, R. A. 1957. Hybrid Tree x House Sparrow in Norfolk. Brit, Birds 50: 80-81. Rooke, K. B. 1957. Hybrid Tree x House Sparrow in Dotset. Brit. Birds 50: 79-80. Urban, E. K. & Brown, L. H. 1971. A Checklist of the Birds of Ethiopia. Haile Sellassie I University: Addis Ababa. White, C. M. N. 1963. A Revised Check List of African Flycatchers, etc. Government Printer: Lusaka. Addresses: Dr. J. S. Ash, Division of Birds, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560, U.S.A. P, R. Colston, British Museum (Natural History), Sub-Department of Ornithology, Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 6AP, England. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. New subspecies of Pipreola riefferii and Chlorospingus ophthalmicus from Peru by John P. O'Neill & Theodore A. Parker II Received 25 September 1980 Studies in Peru by members of the Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology and their associates have turned up a rather astounding number of new forms of birds. Series of the cotinga Pipreola riefferii from the Carpish and Sira Mountains of central Peru are quite distinct and we propose to call them Pipreola riefferii tallmanorum subsp. nov. Type: Adult male, collected on 5 August 1973 by Erika J. Tallman on the trail to Hacienda Paty below (NE) Carpish Pass, Department of Huanuco, Peru, elevation c. 2200 m, No. 74145, Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology. (Dan A. Tallman original number 1734.) Description: The male differs from males of all other subspecies in its combination of small size, shiny black head and throat and nearly unmarked lemon yellow lower breast and belly. Females differ from females of all other subspecies in their small size, the slightly darker (more bluish) green upper- parts, and the slightly more golden yellow of the underparts. Measurement of type (mm): Wing (chord) 85.2, tail 68.6, tarsus 19.5, culmen from base 13.9. Range: So far as known, the upper Subtropical and lower Temperate Zones of the eastern slope of the Cordillera Carpish and the Subtropical Zone of the Cerros de Sira, both in the Department of Huanuco, central Peru. Specimens examined: Pipreola r. riefferii (7). Colombia: “Bogota,” 1 3 subad. (AMNH); “Columbia,” 2 gg (AMNH); Subia, 1 fg (AMNH); El Roble, 1 9 (AMNH); parte alta de Fusugasuga, 1 9(AMNH); El Eden, 1 ¢(AMNH). P. r. occidentalis (4). Colombia: Ricaurte, 1 ¢ (LSUMZ); Cerro Munchique, 2 99(LSUMZ): Moscopan, 1 § (LSUMZ). P. r. chachapoyas (incl. confusa) (33). Peru: ridge E (above) San José de Lourdes, 2 gg, 2 29 (LSUMZ);.20 trail km:E La ‘Peca, 4. ¢¢;c1 Qi =ngee 2 99 (LSUMZ); 12 trail km E La Peca, 1 9 (LSUMZ); Cordillera Colan, 1 9 (LSUMZ); 33 td. km NE Ingenio, 2 gg (LSUMZ); 10 rd. km NE Abra Patricia, 4 3g, 3 99 (LSUMZ): Chachapoyas, 1 ¢ (AMNH); La Lejia, 1g, 1 9 (AMNH); San Pedro, 2 gg, 1 9 (AMNH); Cumpang, 5 gg (LSUMZ). 295 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: to1(2)] _ P.r. tallmanorum (23). Peru: Cerros del Sira, 6 33, 5 22 (AMNH); trail to Hda. Paty, 8 gg, 4 99 (LSUMZ). Remarks: We take great pleasure in naming this new form for Dan A. and _ Erika J. Tallman whose studies of Carpish birds have added much to the _ knowledge of Peru’s avifauna. The new form is most like P. r. riefferii of Colombia and Venezuela in having the underparts lightly marked, but the 2 are quite different in size (5 male P. r. riefferii have an average wing length of 90.9 mm and a tail of 72.2 mm, while 14 male P. r. ¢allmanorum have wing and tail averages of 84.0 mm and 68.6 mm respectively). P. r. tallmanorum is quite distinct from its nearest relative to the north, P. r. chachapoyas. There are no Pipreola specimens known from the area _ between eastern La Libertad and central Huanuco, but the populations from _ these 2 areas are different enough from each other for us strongly to suspect _ that their ranges are not continuous. Indeed, the differences are such that _ detailed field studies could prove it to merit specific status. In examining all known forms of P7preo/a riefferii we came to the conclusion that the relationship between P. r. chachapoyas and P. r. confusa is indeed most confusing. Among 27 recently collected specimens of both sexes from within the range of P. r. confusa south into the range of P. r. chachapoyas, the _ differences between the 2 are obscure. Birds from southern Ecuador and northern Peru (south-central Amazonas, northern San Martin) are heavily marked below and all have the black of the upper breast washed with mossy green. Birds from the mountains east of the Rio Chiriaco in northern San Martin are the most heavily marked, but just west of there in the mountains on the other side of the Rio Chiriaco in south-central Amazonas the birds are fairly typical of P. r. chachapoyas. These Amazonas birds are, in general, slightly more heavily marked than birds in the paratypic series from nearer to the city of Chachapoyas. In a series from the Cordillera Colan, on the south side of the Rio Marafion in central Amazonas (5° 34’ S, 78° 19’ W), there is enough variation for us to be able to pick out males typical of both P. r. confusa and P. r. chachapoyas. Actually, specimens in the series collected near the town of Chachapoyas are the least marked of all north Peruvian birds, but as noted above they can be matched by birds from the Cordillera Colan. With the lack of differences between the 2 forms, we consider that birds from eastern Ecuador south at least to eastern La Libertad in Peru should all be considered under a single name, P. r. chachapoyas. P. r. tallmanorum is uncommon in the Carpish Mountains; it was noted daily in small numbers between 2130 m and 2280 m, usually in pairs or groups of 3—4 individuals, almost always in fruiting trees of the family Melastomataceae. The song, given by both sexes, consists of several soft, high-pitched notes followed by a very thin, high-pitched “‘seeee”; this series of notes may be written “‘ti-ti-ti-seeee” and is quite like that of P. 7. chachapoyas, both north and south of the Rio Marafidn, as well as reminiscent of vocalizations of P. intermedia. The latter species was also found to occur in the Carpish region, and it narrowly overlaps with P. riefferiz there, but seems to be more prevalent at higher elevations (2280 m to 2430 m). Snow (1973) questioned the sympatry of P. riefferii and P. intermedia in the Department of La Libertad. In 1979, LSUMZ personnel found these 2 species together there, occasionally feeding in the same fruiting melastomes, [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(2)]} 296 at Cumpang, between 2280 m and 2430 m. We now know that the 2 occur together at least in La Libertad and Huanuco in the Eastern Cordillera of central Peru. Ppreola arcuata and P. pulchra also inhabit the cloud forests of the Carpish Mountains, occurring mainly higher and lower, respectively, than P. riefferii. * * * In 1947 John T. Zimmer, writing about the bush tanager Chlorospingus ophthalmicus, stated that “there is, as stated on an earlier page, a wide hiatus in notthern Peru where the species has not been found, while phacocephalus [= C. 0. phaeocephalus| of Ecuador appears to remain beyond the Peruvian boundary. It is probable that some representative of the species will be found in suitable terrain between the Junin region and the Ecuadorian frontier, but it has yet to be discovered. Considering the quantity of material that has been assembled at various times by different workers in the region it is surprising that a member of the group has not been discovered to date”’. We too find it surprising that no specimen of C. ophthalmicus was collected in northern Peru until 1968, as the species seems to be as common there as it is elsewhere in Peru. We have 26 specimens from the Departments of Amazonas, La Libertad, San Martin, and Huanuco. This previous lack of material serves to further highlight the general paucity of detailed ornithological investigations at higher elevations on the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes. The 23 specimens from northern Peru, south of the Rio Marafion, are recognizably different and we propose should be known as Chlorospingus ophthalmicus hiaticolus subsp. nov. Type: Adult male, collected on 24 August 1976 by John P. O’Neill, 10 km (by road) below (NE) Abra Patricia on the road to Rioja, Departamento de San Martin, Peru, elevation c. 1890 m, No. 82222, Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology. (John P. O’Neill original number 5657.) Description: Most like C. 0. peruvianus of southern Peru, but differing from that form by averaging slightly larger and by having the yellow breast band duller (slightly greener). There is also a tendency for most specimens to have less dark speckling on the throat, whiter bellies, and a less pronounced dark ear patch than is present in C. 0. peruvianus. Also somewhat like C. o. phaeocephalus of Ecuador and extreme northern Peru (6 recently collected, see specimens examined), but overall brighter, with paler, less speckled throat, whiter belly, and yellower (less olive) pectoral band. Measurements of type (mm): Wing (chord) 72.9, tail 56.9, tarsus 23.0, culmen from base 14.9. Range: So far as known, the upper Subtropical and lower Temperate Zones of the eastern Andes in the Departments of Amazonas (Cordillera Colan northeast of Bagua Chica), San Martin (mountains west of Rioja), La Libertad (Cumpang, on Tayabamba-Ong6on trail), and Huanuco (Cordillera Carpish, northeast of Hudnuco city), but probably occurring in suitable habitat from the Cordillera Colan in Amazonas south at least to the north side of the canyon of the Rio Huallaga in Huanuco. Specimens examined: Chlorospingus semifuscus (9). Colombia: Ricaurte, 2 99 (LSUMZ); Ricaurte, 1 9,1 ¢ imm. (FMNH); Cerro Munchique, 2 3g, 3 22 (FMNH). C. 0. phaeocephalus (5). Ecuador: El Chiral, 1 g, 2 99 (AMNH); Sumaco : : 297 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] arriba, ¢ (AMNH). Peru: Playon, 1 sex? (LSUMZ); Sapalache-Carmen trail, 5 292(LSUMZ). C. 0. hiaticolus (26). Peru: 20 trail km E La Peca, 5 99 (LSUMZ); 10 km NE Abra Patricia, 3 3g, 2 99, 1 sex P (LSUMZ); Cumpang, 3 gg, 5 29, 1 sex? (LSUMZ); Paty Trail, 2 fg (LSUMZ); E slope Cordillera Carpish [ = Paty Trail], 2 gg, 2 99(LSUMZ). C. 0. cinereocephalus (11). Peru: Cerros del Sira, 4 gg, 4 292 (AMNH); Chelpes, 1 g, 1 9(AMNH); Estera Ruana, 1 3(LSUM Z). C. 0. peruvianus (10). Peru: Hda. Cadena, 1 g, 1 9(FMNH); La Oroya, 2 fg (ANSP); Oconeque, 1 g, 1 9(ANSP); Bosque Aputinye, 1 J, 1 9(LSUMZ); Santo Domingo (Inca Mine), 1 9 (ANSP); 5 km NE San José on Rio Huari Huari, 1 9(LSUMZ). Remarks: The fact that the new form was not discovered until 1968 is most surprising. We can only surmise that earlier workers did not spend time at the elevations where Chlorospingus ophthalmicus occurs. We have named the new form Aiaticolus, meaning “gap inhabitor,” to highlight the fact that the apparent hiatus in the range of the species is not real. C. 0. hiaticolus is common throughout its known range, and is frequently noted in mixed-species flocks of other tanagers and honeycreepers that move from fruiting tree to tree in primary forest and in advanced second growth at the forest edge. These bush-tanagers also search for insects on leaves, and in epiphytic growth on branches in the forest canopy and subcanopy. Males establish territories at the forest edge and in forest openings (i.e. treefalls), where they sing from inconspicuous perches 10-20 m above ground. The primary song (see Fig. 1) consists of an accelerating series of chip notes followed by a harsh trill, and has been recorded from June to October, but the species may sing throughout the year. This bush-tanager is most vocal after dawn and late in the afternoon. \ ll nhs, time in seconds UA ARARARARARVAEARAT 1 2 3 4 5 Fig. 1. Sonograms of a portion of the songs of Chlorospingus ophthalmicus hiaticolus (uppet) from near Abra Patricia, San Martin, Peru, and C. o. cinereocephalus (lower) from the Cerros del Sira, Huanuco, Peru. Both sonograms include only the last few notes of the series of chips, but show all notes in the trill, We wanted to compare the voices of the various forms of C. ophthalmicus occurring in Peru, but the only tape-recordings available are those of C. o. hiaticolus and C. o. cinereocephalus. Fig. 1 shows that the introductory chip [ Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 298 notes of the 2 forms are fairly similar, but the terminal trills (of at least these individuals) are quite different in rate, frequency and fine structure of the notes. Additionally, C. 0. Aiaticolus has a high-pitched component in its song that is apparently lacking in the song of C. 0. cinereocephalus. Despite these differences, we feel that before a decision can be made about their specific status, more tape-recordings of and playback experimentation with these and the forms C’. 0. phaeocephalus, C. 0. peruvianus and C. semifuscus are needed. The new form is somewhat puzzling morphologically in that it does not drastically differ from C. 0. peruvianus of southern Peru. However, the populations of the races to the north and south of it, C. 0. phaeocephalus and C. 0. cinereocephalus respectively, are distinctly different. C. 0. cinereocephalus, which separates hzaticolus from peruvianus, is drastically different, having the yellow portion of its pattern replaced by pale buff. It is also the largest of the Peruvian races, especially in wing length (see Table 1). If C. 0. Aiaticolus were in contact with C. 0. peruvianus, we would probably merge the 2 under one TABLE I Selected measurements (mm) of the four Peruvian races of Chlorospingus ophthalmicus WING TAIL CULMEN FROM BASE males females males females males females C. 0. phaeocephalus n=2 n=z2 n=2 n=2 n=2 n=2 70.0-71.0 59.6-63.8 56.3-59.3 47-7-52.8 14.3-14.7 14.2-14.5 (70.5) (61.7) (57-8) (50.3) (14.5) (14.3) C. 0. hiaticolus n= me hse i— 02 fi—=9 n= n=9 70.2-74.9 66.0-68.5 55.3—-63.0 54-9-59.1 13.5-15.2 14.2-14.9 (72.1) (66.6) (60.0) (56.7) (14.7) (14.5) C.. 0. cinereocephalus n=7 n=4 n=6 n=4 n=7 n=4 69.5-74.9 65.9-71.0 60.0-64.0 55.5—60.0 13.0-15.9 13.5-15.5 (73.2) (67.5) (62.1) (58.1) (14.4) (14.1) C. 0. peruvianus n=5 n=§ n= 5 n=5 n==4 n=5 64.0-71.5 58.2-68.5 56.5-60.0 53.0-60.9 13.8—-14.8 12.8-14.6 (67.1) (64.4) (59.0) (57-0) (14.4) (14.0) name, but since the 2 are separated by a distinctly different form, and are separable on morphological criteria, we feel that the north-Peruvian bird should be distinguished by name*. C. 0. phaeocephalus, recently collected in Peru from the mountains east of Huancabamba, is apparently totally separated from the new form by the arid Marafion valley. There is no indica- tion that gene flow presently takes place between any of the 4 Peruvian subspecies. The specific status of C. 0. cinereocephalus has always been questionable. It was originally described as a separate species, but was later made a subspecies of C. semifuscus (Hellmayr 1936), which it resembles in having the yellow ventral markings replaced by buff. It is, however, now again considered to be a subspecies of C. ophthalmicus. * A series of 20 specimens of C’. 0. peruvianus collected in the Department of Puno, Peru by LSUMZ personnel after this paper went to press, show the colour differences between peruvianus and hiaticolus to be even more obvious than previously ascertained. 299 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] We attempted to gather data to determine the relationships of C. 0. cinereocephalus to C. semifuscus and of both of them to the rest of the C. ophthalmicus complex, but not enough information exists to do so. We predict that C. semifuscus will be found to be restricted to the western Andes of Colombia and Ecuador and that in Ecuador it will be actually found only on the western slopes. The only place that C. semifuscus and C. ophthalmicus have been collected together is Gualea, on the west slope of the Western Andes in Ecuador, but there is some doubt as to the actual site where the C. ophthalmicus specimen was collected (Zimmer 1947). Acknowledgements: John S. Mclilhenny, Babette M. Odom, H. Irving Schweppe, Laura R. Schweppe and E. W. Mudge have all been unfailing in their support of the LSUMZ field programmes. The Peruvian Direccién General Forestal y de Fauna of the Ministerio de Agricultura authorized our work. We thank John W. Fitzpatrick of the Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH) and Wesley E. Lanyon of the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) for the loan of comparative material. O’Neill and Parker gratefully acknowledge grants in 1975 and 1979 respectively from the Chapman Memorial Fund of the AMNH. John S. Weske, who collected the series of P. riefferii tallmanorum from the Cerros del Sira in Peru, also generously supplied a tape recording of Ch/orospingus ophthalmicus cinereocephalus, also from the Sira. References: Hellmayr, C. E. 1936. Catalogue of the birds of the Americas and the adjacent islands. Zoological Series, Field Museum Nat. Hist. 13: 458pp. Snow, D. W. 1973. The classification of the Cotingidae (Aves). Brevoria 409: 1-27. Zimmer, J. T. 1947. Studies of Peruvian birds No. 52, the genera Sericossypha, Chloro- spingus, Cnemoscopus, Hemispingus, Conothraupis, Chlorornis, Lamprospiza, Cissopis, and Schistochlamys. American Mus. Novitates 1367: 1-26. Address: Dr. J. P. O’Neill and T. A. Parker III, Museum of Zoology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge LA 70893, USA. © British Ornithologists’ Club. The morphology of Sardinian Warblers Sylvia melanocephala and Blackcaps S. africapilla resident on Gibraltar by J. C’. Finlayson Received 18 August 1980 The Sardinian Warbler Sy/via melanocephala and the Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla are the main resident foliage-gleaning insectivores at Gibraltar. The Sardin- -ian Warbler is common within its essentially circum-Mediterranean range (Vaurie 1959, Voous 1960), and is associated typically with Mediter- ranean scrub. The Blackcap is widespread in the Palaearctic, and is mostly associated with mature woodland rather than with maquis, even within the Mediterranean region (Cody & Walter 1976). At Gibraltar, the 2 species occupy maquis vegetation and are often in close contact. During 1973-1979 Sardinian Warblers and Blackcaps were mist-netted in a 2-ha site in the maquis at Gibraltar. At least 10 visits were made to the site most months. Retraps were frequent at all times of year and this established that Sardinian Warblers were resident and that 2 Blackcap populations were involved, a resident one and a migratory one. Ringing recoveries suggest [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 300 that these migratory Blackcaps originate from Western Europe north of the Pyrenees. MORPHOLOGY Sardinian Warbler Sy/via melanocephala Williamson (1974) recognizes 4 sub-species of S. melanocephala. The nominate S. wm. melanocephala occurs on the mainland of Mediterranean Europe and in North Africa. It is also found in the Balearic Islands, Corsica, Sardinia, Malta and Sicily. In the Middle East it is replaced by S. m. momus. The other 2 sub-species have very local distributions, S. m. /eucogastra, considered synonymous with me/anocephala by Vaurie (1959), in the Canary Islands and S. m. norrisae in Egypt. Vaurie (1959) also accepts S. m. pasiphae from Crete and some Greek islands, but it is omitted by Williamson. In all aspects, with the important exception of bill length, the Sardinian Warblers which are resident on Gibraltar fall within the range of measure- ments of S. #7. melanocephala (Table 1) and have similar plumage. They are, however, longer-billed (Williamson 1974), a small sample of skins conform- ing with Williamson’s data, which suggests the difference in bill length is a real one. TABLE I Measurements (mm) of Sardinian Warblers Sy/via melanocephala trapped at Gibraltar. (S.D. = Standard Deviation) Mean (N) S.D. Mean (N) S.D. Bill length Tarsus length Adult 3 14.0(13) 0.81 Adult 3 19.3(13) 1.31 Adult 13.9(10) 0.70 Adult ? 20.1(10) 1.74 Juvenile £32973). Ou7 7. ' Juvenile 20.5(73) 1.68 Wing length Tail length Adult 3 58.2(13) 1.09 Adult 3 59.4(13) 2.62 Adult 9 58.1(10) 0.74 Adult 9 56.3(8) 3.16 Juvenile 58.1(140) 1.68 Juvenile 57-1(71) 2.68 Bill, tarsus and tail measured with calipers to the nearest 0.1 mm. Wing measured with ruler to nearest mm (flattened measurement). P> 0.05 in all cases. Blackcap Sy/via atricapilla Throughout the whole of the Palaearctic mainland the Blackcap is divided into 2 sub-species, the nominate S. a. atricapilla in the west, and S. a. dammholzi in the east (Vaurie 1959). Several sub-species have also been described from islands. Vaurie (1959) recognizes S. a. paulucci in Sardinia and S. a. heineken from Madeira (Williamson (1974) adds the Canary Islands). Williamson recognizes the form S. a. koenigi from the Balearic Islands and also S. a. atlantis from the Azores and Cape Verde Islands. In general, the island forms appear darker than those of the mainland and some have shorter wings. In all island forms, the position of the tip of the second primary lies between the tips of primaries 6 and 7, or even between 7 and 8. In the nominate race this is rare, the tip of the second primary usually being in line with the tips of primaries 5 and 6 (Williamson 1974 and pers. obs.). In Europe there is some evidence of a cline in some characters from west to east (Vaurie 1959), but in a series of skins examined at the British Museum (Natural History) I have not found any indication of grading of characters between northern and southern Europe. Nevertheless, the resident Blackcap at Gibraltar differs recognisably from the more northern nominate sub- species in several characters. Since migrant nominate birds are present at 301 [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(2)] Gibraltar alongside local birds from September to May, a comparative morphological analysis was possible using data gathered by a single observer. Birds exhibiting the characteristics of local Blackcaps were ringed and retrapped at all times of year. During the breeding season (April—July) adults showing these characteristics were recorded nesting in the maquis and ‘trapped birds had brood patches. Birds with characteristics of nominate birds were only trapped between September (a few) and May. They were never recorded breeding on Gibraltar. Some of these birds were trapped in subsequent winters. The local Gibraltar form is smaller than the nominate and weighs less. Weights of 30 local Blackcaps trapped in mid-winter (all during the morning) were significantly lower than those of 30 nominate birds trapped under the same conditions (Table 2). TABLE 2 Morphological differences between local and nominate Blackcaps Sy/via atricapilla trapped at Gibraltar. (S.D.=standard deviation). Local population Nominate race Mean(N) 5.1; Mean(N) S.D. Probability of difference Billlength(mm) — 14.0(22) 0.969 14.2(14) 0.512 >0 05 Wing length(mm) 68.6(30) 2.185 74.1(30) 1.874 < 0.001 Tarsus length (mm) 20.1(22) 1.365 19.8(14) 0.839 > 0.05 Taillength(mm) 59.1(22) 25223 57.7(14) 1.917 > 0.05 Weight (g) 17.6(30) 0.916 18.6(30) 1.529 <0.01 Tail:Wing ratio 86,15(22) 79.76(12) — Roundness of wing 80.80(23) 2.477 77.66(12) 1.733 — Measutements as Table 1. Weight measured to nearest 0.1 g. The wing is shorter in the local Blackcap, but bill and tarsus length are similar to the nominate (Table z). The tail appears to be slightly longer in the local form than in the nominate but the difference is not significant. The wing relative to weight is shorter in the local Blackcap than in the nominate, indicating that the shorter wing is not just due to the bird’s smaller overall size. The tail: wing-length ratio is higher in the local Blackcap (i.e. the tail is longer in relation to the wing), but this may be due to the reduction in wing length. The index of roundness (as defined by Gaston 1974) shows that the wing is more rounded in the local form than in the nominate (Table z). The wing formula of the local Blackcap differs from that of the nominate in several ways. The wing point is more frequently the fourth primary in the local Blackcap and the third in the nominate sub-species, but this is not exclusive. Primaries 1, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, and the first secondary are significantly longer, relative to the length of the wing, in the local Blackcap (Table 3). In the local Blackcap the position of the tip of the znd primary corresponds to that of the island forms, lying between the tips of primaries 6 and 7, very rarely between 5 and 6, which position is the rule in the nominate sub-species. In the local form the plumage in general is much darker than in the nominate form. The upper parts are a dark olive, which extends to the rump. The nape is dark grey, only slightly greyer than the rest of the upper parts in the female, but more conspicuous in the male. The crown is jet black in the male and reddish-brown in the female. The wings and tail are dark [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(2)] 302 brown. The under parts are greyer, less white, than in the nominate. The flanks are a uniform dark buffish-olive. The under-tail coverts are like the flanks, the throat and breast are grey buffish-olive. The belly is dirty white, with a greyish tinge towards the breast. TABLE 3 Relative lengths of flight feathers (mm, distant from wing point) in local and nominate Blackcaps Sy/via atricapilla trapped at Gibraltar. Primaty Distance(mm) from S.D. 95 % Confidence Limits tot wing point (N) Local 35.0(22) 1.988 34.2-35.8 — Nominate 37.7(13) 1.932 36.7-38.7 2nd Local 6.4(23) 0.988 6.0-6.8 Nominate 5.7(13) 1.032 5.1-6.3 3rd Local 0.2(23) 0.422 0-0.4 Nominate o=pt(14) — — 4th Local o=pt(23) — — Nominate 0.1(14) 0.267 O-0.2 5th Local 1.9(23) 0.733 1.6—2.2 Nominate 2.5(13) 1.330 1.8-3.2 6th Local 5.4(23) 0.935 5.0-5.8 Nominate 7.1(13) 1.754 6.2-8.1 7th Local 7.5(22) 1.074 7.1-8.0 Nominate 10.5(13) 1.506 9.7-11.3 8th Local 9.7(23) 1.265 9.2-10.2 Nominate 12.3(12) 1.357 11.5—13.1 oth Local 11.1(23) 1,290 10.6-11.6 Nominate 14.3(14) 1.729 13.4-15.2 roth Local 13.1(22) 1.§21 12.§-13.7 Nominate 16.4(14) 1.447 15.6-17.2 11th—Secondary Local 16,9(22) 1.670 16.2-17.6 Nominate 19.6(14) 1.447 18.8-20.4 Primaries numbered descendantly; secondaries ascendantly. The local Blackcaps also differ from the island sub-species in several ways. They are more olive, less grey, on the upper parts than S. a. paulucci. The range of wing length given for the latter race is 68-74 mm (Williamson 1974), some of them therefore having longer wings than the Gibraltar form (maximum recorded wing length = 72 mm). Similarly S. a. heineken (70-77 mm) and J. a. atlantis (69-78 mm) also have longer-winged individuals than 303 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] the Gibraltar form. Both S. a. heineken and S. a. atlantis have melanistic forms, but no such type has been found in Gibraltar. The separation of the Gibraltar form from S. a. oenigi is less clear, as this sub-species appears to have been identified from only 3 male skins, and comparative quantitative data cannot be used to distinguish them. DISCUSSION The 2 resident Syia species on Gibraltar thus differ morphologically from other known forms of their own species. The Blackcaps resident on Gibraltar have some resemblance to some of the island forms but it is unlikely that they share a common ancestor. It is more likely that these similarities are due to similar selective pressures acting in the different geographical areas. Most of the island forms have shorter, more rounded wings than the migratory forms, probably as a result of their sedentary existence (Gaston 1974). It is not known if the Gibraltar variants of the Sardinian Warbler and the Blackcap are restricted to the Rock. The Sardinian Warbler is widespread in the area around Gibraltar and there ought to be considerable gene flow between populations in the area, preventing the Gibraltar population from becoming genetically isolated (note however that of over 800 Sardinian Warblers ringed at Gibraltar none has been recovered in Spain or Morocco). The Blackcap, on the other hand, is a rare nesting species in the Spanish hinterland and along the Moroccan coastline (Professor F. Bernis, Dr C. M. Herrera, Mr J. Pineau, pers. comm.), and the Gibraltar population may on that account be genetically isolated; at least the chances of this being the case must be greater than for the Sardinian Warbler population. Irby (1895) commonly found the Blackcap on the Rock, but only a few pairs nested there, mainly in gardens; it may have established a good foothold there only recently as a breeding species, though alternatively the few seen by Irby may have been remnants of a larger breeding population when Gibraltar was wooded (Finlayson 1979). It is not possible to be certain of the reasons for the variations described. It is likely that the Gibraltar Blackcap has recently invaded the maquis on the Rock (Finlayson 1979) and that it has become morphologically adapted to this new breeding habitat. A shortening and rounding of the wing, an increase in the wing: tail ratio, and a decrease in size, are modifications consistent with species colonizing denser and lower vegetation than they have previously occupied (Gaston 1974). In this aspect the Blackcap is converging significantly with the Sardinian Warbler which is a typical maquis inhabitant. The local Sardinian Warbler may not differ from others in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar, but if the bill of Gibraltar birds is in fact longer, it may be an adaptation to taking a wider range of prey items than normal, since the range of breeding Sy/vza species on Gibraltar is very small. In other words, if the long beak is typical of the Gibraltar population, it could have evolved as a form of character release (Grant 1972). Acknowledgements: 1 would like to thank my wife, Geraldine, and John Cortes for helping me in the field and for many useful comments on the subject matter of this paper. The following kindly read earlier drafts of this paper: Dr. N. B. Davies, Dr. C. M. Perrins, Dr. U. Safriel and Dr. D. W. Snow. The British Ornithologists’ Union, through the David oS anc held at the Edward Grey Institute, Oxford, financed my 3 years work at ibraltar, [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(2)] 304 References: Cody, M. L. & Walter, H. 1976. Habitat selection and inter-specific interactions among Mediterranean sylviid warblers. Oskos 27: 210-238. Finlayson, J. C. 1979. The Ecology and Behaviour of Closely Related Species at Gibraltar (with special reference to swifts and warblers). D.Phil. thesis, Oxford. Gaston, A. 1974. Adaptation in the genus Phyl/oscopus. Ibis 116: 432-450. Grant, P. R. 1972. Convergent and divergent character displacement. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 4: 39-68. Irby, L. H. 1895. Lhe Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar. London: Taylor & Francis. Vaurtie, C. 1959. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna. Witherby: London. Voous, K. H. 1960. Atlas of European Birds. Nelson. Williamson, K. 1974. Identification for Ringers. BTO Field Guides, Nos. 7-9 (Geneta Cettia, Locustella, Acrocephalus, Hippolais, Phylloscopus, Sylvia). Address. Dr. J. C. Finlayson, 19 Warspite House, Varyl Begg Estate, Gibraltar. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. Three bird species new to Bolivia by S. W. Cardiff and J]. V. Remsen, Jr. Received 11 September 1980 Fieldwork conducted in the Departamento La Paz, Bolivia by the authors during summer 1980 produced specimens of 3 bird species not previously — recorded from the country. CHAMAEPETES GOUDOTII Sickle-winged Guan On 17 June, Cardiff collected 2 of this species, probably a mated pair, in humid Temperate zone forest at Cotapata (=Cocapata on some maps), 4.5 km WNW Chuspipata, alt. 3300 m:— Louisiana State University Museum of Zoology (LSUMZ) 95593, d, testes 7 x 2.5 mm; 740 g, heavy fat; and LSUMZ 95594, 9, ovary 17 x 12 mm, largest ovum 4 mm diameter; 778 g, heavy fat. Both birds had been feeding on hard purple fruit (7 mm diameter), several types of seeds (1 mm dia., 4 mm dia., and 4 x 4 x 6 mm), and pebbles (stomach contents of LSUMZ 95593 deposited in LSUMZ Stomach Contents Collection). Cardiff secured another specimen on 21 June at the same locality: LSUMZ 95595, 9, ovary 20 x 10 mm, largest ovum 4.5 mm dia., 772 g, heavy fat, stomach full of reddish fruit 4 mm dia., black seeds of 1 mm dia., some leaf parts, and pebbles. All birds were observed in the top or middle levels of trees 10-13 m in height. These were the only definite sightings made of this species during our 28 full days at Cotapata (28 May—24 June). The 3 specimens represent a distinct new subspecies to be described elsewhere (Cardiff in prep.). The Sickle-winged Guan had not been recorded previously south of Dpto. Junin, Peru (Meyer de Schauensee 1966, Delacour & Amadon 1973). It probably has a continuous distribution in appropriate habitat types from Colombia to central Bolivia, but it is easily overlooked due to its secretive habits, this possibly accounting for the apparent large gap in the southern portion of the range. Although most authors list the Sickle-winged Guan as occurring in Temperate as well as Subtropical zone forest (Meyer de Schauensee 1966, Delacour & Amadon 1973), the Cotapata records appear to be at an unusually high altitude for this species. Intensive fieldwork in the 305 [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(2)] Subtropical and Temperate zones of Peru by LSUMZ personnel during the past 10 years has produced only 10 specimens of C. goudoti7. Those with altitude data (9) were taken at elevations ranging from 793 to 2100 m (mean 1483 m). Two LSUMZ specimens from Colombia were taken at 2400 m. EUTOXERES CONDAMINI Buff-tailed Sicklebill Four individuals were caught in mist nets in humid Upper Tropical zone forest in the Serrania Bellavista, 47 km by road north of Caranavi, altitude 1350 m:— LSUMZ 95670, 16 July; 9, ovary 7 x 4 mm, largest ovum 1 mm dia.; 9.9 g, heavy fat; LSUMZ 95671, 27 July; 9, ovary 4 x 2 mm, largest ovum I mm dia.; 9.0 g, light fat; LSUMZ 95672, 28 July; 9, ovary 5 x 3 mm, largest ovum 1 mm dia.; 9.2 g, moderate fat; and LSUMZ 95673, 31 July; d, testes 2.5 x 2 mm; 11.5 g, heavy fat (all prepared by C. S. Cardiff). The stomachs of all 4 specimens contained insect parts. No free-flying individuals were observed during the 23 full days (10 July-z August) we remained at this locality. This range extension is not surprising since the species occurs continuously from southeastern Colombia to Dpto. Puno, Pero (Meyer de Schauensee 1966) in Tropical and Upper Tropical zone forest. GRALLARIA GUATIMALENSIS Scaled Antpitta A single singing individual was studied by Remsen and Cardiff and subsequently collected by Cardiff at the Serrania Bellavista site (see under Extoxeres condamini) on 25 July:— LSUMZ 96068, 3, left testis 6 x 3 mm; skull ossified; 89 g, little fat, stomach full of arthropod parts (stomach contents deposited in LSUMZ Stomach Contents Collection). This individual was located as it sang repeatedly from one of the few level areas in the generally steep terrain. The bird displayed moderate interest towards imita- tions of its song. Singing usually took place on slightly elevated perches such as dead logs, with one to many songs given before hopping or flying to the next song perch. One such flight was estimated to cover 10 m. Another individual was heard by Remsen on 27 July at the same locality. This species was not previously recorded south of Dpto. Cuzco, Peru (Meyer de Schauensee 1966). The presently known distribution is more disjunct than those of species such as Extoxeres condamini (see above), but future fieldwork may fill in current gaps. We suspect the species is con- tinuously distributed in appropriate habitat from Mexico to central Bolivia and has probably been overlooked in certain areas due to its secretive habits and limited altitudinal distribution. Acknowledgements: We ate grateful to Dr. Arturo Castafios, Direccion de Ciéncia y Tecnologia and to the Académia Nacional de Ciéncias for permission to work in Bolivia. Prof. Gaston Bejarano and Dr. Jorge Velasco provided invaluable assistance. We are grateful to Mrs. Babette Odum, Mr. John S. Mcllhenny, and Mr. and Mrs. H. Irving Schweppe for their generous financial support. References: Delacour, J. & Amadon, D. 1973. Curassows and Related Birds. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., New York, Meyer de Schauensee, R. 1966. The Species of Birds of South America and their Distribution. Narberth, Pennsylvania: Livingston Press. Address: S. W. Cardiff and J. V. Remsen, Jr., Museum of Zoology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70893, U.S.A. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(2)] 306 Breeding of six Palaearctic birds in southwest Mauritania by P. W. P. Browne Received 17 August 1980 While living in Nouakchott during the years 1978-1980, I discovered evidence of the breeding of the Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus, Cream-coloured Courser Cyrsorius cursor, Gull-billed Tern Sterna nilotica, Hoopoe Lark A/aemon alaudipes, Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor and Desert Sparrow Passer simplex in parts of southwest Mauritania where breeding has not previously been reported. These species appear to reach the southern extremity of their breeding range in or near this area. The localities are shown in Figure 1. For comparison, breeding data of other authors are given in the inset map Figure 2. CHARADRIUS ALEXANDRINUS. Kentish Plovers are present the whole year in Southern Mauritania and in 1978 maximum numbers were seen in March and April (monthly counts not made in other years). On passage, they were sometimes seen inland, but in the breeding season only observed on the coast near Nouakchott. On 28 May 1978, I found a nest of 3 eggs about 14 km from the ocean (18°02’N, 16°00’W) near an excavated saline pool. In 1979 I saw one chick with 2 adults there on 8 July, and there was a pair of adults with 2 fullgrown young on 14 June 1980. On 9 June 1979, 1 saw 2 © chicks with a party of 4-5 adults by another excavated saline pool about 4 km nearer the ocean. The other nesting location was some 18 km further south (17°53'N, 16°02’W), by a natural saline lake and series of pools just behind the dunes, 200-400 m from the ocean. On 14 June 1980, I saw one small chick with an adult, 2 chicks almost able to fly with a pair of adults, and another pair of adults with 2 fullgrown juveniles. It has long been known that C. alexandrinus breeds on the northern coast of Mauritania. Bird (1937) reported it at Nouadhibou (c. 21°N) and Trotig- non (1980) on the Banc d’Arguin (c. 19°30’N). It has recently been dis- covered nesting on the coast of Senegal, at c. 14°10’N on 13 July 1970 (Von Westenhagen 7 Morel 1972) and at 13°55’N on 19 May 1979 (Prevost in Morel 1980). The Nouakchott observations therefore fill a gap in its known range, and it is to be expected that there are other undiscovered breeding places on the Mauritanian coast. Cursorius cursor. During 1978, I thought the Cream-coloured Courser was a winter visitor only to southwest Mauritania, for I saw it from January to March and not again till August. This impression was reinforced by literature covering the region (Heim de Balsac & Mayaud 1962, Mackworth- Praed & Grant 1970). However, in 1979, as I widened the area of my explorations, I found that the species occurred throughout the summer. On 16 June 1979, 12 km northeast of Nouakchott (18°10’N, 15°54’W), I saw 2 adults with a juvenile not quite as big as themselves, somewhat spotted and without grey on the crown. Again, a juvenile as big as the adults was seen there on 14 October 1979. On 15 July 1979 at another location (18°21’N, 15°44’W) I saw a juvenile with adults and yet another (? adult size) at 18°09’N, 15°55’W on 29 July 1979. All these juveniles could fly, but it should be noted that adults had been seen in these areas for some weeks prior to the appearance of the juveniles. 307 [Bull B.O.C. 1987: 101(2)] New breeding 20°w Figure 2: data Previous breeding Area of large map c CY ® 0 Oo @) ‘Ga S © eed < Senegal 15°W Kentish Plover Cream-coloured Courser Gull-billed Tern Hoopoe Lark Great Grey Shrike Desert Sparrow [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 308 In 1980, Cream-coloured Coursers were again persistently seen during the spring and summer. On 18 May 1980, in the company of Mr. Bruce Heath, I found 2-3 chicks unable to fly, with 2 adults, at 18°10’N, 15°54’W. One chick was caught and photographed. On 7 June 1980, halfway between Nouakchott and Rosso (on the new road, 17°12’N, 16°o5’W), I saw a | party of 5 adults and 2 fullgrown young. There was a fullgrown juvenile | with an adult near the coast at 17°53’N, 16°02’W on 14 June 1980. Altogether, during 1979 and 1980, Cream-coloured Coursers were seen at 23 locations between 17°04’N and 18°21’N during the breeding season. Juveniles or chicks were found at 6 of these locations. This represents a considerable extension southwards of the known breed- ing range of this species on the mainland of West Africa. The previous furthest south proof of breeding seems to be that obtained by Heim de Balsac in Zemmour (around 25°30’N, 11°04’W) in 1947 (loc. cit.), c. 850 km NNE of where proof of breeding was obtained in 1980. However, he | also reports that Valverde saw flying young in southern Spanish Sahara, about 22°N, and the species is resident in the Cape Verde Islands around 15°-17°N (Serle & Morel 1979). Cream-coloured Coursers were previously observed in the breeding season as far or even further south than in my records, though with no sign of breeding: on 20 April 1947 by Heim de Balsac (Joc. cit.) halfway between Nouakchott and Rosso in Mauritania (on © the old road, 17°13’N, 16°o4’W) and halfway between Rosso and St. Louis in Senegal (16°16’N, 16°06’W); on 30 May 1960 by Dr. G. Morel | (pers. comm.) at El Rhars, Mauritania (16°46'N, 15°36’W). The habitat favoured by these birds in 1978-1980 was flat steppe, usually without sand dunes, but with frequent low bushes (Maerua crassifolia, Tamarix | senegalensis, etc.) STERNA NILOTICA. The Gull-billed Tern is known to breed in the spring in quite large numbers on the Mauritanian coast at the Banc d’Arguin, c. | 19°30’N (some 1600 pairs in 1978—Trotignon 1980). It was also found to | be laying in May and June 1972 on an island just south of St. Louis on the | coast, c. 15°50’N (Latour 1973). I have often observed it flying over the | ocean along the coast of Mauritania, but the birds referred to here were seen | inland. They occurred in the rainy season, end June to early October, in | 1978 and 1979. They appeared to be hawking for insects over the steppe and | were sometimes seen in considerable numbers (about 500 together on 8 | October 1978). | On 24 September 1978, c. 80 km south of Nouakchott (17°22’N, | 16°04'W), I found 8 adults by a lake of about 1 km by 4 km, created by the | rain. Some earth banks formed an island and on these I located two Gull- | billed Terns’ nests, one empty and one with a single egg. There were 10 | birds here on 8 October 1978. In 1979 there was not sufficient water to form | a lake. | The interest of this site lies not only in its inland location (c. 6 km from the ocean) but also in the fact that these birds had adopted the tropical rainy | season nesting pattern, contrary to the coastal birds which nest in the spring, as is usual for this species in Palaearctic regions. ALAEMON ALAUDIPES. The Hoopoe Lark was recorded as occurring, and | indeed nest building was reported, as far south as Nouakchott (18°05’N) by | Heim de Balsac & Mayaud (/oc. cit.). I recorded this species in song at many | 309 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2) | locations during the years 1978-1980 between c. 18°45’N (89 km northeast of Nouakchott) and 17°30’N (64 km south of Nouakchott). I did not explore further north, but went much further south and did not see the bird at all south of 17°15’N. On 27 April 1980, I found a nest with one egg (bird sitting) at 18°10’N, 15°54’ W (12 km northeast of Nouakchott). It was in the top of a Maerua crassifolia bush about 50 cm high, on flat bare steppe with little vegetation. The nest still had one egg on 28 April; on 1 May it was empty. I can find no other definite proof of breeding in Mauritania apart from a nest discovered on the Banc d’Arguin (Trotignon 1980). If it is assumed that frequent song and song flights indicates breeding, then it seems likely that this species breeds as far south as 17°30’N. LANIUS ExcuBITOR. During 1978, I thought that the Great Grey Shrike was only a winter visitor to the Nouakchott area, as I did not see it in the summer months. However, on 27 July 1979, I saw 3 juveniles south of Nouakchott (17°30'N, 16°0o2’W), on 5 August 1979 one juvenile (17°33’N, 16°o1’W) and on 30 September 1979 2 juveniles with an adult northeast of Nouakchott (18°41'N, 15°37’'W). During the summer of 1980, I saw adults in several places. There were again juveniles around 17°30’N, 16°o2’W on 10 July and on 20 July 1980 I found a nest with a bird sitting on 4 eggs near Aleg (17°15'N, 14°16’W). The only previous breeding records for Mauritania appear to be those of Heim de Balsac (oc. cit.) who recorded in 1947 several nests in Zemmour (c. 25°30'N, 11°04’W) in which eggs were laid January-March. Evidently in southern Mauritania the species breeds during the rainy season and there is an influx in the winter months. The race I observed was e/egans, since the rump was grey, not white. PASSER SIMPLEX. During 1978 and 1979, I saw little of the Desert Sparrow, as most of my activities were near the coast or near the Senegal River. However, I did find the species occasionally along the roads leading ESE and NE from Nouakchott. On 25 February 1979, with Dr. and Mrs. G. Morel, I visited Akjoujt and just to the west of the town (19°44’N, 14°28’W), we found 2 nests of the species. Adults were bringing food to the nests and young could be heard calling inside. During 1980 I made more trips to the ESE from Nouakchott and found Desert Sparrows at many points along this road, starting about 14 km from the coast, and continuing at least as far as 17°15’N, 14°16’W. They were in small groups of up to a dozen, and in many cases in the same area as the Sudan Golden Sparrow Passer /uteus. There were numerous nests (between so and 300 per square km) which may have belonged to either species, located in Balanites aeg yptiaca and Acacia sp. bushes or low trees. Most nests wete unoccupied, but on 20 July 1980 at 17°57’N, 15°28’W, a female was seen bringing nesting material and at 17°25’N, 14°31’W, a pair were flying around and into a finished but empty nest. The habitat of the species was sandy steppe, lightly bushed with the thorny trees mentioned. The birds also occurred around isolated buildings and in the town of Boutilimit (17°33’N, 14°42'W). I have not seen the species nearer than 14 km from the coast. In the coastal strip, there is a preponderance of non-thorny bushes (Sa/vadora _ persica, Tamarix senegalensis, Euphorbia balsamifera and Maerua crassifolia). [Bull._B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] 310 Previous records of breeding of this species in Mauritania were only from the Adrar (north of 20°N) by Heim de Balsac (/oc. ciz.). OTHER SPECIES. I have recorded during their normal breeding season 28 other species in southwest Mauritania whose normal breeding range lies further north. Of these, 4 species have been known to breed in Mauritania, with some evidence but no proof of breeding near Nouakchott:— Spotted Sandgrouse Pferocles senegallus (flocks observed coming to Nouakchott from north to drink all months except August and October-December, when I was unable to visit the drinking hole); Bar-tailed Desert Lark Ammomanes cincturus (seen all times of year along road from Nouakchott to the NE; flying juveniles around 18°41’N, 15°40’W on 15 July 1979); Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis (throughout the year, common to 17°N, scarce further south); Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida (summer visitor April—July; pairs observed and song heard at Nouakchott; netted birds referred to race opaca with bill width 5.5 mm at base—Williamson 1976). Discussion. The evidence of breeding presented in this paper indicates extensions of the Avzown breeding range of 4 species: Cream-coloured Courser, Hoopoe Lark, Great Grey Shrike and Desert Sparrow. It is tempt- ing to correlate this with the recent drought in the Sahel, which might be expected to bring desert species further south. However, I do not believe the evidence is very strong that there has been an extension south of the rea/ breeding range of these species. The apparent extension may well be due to the greatly increased volume of observation in recent years. I have examined all the published and all the known unpublished ornithological data for the area of Mauritania shown on the large map (except Banc d’Arguin), and conclude that at least 4 times as much field observation and recording (c. 550 hours) was done by me in the years 1978-1980 as had been carried out in all the preceding years. This is partly thanks to the improved tarred road - system built since about 1970, but also to the fact that I resided at Nouakchott and had enough free time to make these observations. Acknowledgements: 1 would like to thank Dr. and Mrs. G. Morel for their help and encouragement. References: Bird, C. G. 1937. Some notes from Port Etienne, Mauritania and the coast of Rio de Oro. Ibis. Ser.14(1): 721-731. Heim de Balsac, H. & Mayaud, N. 1962. Les Oiseaux du Nord-Ouest de l’ Afrique. Editions Paul Lechevalier: Paris. Latour, M. 1973. Nidification de cing éspéces de Laridés au voisinage de l’embouchure du fleuve Sénégal. L’Oiseau et R.F.O. 43(2): 89-96. Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1970, 1973. African Handbook of Birds, Series 3. Longman: London. Morel, G. J. 1972. Liste Commentee des Oiseaux du Senegal et de la Gambie. ORSTOM: Dakar, — 1980. Supplement dela ListeCommentee des Oiseaux du Senegal et dela Gambie. ORSTOM: Dakar. Serle, W. & Morel, G. J. 1979. Les Oiseaux del’Ouest Africain. Delachaux et Niestle: Paris. Trotignon, J. 1980. Parc National du Banc d’ Arguin. Comptes-Rendus da’ Activites Scientifiques (Oct. 77—Fev. 79). B.P. 124, Nouadhibou, Mauritania. Williamson, K. 1976. Identification for Ringers. The Genera Cettia, Locustella, Acrocephalus and Hippolais. British Trust for Ornithology: Tring. Address: P. W. P. Browne, 115 Crichton Street, Ottawa, Ontario, KIM 1V8, Canada. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. 311 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(2)] IN BRIEF Rotating behaviour of the incubating Yellow-bellied Fruit Pigeon Treron waalia On 9 April 1971 at Pong Tamale (9°40’N, 0°50’W), northern Ghana, I noticed a green pigeon sitting on a nest c.3m up in a bare, unidentified, tree. I circled round the tree trying to get a good view of the bird, which proved to be a Yellow-bellied Fruit Pigeon Treron waalia. The bird imperceptibly shuffled round so that its upraised tail was always presented towards me. The grey-brown and white barred underside of the tail looked like a piece of bark. The rotation was quite deliberate, as I must have moved through an arc of well over 100° always seeing the undertail. I got a flank view only when I was a considerable distance from the nest tree. The nest came to grief on 21 April, a well incubated egg being found beneath the tree. A few miles away, on the 21 April, a second nest of the same species was found when a bird was startled from a partly foliaged tree. A more cautious approach on 24 April enabled me to see that at this nest too the incubating bird rotated to keep its cocked-up tail towards the observer. On 5 June the adult bird was disturbed off at least one squab. This behaviour is clearly cryptic, keeping the conspicuous purple shoulder patch, and possibly some yellow of the underparts, from view. Presumably it would be effective against ground based predators such as man or the Patas Monkey Erythrocebus patas. It does not appear to have been reported before from 7. waa/ia and is not mentioned by Tarboton & Vernon (1971) in their notes on the breeding of Treron australis. However, Crome (1975) gives a detailed description of similar behaviour by incubating male Purple-crowned Pigeons Ptilinopus superbus. He emphasises that he saw rotating only by males which, un- like the females, have brilliant colours on their heads. 7reron and Ptilinopus are probably not very closely related genera (Goodwin 1967). Acknowledgement: 1am very grateful to Mr Derek Goodwin for his valuable advice about these observations, References: Crome, F, H. J. 1975. Notes on the breeding of the Purple-crowned Pigeon. Emu 75: 172-174. Goodwin, D. 1976. Pigeons and Doves of the World. British Museum (Natural History): London. Tarboton, W. R. & Vernon, C. J. 1971. Notes on the breeding of the Green Pigeon Treron australis, Ostrich 42: 190-192. J. Frank Walsh 80 Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes, Lancs., FY8 1BN. 30 January 1981 Holarctic and Nearctic sandpipers P. B. Taylor’s paper ‘Pectoral Sandpiper Ca/idris melanotos and Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes in Zambia’ (Bull.Brit,Orn.Cl, 100(4): 233-235) mentions both species as Nearctic vagrants. This is only true of 7. flavipes. C. melanotos breeds extensively throughout the northeastern Palaearctic and should therefore properly be described as Holarctic. In the past, Ginn & Brooke (Bull.Brit.Orn.Cl. 91(5): 125-126) and Ash (Bull. Brit.Orn.C/. 93(1): 3-6), amongst others, have also incorrectly referred to C. melanotos as a Nearctic wader. It appeats to be a common error. Dement’ev, Gladkov & Spangenberg(Birds of the Soviet Union (1951), Vol 3. Translation: Jerusalem 1969: 169) show the breeding distribution of C. melanotos as Holarctic and also (p. 174) that of the sympatric C. acuminata. The English usage of ‘American Pectoral Sandpiper’ for C. me/anotos and ‘Siberian Pectoral Sandpiper’ for C’. acuminata has undoubtedly led to confusion in the past and it is unfortunate that the confusion of distribution as a result of these names is still perpetuated. ‘Pectoral Sandpiper’ for the Holarctic C. me/anotos and ‘Sharp-tailed Sandpiper’ for the Palaearctic C’. acuminata are less confusing, as recommended by Voous (bis 115: 628) and their proper faunal regions should be recognised when they are quoted in the literature. Observers therefore should not jump to the conclusion that every Pectoral Sandpiper [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(2)] 312 is of Nearctic origin: a percentage of C’.. melanotos records from the western Palaearctic and Afro-tropical regions are probably of the Palaearctic stock, a fact which perhaps only ringing can establish. Two other sandpipers, the Western Sandpiper C’. wauri and Baird’s Sandpiper C. bairdii, breeding in the Chukotski Peninsula are also correctly Holarctic and not Nearctic, as they are often incorrectly described. B. Zonfrillo 28 Brodie Road, Glasgow G21 3SB. 19 February 1981 What has been the cause of the present scarcity of song birds? Having celebrated my hundredth birthday on 30 October 1980, I am unquestionably the oldest member of the B.O.C. and therefore the member best qualified to compare the status of bird life in England during the last half of the last century with that of the first 80 years of this one. The magni- tude of the difference is truly staggering. In the 19th century on any bright summer’s day the air would be filled with the joyous song and sounds of a multitude of birds—a multitude largely composed of summer migrants which had come to our land to breed. To-day in the same place and in similar conditions one would be lucky if one heard anything more than the twitter of a House Sparrow. Some have attributed the scarcity of our song birds to the large number which almost certainly must have died during the devastating droughts which are known to have overwhelmed the parts of Africa in which so many of them were spending their winters. Others have thought the cause was probably owing to the persistent and excessive use of pesticides by farmers and gardeners alike. These activities may have been contributory causes of © their present paucity, but I do not think they have ever been the main one. I am personally of the opinion that it must have been largely, if not wholly, due to the result of consistent predation on the part of a single species— namely the Magpie. Indeed I am inclined to believe that the predations of that species may be having an ill effect on the whole of our bird population. There can be no doubt that the numberof Magpies increased alarmingly during the 1914-1918 War owing to theit’po Lime not being checked by gamekeepers and landowners, who w €, 0 tse, stewing this country in the army. ns <2 qv) Upy . a 18 March 1981 eo PURC PORE fh i - Collingwood Ingram It is with the deepest regret that we have heard of the death of Captain Collingwood Ingram on 19 May 1981, as this number goes to press. He joined the Club in 1901, in which year he first exhibited a specimen at a Club Meeting and contributed to the Bu//etin (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 12: 39). He attended Meetings up to July and September 1973, reading a communication on the latter occasion (/oc. cit. 93: 97) and will be remembered by many Members. An obituary will be published in the Ibis. y tie sig ay ah: aes va Xie Co as Remar ERASE ihe taht yore epee wret odie NOTICE TO CONTRIBUTORS Papers, whether by Club Members or by non-members, should be sent to the Editor, Dr. J. F. Monk, The Glebe Cottage, Goring, Reading RG8 9AP, and are accepted on the understanding that they are offered solely for publication in the Bulletin. They should be typed on one side of the paper, with double- spacing and a wide margin, and submitted with @ duplicate copy on airmail aper. ( Sissi nomenclature and the style and lay-out of papers and of Refer- ences should conform with usage in this or recent issues of the Bu//ezin, unless a departure is explained and justified. Photographic illustrations, although welcome, can only be accepted if the contributor is willing to pay for their reproduction. An author wishing to introduce a new name or describe a new form should append nom., gen., sp. or subsp. nov., as appropriate, and set out the supporting evidence under the headings “Description”, “Distribution”, ‘“Type’’, “Measurements of Type” and “Material examined’’, plus any others needed. A contributor is entitled to 10 free reprints of the pages of the Bu//etzn in which his contribution, if one page or more in length, appears. Additional reprints or reprints of contributions of less than one page may be ordered when the manuscript is submitted and will be charged for. BACK NUMBERS OF THE BULLETIN Available post free on application to Dr. D. W. Snow, Zoological Museum, Tring, Herts HP23 9AP, England, as follows: 1973-1979 (Vols. 93-99) — issues (4 per year), £2.00 each issue; 1969-72 (Vols. 89-92) issues (6 per year), {1.50 each; pre—1969 (generally 9 per year) £1.00 each. Indices £1.00 for Vol 70 and after, {2 for Vols 50-69, £2.50 for Vol 49 and before. Long runs (at least 10 years) are available at reduced prices on enquiry, higher prices may be charged otherwise for scarce numbers. Vol. 100 No. 1 £4.00, No. 2, 3 & 4 £2.00 each issue. MEMBERSHIP Only Members of the British Ornithologists’ Union are eligible to join the | Club: applications should be sent to the Hon. Treasurer, Mrs. D. Bradley, 53 Osterley Road, Isleworth, Middlesex, together with the current year’s subscription. The remittance and all other payments to the Club should always be in ster/ing unless an addition of {1.00 is made to cover bank charges for exchange, etc. Payment of subscription entitles a Member to receive all Bulletins for the year. Changes of address and revised bankers’ orders or covenants (and any other correspondence concerning Membership) should be sent to the Hon. Treasurer as promptly as possible. SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members on payment of an annual subscription of £12.00 (postage and index free). Send all orders and remit- tances in sterling, unless an addition of {1.00 is made to cover bank charges, to the Hon. Treasurer. Single issues may be obtained as back numbers (see ~ above). CORRESPONDENCE Correspondence about Club meetings and other matters not mentioned above should go to the Hon. Secretary, R. E. F. Peal, 2 Chestnut Lane, ~ Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3AR. Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and ptinted by The Caxton and Holmesdale Press, 104 London Road Sevenoaks Kent. i ti i he a ISSN 0007 - 1595 Bulletin of the Edited by Dr. J. F. MONK Volume 101 No. 3 September 1981 FORTHCOMING MEETINGS Tuesday, 17 November 1981 in the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College, Prince’s Gardens, S.W.7 at 6.30 p.m. for 7 p.m. Mr P. J. Hayman will speak on Sea Birds. Those wishing to attend should send their acceptance with a cheque for £5.25 a person to the Hon. Secretary at 2 Chestnut Lane, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 3AR (telephone Sevenoaks [0732] 50313) to arrive not later than first post on Thursday, 12 November. Tuesday, 12 January 1982 at the same venue and time, Dr T. J. Seller of Imperial College on Are Bullfinches and Fruit Crops really incompatible? Tuesday, 2 March 1982 Professor Gordon H. Orians will speak on Mates | and Real Estate in Blackbird Social Systems. Gifts or offers for sale of paeaied back numbers of the Bulletin are vety welcome The Club has no reference copies of Vol. 48 and many eatlier issues; these would be very specially appreciated COMMITTEE D. R. Calder (Chairman) B. Gray (Vice-Chairman) R. E. F. Peal (Hon. Secretary) Mrs. D. M. Bradley (Hon. Treasurer) Dr. J. F. Monk (Editor) R. D. Chancellor J. G. Parker Revd. G. K. McCulloch, O.B.E. R. A. N. Croucher © British Ornithologists’ Club 1981 313 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] Bulletin of the | BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Vol. 101 No. 3 Published: 18 September 1981 The seven hundred and thirty-fifth Meeting of the Club was held in the Senior Common Room, South Side, Imperial College, London, S.W.7 on Tuesday 7 July 1981 at 7 p.m. The attendance was 26 Members and 12 guests. Members present were: D. R. CALDER (Chairman), Major N. A. G. H. BEAL, R. M., P, J. BELMAN, K. F. BETTON, Mrs DIANA BRADLEY, Dr R. A. CHEKE, S. J. W. COLES, P. J. CONDER, S. CRAMP, R. A. N. CROUCHER, J. H. ELGOOD, Major M.D.GALLAGHER, D. GRIFFIN, P. HOGG, Revd. G. K. McCULLOCH, C.F. MANN, P. J. OLIVER, J.G. PARKER, R. E. F. PEAL, R. C. PRICE, Professor G. H. N. SETON- WATSON, S.A. H. STATHAM, K. V. THOMPSON, A. VITTERY, J. F. WALSH and C. E. WHEELER. Guests present were: B. H. BECK, P. CLEMENT, Dr JUDITH A. COLES, Miss SARAH CONDER, Miss S. P. F. DIXON, SHEILA FRANCIS, Mrs JOANNA HOGG, J. KING, Mrs MARY OLIVER, Miss M. SAUNDERS, Mrs M. H. SETON-WATSON and C, WAKE, Mr J. H. Elgood gave a most interesting address on “The Birds of Nigeria”. After ex- plaining the vegitation zones in Nigeria and their significance in bird distribution, he discussed the various groups of birds in that country, illustratating his remarks with many excellent slides of the species concerned. Additions to a discography of bird sound from the Oriental zoogeographical region by Jeffery Boswall and Wendy Dickson Received 2 October 1980 This paper’s main aim is to list published gramophone records that include avian sound recorded in the Oriental zoogeographical region, and which have been issued or have come to light since the earlier discography (Boswall 1973). A few discs of recordings of capitive Oriental species are also included. Published recordings of Oriental species common to other zoogeographical regions made outside the Orient may be traced first by consulting biblio- graphies of discographies Bossy 1974, 1979) then the discographies themselves. Unpublished recordings of Oriental species may be held by any of the atchives listed by Boswall & Kettle (1979). The British Library of Wildlife Sounds (B.I.R.S., 29 Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AS) holds the follow- ing (approximate figures): 30 recordings of 20 species made in Sri Lanka by EB. D. H. Johnson; 35 recordings of 32 species made in India by F Martin Gauntlett; 35 recordings of 35 species made in Malaysia by T. C. White; 70 recordings of 50 species made in Thailand by H. Elliott McClure; 80 recordings of 60 species made by Derek Holmes in southern Thailand, West Malaysia, Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan and Brunei; and 400 recordings of 150 species made in Malaysia by Reg Kersley. A large collection of Oriental bird recordings, mainly by Ken Scriven, is held by him at World Wildlife Fund Malaysia, Wisma, Damansara, P.O. [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] 314 Box 769, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. These are being copied for the British Library of Wildlife Sounds. The bird recordings library of the late Datuk Loke Wan Tho is housed in the Jurong Bird Park, Singapore (verbal communication from Ivan Polunin). The Library of Natural Sounds at Cornell University in the U.S.A. holds “Noteworthy collections with varying amounts of material from Pakistan, India, Nepal, Ceylon, Thailand and Malaysia”. Also, Borneo and Taiwan are “‘well represented” (Gulledge 1979). The following persons privately hold tape recordings of birds from the oriental region:- Derek Holmes (Hunting Technical Services Ltd., Wisma Kosgoro 19th Floor, P.O. Box 31/Kbyb, Jakarta, Indonesia) has, additional to those deposited at B.L.O.W.S., 9 species from southern Thailand, 10 from Sumatra, and 8 from Java; J. H. Becking (Institute for Atomic Sciences in Agriculture, 6 Keyenbergseweg, Postbus 48, Wageningen, Holland) has 132 species from Java and also 9 from Sumatra recorded by H. Bartels; Brian Bertram (Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY) has a collection of recordings from Assam, particularly of the Indian Hill Mynah Gracula religiosa (Bertram 1970); Richard W. Beales (Fisheries Department, P.O. Box 2161, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei) has a small collection from Brunei; Graham Madge (Firway End, George Hill, Crediton, Devon, England) has a collection of recordings made in West Malaysia; Joe T. Marshall (National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Insti- tution, Washington D.C. 20560, U.S.A.) has some material from different parts of southeast Asia, as has Ben F. King (c/o American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th St., New York, N.Y. 10024, U.S.A.); and Tom Roberts (P.O. Box 3311, Malir City Post Office, Karachi- 23, Pakistan) has recordings of 257 species from Pakistan including winter | visitors from the Palaearctic. H. Elliott McClure has prepared a tape under | the title “Some bird calls and other sounds of nature in Thailand”. The 85 _ separately announced recordings are mostly of birds and mostly recorded in Thailand by McClure himself. Copies are held by him (60 East Loop Drive, Camarillo, California 93010, U.S.A.) and at B.L.O.W.S. in London and Cornell in the U.S.A. AMENDMENT No. 1 and no. 2 listed in Boswall (1973), although first issued in 1970, are still obtainable (August 1980) but from a new address: P.M. Films, 39 Windsor End, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England. ADDITIONS 4. Huxley, J. S. 1935. Zoo voices. Six 12 cm 78 t.p.m. single-sided paper-backed discs, no numbers. Sound Distributors, London, England. Includes recordings of Sarus Crane Grus antigone and White-breasted Sea Eagle Hasiaeetus Jeucogaster. 5. Greenhall, A. M. & Collias, N. 1954. Sounds of Animals. One 30 cm 33.3 t.p.m. disc, FX6124. Folkways Records and Service Corp., 701 Seventh Avenue, New York City, N.Y. 10036, U.S.A. Includes recordings of Domestic Chicken Ga//us gallus used to illustrate the paper by Collias & Joos (1953). 6, Zuh-ming, Dien. 1958. The song of the Formosan Hwa-mei Garrulax canorus taewanus. One | 25 cm 33.3 r.p.m. disc, BSR1. The Taiwan Museum, 2 Siangeang Road, Taipei, Taiwan. Two caged male Hwa-mey G. ¢. /aivanus (to employ the spelling in Vaurie 1959: 431) recorded in Taipei in April 1958, introduced first in Chinese then in English by Prof. Charles Hartshorne. The two sides of the disc are the same. 7. Zuh-ming, Dien. Post 1958. The song of the Formosan Hwa-mei Garrulax canorus taiwanus, | 315 [Bull. B.O.C. 198r: 101(3)] Formosan Red-headed Babbler Stachyris ruficeps ptecognita, Formosan Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus harterti and Formosan Treepie Dendrocitta formosae formosae. One 25 cm 33.3 t.p.m. disc, BSR1/2. The Taiwan Museum, 2 Siangeang Road, Taipei, Taiwan. Side BSR1 is the same as both sides of the previous disc (6). Side BSR2 gives the voices of the 3 remaining species listed in the title. The babbler is also called the Rufous-capped Babbler (King ef a/. 1975); the drongo is also called the King Crow (Vautie 1959), and the treepie is known as the Grey Treepie (King ef a/. 1975). 8. Van de Werken, H. 1960. Vogel Symphonie. One 17 cm 45 t.p.m. disc, DE99.247, published with the Artis-Animal-Encyclopaedia, 254 pp., by Ploegsma for Royal Zoological Society, Plantage Kerklaan 40, Amsterdam, Holland. Among 33 species recorded in Amsterdam zoo ate on side 1: Indian Pied Hornbill Anthraccceos malabaricus, Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, White-crested Laughing Thrush Garrulax leucolophus, Gracula religiosa; and on side 2: White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster, Peafow] Pavo cristatus and Brown-eated Pheasant Crossoptilon mantchuricum. 9. Duddridge, P. 1962. Voices of Birdland. One 25 cm 33.3 t.p.m. disc, no number. Midriver Recording Co. Obtainable from ‘“Birdland’’, Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, England. Includes recordings of Barbary Dove Streptopelia risoria, Chinese Painted Quail (Blue Quail) Coturnix chinensis, Giant Indian Hornbill Buceros bicornis, and Greater Hill Myna Gracula religiosa. 10. Duddridge, P. 1962. Wildfowl Calling. One 17 cm 45 t.p.m. disc, 7EG 8764. HMV, London. Includes Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus. 11. Morris, Desmond, 1965. A Day at the Zoo. One 17 cm 45 t.p.m. disc, Oriole EP7083. Oriole Records, London, England. Side 1 includes Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax, and side 2 a laughing thrush sp. Garrulax sp. 12. Morris, Johnny. 1969. Animal Magic. One 30 cm 33.3 t.p.m. disc, Roundabout 4. BBC Records, London, England. Includes Peafow] (captive) Pavo cristatus, Brainfever Bird or Plaintive Cuckoo Cacomantis merulinus, recorded in Singapore by I. Polunin, and White-breasted Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster recorded in Australia. 13. Anon. 1970. Animal Sounds—Birds. One 17 cm 33.3 t.p.m. disc, PC 045/6. Procaudio Ltd. for BPC Publishing Ltd. (Macdonald & Co. Publishers Ltd., Holywell House, Worship Street, London E.C.z.). Includes Peafow] Pavo cristatus. 14. Anon. & Hediger, H. 1970. Mit Professor Hediger im Zoo. One 30 cm 33.3 t.p.m. stereo disc, Pick 93-060. Pick-Records, Brunnweisenstrasse 26, Postfach 198, CH 8049 Zurich, Switzerland. Includes Indian Hill Myna Gracula religiosa. 15. Graul, A. 1971. Im Zoo. One 17 cm 45 t.p.m. disc, Graul 712. Arno Graul, Kisslingweg 44, 713 Mihlacker, Wiirttemberg, West Germany. The 18 avian species on side 2 include Hill Myna Gracula religiosa, Argus Pheasant Argusianus argus, Satyr Tragopan Tragopan satyra, Great Hornbill Buceros bicornis, Hooded Crane Grus monacha, Demoiselle Crane Anthropoides virgo, Sarus Crane Grus antigone and Peafow] Pavo cristatus. 16. Teeuwen, Gus. 1971. Sounds of Singapore. One 30 cm 33.3 t.p.m. disc, LPo811. G. Teeuwen, Singapore. Side 2, band 4. “‘Bird fanciers .. . whilst their eats are tuned to the lovely song of long- tailed Shama birds, Chinese thrushes and tiny White Eyes . . .”,—presumably White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus, laughing-thrush sp. Garrulax sp., and white-eye sp. Zosterops Sp. 17. Simms, Eric. 1971. Wildlife in Danger. One 30 cm 33.3 t.p.m. disc, RED 55M. BBC Records, London, England. Includes recordings by Philip Wayre of capitve Brown-eared Pheasant Crossoptilon _mantchuricum and Cheet Pheasant Catreus wallichit. 18. Teeuwen, Gus. About 1971. Birds of Malaysia (Dutch and English). Two 17 cm 33.3 t.p.m. discs, TEE1 and TEEz. European Phono Club, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Arranged for these 2 discs by Ko Zweetes, 15 of the recordings are the same as on nos. I, -2and 3 in the first part of the discography (Boswall 1973), but 11 species are new. [Bull. B.O.C. 19 8r: 101(3)] 316 Side 1: Hill Myna Gracula religiosa, Red-winged Tree Babbler Stachyris erythroptera, Black- necked Tree Babbler Stachyris nigricollis, Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi, Striped Tit-Babbler Macronus gularis, Malaysian Black-headed Oriole Oriolus xanthonotus. Side 2: Common Shama Copsychus malabaricus, Yellow-crowned Barbet Megalaima henrict, Red-tailed Tailorbird Orthotomus sericeus, Malaysian Peacock Pheasant Polyplectron malacensis, Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris, Red-rumped Tree Babbler Stachyris maculata. Side 3: Plain Babbler Ma/acopteron affine, Drongo Cuckoo Surniculus lugubris, Fantail Cuckoo Cacomantis variolus, Malaysian Eared Nightjar Eurostopodus temmincki, Many- coloured Barbet Megalaima rafflesi, Slender-billed Crow Corvus enca, Bushy-ctested Hornbill Anorrhinus galeritus. Side 4: Greater Red-headed Tree Babbler Malacopteron magnum, Black-necked Tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis, Chestnut-capped Laughing-thrush Garrulax mitratus, Red-rumped Trogon Harpactes duvaucelli, Great Argus Pheasant Argusianus argus, Hume’s Tree-Babbler Stachyris rufifrons, Black Crested Magpie Platysmurus leucopterus. 19. Encke, W. 1972. Tierstimmen aus dem Krefelder Zoo. One 17 cm 33.3 f.p.m. single-sided flimsy disc with book, 48pp. City of Krefeld, W. Germany. Includes Hill Myna Gracula religiosa. 20. Palmér, S. & Boswall, J. 1973. A Field Guide to the Bird Songs of Britain and Europe. One 30 cm 33.3 f.p.m. disc, RFLP 5013. Swedish Broadcasting Corporation, Stockholm 105 10, Sweden. Includes a recording made in India of wild Asiatic White Cranes Grus /eucogeranus. 21. Scriven, K. 1974. The Jungle Calls. One 17 cm 45 f.p.m. disc, no number. World Wildlife Fund Malaysia, 8th Floor, Wisma, Damansara, Jalan Semantan, P.O. Box 769, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Side 1: Yellow-crowned Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus, Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros coronatus, Greater Red-headed Babbler Ma/acopteron magnum, Hill Myna Gracula religiosa. Side 2: Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros, Black-crested Magpie Platysmurus leucopterus, White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus, Great Argus Pheasant Argusianus argus. 22. Jellis, Rosemary. 1977. Bird Sounds and Their Meaning. One 30 cm 33.3 f.p.m. disc, BBC OP 224. Complements her book (256pp). British Broadcasting Corporation, 35 Marylebone High Street, London W1M 4AA. Includes echo-locating calls of the Black-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus maximus lowi and the Mossy-nest Swiftlet Aerodramus vanikorensis and vocalisation of wild Indian Hill Myna — Gracula religiosa intermedia, 23. Scriven, K. 1977. Fables of the tropical forest (Dutch). One 30 cm 33.3 f.p.m. disc, WNF 771, ot standard cassette. World Wildlife Fund (Netherlands), Postbus 7, Zeist, Netherlands. 9 Indonesian fables are spoken in Dutch. Intervals employ recordings provided by W.W.F. (Malaysia) of Great Argus Pheasant Argusianus argus, Hill Myna Gracula religiosa, Greater Red-headed BabblerMa J/acopteron magnum, Yellow-crowned Bulbul Pycnonotus zeylanicus, White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus, Black-crested Magpie P/latysmurus leucopterus. Presumably the same recordings as on no. 21 (see back). 24. Gunn, W. W. H. & Gulledge, J. L. 1978 (although dated 1977). Beautiful Bird Songs of thé World. Two 30 cm 33.3 t.p.m. discs, NAS 1000 A/B and NAS 1000 C/D, and 1zpp. of text and illustration. National Audubon Society; and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14853, U.S.A. In this lavish publication the voices of 50 of the world’s most musical avian songsters have been brought together and issued with 8 coloured plates specially prepared by Arthur Singer. Two of the species were recorded in the Oriental region: the Brown Laughing- thrush or Hwa-mey Garrulax canorus recorded in Taiwan by Sheldon Severinghaus and the White-eyebrowed Shama Copsychus luzoniensis in the Philippines by Joe T. Marshall. 25. Poulier, G. V., & Ranasinghe, D. 1978. Bird Sounds of Sri Lanka—1. One 17 cm 45 f.p.m. disc, no number. G. V. Poulier, 2 Sirigal Avenue, Kohuwala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka. Side 1: Ceylon Shama Copsychus malabaricus leggei, Brown-headed Barbet (or Oriental Green Barbet) Megalaima zeylanica and Koel Eudynamis scolopacea. Side 2: Southern Magpie Robin Copsychus saularis ceylonensis, Ceylon Black-headed Oriole Oriolus xanthornus ceylonensis and White-browed Fantail Flycatcher Rhipidura aureola, 26. Marshall, Joe & Elsie. 1978. The Gibbons. One 30 cm 33.3 t.p.m. disc, ARA 3. J. W. & C, K. Hardy, 1615 N.W. 14th Avenue, Gainesville, Florida 32605, U,S,A, 317 [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] Side 2, band 15: Rhinoceros Hornbill Buceros rhinoceros, barbet sp. Capitonidae, Indian Hill Myna Gracula religiosa, sanbird sp. Nectariniidae. 27. Marshall, Joe T. 1978. Systematics of Smaller Asian Night Birds based on Voice. One 30 cm 33.3 f.p.m. disc, AOU 2, supplement to Ornithological Monographs no. 25, 58 pp. The disc and monograph are sold together by Glen E. Woolfenden, Assistant to the Treasurer A.O.U., Department of Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, U.S.A. 55 tecordings: 34 of 17 species of owl of the genus Ofus; 11 of 5 species of frogmouth of the genus Batrachostomus; 2 of 2 species of nightjar of the genus Eurostopodus, and 8 of 4 species of nightjar of the genus Caprimulgus. The 43 recordings of the following 39 forms were made in the Oriental region. Side 1: Rufescent Scops-owl O/us rufescens, Mountain Scops-owl Otus spilocephalus siamensis, vulpes, vanderwateri and hambroecki, Asian Common Scops-ow] Ot¢us sunia distans and rufipennis, Ryukyu Scops-owl O/us elegans botelensis, Sulawesi Scops-owl Otus manadensis, Simeulue Scops-owl Otus umbra, Mantanani Scops-owl Otus mantananensis romblonis and mantananensis, Moluccan Scops-ow!l O/¢us magicus beccarii, magicus and albiventris. Side 2: Mentawai Scops-owl Osus mentawi, Collared Scops-owl Otus bakkamoena lettia, “*cnephaeus” and “‘hypnodes”, Luzon Collared Scops-owl Otus megalotis, Wallace’s Giant Scops-owl Otus silvicola, Philippine Frogmouth Batrachostomus septimus, Gould’s Frogmouth Batrachostomus stellatus, Hodgson’s Frogmouth Batrachostomus hodgsoni, Long-tailed Frog- mouth Batrachostomus cornutus, Javan Frogmouth Batrachostomus javensis continentalis, affinis and javensis, Eared Nightjar Eurostopodus macrotis, Capped Nightjar Eurostopodus temminckit, Migratory Nightjar Caprimulgus indicus, Long-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus manillensis, bimaculatus and atripennis, Savannah Nightjar Caprimulgus affinis, Little Indian Nightjar Caprimulgus asiaticus asiaticus, Salvadori’s Nightjar Caprimulgus pulchellus. 28. Kabaya, Tsuruhiko. 1978. Birds of the World II: India, One 30 cm 33.3 t.p.m, stereo disc, SKS (H) 2008. King Record Co. Ltd., Japan. Side 1: Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus, Sarus Crane Grus antigone, Rose-tinged Parakeet Psittacula krameri, Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus, Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus, WWhite-cheeked Bulbul Pycnonotus Jeucogenys, Large Pied Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis, Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer. Side 2: White-cheeked Bulbul, Red-vented Bulbul, Indian (Common) Myna Acridotheres tristis, Common Pariah Kite (Black Kite) Milvus migrans, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Koel Exudynamis scolopacea, House Crow Corvus splendens, Jangle Crow Corvus macrorhynchos, Grey Francolin, Large Pied Wagtail, Red-rumped Swallow Hirundo daurica, Peafowl Pavo cristatus, ‘Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius, Sarus Crane, Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis, White-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis, Bat-headed Goose, Red-wattled Lapwing, Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia, Painted Stork Ibis leucocephalus. 29. Kabaya, Tsuruhiko. 1979. Birds of the World IV’:) Taiwan, Thailand and Malaysia. One 30 cM 33.3 f.p.m. stereo disc, SKS (H) 2014. King Record Co. Ltd., Japan. Side 1 consists of various atmosphere recordings and includes the following species: Hwa-mei Garrulax canorus, Chinese Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis, White-eared Sibia (Formosan Sibia) Heterophasia auricularis, Muller’s Barbet Megalaima oorti, Indian Pied Hornbill Anthracoceros malabaricus, White-ruamped Shama Copsychus malabaricus, Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus, Magpie Robin (Dyal) Copsychus saularis, Blue-throated Bee-eater Merops viridis. The diagram on page 5 of the leaflet labelled side 2 refers in fact to side 1. Side 2 consists of individual species, each one introduced first in English and then in Japanese. Hwa-mei, Chinese Bulbul, Taiwan Bulbul (Formosan Bulbul) Pycnonotus taivanus, White-eared Sibia, Black Bulbul Aypsipetes madagascariensis, Muller’s Barbet, Little Spider Hunter Arachnothera longirostris, Gaudy Barbet Megalaima mystacophanos, Fairy Bluebird Irena puella, Batn Owl Tyto alba, Open-billed Stork Axnastomus oscitans, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Magpie Robin, White-rumped Shama, Blue-throated Bee-eater, Red Jungle Fowl Gallus gallus, Indian Pied Hornbill, White-collared Kingfisher Halcyon chloris, Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis, Spotted Dove Streptopelia chinensis. 30, Palmér, S. & Boswall, J. 1981 (although dated 1980). A Field Guide to the Bird Songs of Britain and Europe. One 30 cm 33.3 t.p.m. disc, RFLP 5015. Swedish Broadcasting Corpora- tion, Stockholm 105 10, Sweden. Includes a White-breasted Kingfisher Ha/cyon smyrnensis and a Tickell’s Thrush Turdus unicolor recorded in Nepal by C. Chappuis. White, T. C. In prep. A Field Guide to the Bird Songs of South-east Asia. Offers of tape material to IT’. C. White, 6c Rosebery Avenue, Harpenden, Herts. AL5 2PQ, Britain. [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] 318 Acknowledgements: Ron Kettle, the B.L.O.W.S.’s curator, cast his eagle eye over an earlier draft detecting a number of sins of commission and omission. Thanks are also due to James Gulledge, Kees Hazevoet, Derek Holmes, Tsuruhito Kabaya, Joe T. Marshall, H. Elliott McClure, Pilai Poonswad, G. V. Poulier, David Wells and T. C. White. References: Bertram, B. 1970. The vocal behaviour of the Indian Hill Mynah, Gracula religiosa. Anim. Behav. Monographs 3: 79-192. Boswall, J. 1973. A Discography of Bird Sound from the Oriental Zoogeographical Region. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 93(4): 170-172. — 1974. A bibliography of wildlife discographies. Recorded Sound 54: 305. — 1979. A supplementary bibliography of wildlife discographies. Recorded Sound 74-75: 72. — & Kettle, R. 1979. A revised list of wildlife sound libraries. Recorded Sound 74-75: 70-72, reprinted in Biophon 7(1): 3-6. Collias, N. & Joos, M. 1953. The spectrographic analysis of the sound signals of the domestic fowl. Behaviour 5: 175-189. Gulledge, James. 1979. The library of natural sounds at the Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University. Recorded Sound 74-75 : 38-41. King, B., Woodcock, M. & Dickinson, E. C. 1975. A Field Guide to the Birds of South-east Asia. Collins: London, Vaurie, C. 1959. The Birds of the Palearctic Fauna: Passeriformes. Witherby, London. Addresses: Jeffery Boswall, c/o British Library of Wildlife Sounds, B.I.R.S., 29 Exhibition Road, London SW7 2AS. Wendy Dickson, Foxbury Cottage, Lesbury, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 3BA. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. Notes on eggs of the Hook-billed Kite Chondrohierax uncinatus, including two overlooked nesting records by Lloyd F. Kiff Received 7 October 1980 During routine study of the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology (WFVZ) egg collection, I discovered 2 clutches of Hook-billed Kite Chon- drohierax uncinatus eggs, misidentified by the original collector; and since there are few published nesting records for this species and even fewer descriptions of its eggs, it seems worthwhile recording them. The eggs were collected by or (probably) for the professional collector, Frank B. Armstrong, in the vicinity of Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas (23° 44’N, 99° 08’W), in Mexico on 14 May 1908 (WFVZ no. 120, 613) and 2 May 1910(WEVZ no. 16,292). The former set came to the WF VZ as a part of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences collection, whereas the latter set was most recently in the Col. L. R. Wolfe collection. Both sets were identified by Armstrong as eggs of the Everglade (Snail) Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis, a species superficially similar to the Hook-billed Kite in appearance and diet. My reasons for thinking that the eggs are in fact those of the Hook-billed Kite are as follows: (1) there is no evidence that the Snail Kite has ever nested as far north in Mexico as central Tamaulipas (Friedmann efa/. 1950, Edwards 1972, Peterson & Chalif 1973), but the Hook- billed Kite is at least locally common there (Smith, in press); (2) both Armstrong’s clutches were in nests composed of “twigs, roots and bark”’, 20 and 22 feet off the ground in open woods, similar to the nesting situations 319 [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] Fig. 1. A Hook-billed Kite Chondrobierax uncinatus egg from Oaxaca, Mexico (top) and two probable Hook-billed Kite eggs from Tamaulipas, Mexico (bottom). 320 [Bull. B.O.C. 1987: 101(3)] :3 01 | “WOO ‘sy7qui00s snmvgasoy ‘snjonfsof seplounjl ey € SHJOULIUN XDAILYOAPUOY ) FO} | ‘doy, *saipy Uroeury JO ss3q 7 “Sry aoe [ Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] described for Hook-billed Kites by Haverschmidt (1964, 1968), Fleetwood & Hamilton (1967), Delnicki (1978), Smith (in press) and Rowley (in press), but quite different from the details of nest heights, materials and habitat given for the Snail Kite by Bent (1937) and Brown & Amadon (1968); (3) Arm- strong’s eggs are virtually identical to unquestioned Hook-billed Kite eggs in the WFVZ collection, but differ from those in a large series of Snail Kite eggs. The eggs of WFVZ no. 120,613 measure 44.0 x 35.4 and 42.5 x 35.3 mm, with empty dry shell weights of 2.18 and 2.16 g, respectively. Equivalent measurements of WFVZ no. 16,292 are 46.9 x 37.6 and 44.3 x 36.2 mm, with empty dry shell weights of 2.85 and 2.21 g, respectively. These measure- ments agree closely with those of a Hook-billed Kite egg (WF VZ no. 21,331) collected near Tapanatepec, Oaxaca, Mexico (16° 20’N, 94° 10’W) by Rowley (in press); that egg measures 47.4x 36.6 mm, with an empty dry shell weight of 2.44 g. The only other known museum clutch of Hook-billed Kite eggs was collected in Surinam and the eggs measured 43.4 x 36.9 and 46.6 x 37.3 mm (Haverschmidt 1968). One egg from each of Armstrong’s 2 clutches is shown in the Plate ac- companying, together with the Hook-billed Kite egg from Oaxaca men- tioned above. All are very similar in colour, being dull white with heavy spots and blotches of dark chocolate brown. They are also identical in colour to eggshell fragments taken from 3 other Hook-billed Kite nests at Tamaulipas in 1980 by T. Smith and to a second egg taken by Rowley at Oaxaca that was broken when found. Snail Kite eggs are similar in size (65 eggs of the Florida race, p/umbeus, averaged 44.2 x 36.3 mm (Bent 1937); 12 eggs of the Mexican race, major, in the WFVZ collection average 44.2 x 36.0 mm), but differ in both colour and shape from Hook-billed Kite eggs (see Plate). Snail Kite eggs are marked to varying degrees with spots and splotches of light, buff, and medium brown, but none of the specimens in the WFVZ series of 56 clutches bears the dense chocolate brown markings that are evidently typical of Hook-billed Kite eggs. In addition, Snail Kite eggs in the WFVZ series range in shape from subelliptical to short subelliptical (all shape designations follow Preston za Palmer 1962: 13), whereas all the presumed Hook-billed Kite eggs are nearly elliptical in shape. Among American kites, the eggs of the Swallow-tailed Kite E/anoides forficatus show most similarity to those of the Hook-billed Kite in size (a Florida sample of 50 averaged 46.7 x 37.4 mm — Bent 1937), shape (elliptical to short subelliptical), and shade of brown markings, although they are rately as heavily marked (see Plate). It is, however, unlikely that Armstrong or his collectors would have misidentified that striking species. Furthermore, the Swallow-tailed Kite is not known ever to have nested in northern Mexico, even during the era when it occurred as a breeding species in Texas and portions of the United States Midwest (Friedmann ef a/. 1950). As suggested by Haverschmidt (1964), the 2 eggs attributed to the Hook- billed Kite by Sch6nwetter (1961) are probably mis-identified, since their measurements, averaging 53.6 x 40.5 mm, are so much greater than authentic examples. In addition, an accompanying illustration of one of the eggs (Schénwetter: Plate 6, fig. 8) shows that it is short oval in shape and white with a few reddish-brown spots, mostly at the large end. In these particulars, [ Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] 322 Sch6nwetter’s purported Hook-billed Kite eggs closely resemble those of the larger Grey-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis described by him (op. cit.) and by Brown & Amadon (1968), as well as 2 sets of eggs of the latter species in the WFVZ collection. The WFVZ eggs are white with a few medium brown and purplish brown scrawls and spots, mostly on the larger ends (see Plate). Their shapes range from short oval to long oval, and they measure 54.3X 40.6 and 53.7x 43.7 mm with empty dry shell weights of 4.13 and 4.43 g, respectively. The WFVZ Grey-headed Kite clutches were taken in Trinidad for G. D. Smooker, and those mentioned by Schénwetter (1961) and Brown & Ama- don (1968) were presumably acquired by the same collector. Two additional clutches collected in Trinidad for Smooker and identified by him as Hook- billed Kite eggs are also in the WFVZ collection, and another such clutch is in the collection of the Zoological Museum of the University of Helsinki (no. 9603). However, all 3 are probably eggs of the Grey-headed Kite, since they are similar to those of the WFVZ Leptodon clutches in shape, colour, and size. Although Smooker’s Trinidad kite sets were collected between 1929 and 1933, they were not mentioned in the long paper that he co-authored on the nesting habits of the birds of Trinidad and Tobago (Belcher & Smooker 1934-1937). When asked about this years later, Smooker replied (letter to Col. L. R. Wolfe, 3 August 1953) that ‘The eggs of Chondrohierax uncinatus and Odontriorchis palliatus (=Leptodon cayanensis) were not described in the paper you mention because at that time I was not quite certain of their identity and therefore thought it best to omit them”’. Finally, there appears tc be no basis for the comment by Brown & Amadon (1968) that the eggs of the Hook-billed Kite resemble those of E/anus leucurus, since they differ from all members of the genus E/anus in all fun- | damental details, including size, shape, and colour of markings. Acknowledgments: | appreciate comments on the manuscript by Tom Smith. I am grateful to Clark Sumida for preparing the figure, and to J. Terhivuo for providing me with details on the Smooker kite eggs in the University of Helsinki collection. This note was supported by the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. References: Belcher, C. & Smooker, G. D. 1934-1937. Birds of the colony of Trinidad and Tobago (in 6 parts). Zbis Ser 13(4): 572-595, ef seq. Bent, A. C. 1937. Life histories of North American birds of prey. Pt. 1. Bu/l.U.S.Nat.Mus. 16 5. Brown, L. & Amadon, D. 1968. Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons of the World. McGraw-Hill: New York. Delnicki, D. 1978. Second occurrence yee first successful nesting record of the Hook-billed Kite in the United States. Avk 95: . Edwards, E. P. 1972. A Field Guide is ta Birds of Mexico. E. P. Edwards, Sweet Briar, Virginia. Fleetwood, R. J. & Hamilton J. L. 1967. Occurrence and nesting of the Hook-billed Kite (Chondrohierax uncinatus) in Texas. Auk 84: 598-Got. Friedmann, H., Griscom, L. & Moore, R. IT’. 1950. Distributional check-list of the birds of Mexico. Pt. 1. Pacific: Coast Avifauna No. 29. Haverschmidt, FP. 1964. Beobachtungen an Chondrohierax uncinatus (Temminck) in Surinam. J. Orn. 105: 64-66. — 1968. Birds of Surinam. Oliver and Boyd: Edinburgh. Peterson, R. T. & Chalif, E. L. 1973. A Field Guide to Mexican Birds and Adjacent Central America, Houghton Mifflin: Boston. 323 [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] Palmer, R. S. (Ed) 1962. Handbook of North American Birds. Vol. 1. Yale Univ. Press: New Haven, Connecticut. Rowley, J. S. In press. Breeding records of land birds in Oaxaca, Mexico. Proc. Western Found. Vert. Zool. Sch6nwetter, M. 1961. Handbuch der Oologie. Pt. 3. Akademie-Verlag: Berlin. Smith, T. In press. Nests and young of two rare raptors from Mexico. Biotropica. Address: Lloyd F. Kiff, Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, 1100 Glendon Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90024, U.S.A. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. Breeding and other observations on the Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula by R. J. Dowsett Received 14 October 1980 The specific status of the Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula has only recently been established with certainty, and many aspects of its biology are quite unknown. In particular, there has been no information on its breeding be- haviour (Hancock & Elliott 1978), with no nest hitherto observed, although Benson, Brooke & Irwin (1971) mention sighting an unapproachable colony on the Chobe River in northern Botswana in May 1971. Thus one of my aims during a visit to the swamps of the Okavango region of Botswana in 1975 was to search for nests. BREEDING IN BOTSWANA I spent 3 days in June visiting, by boat, parts of the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, in company with P. A. Smith and J. Steen. On 15 June, Smith took me to a mixed heronry on Xakanawxa /ediba (=lagoon), at 19° 11’, 23° 23’. There was little breeding activity, but we did find an occupied nest of the Slaty Egret. As our boat approached, one of the adults would slip off the nest, creep through the thicket of wild fig, Freus verruculosa, which the heronry occupied, and then fly off. A second adult was sometimes nearby. There were 3 pulli in the nest; 2 were rather larger than the third and they would usually climb off into the thicket before we were near. Two others, apparently a pair, were often seen on the other side of the colony, but we did not find their nest. A further 8 Slaty Egrets were present in the Ficus at dusk on 15 June, and elsewhere in Moremi we saw 4 single birds loosely associating together at a pool. During the 3 days I spent in the Okavango swamps I saw no Black Egrets FE. ardesiaca. Accounts of the Xakanaxa heronry have been published by Berry (1968), Child (1972), Fraser (1971) and Steyn (1970). (The spelling of this locality name has varied, but P. A. Smith tells me that the official vernacular spelling is as I have it here.) These authors mention several species of water birds breeding there (some of which I also found in June), but no Slaty Egrets, -and I am unaware of any observations of this species since my own. Their visits to the heronry were later in the year than mine, which may explain why they failed to find Slaty Egrets if they usually breed about May and June. DESCRIPTION OF NEST AND NESTLING The extensive thicket of Ficus verruculosa in which the Xakanaxa heronry [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] 324 is situated is on the edge of a large lagoon. The nest was placed just below the canopy, some 2 m above water level, and was 32 cm in diameter. The 2 larger nestlings were active and were not handled. The smallest nestling was examined in the hand when the nest was first found, and was collected as a specimen on 16 June when we had confirmed the identity of the nest owner. It is now preserved in the collection of the National Museum of Botswana at Gaborone. The feather tracts of the nestling are mostly covered with long sooty black down. The feather sheaths on the wings and tail are starting to sprout feathers, again sooty black. Some of the down on the belly is greyer than that elsewhere. On the ventral side there are feather tracts down both flanks, with a broad median apterium. Dorsally, there is a thick tuft of down on the crown, developing into two caudal tracts, a spinal tract and two long humeral tracts. The nestling had the iris coloured mid-brown; bill pinkish horn, extreme tip dark; tarsus and toes pea green in front, with chrome yellow soles and hind tarsus; all the body skin greenish, with the gular region yellowish green; toe nails pale horn. The specimen was subsequently prepared as a study skin out of formalin, and within one month the tarsi had become blackish and much thinner than in life. In a mixed heronry the thick, pea green legs and yellowish throat skin should identify a very young Slaty Egret. Measurements of the dried-out specimen are: culmen (exposed) 28 mm and tarsus 31 mm. In the flesh these measured respectively 30 and 37 mm. This specimen has been compared to a rather older nestling of Black Egret in the collection of the Livingstone Museum, Zambia. The bill and tarsus of the Black Egret are recorded as black on the label, but the feet show the yellow colour which is also present in adults. No other important differences are obvious at this early age, but it is interesting that leg colours do differ, as in adults of the two species. COMPARISON OF SLATY EGRET AND BLACK EGRET My own observations in Botswana and Zambia support the contention of Benson, Brooke & Irwin (1971) and Vernon (1971) that there are con- sistent differences in morphology and behaviour between the Slaty and Black Egrets. Benson, Brooke & Irwin wrote at a time when only 3 speci- mens of Slaty Egret were known. Subsequently, Irwin (1975) has described another 2 specimens and suggested further diagnostic morphological characters. Two specimens have since been obtained in Zambia, and are in the collection of the Livingstone Museum. One is a non-breeding ? collected at Maala, on the Kafue River near Namwala (Southern Province), on 23 June 1974 (J. F. R. Colebrook-Robjent); the other is a non-breeding ¢ from 32 km northwest of Mongu in Western Province, obtained on 23 August 1975 (I. O. Osborne). Colour differences All 7 specimens now known, together with numerous field observations, confirm the considerable variation in the colour of the underparts of the Slaty Egret. There is also some variation in the length of the occipital plumes, but 11 of the 12 birds I watched closely in the Okavango in June 1975 had short plumes — most of them very short — although one very dark coloured adult had very long plumes. The colour of body plumage at Okavango 325 [Bull. B.O.C. 198r: 101(3)] vatied quite extensively, but all were predominantly slate in colour. In my experience even the darkest Slaty Egret is never as black as Black Egrets, but F. Dowsett-Lemaire and I once saw at Lochinvar National Park in Zambia on 12 August 1978 a Black Egret which was as pale slate-grey as any Slaty. The bird was a typical Black Egret in all other respects: it lacked any vinous or buffy throat patch, had black legs and yellow feet, and hunted food by “umbrella-ing”’ with its wings. Although plumage differences between the two species are usually diagnostic in the field, care does need to be exercised, and further observations are needed to determine if there are any seasonal changes in the colour of plumage, legs and bill of Slaty Egrets. Milewski (1976) correctly suggested that the most useful feature for identifying the Slaty Egret is the chrome yellow tarsus and foot, but he was wrong to state that this character had not been pointed out before, as it has been well-known to observers in Zambia and was stressed by Berry (1974). The yellow-green tarsal colour of all collected specimens (Benson, Brooke & Irwin 1971, Irwin 1975) confirms that this is a consistent character, though one which is subject to post mortem change. Weights Weights are now available for 5 Slaty Egrets, namely 2 that I caught for ringing in Zambia at Lochinvar, the 2 Zambian specimens and one from the Okavango quoted by Milewski(1976). The 4 Zambian birds range 250-297 g, mean 275 g, while the Okavango bird weighed 340 g. In comparison, the weights of Black Egrets caught for ringing at Lochinvar by J. D. Mbewe and A. S. Muyundu were 270-390 g, mean 324 g (n=7), while a specimen from Botswana is quoted by Benson, Brooke & Irwin (1971) as weighing 144 oz (=c. 410 g). These data suggest that Slaty Egrets average somewhat lighter than Black Egrets. On the basis of wing, culmen and tarsus measurements of the few specimens examined, Benson, Brooke & Irwin (1971) and (Irwin 1975) had suggested that the Slaty is consistently the smaller species. Feeding methods Ways in which the feeding habits of Slaty and Black Egrets differ have been suggested by Vernon (1971) and Milweski (1976) , and our observations in Zambia generally are in accord. I know of no proven instance of Slaty Egrets using the “umbrella” method of prey hunting so typical of Black Egrets, and Irwin (1975) has suggested structural differences in their wings to explain this behaviour. Outside the immediate vicinity of a heronry, Slaty Egrets are typically seen at pans and pools on floodplains. Although they do overlap with Black Egrets on the shallow edge of floodwaters, they are rarely to be seen in the deeper waters fished by Black Egrets. The nestling Slaty Egret in Botswana regurgitated 4 small fish when first handled, and when collected the next day its stomach contained remains of at least 8 more small fish, each 30-40 mm in length. Voice Slaty Egrets are quiet birds, although an adult flushed from the nest did utter a few heron-like squawks while perched and watching us from a distance. Black Egrets frequently utter a similar call when feeding com- munally. [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] 326 DISTRIBUTION OF THE SLATY EGRET The distribution of the Slaty Egret as then known was mapped by Snow (1978: 20). Recent observations extend its range northwards in Zambia to the Bangweulu swamps (Berry 1974, D. R. Aspinwall) and Nchelenge District at Kabendwe(8° 28’S, 29° 17’E), almost on the Zaire border (Aspinwall 1978). In Zambia the species is most often reported from the floodplains of the Kafue Flats (Blue Lagoon and Lochnivar National Parks) and of the Liuwa Plain National Park. It occurs widely in the wetlands of northern Botswana, with one sighting as far south as Maun (Milewski 1976), and there is a specimen from Kabuta in the Caprivi Strip (Smithers 1964). A single Slaty Egret was reported from 2 localities near Salisbury in Zimbabwe in September and November 1978 (Evans 1979, Tree 1979). However, 2 sight records from Malawi (Day & Hanmer 1978) are not entirely convincing, in particular since neither refers to the conspicuously yellow tarsi. The status of the 2 specimens (including the type) from Potchefstroom in the Transvaal of South Africa in 1895 is unclear (Benson, Brooke & Irwin 1971), there being no other records south of northern Botswana. Up to the end of 1978 there were some 55 fully acceptable dated records from Zambia, for the following months: Jan. 4, Feb. 1, Mar. 2, Apr. 2, May 4, June 6, Jul. 8, Aug. 4, Sep. 4, Oct. 7, Nov. 10, Dec. 3. Most flood- plains are difficult of access during the rains, between about December and April, but I lived continuously in one key area (Lochinvar National Park) for 2% years 1968-71; other ornithologists to have lived there are R. J. Douthwaite and T. O. Osborne. Our continuous observations over several years provide no evidence of substantial movement by the Zambian popu- lation. However, Slaty Egrets have been observed during the rains in places that are completely dry for much of the year. Conversely, increased numbers during the dry season on the Liuwa Plain and the Kafue Flats (when parties of up to 30 are not uncommon) may suggest some regularity of movement, perhaps as post-breeding dispersal. Published dates from Botswana are even more influenced by the seasonal movements of ornithologists. There is so far no evidence of the Slaty Egret breeding in Zambia, although it may be expected to do so. Peak numbers of Black Egrets on the Kafue Flats are during the rains, but the 2 species may breed at much the same time of year, all egg-laying records for Black Egret in Zambia (Benson, Brooke, Dowsett & Irwin 1971 and subsequent data) being from March to June. Irwin (1975) has suggested that the Slaty Egret may be a relict species with a naturally declining population. However, its range may well be found to be more extensive than hitherto supposed, as more observers realise the distinctness of its field characters. On present evidence its distribution is strangely limited, and it could well be especially vulnerable to land-use alteration, such as the dams affecting flood levels on the Kafue Flats in Zambia and projects to utilise the waters of the Okavango swamps in Botswana. It should be considered an endangered species. Acknowledgments: My visit to Botswana was requested by U.N.D.P.’s Investigation of the Okavango Delta project (through Mr. H. M. Ernest), and I received much-appreciated assistance there from Messrs. W. L. Astle, P. A. Smith and J. Steen. Authority to collect a nestling Slaty Egret was obtained through the co-operation of Dr. W. von Richter of the Botswana Department of Wildlife and National Parks. Iam grateful to those observers in Zambia who have submitted records. Messrs. C. W. Benson, R. J. Douthwaite and M, P, Stuart Irwin have kindly commented on a draft of this paper, he - ee ee ah ai 327 [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] References: Aspinwall, D. R. 1978. Bird notes from northern Nchelenge District. Bul/. Zambian Orn. Soc. 10: I-4. Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K., Dowsett, R. J. & Irwin, M. P. S. 1971. The Birds of Zambia. Collins: London. Benson, C. W., Brooke, R. K. & Irwin, M. P. S. 1971. The Slatey Egret Egretta vina- ceigula is a good species. Bull, Brit.Orn.C/. 91: 131-133. Berry, G. F. 1968. Short notes on birds breeding in the Moremi Wildlife Reserve, Bot- swana 1oth-2zoth September 1968. Bokmakierie 20: 97. Berry, P. S. M. 1974. Slatey Egret Egretta vinaceiguia in the Bangweulu swamps. Bu//. Zambian Orn. Soc. 6: 49. Child, G. 1972. A sutvey of mixed “‘heronries’’ in the Okavango delta, Botswana. Ostrich 43: 60-62. Day, D. H. & Hanmer, D. B. 1978. (Letter). Bokwakierie 30: 108. Evans, P. J. 1979. (Letter). Honeyguide 97: 37. Fraser, W. 1971. Breeding herons and storks in Botswana. Ostrich 42: 123-127. Hancock, J. & Elliott, H. F. 1. 1978. Zhe Herons of the World. London Editions: London. Irwin, M. P. S. 1975. Adaptive morphology in the Black and Slatey Egrets Egretta ar- desiaca and Egretta vinaceigula, and relationships within the genus Egretta (Aves: Ar- deidae). Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 26: 155-163. Milewski, A. V. 1976. Feeding ecology of the Slaty Egret Egretta vinaceigula. Ostrich 47: 132-134, Smithers, R. H. N. 1964. A Check-list of the Birds of the Bechuanaland Protectorate and the Caprivi Strip. Trustees of the Nat. Museums of Sth. Rhodesia: Salisbury. Snow, D. W. 1978. An Atlas of Speciation in African Non-passerine Birds. British Museum (Natural History): London. Steyn, P. 1970. Journey for birds. Bokmakierie 22: 86-92. Tree, A. J. 1979. Recent observations in Mashonaland. Honeyguide 97: 18-24. Vernon, C. J. 1971. Observations on Egretta vinaceigula. Bull. Brit.Orn.Cl, 91: 157-159. Address: R. J. Dowsett, Nyika National Park, Private Bag Chilinda, P.O. Rumphi, Malawi. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. Observations on some Palaearctic land birds in Ghana by ]. Frank Walsh and L. G. Grimes Received 15 November 1980 In his classic paper on problems of Mediterranean-Saharan migration Moreau (1961) drew attention to the paucity of published evidence for the occurrence of many species of Palaear ctic birds in West Africa. This situation began to be rectified with the appearance of major papers from Senegal (Morel & Roux 1966) and Nigeria (Elgood ef a/. 1966). Subsequent in- formation for Nigeria, published in the Bw//etin of the Nigerian Ornithological Society, was partly used by Moreau (1972) and further data appeared for Senegal (Morel & Roux 1973) and for the Ivory Coast (Brunel & Thiollay 1969, 1970). Over a number of years we kept records of Palaearctic land birds in Ghana, of which the following add to our present knowledge. Our observations mainly relate to 2 savanna areas; one in the north and one in the south of the country. Data from the northern savanna, especially around Bolgatanga (10° 48’N, o° 51’W), were collected over 3 seasons (1970-1973) by J.F.W.; that from the Accra Plains in the south, particularly in the area around the University of Ghana at Legon (5° 38 N, o° 11’W), were collected over several years by L.G.G. Reference is also made to records by M. Wink made during 2 short stays in February and March 1972 and 1973 (Wink 1976) and to the more extensive records of Sutton (1970), Macdonald (1978) and M. Lockwood (in prep.). [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] 328 In the northern savanna there is one wet season and one long dry season (November to April) with an average rainfall of about 40 inches (1016 mm). On the Accra Plains the average annual rainfall varies from 30 inches (762 mm) near the coast to over 50 inches (1270 mm) inland, but in contrast to the north the rainfall is double peaked with a major peak in May and June and a minor one in September and October. In both areas the rainfall is erratic in timing and quantity, and the dry seasons are severe enough to quickly wither and dry the vegetation. It should perhaps be noted that in northern Ghana rainfall was well below average in 1970 but not in 1971 and 1972, while in the Sahel rainfall was particularly poor in 1971 and 1972 (Winstanley et a/. 1974). Of the 24 species discussed below, 8 are previously unreported for Ghana, though all have occurred in both Senegal (Morel & Roux 1973) and Nigeria (Elgood et a/. 1966, Elgood 1975). These Ghana records provide strong evidence in particular of major wintering by Booted Eagles Hyveraaetus pennatus and Sedge Warblers Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, and support Moreau’s (1972) view that the paucity of records reflects the shortage of observers, rather than the absence from much of West Africa of many species such as Hobby Falco subbuteo, Common Swift Apus apus, Pallid Swift Apus pallidus, and Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus. The records of territorial behaviour and singing add to the data on win- tering behaviour. Many Palaearctic passerines exhibit territorial behaviour in their West African winter quarters, many sing to some extent, from oc- cassional sub-song (Bluethroat Lyuscinia svecica) to full song throughout the season (Melodious Warbler Hippolazs polyglotta). Some, such as the Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix) and Willow Warbler (Phy/oscopus trochilus), appear to be in full song during spring migration, but not to sing fully whilst in winter quarters. The systematic list follows the order adopted by Serle e¢ a/. (1977). SYSTEMATIC LIST (*first published record for Ghana) *Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus Recorded only from the north; one in the White Volta valley on 7 January 1971 and single birds over rice paddies along the Bolgatanga-Tamale road in December 1972, January 1973, February 1972 and 1979, and March 19735. All records refer to male birds, which appear to be almost as common as male Pallid Harriers Circus macrourus, in a ratio of 6: 8. Females and im- mature birds of the 2 species were not distinguished. *Long-legged Buzzard Buteo refinus A party of 3 birds, all of different phases, considered to be this species was seen by both of us over Abokobi (5° 40’N, 0° 12’W) on the Accra Plains on 30 November 1971. *Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus This eagle is now known to winter regularly in West Africa. It was re- corded regularly at Bolgatanga between December and March in each year of J.F.W.’s stay (1970-73). Recently in Upper Volta, J.F.W. has seen it at Ouagadougou in January and at Banfora in March, as well as along the main road from Paga on the Ghana border to Ouagadougou in October, January and March. Light phase birds have turned up occasionally on the Accra 329 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] Plains and have been seen by both of us there. Mundy & Cook (1972) have a number of records for Sokoto in Nigeria between January and March. *Ruropean Hobby Faso subbuteo Good sightings at less than 10 m of an adult over an area of burnt grass at Legon on 5 March 1973. B. Smit (¢” /#t). had other sightings, in the dry season of 1971/72, which he considered to be this species. J.F.W. saw 3 in the Bafilo area of neighbouring Togo on 12 December 1978 (Cheke & Walsh 1980). Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur There ate a few records of this species from the north and none from the south. It has been taken at Mole Game Reserve, where an adult and an im- mature bird were shot on 12 October and 12 November 1971 respectively. A single bird was seen at Bolgatanga in December 1971 and 4 were at Vea Dam for several days in January 1973. The only published record is that of Wink (1976) who recorded a flock of c. 50 on 1 April 1973 near Lawra (10° 37’'N, 2° 53’W). The increase in rice cultivation at the Vea Dam may help to concentrate numbers in the future, as Morel & Roux (1973: 538) found in Senegal. European Cuckoo Cuculus canorus canorus One bird at Pong Tamale on 26 April 1971 is the only savanna record. Macdonald (1978) saw it at New Debiso (6° 38’N, 3° 08’W), in the forest zone, on 8 April 1977. *Alpine Swift Apus melba On 4 March 1974, groups of c. 30 birds occurred over the Accra Plains with Common Swifts and the Mottled Swift Apus aequatorialis and were quite widespread over the western districts of the plains. It is impossible to know whether they were from the Palaearctic, but the date is suggestive. A large group (c. 300 birds) was present with Common Swift and House Martin over Amedzofe (6° 54’N, 0° 24’E) in February 1975 following the re-occurrence of harmattan conditions in the south. Common Swift Apus apus The autumn passage in the north is extremely small compared with the spring passage. Six were seen at Bolgatanga on 19 August and 20 at Vea Dam on 21 August, then a few others later; while at Tumu, Sutton (1970) only had one record. In contrast the spring records are numerous (latest date at Bolgatanga, 6 June) and invariably occur after storms. At Nandom (10° 50’N, 2° 45’W), Sutton (1970) witnessed a broad front movement in- volving thousands of swifts. In the south most records fall between Feb- ruaty and March but some flocks appear over Legon in December and January, indicating a wintering population. Largest numbers (c. 500) were present on 4 March 1974 following unusual weather, the inter-tropical convergence zone returned southwards to reach the coast owing to a large anticyclone over southern France and Spain (Grimes 1974). Pallid Swift Apus pallidus Sutton (1970) strongly suspected that it occurred at Tumu with Cmmono Swifts. J.F.W. recorded one among 50 Common Swifts on 29 April 1971, 25 miles north of Tamale and 2 at Mole Game Reserve on 19 December 1971. Macdonald (1978) saw the species at Cape Coast on 30 November 1976 and, [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] 330 in the company of G. Vanderstichelen and J.F.W., at Tafo on 29 January 1978. These are the only published records from Ghana. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster Sutton (1970) recorded it in September and May at Tumu and R. B. Payne (in itt.) in October 1975 at Mole Game Reserve. These are the only records for the Upper Region of Ghana. Further south J.F.W. saw a flock of 12 feeding over savanna woodland on 3 December 1971 at 7° 45’N, 1° 45’W3; 3 were in noticeable wing moult. It is a regular visitor to the western areas of the Accra Plains and there is evidence that numbers have increased since the 1950’s. Gass (1963) recorded them occasionally, but they are now re- gularly seen between November and April, usually in flocks of 5-10 feeding in cassava plantations. About 25 were seen together in the Asukakaw valley (7° 40’N, 0° 17’B), in the cocoa growing area of the Volta Region, by J.F.W. on 11 January 1972. Sand Martin R7paria riparia Sutton (1970) recorded them at Tumu only in October and in the spring months beginning in February, latest date 21 May. This is also the pattern at Bolgatanga; earliest and latest dates are respectively 18 September and 2 May. In the south, Wink (1976) saw 5 along the Volta river near Akosom- bo (6° 20’N, 0° 05’E) on 27 February 1972. M. Lockwood (i Hitt.) found ~ Sand Martins roosting regularly with Swallows (1: 100) near Tafo-Akim in January and February 1975, but not in other months. Swallow Hirundo rustica At Vea Dam, ‘European’ Swallows have been recorded from mid-Septem- ber (with H. rustica /ucida) until mid-October and then very few until early March, after which they become fairly common from mid-April to early May (5 moving east on 16 May near Bolgatanga). In the south the earliest arrivals reach the Plains in late August (Gass 1957). Large numbers arrive in September and roosts occur in reed beds bordering the Densu river on the western edge of the Plains. Most birds leave by late March but on 2 March and 6 April 1973 flocks of c. 30 and c. 10 birds respectively were seen flying purposefully northwest over the University at Legon at about o800 hours, which suggests that they had come in from off the Gulf of Guinea (see Moreau 1972: 124) on their way north. After a storm on 14 April 1973, c. 100 birds were present with Common Swifts over the hills that skirt the Plains to the north of Accra. In the forested areas it is widely distributed in clearings and towns and along roads. A large roost (c. 20,000 birds) in a sugar cane plantation first located in 1971 near Tafo-Akim was used also in subsequent years; the tight swirling flight of the flock that precedes fall out into the roost at dusk (see Rudebeck 1955) has been observed there. M. Lockwood (in prep.) has trapped French and German ringed birds at the Tafo roost and re-trapped her own ringed birds in subsequent years. The data do not support the suggestion in Elgood ef a/. (1966) that most Swallows depart from southern Ghana in late December. House Martin Delichon urbica At Tumu, Sutton (1970) gained the impression that considerable numbers arrived in October and continued to build up until December, after which they were less numerous. Large numbers, however, have been recorded in late March at Mole Game Reserve. At Pong Tamale three were seen on aa [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] 28 April with Common Swifts Apus apus and Little African Swifts Apus afinis. The only observation in the south (3 at Amedzofe (6° 45’N, 0° 24’B)) was made a few days after the re-occurrence of harmattan conditions. Wink (1976) saw 300 on 17 March near Prang (8° 05’N, 0° 24’E) and 5 on 4 April 1973 neat Gambaga (10° 33’N, 0° 30’W). Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris One, very shy, was found in an open arid treeless area covered with tussock grass near Boltgatanga on 26 December 1971. Wink (1976) considered that he saw one on a sandy section of a lagoon east of Accra on 21 February 1973 and Macdonald (1978) reported single birds near the coast at Ankaful on 27 February and on the coast at Nakwa on 21 June 1977. These are the only published records from Ghana and it it suprising that 3 of the four birds were seen on the coast. Red-throated Pipit Amthus cervinus Many records from mid-November to the end of January in the vicinity of Vea Dam, where flocks of c. 30 birds often formed; much commoner in the north than the Tree Pipit Axthus trivialis. On the Accra Plains, Lamm & Horwood (1958) recorded it once with a small flock of Motacilla flava sp. and they have turned up occasionally at irrigation dams. Within the forest belt, M. Lockwood has netted the occasional bird at Tafo-Akim near the town’s reservoir and on the golf course. *Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius Regularly seen at the Bongo Hills (10° 5 4’N, 0° 49’W) during 1971 and 1972, when up to 3 birds 3, 922) were often seen during a single visit, the 2 females being together. A male was present from November at Mampong Quarry (5° 42’N, 0° 04’E) on the Accra Plains in 2 consecutive years, remaining until mid-March 1971 and the end of February 1972. In 1971 there were 2 males there on 12 and 23 February, song was heard and chasing occurred on the first date, but the birds were well separated during the second visit. Wink (1976) recorded a female at the same quarry on 27 March 1973 which had not been present earlier and was not seen subsequently. The local Cliff-Chat Myrmecocichla cinnamomeiventris is resident at the quarry, and the Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis has also been seen there. These records are similar to those from the Gambia (McGregor & Thomson 1965) and Nigeria (Elgood e¢ a/. 1966) in that the birds were seen on rocky outcrops at low altitudes, the Gambia record actually being at a coastal cliff, whereas the records from Sierra Leone and Liberia are from highland areas (Field 1973). *Bluethroat Luscina svecica First seen on 12 November 1972 at Vea Dam, where a male, believed to be cyanecula, was seen in rank vegetation over water. The following day 2 males were seen and the number eventually reached 10 on 3 December. On this date the birds were noticeably more noisy and some chasing occurred; one male gave a subdued but musical song. Birds were in rank grass and thorny vegetation on the bunds and in the ditches separating the paddy fields, and in 2 uncultivated but floodied paddies. They occasionally entered grown rice. Numbers probably remained the same until 7 January, the highest counts being on days when there was much territorial behaviour; on other visits birds were skulking and only a few were located. A male netted on 6 January was considered to be the nominate race. Other species netted [Bull.B.O.C. 198r 101(3)] ie on the same day in the same net were Great Reed Warbler, Savi’s Warbler and Sedge Warbler. After the first week in January the paddy dried out rapidly and the Bluethroat numbers dropped, the last being seen on 17 January, though 8 later visits were made. The series of observations in rank vegetation over wet ground closely parallels those of Fry (1966) in Nigeria. The only other record for Ghana is of a male at the Kumasi sewage farm, on 28 January 1973, in rank grass growing up to 2-3 m high beside a polluted stream. Present in the same area were Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and a C7sticola species. Ashford (1969) netted a similar group of species with a Bluethroat in a patch of spiny weed Amaranthus spinosus at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The Kumasi record is thus the second from the derived savanna zone. *Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides Three birds were heard giving liquid trills in rank vegetation on wet ground at Vea Dam on 4 January 1973. A specimen of the nominate race (weight 15.0 gm, wing 69 mm), now housed in the British Museum, Tring, was netted at the same place on 6 January. It is unlikely that these birds were overwintering at the site. This is the first record for Ghana and the only record between Senegal and Nigeria. Other species present in the rank vegetation were Sedge Warblers, Bluethroat and Black-backed Cisticola Cisticola eximia Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus - Records indicate that Ghana is an important wintering area. The first atrivals (earliest date 24 August 1972) at Vea Dam are skulking and silent and may be more numerous than records suggest. By mid-November 1972 many birds held territories within rice paddies and the high counts of c. 17 and c. 30 birds obtained respectively on 26 November 1972 and 7 January 1973 were possible only because of their marked territorial activity. In mid- January the paddy was cut but birds remained in the area (c. 6 on 2 and 10 February). Two netted on 6 and 7 January 1973 weighed 10.5 and 12.8 gm; one sent to the British Museum was considered to be of the nominate race. At Accra they have been located in TypJa beds in wetlands and at the edges of irrigation dams. Three birds were caught in the same net on 30 January within a period of 3 hours (weights 10.5, 10.5, 10.8 gm and wings 60, 64 and 64 mm respectively); all had earlier been in song. Other sight records are: 4 0n 19 December 1972 at Yeji ferry (8° 17’N, 0° 53’W) where they were in vegetation bordering the Volta lake, which now provides a very extensive habitat for Acrocephalus species; 3 at Kumasi sewage farm (6° 42’N, 1° 40’W) on 28 January in rank undergrowth, their calls suggesting that at least 12 may have been present; and at least 6 at Tafo on 29 January 1978, some of them in song, were seen by J.F.W. in the company of M. A. Macdonald and G. Vanderstichelen. Sutton (1970) located Sedge Warblers at Tumu (10° 51’N, 2° 00’W) in February, March and April. Recent records from Upper Volta at latitude 12°N by J.F.W. suggest regular wintering. In Nigeria, Walsh (1971) found evidence for it wintering on Foge Island on Lake Kainji (c. 10° 35’N) and also a movement through the area in April, with stragglers in May. British ringed birds have been recovered in Ghana. Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus One was seen in rank vegetation beside a polluted stream at Kumasi 333 [Bull. B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] sewage farm, which also contained Sedge Warblers and a Bluethroat Luscinia svecita, on 28 January 1973. On the Accra Plains one was collected in dry thicket within the Botanical gardens of the University on 12 December 1964 (weight 10.0 gm, wing 66 mm) and another on 31 January 1973 (weight 8.6 gm, wing 61 mm) in Typha beds which also held Sedge Warblers and the Rufous Cane Warbler Acrocephalus rufescens. ln Upper Volta at 12°N it occurs on passage in March, but wintering was also noted in 1976-77, one of 4 years during which careful observations were made (J.F.W.). British ringed birds have been recovered in Ghana. Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus At the Vea Dam near Bolgatanga 2 were in song on 26 November and 3 on 3 December 1972. They were not heard again, but one (weight 27.0 gm, wing 90 mm) was netted in the same area on 6 January 1973. It was of the nominate race, its tawny buff underparts suggesting a first year bird. Not yet recorded from the Accra Plains but likely to occur in sugar plantations on the eastern edge, as it has been netted near the coast at Lomé in Togo (Robinson 1972). Recent studies by M. Lockwood (in prep.) in the forest region near Tafo-Akim (6° 13’N, 0° 22’W) have shown it to be a regular winter resident, particularly in sugar cane plantations. Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta There are few records from the north: one near Bolgatanga giving sub- song in January whilst feeding low down in Mimosa pigra and a tangle of rank grass; and one at Pong Tamale (9° 40’N, 0° 50’W) on 3 occasions (21 and 26 April and 7 May 1971). On each visit a bird was singing from within the same large Acacia and thus might well have been the same bird. In Mole Game Reserve (9° 12’N, 1° 50’W) singing birds were recorded daily in late March by L.L.G. On the Accra Plains it is well distributed in parklands and well-watered gardens, and on inselbergs. Most birds arrive in mid-October (earliest date 30 September) and song may be heard regularly from the end of October (some are in song earlier) through to early April. In mature gardens, birds appear to hold territories from mid-January, for song is heard from the same bush or tree each day. In less hospitable areas birds are heard irregularly, which suggests that some do not hold territories. Chiffchaft Phy/loscopus collybita Wink (1976) did not realise that his record was the first for Ghana. At Yeji on 16 March 1972 he netted one which was moulting on head, breast, primaries and secondaries. He also recorded one in song on 21 February 1973 ina thicket clump east of Accra. Wood Warbler Phy/oscopus sibilatrix The only records from the north involve birds apparently on passage in spring 1971. A few were present in tall trees at Pong Tamale from at least 28 March until 26 April and also one was seen there on 6 May. Those in April were present with large numbers of Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus which departed between 3 and 10 April; both species were in song. Singing Wood Warblers have been recorded on several occasions in March and April in well wooded areas of the Accra Plains and also along the edges of forest reserves north of the Plains. The earliest record for Accra is 29 November 1973. Acknowledgements: We ate grateful to our correspondents, and especailly to Mrs M. Lock- wood, Mr G. Vanderstichelen accompanied us on many memorable field trips. [Bull.B.O.C. 1981 101(3)] 334 References: Ashford, R. W. 1969. Two species new to Ibadan, and associated records. Bul/. Niger. Orn. Soc. 6: 30-31. Brunel, J. & Thiollay, J. 1969. Liste préliminaire des oiseaux de Cote d’Ivoire. Alauda 37: 230-254, 315-337. — 1970. Liste préliminaire des oiseaux de Céte d’Ivoire (Supplément). Alauda 38 : 72-73. Cheke, R. A. & Walsh, J. F. 1980. Bird records from the Republic of Togo. Malimbus 2: 112-120, Elgood, J. H. 1975. The new Nigerian checklist. Bu//. Niger. Orn. Soc. 11: 68-73. Elgood, J. H., Sharland, R. E. & Ward, P. 1966. Palaearctic migrants in Nigeria. [bis 108: 84-116. Field, G. D. 1973. Ortolan and Blue Rock Thrush in Sierra Leone. Bull. Brit.Orn.Cl. 93: 81-82. Fry, C. H. 1966. Status of the Bluethroat in Nigeria. Bul/, Niger. Orn, Soc. 3: 98-99. Gass, M. D.I. 1957. Some migrant birds of Ghana. Nigerian Field 22: 166-168. — 1963. The Bee-eaters of Ghana. Nigerian Field 28: 31-34. Grimes, L. G. 1974. Weather conditions in temperate latitudes and the occurrence of Alpine and Mottled Swifts at Accta. Bull. Niger. Orn, Soc. 10: 38-39. Lamm, D. W. & Horwood, M. 1958. Species recently Pied to the list of Ghana birds. This 100: 175-178. Macdonald, M. A. 1978. Records of Palaearctic migrants in Ghana. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 14: 66-70. McGregor, I. A. & Thomson, A. L. 1965. Blue Rock-Thrush Monticola solitarius in the Gambia. [bis 107: 401. Moreau, R. E. 1961. Problems of Mediterranean-Saharan migration. /bis 103a: 373-427, 580-623. — ies The Palaearctic-African Bird Migration Systems. Academic Press: London and New York. Motel, G. & Roux, F. 1966. Les migrateurs paléarctiques au Sénégal. Terre et Vie 113: 19-72, 143-176. — 1973. Les migrateurs paléarctiques au Sénégal: notes complémentaires. Terre e¢ Vie 27: 523-550. Mundy, P. J. & Cook, A. W. 1972. Birds of Sokoto, Part 1. Bu//. Niger. Orn. Soc. 9: 26-47. Robinson, N. 1972. Bird notes from Republique du Togo. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 9: 85-89. Rudebeck, G. 1955. Some observations at a roost of European Swallows and other birds in the southeastern Transvaal. /bis 97: 572-580. Serle, W., Morel, G. J. & Hartwig, W. 1977. A Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa. Collins: London. Sutton, R. W. W. 1970. Bird records from Ghana in 1967 and 1968/69. Part 2. Bull. Niger. Orn. Soc. 7: 76-93. Walsh, J. F. 1971. Further notes on Borgu birds. Bu//. Niger. Orn. Soc. 8: 25-27. Wink, M. 1976. Palaearctische Zugvogel in Ghana (Westafrika). Bonn. Zool. Beitr. 27: 67-86. Winstanley, D., Spencer, R. & Williamson, K. 1974. Where have all the Whitethroats gone ? Bird Study 21: 1-14. Addresses: J. F. Walsh, 80 Arundel Road, Lytham St. Annes, FY8 1BN, UK. Dr L. G. Grimes, 3 St. Nicholas Court, St. Nicholas Church Street, Warwick, CV34 4JD, UK. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. The Collared Turtle Dove Streptopelia decaocto in Egypt by Steven M. Goodman ¢» Patrick F'. Houlihan Received 15 November 1980 On 8 February 1979, while on a roof-top of a six-storey building at Talaat Harb Square in downtown Cairo, Egypt, we observed 3 Collared Turtle Doves Streptopelia decaocto. Two doves were perched approximately 4 m from one another on a wire, and were singing the characteristic tri-syllabic *“coo-coooo-cuh”’ call, After several minutes of observation, a third bird 2355 [Bull.B.O.C. 198r: 101(3)] appeared, and landed between the 2 singing birds. Upon our approach to within 10-15 m of the birds, all 3 flew away. These observations appear to be the first reported for this species in Egypt ina free state. Next day SMG returned to the same roof-top and found there a single vocalizing Collared Turtle Dove. The bird was collected, but not identified as to subspecies, and prepared as a skeletal specimen which is now deposited in the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (201, 255). Some plumage notes were recorded before the feathers were removed: there was little wear, and no damage from cage battering was noted, nor were there any signs that the bird had recently been held in captivity (e.g. no wear of scales on one leg, no ring). The grey under tail-coverts, the small terminal tail spots and the dark wing-tips, combined with the distinctive call distinguished the collected bird from either the Pink-headed Turtle Dove S. roseogrisea or the domestic Barbary Dove S. “risoria” (Vaurie 1961). The bird proved to be a male with swollen testes: wing (chord) 163 mm; tail 124 mm; weight 133 gm; left testes 17 x 2 mm, right 18 x 3 mm. The western range expansion of this species across Europe has been well documented (Stresemann & Nowak 1958), but in several cases it has not been possible to determine if the colonizers were wild, or escaped cage birds (e.g. May & Fisher 1953). At the time the above specimen was collected, a pet shop in the downtown area of Cairo, and only 4 city blocks from Talaat Harb Square, had collared Turtle Doves for sale. These captive birds were kept in cages within an open-air court at the back of the shop. Before re- moving the feathers from the specimen collected at Talaat Harb Square it was compared to these captive doves, and they matched in plumage colour and general feather condition. Upon inquiry, it was learned from the shop- owner that he had kept and sold Collared Turtle Doves for at least 2 years, during which time several had escaped (no estimate was made as to how many). The owner did not disclose from where his stock came. Based on these facts, it appears that the birds on the roof-top at Talaat Harb Square were pro- bably escaped cage birds from this pet shop (or perhaps another ?) which had adapted to the local environs, and were not wild colonizers. This species is a common resident in Israel (Meinertzhagen 1920, Arnold 1962), and it is plausible that range expansion into Egypt could take place from this population, but to our knowledge there is no evidence that this has occurred, and based upon the above evidence it is best to consider the Collared Turtle Doves from Talaat Harb Square as feral cage birds. The population appears to be very localized, since we did not observe these doves in other areas of Cairo, nor in the country; nor have other workers (Haensel 1975, 1980, Meininger & Dielissen 1979) found them present recently. The species’ range has increased elsewhere due to its introduction by man, so we may perhaps see a similar pattern develop in Egypt, with subsequent colonization of other portions of northeast Africa. References: Arnold, P. 1962. Birds of [srae/, Shalit Publishers Ltd: Haifa. Haensel, J. 1975. Ornithologische Hindriicke wahrend eines Studien-aufenthalts in Agypten im Herbst 1971. Beitr. Vogelkd. 21: 312-322. — 1980. Ornithologische Eindriicke wahrend eines weiteren Studien-aufenthalts in Agypten im Herbst und Friihwinter 1972. Beitr. Vogelkd. 26: 19-29. ay, R. & Fisher, J. 1953. A Collared Turtle Dove in England. British Birds 46: 51-55. : : M Meinertzhagen, R. 1920, Notes on the Birds of Southern Palestine, bis Ser. 11(1): 195-259. [ Bull. B.O.C. 198r 101(3)] 336 Meininger, P. & Dielissen, B. 1979. Ornitologische Waarnemingen in Egypte in 1977 en 1978. Veldornitologisch Tijdschrift 2: 78-86. Stresemann, E. & Nowak, E. 1958, Die Ausbreitung der Tuirkentaube in Asien und Europa. /. Orn. 99: 243-296. Vaurie, C. 1961. Systematic Notes on Palearctic Birds, No. 49 Columbidae: The Genus Streptopelia. Amer. Mus. Novit, 2058: 1-25. Address: 8. M. Goodman, P. F. Houlihan, Bird Division, Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109. U.S.A. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. Atlas of speciation in African non-passerine birds — Addenda and Corrigenda 2 by D. W. Snow and M, Louette Received 20 November 1980 The following items complete the list of Addenda and Corrigenda that have come to our notice since the publication of the Avz/as in August 1978. An earlier list was published in Bw//. Brit. Orn. Cl. 99 : 66-68 (1979). We should make it clear that we are dealing only with records or references which were available at the time when the AZ/as was being prepared. Hence, when these additions and corrections have been made, together with those given in the earlier paper, the AZ/as should give a comprehensive and reason- ably detailed picture of the known distributions of African non-passerines at the end of 1976 (the cut-off date for incorporation of published records). It may be noted that an exception was made of the distributional synthesis of the Cameroun avifauna which appeared in 1977 (Louette 1977, De avifauna van Kameroon, Doctorate thesis, Univ. Antwerp), since it contained a con- siderable number of new records for that country. Map 2. See remark under Map 4. Map 4. Podiceps cristatus. Delete the Gabon breeding record. It is based on a chick in the Paris Museum which is in fact Tachybaptus ruficollis (Lou- ette, op. cit.). (To be transferred to Map 2.) Map 25. Ardea purpurea. Found breeding south of Bomboma (c. 2°N, 19°B) by Vrijdagh (1954, Gerfaut 44: 300-302). Map 56. Axas sparsa. The easternmost record in Cameroun should be a star, as ducklings were collected (Louette, op. cit.). Map 61. Anas smithii species-group. The record for A. smithii in Shaba is erroneous. It was mentioned by Verheyen (1941, Bul/. Mus. Hist. Nat. Be/. 17 (23): 3), but corrected by Chapin (1954, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 75B: 624). The specimen, in the Brussels Museum, turns out to be Netta erythrophthalma. Map 66. Torgos tracheliotus. Insert a second breeding record for the area south of Lake Chad: Waza, Cameroun, 11° 25’N, 14° 34’E (Louette, op. cit.). Salvan (1968, O/seau 38: 54-55) mentions breeding in Chad (in Ouad- dai, near 13° N, 21°F). : Map 83. Accipiter nisus supetspecies. Of the records from between 10° and 23°S only the following are correct: the 3 from the NW side of Lake Malawi (Nyika and Vipya Plateaux) and the one from near Melsetter southeasternmost. The record from Sa da Bandeira, Angola, must be considered suspect as no details are given (Rosa Pinto 1970, Mem. 337 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(3) ] Trab. Inst. Invest. Ci, Angola 6: 31). The erroneous records refer to im- mature A. ovampensis, which can easily be confused with A. nisus rufiventris (Benson, Irwin & Steyn, in prep.). The latter is undoubtedly essentially montane in tropical southern Africa. Map 101. Hieraaetus dubius. Recorded from Legon, Ghana (5° 38’N, 0° 11’W); specimen in British Museum (Natural History), collected in 1973 but not incorporated at the time when the map was prepared. Map 125. Francolinus bicalcaratus species-group. Type of F. bicalcaratus molunduensis Grote from “Molundu’”, but see remark under Map 384. Map 128. Francolinus coqui species-group. The record of F. albogularis at Nanergou, 10° 55’N, 00° o9’E, but displaced a little to west of the zero meridian on the map (De Roo é¢ a/. 1969, Rev. Zool. Afr. 79: 311), is based on a misidentification and should be F. cogui. Map 162. Balearica pavonina. Breeding at Waza, Cameroun (Dragesco 1960, Alauda 27: 265); entered in the A//as as a non-breeding record. Map 177. Vanellus crassirostris. Recorded from the Cuanza River, Angola, at about 9° 20’S, 13° 30’E, by Erard & Etchécopar (1970, Bull. Brit. Orn. C/. 90: 159), and found breeding in the same area by Dean (1974, Durban Mus. Novit. 10: 113). Map 191. Rostratula benghalensis superspecies. Recorded breeding in the same locality as on Map 177 on the Cuanza River by Dean (op. cét.: 112). Map 212. Columba arquatrix species-group. Delete the registration of C. albinucha at about 2°N, 19°E. Map 219. Streptopelia semitorquata. The record near the confluence of the Logone and Shari rivers, south of Lake Chad, may refer to S. decipiens (cf. Salvan 1968, Ozseau 38: 130). Map 220. Streptopelia turtur species-group. The range of S. hypopyrrha should be extended eastward by the following records: near Garoua, Cameroun, about 9° 18’N, 13° 24’E (Reichenow 1910, Orn. Mber. 18: 174); Fianga, Chad, 9° 55’N, 15° 09’E and Ngaoundéré, 7° 19’N, 13° 35’E (Vielliard 1972, A/auda 40: 78). Map 224. Turtur afer. Delete the record on the south side of Lake Chad, which probably refers to T. abyssinicus. Map 230. Potcephalus meyeri superspecies. Salvan (1968, Ovseaw 38: 135) gives Kelo (9° 19’N, 15° 48’E) as a breeding locality for P. meyerz. Abilela (12° 41’N, 14° 45’E) and Damraou (10° 05’N, 17° 35’E) apply to meyeri, not senegalus (Grote 1928, J. Orn. 76: 759, contra Salvan (op. cit.). P. senegalus has been observed at Fianga (9° 55’N, 15° 09’E) by Vielliard (1971, Cab. ORSTOM (Sér Hydrobiol.) 5: 237) and it may occur at Waza (cf. Louette, op. cit.). This superspecies needs field work in the area of Lake Chad. Map 237. Tauraco persa superspecies. The following extend the range of T. persa eastward in the blank area north of the Congo river: Oka, 0° 37’S, 14° 54’E (Meyer de Schauensee 1949, Notulae Nat. 219), Nola, 3° 32’N, 16° 04’E (Stone 1936. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 86: 581), Bobito, 2° 57’N, 19° 25’E, and Boyagati, 3° 33’N, 20° 33’E (Schouteden 1962, Dac. Zool. :°51). Map 254. Centropus monachus superspecies. The Lake Chad record, from Ibis 109: 484 (1967), is certainly based on confusion with either C. senegalen- sis or grilliz. [ Bull. B.O.C. 198r 101(3)] 338 Map 259. Zyto capensis. The three records for central S.W. Africa (Namibia) are based on sight records. It is unlikely that there could be suitable habitat in this area, and in all probability there was confusion with Asvo capensis (M. P. S. Irwin, Hloneyguide, in press). Map 269. Scotopelia peli species-group. A record of S. bowvieri from the Junk River, Liberia (about 64°N, 10}°W, near the record of ussheri), was doubted by Allen (1930) but confirmed by Bannerman (1933, Bds Trop. W. Africa 3: 51), and should be added to the map. Map 282. Caprimulgus rufigena superspecies. The isolated record of C. rufigena in Ghana is based on misidentification of a specimen in the British Museum, which turns out on re-examination to be a female C. chma- CurUs. Map 290. Telacanthura ussheri. Recorded at Cape Coast, Ghana (on the coast at 1° 13’W), the type locality. Dendropicos elliotii e Fig 1: Distribution of Dendropicos elliotii Map 295. Apus barbatus superspecies. The record of A. s/adeniae in eastern Cameroun should be transferred to approx. 4° 45’N, 9° 40’E, near Mount Cameroun, which is the type locality (Erosung, Bakossi region) for Apus melanotus Reichenow, a synonym. Misplacement due to con- fusion with another place called Bakossi in eastern Cameroun. Map 296. Apus pallidus superspecies. The isolated Congo record of A. niansae (specimen in Philadelphia) needs further study. It would be better to compare the specimen with other swifts once again. Map 325. Coracias abyssinica species-group. Recorded on the Ghana coast at Keta (1°E) and just inside the forest zone at Kumasi (6° 45’N, 1° 45’W). Map 367. /ndicator minor superspecies. The record at about 10° W, near the Liberian coast, should be J. conirostris, not I. minor (Rand 1951). Map 373. Prodotiscus regulus. Recorded from Kolokopé, Togo, 7° 48’N, 1° 18’E (de Roo ef a/. 1971, Rev. Zool, Afr. 83: 88). 339 [Bull.B.O.C. 1987: 101(3)] Map 377. Campethera nubica superspecies. The range of C. bennettii should be extended to Rwanda, for which Schouteden (1966, Doc. Zool. 10: 70) gives several records. Map 384. Dendropicos poecilolaemus. The record at about 2°N, 15°E is probably erroneous. This is based on a specimen collected by Haberer, one of a seties labelled ‘““Molundu”’ but all non-forest species and almost certainly not from 2° 02’N, 15° 13’E. This series includes Francolinus bicalcaratus (Map 125). Map 388. Dendropicos pyrrhogaster saperspecies. Old records of D. pyrrhogaster from Mount Cameroun (c. 4° 12’N, 9° 11’E) are substantiated by speci- mens in Berlin and Stockholm and must be considered valid. Map 389. Dendropicos elliotii. The records from Western Zaire in Schouteden Doc. Zool. 1 (1961): 983 3 (1962): 80 and 6 (1964): 109 have been omitted. The incorporation of these records results in a map as in Fig. 1. Map 390. Dendropicos goertae superspecies. The range of D. goertae should be extended to Rwanda, for which Schouteden (1966, Doc. Zoo/. 10: 71) gives several records. Addresses: Dt D. W. Snow, Sub-department of Ornithology, British Museum (Nat. Hist.), Tring, Hertfordshire, HP23 6AP, England. Dr M. Louette, Koninklijk Museum voor Midden-Afrika, B-1980 Tervuren, Belgium. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. Winter field notes and specimen weights of Cayman Island Birds by Storrs L. Olson, Helen F’. James and Charles A. Meister Received 6 January 1981 We observed and collected birds in the Cayman Islands in November 1979, mainly for the purpose of obtaining skeletal material for identification of Pleistocene bird fossils known from the islands (Morgan 1977). We were on Grand Cayman 14-22 November, during which time we concentrated on resident birds in the limestone forests in the middle and eastern portions of the island, although we maintained a mist net in constant operation in the mangrove forest near our quarters at South Sound, on the southwest coast of the island. We were on Cayman Brac 22-26 November, where most of our work was in bluff forest in the middle of the island near Stake Bay. The most recent list of the avifauna of the Cayman Islands is that of Johnston e¢ a/. (1971), to which Barlow (1978) added records of migrants from Grand Cayman. The ecology and physiography of the Cayman Islands with respect to their avifaunas has been treated in detail by Johnston (1975). Less ornithological work appears to have been done in the islands in winter; hence for completeness we have included at least some mention of each species we observed. Because of the nature of our work, the absence of cettain species, such as coastal migrants, probably has little sig nificance. We have also taken this opportunity to include records made by the late Alexander Wetmore, who made 3 vacation trips to Grand Cayman in the 1970's. Although he did not collect specimens, he kept his usual meticulous field notes, which are now on file at the National Museum of Natural History, [Bull.B.O.C. 1981 101(3)] 340 Smithsonian Institution. The periods of Wetmore’s observations include 26 January to 16 February 1972, 8-23 February 1973, and 7-18 January 1975. An asterisk (*) indicates that a species was also observed by Wetmore but that his notes do not require further elaboration. All observations ate ours unless specifically attributed to Wetmore. We did not visit Little Cayman, but the avifauna of this island has recently been summarized by Diamond (1980), who also includes an appendix with weights of 7 species. Specimen weights in grams appear at the end of each species account and were taken with 30, 100, and 300 g Pesola spring scales. Minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation are given for weights when there are 5 or more specimens in a category. GC=Grand Cayman. CB= Cayman Brac. SPECIES ACCOUNTS * Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. GC, observed on lake E of Bodden- town. Sula leucogaster. Brown Booby. CB, 3 were seen passing bluffs at E end of island, 23 November. *Fregata magnificens. Magnificent Frigatebird. GC, observed only occasional- ly; more than 20 seen over the turtle rearing pens on the NW tip of the island. * Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. GC, common at South Sound. Egretta alba. Common Egret. Johnston e¢ a/. (1971) describe the species as “uncommon in winter” on GC. We did not encounter it, but Wetmore observed the species on all 3 of his trips. On 14 February 1973 he recorded: “Forty to fifty on the larger pond at the Dairy Farm near Boddentown. With Snowy Egrets they rested in a close group on a shallow bank flying out in groups over somewhat deeper water. Here as they passed while on the wing, partly hovering, partly coasting on broad wings they stabbed rapidly at the surface of water to seize small minnows.” Egretta thula. Snowy Egret. GC, common; an impressive feeding ag- gregation of more than 20 was observed for several days near the North Side Road, where flood waters were washing small poeciliid fishes over a dirt road through a marsh. Considerable aggression was noted and there was a definite dominance hierarchy among individuals. Wetmore noted this species feeding on the wing, as described for FE. a/ba above, both at Meagre Bay Pond on 1o February 1972 and at the dairy pond near Boddentown on 14 February 1973. CB, a few in mangrove pools. *Fgretta caerulea. Little Blue Heron. GC, adults and immatures seen on several occasions. *Figretta tricolor. Louisiana Heron. GC, CB, observed occasionally. *Foretta ibis. Cattle Egret. GC, observed on several occasions, usually with cattle. CB, with cattle on E end of bluff, also along roadsides and very tame at Stake Bay. *Butorides virescens. Green Heron. GC, common in mangroves and any wet area; no dark phase birds noted. CB, a few in mangroves on S coast. * Nyctanassa violacea. Yellow-crowned Night Heron. CB, one in pool on $ side. Ixobrychus exilis. Least Bittern. GC, Wetmore observed an individual of this species, both perched and on the wing, in cat-tails in the Omega Settle- ment area, 7 February 1972. Johnston ef a/. (1971) list only one other sight record for GC. 341 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] Plegadis falcinellus. Glossy Ibis. GC, Wetmore observed an adult and an immature with herons in the West Bay district, 3 February 1972. Johnston et al. (1971) list but one sighting on GC and 2 for CB. Anas discors. Blue-winged Teal. GC, encountered by Wetmore on each of his trips. Anas americana. American Widgeon. GC, 2 seen by Wetmore on 15 February 1973 and on 20 and 24 January 1975. Aythya affinis. Lesser Scaup. GC, 2 adult males seen by Wetmore on 6 and to February 1972 on a lake adjacent to Meagre Bay Pond beyond Bodden- town. Aythya collaris. Ring-necked Duck. GC, we observed at length a male and 3 females among a flock of American Coots in a flooded quarry at the NW tip of the island on 19 November. All field marks, including the ring around the bill, were noted. This appears to be the first record of the species for the Cayman Islands. Oxyura dominica. Masked duck. GC, one seen by Wetmore in a marsh in the Red Bay area, 12 February 1972. Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture. Hitherto there have been only 2 reports for GC, both equivocal (see Barlow 1978). Wetmore recorded 2 at Pageant Beach Hotel 8 January 1975, and noted birds there on 10, 13, 15 and 20 January 1975, mentioning “several” on the last date. He also saw one “in the mosquito control area” 26 January 1975. We observed one soaring over the marsh W of the North Side Road on 16 November 1979. CB, one ob- served close at hand soaring by bluffs at E end of island on 26 November. Johnston e¢ a/. (1971) give only one other record (June) for the island. When we queried a resident of CB about the “John Crow”’, she informed us that what was popularly thought to be a single individual had been present on CB for about to years and that lately the species seemed to be more common, up to 4 being seen at once. Pandion hahaetus. Osprey. GC, observed on 3 occasions; one bird seen close at hand was definitely referable to P. 4. carolinensis. *Falco columbarius. Merlin. GC, observed twice. CB, observed 3 times; one was captured 23 November in a mist net, after having killed an E/aenia in the net, escaping, and being recaptured near 2 Bananaquits that evidently died of fright, as they bore no injuries. CB, 2 213 g. *Falco sparverius. American Kestrel. GC, observed twice in vicinity of Breakers, probably one individual. CB, 2 observed along road on S side. Subspecific indentifications were not possible. *Gallinula chloropus. Common Gallinule. GC, CB, in ditches and pools in mangroves. Porphyrula martinica. Purple Gallinule. GC, Wetmore observed 2 in the Red Bay area on 12 February 1972, one of which, a female with heavy fat (USNM 576772), was killed by a car. Johnston e¢ a/. (1971) list only 2 records for GC, and Bond (1973, fide Johnston) mentions another. *Fyulica americana. American Coot. GC, a fair concentration observed with 4 Ring-necked Ducks (q.v.) on NW tip of island and a few seen elsewhere. Charadrius vociferus. WKilldeer. GC, Wetmore observed a dozen near Spanish Bay 17 February 1973 and noted an individual at Pageant Beach Hotel 10-17 January 1975. One sight record is listed by Johnston e¢ a/. (1971) and one by Bond (1973). [Bull. B.O.C. 198r 101(3)] 342 Charadrius semipalmatus. Semipalmated Plover. GC, not infrequently ob- served hy Wetmore in 1972 and 1975. Charadrius wilsonia. Wilson’s Plover. GC, Wetmore observed one at Rum Point on 13 February 1973. Apparently not previously reported in winter (Johnston ef a/. 1971). Pluvialis squatarola. Black-bellied Plover. GC, observed frequently by Wetmore on each of his trips. * Arenaria interpres. Raddy Turnstone. GC, we observed a few around the turtle pens. *Capella gallinago. Common Snipe. GC, we flushed one individual for several days in succession in a marshy area 1 km S of Old Man Bay. Numenius phaeopus. Whimbrel. GC, Wetmore observed one clearly for 10 minutes at Caribbean Cattle Farms on 12 February 1972. The only other record for the Caymans was reported in Bond (1978) as seen on GC on 9 September of an unspecified year. * Actitis macularia. Spotted Sandpiper. GC, at least 2 individuals seen. Tringa solitaria. Solitary Sandpiper. GC, one by pool S of Grape Tree Point, 16 November. *Tringa melanoleuca. Greater Yellowlegs. GC, observed occasionally, usually in flooded roads. Tringa flavipes. Lesser Yellowlegs. GC, seen by Wetmore in 1972 and 1973. Calidris pusillus. Semipalmated Sandpiper. Calidris minutilla. Least Sand- piper. GC, both species recorded by Wetmore in 1972 and 1973. Himantopus mexicanus. Black-necked Stilt. GC, seen by Wetmore on each of his trips, though we failed to encounter it. *Thalasseus maximus. Royal Tern. GC, observed at South Sound. *Columba leucocephala. White-crowned Pigeon. GC, infrequently seen; one bird was discovered roosting at night about 8 m up in mangrove saplings with grackles. CB, decidedly uncommon; most observations could have stemmed from one individual that flushed repeatedly from the same general area on the bluff. *Zenaida aurita zenaida. Zenaida Dove. GC, very few seen; one collected in deep forest. CB, one seen along roadside. GC, 3 137 g *Zenaida asiatica asiatica. White-winged Dove. GC, observed on only 4 or 5 occasions; one picked up as roadside kill. GC, 3 134 ¢. *Columbina passerina insularis. Ground Dove. GC, common in suitable habitat. CB, abundant, even in semi-forested areas of the bluff. GC, ¢ n=5, 35.0-44.5 (38. 643.8); 2 35.0, 35.0, 39.0 8. CB, S 30.3, 32.539 34.55 35.08. Leptoptila jamaicensis collaris. White-bellied Dove. GC, 4 seen in limestone forest. A male and female, probably a pair, although taken 5 days apart, from 1 km S of Old Man Bay, were very fat and showed no moult. A female from 3 km NE of Half Moon Bay had almost no fat but was moulting. Birds from both sites had been feeding exclusively on the seeds of Anthurium. GC, 3179; 9 139, 164.55 * Amazona leucocephala. Caban Parrot. GC (A. /. caymanensis), seen or heard E of Savannah at nearly every locality at which we spent any time, as well as occasionally at other places along the south road; no large flocks, 4-6 in- dividuals being the most seen at one time. CB (A. /. hesterna), a pair observed on 2 occasions in different parts of bluff forest; in both instances the birds were furtive and utterly silent, in marked contrast to their counterparts on GC. 343 [Bull. B.O.C. 1981 101(3)] Coccyzus americanus. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. GC, one dead on road and another seen in tree in abandoned pasture. Coccyrus minor. Mangrove Cuckoo. GC, one seen in Georgetown 22 November. CB, one seen in bluff forest, 24 November. *Crotophaga ani. Smooth-billed Ani. GC, CB, common in disturbed areas. Tyto alba. Barn Owl. CB, probably several individuals flushed along roadsides almost every night; not seen on GC. *Ceryle alcyon. Belted Kingfisher. GC, one seen repeatedly at South Sound. CB, observed once. Sphyrapicus varius. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. GC, Wetmore noted this species on several occasions in 1972 and 1973. *Colaptes auratus gundlachit. Flicker. GC, common in limestone and man- grove forest (see Cruz & Johnston (1979) for details of the ecology of this subspecies). GC, 3 n=5, 81.5-97.0 (88.5 +6.4); 9 n=8, 83.0-93.5 (88.2+3.1) g. *Melanerpes superciliarts caymanensis. West Indian Red-bellied Woodpecker. GC, common in limestone forest. GC, 3 n=6, 68.0-81.0 (73.2+4.6); 2 n=7, 63.0—-78.0(67.5+4.9) g. *Tyrannus caudifasciatus caymanensis. Benen! Kingbird. GC, common. CB, perhaps less common than on GC. GC, 3 n=6, 38.5-52.0 (45.7+5.5); en=5, 34.5-46. 0 (42.1+4.8) g. CB, 5 41.0, 47.0 g. *Myarchus sagrae sagrae. Sagta’s Flycatcher. GC, reasonably common in motest. GE, J 18.0,/19255 19:53 20:05 2 17.0,.1850, 18.5 2. Contopus virens. Eastern Wood Pewee. GC, Wetmore saw individuals in shrubbery N of Pageant Beach Hotel on 13 February 1973 and near Barkers on 22 February 1973. Previously known from one specimen and 2 sight records (Johnston e¢ a/. 1971; Bond 1973). *Flaenia martinica caymanensis. Caribbean Elaenia. GC, tolerably common. CB, abundant; by subjective impression it seemed that this species was many times more abundant on CB than on GC. Two individuals from each island had the abdominal cavity packed with nematodes of the genus Dip/otriaena, which characteristically parasitizes passerines, infecting the lungs, air sacs, and body cavity. GC, ¢ n=6, 23.0-28.5 (24.942.0); 9 N=7, 20.0-27.0 Sera 2.5), sex? 21.5, 24.5 g. CB, ¢ n=6, 18.5-24.5 {2beI22i4)huP i205; 22.02. *Hirundo rustica. Barn swallow. GC, CB, good numbers on both islands. Tachycineta bicolor. Tree Swallow. GC, Wetmore observed 5-29 individuals at Caribbean Cattle Farms on 12, 13, and 15 February 1973 and on 20 February saw a dozen or more “‘on wires along the road midway to Old Man Village. Some in immature dress. The group kept changing, passing on to the east so that I believe they were in migration’’. The species is not listed for the Cayman Islands by Johnston ef a/. (1971), although Bond (1971b, 1972) mentions other sight records. Stelgdopteryx ruficollis. Rough-winged Swallow. Several observed by Wetmore with Tree Swallows on 20 February 1973. *Mimus polyglottos orpheus. Mockingbird. GC, common in open or settled areas. CB, now common, apparently colonized CB about 1956 (Bond 1958). We preserved a skin from CB which is referable to M. p. orpheus, as would be expected. GC, 3 45.5; 2 42.0, 43.5 3. CB, f 50.5 g. *Dumetella carolinensis. Catbird. GC, somewhat scarce, perhaps no more than 6 seen. CB, seemingly more common than on GC, but this impression [Bull. B.O.C. 1981 101(3)] 344 may have been influenced by the intensive efforts we made to “squeak up”’ Turdus plumbeus. GC, 3 34.0. CB, 3 39.5, 42.0 g. Turdus plumbeus coryi. Red-legged Thrush. CB, although W. W. Brown found this well-marked endemic subspecies in 1911 to be ‘“‘an extremely abundant bird” (Bangs 1916: 314), in our experience it was decidedly un- common. By persistent “squeaking”? we were able to secure 5 specimens, mainly in bluff forest, but one was taken among the buildings at Stake Bay. Some were also seen along the road on the N side of the island and on the trans-island road in the middle of the island. We probably did not encounter more than 12 of 15 individuals. All 5 of those collected showed evidence of infectious disease. Two had scaly encrustations on the tarsi, and all had subdermal lesions c. 1.5 cm in diameter on the abdomen anterior to the anus. One had a similar lesion on the anterior part of the breast. An excellent op- portunity exists here to study the effects of disease on a small natural popu- lation of birds in a restricted area. CB, 3 71.0, 81.0, 84.03 2 68.0, 73.0 g. Polioptila caerulea. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. GC, one observed by Wetmore, 30 January 1972. Vireo ¢. crassirostris. Thick-billed Vireo. GC, scarce, only c. 5 observed. CB, decidedly more common than on GC. It is of interest that birds from GC weigh significantly less than those from CB, or from the Bahamas where the average weight of 9 individuals was 13.9 g (Steadman e¢ a/. 1980). GC, G 11405, 11,.0),11.0; sex? ats of CB, Gy 93 10,19 3259 1iga5g cesta Pease 13.5 g. *Vireo magister caymanensis. Yucatan Vireo. GC, relatively common. GC $ N=5, 15.0-16.0(15.6+0.4); 9 n=6, 13.5-17.0(15.24+1.3); Sex? 16.0 g. *Muniotilta varia. Black and White Warbler. GC, this species and Setophaga ruticilla were the most frequently encountered non-resident warblers in woodlands. CB, present in fair numbers. Helmitheros vermivorus. Worm-eating Warbler. GC, one bird netted on 17 and 18 November. One observed by Wetmore on 28 January 1972. GC, 3 10.5 g. *Parula americana. Patula Warbler. GC, CB, scattered individuals seen in woodlands. GC, sex? 6.2 g. Dendroica petechia eoa. Yellow Warbler. GC, decidedly scarce, 3 taken and no more than 3 or 4 others seen; not observed on CB. One specimen was taken while foraging in wrack along the beach. Johnston ef a/. (1971: 152) describe this species as a “very common resident especially in mangrove swamp” on all 3 of the Cayman Islands. This was definitely not the case during our visit, suggesting that perhaps some of these supposedly resident birds are migratory. Wetmore’s notes indicate that he did not encounter the species frequently, as in 1972 and 1973 he saw single individuals on 7 occasions, a pair on another, and only once mentioned seeing “several”. GC, F 0.5:3:2-0,5,\To,o-g: Dendroica tigrina. Cape May Warbler. GC, group of 8-10 observed S of Grape Tree Point; one netted at South Sound and scattered others seen; few, if any, of these were adult males. CB, one female-plumaged bird netted twice. *Dendroica dominica. Yellow-throated Warbler. GC, our only observation was of an individual taking insects while hovering in the corners of a window in a bank building in Georgetown, 15 November. 345 [ Bull. B.O.C. 1981 101(3)] *Dendroica discolor. Prairie Warbler. GC, not common; one taken and at least 2 others seen. CB, one or two seen. GC, 3 6.5 g. * Dendroica vitellina. Vitelline Warbler. On both islands this species seemed more abundant than any one of the wintering species of woodland warblers. GC, (D. v. vitellina) § n=5, 6.5—7.0 (6.60.2); Pn =5, 6.5-7.3 (6.8+0.3); sex? 6.2, 6.5, 6.7, 6.8 g. CB, (D. v. crawford) 3 n=8, 6.5-7.5 (6.8+0.4); 2 6.5, O15 7s SeExr'O.5, 7-0 g. *Dendroica palmarum. Palm Warbler. GC, CB, very common in open areas and along roads; one particularly tame bird at our quarters on GC was ob- served to take nectar from a low-growing ornamental bush with small red flowets. Dendroica caerulescens. Black-throated Blue Warbler. CB, a few observed; none noted on GC. Dendroica coronata. Myrtle Warbler. GC, Wetmore found a flock of 15-20 that at first kept peculiarly close to one another in a marshy tract near Bod- dentown on 6 February 1972. He noted it as “common” at the Caribbean Cattle Farms on 13 and 15 February 1972. Johnston ef a/. (1971) mention it as having once been common in winter but not “‘reported in recent years.” *Sezurus aurocapillus. Ovenbird. GC, at least 2 at South Sound on 21 and 22 November. CB, present in low numbers. GC, 3 20.5 g. *Seiurus noveboracensis. Northern Waterthrush. GC, at least 2 netted and 2 others seen. GC, sex? 15.0 g. Geothlypis trichas. Yellowthroat. GC, CB, infrequent in grassy areas; no adult males seen on either island. Icteria virens. Yellow-breasted Chat. GC, Wetmore recorded ‘‘one seen clearly at the edge of a thicket near the Caribbean Dairy Farm, beyond Boddentown” on 14 February 1973. This species is known in the West Indies only as a vagrant to Grand Bahama, Bimini, and western Cuba (Bond 1971a: 244). It is unlikely that someone with as many years field experience as Wetmore would mistake such a distinctive species. *Setophaga ruticilla. Redstart. GC, common in woodland. CB, commonest wintering warbler in woodlands, but only 1-2 adult males seen. *Coereba flaveola sharpei. Bananaquit. GC, CB, the most abundant bird. A few had enlarged gonads, the only birds of any species we collected that could possibly have been breeding. A few were heard singing on CB. In handling these birds one is impressed with how muscular and hardy they afe in mist nets, in contrast to the Parulidae, with which Coereba has been associated by some authors. GC, $ n=9, 10.0-13.5 (11.141.1); 2 n=8, Meeeeeny (10.3) 1.1) o; sex? @.5, .r1-0,°13.5. CB; gs 11.0); 11.0; 11.0; 99.5, 10.0; Sex? 9.0 g. *Spindalis zena salvini. Striped-headed Tanager. GC, at times difficult to find, but travels in flocks, when up to 12 may be encountered. GC, $ n=10, 24.0-31.0(26.7+1.8); 2 n=6, 24.0-28.5 (26.2+1.7) g. *Ouiscalus niger caymanensis. Greater Antillean Grackle. GC, common; a nocturnal roost was found in a thicket of mangrove saplings along the main road by South Sound. A different subspecies, O. x. coryi, is supposed to inhabit CB and Little Cayman. Despite a fair amount of searching, we did not find a single grackle on CB, although Martha B. Hays (pers. comm.) found the species to be common on Little Cayman in March 1980. Perhaps this species leaves CB to spend the fall and winter on Little Cayman, which [Bw/l, B.O.C. 198r 101(3)] 346 has more suitable habitat for grackles than does CB. GC, (Q. ». caymanensis) $ N=10, 67.5-88.0(75.1+47.1); 9 N=IT, 51.0-64.0 (5 7.4+4.3) g. *Tiaris 0. olivacea. Yellow-faced Grassquit. GC, CB, only occasionally encountered, almost always on roadsides. GC, 3 9.0; 9 8.0, 8.7 g. Pheucticus ludovicianus. Rose-breated Grosbeak. CB, a male in changing plumage collected in bluff forest. CB, ¢ 47.0 g. *Passerina cyanea. Indigo Bunting. GC, one problematical bird seen in intermediate plumage. CB, one in brown plumage netted and released. *Melopyrrha nigra taylori. Caban Bullfinch. GC, common in woodland. GC, g n=10, 16.0-18.5 (17.2+1.0); 9 n=6, 14.5-16.0 (15.4+0.5); sex? 14.5, 18.0, 18.0 g. Passerculus sandwichensis. Savanna Sparrow. GC, on 6 and 7 February 1972, Wetmore noted “‘single birds flushed . . . in scattered open grassy areas”’. On to January 1975 he observed ‘“‘several near the Cattle Farm’. Only 2 other records are given by Johnston ef a/. (1971). Acknowledgements: We are particularly grateful to Mr. B. D. Lauer, Principal Secretary for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cayman Islands, and Mrs. D. Downer, for providing the necessary permits and greatly facilitating our research in many ways. Dr. M. E. C. Giglioli, Director, Mosquito Research and Control Unit, supplied us with considerable useful information and also with quarters on Cayman Brac, where we were also assisted by Mr. Floyd Banks. Our travel was financed in part by a fluid research grant from the Smithsonian Institution. Nematodes were identified by J. Ralph Lichtenfels, Animal Parasite Institute, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and seeds from Lepfotila by Robert Read, Department of Botany, Smithsonian Institution. This is contribution Number 10 of the Wetmore Papers, a project supported in part by trust funds from the Smithsonian Institution for completing unfinished work and study of undescribed material left by the late Alexander Wetmote. References: Bangs, O. 1916. A collection of birds from the Cayman Islands. Bul/. Mus. Comp. Zool. 60(7) : 303-320. Barlow, J. C. 1978. Records of migrants from Grand Cayman Island. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 98(4): 144-146. Bond, J. 1958. Third supplement to the Check-list of Birds of the West Indies (1956). Acad, Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. — 19714. Birds of the West Indies. Second edition (third American edition). Houghton Mifftin: Boston. — 1971 b,1972, 1973, 1978. Supplements 16, 17, 18 and 22 respectively to the Check- list of Birds of the West Indies (1956). Acad, Nat. Sci. Philadelphia. Cruz, A. & Johnston, D. W. 1979. Occurrence and feeding ecology of the Common Flicker on Grand Cayman Island. Condor 8(4): 370-375. Diamond, A. W. 1980. Ecology and species turnover of the birds of Little Cayman. Jn D. R. Stoddart and M. E. C. Giglioli (eds.) ‘Geology and Ecology of Little Cayman’. Atoll Res. Bull, 241: 141-164. Johnston, D. W. 1975. Ecological analysis of the Cayman Island avifauna. Bull, Florida State Mus. Biol. Set. 19(5): 235-300. Johnston, D. W., Blake, C. H. & Buden, D. W. 1971. Avifauna of the Cayman Islands. Quart. Jour. Florida Acad. Sci. 3.4(2): 142-156. Morgan, G. 1977. Late Pleistocene fossil vertebrates from the Cayman Islands, British West Indies. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. University of Florida, Gainesville. 260 pages. Steadman, D. W., Olson, S. L., Barber, J. C., Meister, C. A. & Melville, M. E. 1980. Weights of some West Indian birds. Bu//. Brit. Orn, Cl. 100(2): 155-158. Address: 8, L, Olson, H. F. James, and C. A. Meister, Division of Birds, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution. Washington, DC 20560, U.S.A. ©British Ornithologists’ Club 1981. 347 [Bull B.O.C. 1987: 101(3) J New races of montane birds from Kenya and southern Sudan by G. R. Cunningham-van Someren and Herbert Schifter Received 4 December 1980 {n November-December 1978 and 1979 two joint collecting trips were made by the Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien (NMW) and the National Museum, Nairobi (NMN), Kenya, to the North Nandi Forest, Western Kenya, 0° 20/N, 34° 58’E at some 2400 m, 75 miles southwest of Mt Elgon. As far as we ate aware no serious collecting has been undertaken in this isolated montane forest, though Sir Frederick Jackson (1938) collected in “Nandv’’, a locality “zo miles north of Kibigori Station” (on the Kenya railway, south of Kisumu on Lake Victoria). The forest of Nandi (=South Nandi), some 60 miles south of North Nandi at 2130 m is now virtually destroyed and replaced by tea plantations. #2W09° oF at » 30) , on Br ‘ PLANS ‘y . eee ies Morongole H = 3, Megs =* s fapeese ess igs *e . Vet woes Sy” ’ See s + Oty Wp eed. SEN Si. ET, 6S i reiten of s + t “ by 5 Py YY ‘ . ’ “\ Muruasiger Moroto s ‘ * Loiza @ Fulel GB Barecvit ser @ Hudongo ; i nas 2, ol Lapenguria K EN ss A U GY iN D A ifireen gyro ‘ Lelolekwe Kerizeiea Buanbae se J 37 Kibale c Mabire versa “senaie AUMSHROTS: Kakasoge® a 8 o” ‘iil tS eo c \\ . et © » : £ t wie 3 Cas Pace aes ore Or “Burgures «Kenya a iM 2, > Cr) ts Berdche ie, ee ae Aberdare + f Kisiie -7aNy, Maladigande! & Siidck + chepalungs Btanpins 7] rrr? te rrrr errr erry Repogi @ eXilgorie’ Yr H ‘as UE Meu Narok . Ispenetrayic 3 a tah? = ° s = «ef “a. Ngare Nzare' . ‘ygu ruman ) Loliondo ° sagen 3) R : l ek WM ess coin SE ca mucsoo 2g gogo oman Map showing majority of locations mentioned in text, The NMN collection includes series taken in 1962 on Mt Loima, Muru- asigar, west of Lake Turkana, near the Uganda border and Mt Kadam. Mt Loima rises to 2100 m and is well forested at the upper levels. These and the North Nandi series have been compared with examples from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and in some cases with material from Rwanda and Zaire. For the loan of comparative material we wish to thank the British Museum (Natural History), Tring (BMNH, I. C. J. Galbraith), the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago (FMNH, D. E. Willard), the Institute [Bull.B.0.C. 1981: 101(3)] 348 Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique IRSNB, A. Prigogine), the Ameri- can Museum of Natural History, New York (AMNH, L. L. Short), the Los Angeles County Museum, Los Angeles (LACM, R. Schreiber), and The Museum Alexander Koenig, Bonn (MAKB, H. E. Wolters). Wings were measured as flattened chords, all measurements being in mm. Bill measure- ments were of the exposed culmen. Colour references are Ridgway (1912) “Color Standards and Nomenclature”’, Washington. TURDUS ABYSSINICUS Olive Thrush When specimens were set out in series by localities to take account of the 3 major plumage characters, throat/chest, flanks/belly and back colours, it was apparent that there was a sharp division between extremely pale birds from Morongole, Loima, Karissia and the Nguruman Range and those from other areas. Pale, but less so, and distinct from typical abyssinicus were examples from the Imatong Mts, grading through Mt Kulal, Marsabit, Lololokwi (Uraguess) to a darker complex from North Nandi, Mt Elgon, Mt Kenya, Aberdare Range, Mau and Londiani, the last locality producing the darkest specimens overall. A distinctly “brown” group occurs in the Chyulu Range, with deckeni of Kilimanjaro dark and baraka from Ruwen- zori, Uganda the darkest. Nevertheless there are intergrades. White (1962) includes in the range of abyssinicus Mt Elgon, the Kenya Highlands to Londiani, south to Loliondo, Tanzania, but he omits mention of the pale po/ius from Mt Marsabit and Mt Lololokwi. Sclater (1930) also did not recognise po/ius but the race is upheld by Friedmann (Benson 1946). Van Someren (1939) included Mt Kulal, Marsabit and Mt Nyiru in the range of polius and in addition recognised the race e/gonensis, the range of the latter including Cherangani Range, Mau, Mt Kenya, Aberdare Range and (ac- cording to Moreau, 7 van Someren 1939) Longido and Kitumbeini in Tanzania. Friedmann (1966) accepted both polis and elgonensis as distinct from abyssinicus but considered (1969) Mt Nyiru birds to be abyssinicus to- gether with (1967) pale birds from the Karissia Hills. Our Karissia speci- mens ate however clearly not abyssinicus. We recognise abyssinicus from Ethiopia but also take note of birds from Mega, Southern Ethiopia, which Benson (1946) placed near po/ius and with which we tentatively associate birds from Kulal, Marsabit and from the type locality, Lololokwi. (Mega birds have not been seen by us.) We recognise e/gonensis and consider provisionally that its range includes Cherangani Range, Mt Kenya, Aberdare and possibly the Mau. We accept chyu/uensis as being quite distinct and al- together browner than other races but approaching deckeni. Specimens from the Imatong we provisionally place with abyssinicus. Three specimens in NMN from Londiani are puzzling since they so nearly resemble the Mau population (? e/gonensis), yet nearly match baraka of the Ruwenzori Range, and are somewhat similar to o/deani of the Crater Highlands of Tanzania. We find that birds from the North Nandi and Mt Loima are distinct dif- fering from all other races. We now propose 2 new subspecies. Turdus abyssinicus fuscatus subsp. nov. Holotype: 3 Reg. No. 17597/808 in National Museum, Kenya. Field No. 299. Collected on track Kipsamoiti-Kamwega, North Nandi Forest, Western 349 [Bull B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] Kenya, 0° 20’N, 34° 58’E, at 2133 m by Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien and National Museum, Kenya joint expedition on 19.xi.1978. Description: Throat to breast Hair Brown, throat with a few dark streaks. Undertail coverts and thighs grey with white central shaft. Head and back, Blackish Brown. Wings slightly blacker, tail black. Bill orange, legs dirty orange. Iris dark brown. Wing 109.0 mm, tail 98.0 mm. Bill 21.0 mm. The darkest, blackest-backed and dark chested form amongst Kenya montane forest populations. Considerably darker than e/gonensis from nearby Mt Elgon. Chest is greyer, flanks paler but back darker than nominate abyssinicus. Weight and measurements: Holotype weighed 60.5 g. Paratypes: $ Reg. No. 17600/808, wing 109.0 mm, weight 67.0 g; ¢ Reg. No. 17598/808, wing 112.0 mm, weight 58.0 g; ? Reg. No. 17601/808, wing 117.0 mm, weight 65.5 g; 2 Reg. No. 17602/808, wing 107.0 mm, weight 57.0 g; ? Reg. No. 17599/808, wing 102.0 mm, weight 62.0 g. All collected at the same site as the holotype between 12.xi. and 6.xii. 1978. All in NMN. In 1979, 2 more specimens which were secured in the same forest but further south near Chemisia, 0° 15’N, 35° 00’E, match the type series. Turdus abyssinicus mwaki subsp. nov. Holotype: 3 Reg. No. 12253/808, in National Museum, Nairobi, Kenya. Collected on Mt. Loima, Muruasigar, West Turkana, Kenya, 3° 02’N, 35° oo’B, at 2133 m on 8.xi.1962 by Joseph Mwaki for A. D. Forbes-Watson. Description: Throat to breast Mouse Grey, slightly more darkly streaked on throat. Flanks and belly Tawny Olive, some white towards the crissum. Head, back and outer web of wings, Fuscous. Rump paler grey. Tail slightly darker. Under-tail coverts white edged grey. Legs Orange. Bill orange-red. Weight and measurements: Wing 115.0 mm, tail 93.0 mm, bill 21.0 mm. Paratypes: 12 dd and 3 99 collected on Mt Loima between 22.x. and 8.xi.1962 by Joseph Mwaki. Wings: 33, 104, 105, 105, 108, 109, 109, I10, III, 112, 113, and 114.0 mm, 9? 1o1, 111 and 117.0 mm. Allin NMN. The palest form on ventral and dorsal surfaces and closest to polis of Mearns (1913) is from Lololokwi (Uraguess) and is far less richly coloured than typical abyssinicus. With this race we include 2 33d from Morongole, Rastern Uganda at 3° 49’N, 34° 20’E at 2538 m, taken by the Oxford Uni- versity Expedition on 4 and 6.ix.1966, in NMN, with wings of 110 and 114.0 mm. Also associated are 3 specimens collected by A. L. Archer on 22.1x.1974 from Karissia Hills, Kenya, at c. 1830 m: 2 66 with wings 105 and 107.0 mm and one 2 with wing 103.0 mm. These 3 localities are isolated ranges. It is possible that Friedmann’s (1966) specimens from Mt Moroto, Uganda at c. 2640 m, which he referred to as po/ius, are really examples of this new race. We consider that birds from the other isolated ranges east of the Rift Valley ate polius. Amongst specimens loaned by the BMNH was one collected in 1900 by W. G. Doggett for Sir Harry Johnston (field no. 106), labelled ‘““Entebbe’”’, April. The locality however should read N’dabibi, which is northwest of Lake Naivasha, Kenya. N’dabibi, in 1900 was within the Uganda Pro- tectorate. [Bull B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] 350 This new race is named for Joseph Mwaki, collector and skinner for many years for A. D. Forbes-Watson and later for the NMN. POGONOCICHLA STELLATA White-starred Forest Robin While working over the collections in order to establish the identity of our specimens of this species from the North Nandi, which we naturally at first thought would be near e/gonensis of Ogilvie-Grant (1911) from Mt Elgon, our birds proved to have black and yellow tails and not the all-black tail of the adult of the Mt Elgon race. We also had some comparative material from the Imatong Mts, Southern Sudan, by courtesy of Major Melvin Traylor (FMNH). Cave & MacDonald (1955) referred their birds from the Imatong to the race guttzfer Reichenow & Neumann (1895) from Mt. Kilimanjaro. However FMNH Imatong birds differ markedly from all other forms occurring in Eastern Africa. Moreau (1951b) included the Ima- tong group on the Sudan-Uganda border in the range of Reniensis of Mearns, 1911, as well as Mt Nyiru and Kulal, while Friedmann & Stager (1969) re- ferred their Mt Nyiru birds to guttzfer. Having put out a series of all pre- sumed races, intergrades or intermediate forms in geographical order it is quite clear to us that birds from the Imatong are not guttifer, Reniensis ot elgonensis, and they also differ from specimens from Mt. Kulal. White (1962) on the other hand, includes Imatong birds along with Kulal and Garguess and the Kenya Highlands under éntensa of Sharpe, 1901. In view of the confusion over the validity and distribution of the races of P. ste/lata in Eastern Africa we propose to give these pale yellow-bellied birds from the Imatong subspecific status as Pogonocichla stellata pallidiflava subsp. nov. Holotype: 3, Reg. No. 298521 in Field Museum of Natural History, Chi- cago, U.S.A. Collected at Gilo, Imatong Mountains, Southern Sudan, 4*62’N, 32°'51’E, at 2100 m, by M." Traylor on 3.iii-1977. Description: Head, ear coverts, throat, Dark Plumbeous. White supra- orbital spot, large. Throat spot white, outlined in black. Breast to belly and flanks, undertail coverts all Primuline Yellow. Paler than birds from Mt Kulal, Kenya Highlands to Tanzania and the races e/gonensis, Reniensis, mac- arthuri, helleri, orientalis and guttifer. Tail jet black with Primuline Yellow base to all rectrices save the central pair. Black tips of 11.0-13.0 mm on the inner webs. Tails brighter yellow than in other races, not ochraceous. Back Dark Citrine, with Primuline Yellow rump. Wings, primaries and secon- daries dark Purplish Grey. Secondaries, outer webs blue-grey edged olive. Coverts faintly edged blue-grey and olive tipped. Outer webs of primaries light blue-grey. Weight and measurements: Wing 77.0 mm, tail 60.0 mm, bill 12.0 mm. Para- types: d Reg. No. 298515, wing 71.5 mm, weight 18.0 g; 2? Reg. No. 298520, wing 71.5 mm, weight 18.0 g; 2? Reg. No. 298519, wing 69.0 mm, weight 18.0 g; Unsexed Reg. No. 298522, wing 72.5 mm, weight 15.8 g; Unsexed, Reg. No. 298518, wing 71.5 mm, weight 17.0 g. All from Gilo, in FMNH, collected around the same date as the holotype. In addition there is one ? No. 3003, topotype, collected Gilo, 24.vi.1978 by G. Nikolaus, in NMN, wing 73.0 mm, weight 16.5 g. The very pale yellow of the ventral surface and the 351 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] very black and Primuline Yellow tail of this race distinguishes it from all other East African races. ALETHE POLIOCEPHALA Brown-chested Alethe Comparative material of this species in NMN includes topotypical speci- mens of the race ufipae from Mbisi, Ufipa, southwest Tanzania; ake/eyae from Burguret, Meru and Mt Kenya; carruthersi from Toro, Mpanga and Mabira Forests of Uganda; a series from the low Bwamba Forest (Ruwenzori- Semliki), Uganda; some from Kakamega Forest, Western Kenya; and speci- mens from Mt Elgon. We have compared these with our series from the North Nandi Forest and Mt Imatong of Southern Sudan. It is at once clear that birds from the latter 2 localities do not match any described race. Chapin (1953) lists carruthersi as from Toro, Beni (Zaire), and the Lotti forest of the Imatong, while Cave & MacDonald (1955) also refer the Sudan birds to carruthersi. Jackson (1938) gives the range of carruthersi as “east to Nandi and slopes of Mt. Elgon’. Our series does not substantiate this wide distribution and we suggest that carruthersi should be maintained for birds of the lower altitudes in Uganda and western populations generally; and that akeleyae should be the race confined to the Kenya Highlands (except Mt. Elgon and the forest of Kakamega). The population in the North Nandi forest does not agree with birds from nearby Mt. Elgon or Kakamega, the Kakamega birds being nearer to carruthersi and the Mt. Elgon birds inter- mediate. However, though we only have 2 specimens from which to judge, they do not match akeleyae either. The North Nandi birds compared with carruthersi ate altogether paler, duskier on the underside with backs darker and not so rich brown. In akeleyae, the marked chestband separates this from the other races. Imatong birds are close to those from North Nandi, but are easily separable, having an almost white belly, dark black heads and more olive backs with a buff chestband. We propose to assign the North Nandi birds to a new race. Alethe poliocephala nandensis subsp. nov. Holotype: 3 Reg. No. 17700/778, Field No. 368, in National Museum, Nairobi, Kenya. Collected on the track from Kamwega to Kipsamoiti, North Nandi Forest, 0° 20’N, 34° 58’E, at 2133 m by Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien and National Museum, Kenya joint expedition on 22.xi.1978. Description: Head Sooty Black. Black pre-ocular spot and grey supercillium. Nape, back to rump Brussels Brown, mote olive than Imatong birds. Tail black. Wings fuscous, primaries with outer web narrowly edged brown. Secondaries outer webs Brussels Brown, faintly cross barred. Coverts, edged and tipped Brussels Brown. Throat white, faint breast band of Deep Olive Buff, paler than the Imatong birds. Belly white faintly tinged creamy. Flanks greyish, paler than Imatong birds. Distinguished by its lack of a marked chestband from ake/eyae and by the chestband of carruthersi and from both by the tone of brown of the ack. Weight and measurements: wing, 88.5 mm, tail, 57.0 mm, bill, 11.5 mm. In the field, iris brown, bill black, feet pinkish-grey. Weight 27.0 g. Paratypes: taken in the same area over the period 9.xi to 20.iii.1978: 25 dd wings mean [ Bull. B.O.C. 198r: 101(3)] 2 Sia 86.0 (80.5-91) mm, 15 99, wings 84.83 (82.0-90.0) mm and to sub-adult. Mean weights of adult 3d, 27.8 (25.5-32.5) g and of adult 9? 28.5 (26.0- 31.0)g. Juvenile|sub-adult: one North Nandi juvenile just moulting its sub-adult plumage is very much darker than the comparable stage of akeleyae, the spots being rufous with a broad base and an edge of jet black, whereas akeleyae is a light buff, the spots with darker brown edges and all spots less bold and narrower. A small series taken in 1979 in the same forest, but further south near Chemisia, 0° 15’N, 35° oo’E, match the type series. Some specimens of the 2 collections will be deposited in the Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien. Specimens from the Imatong Mountains, Southern Sudan, with which nandensis has been compared, are to us distinct and so we propose a new race. Alethe poliocephala giloensis subsp. nov. Holotype: 3, Reg. No. 298584, in Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago. Collected at Gilo, Imatong Mountain, Southern Sudan, 4° 02’N, 32° 51’E, at 2100 m, by R. Glen on 21.11.1977. Description: Top of head and below eye to chin Blackish Brown. Ear coverts paler, browner. Bill black. Grey supercilltum. Back Cinnamon Brown to rump. Tail Dull Fuscous. Wings Fuscous, primaries narrowly edged Cinnamon, secondaries outer web Cinnamon, lightly transversely barred. Throat white. Upper breast fairly distinct band of Light Drab. Belly lightly washed grey-brown. Flanks darker greyish brown. Undertail coverts dusky white. Collectors notes: Iris, red-brown. Feet, flesh with brown wash on scales. Weight and measurements: Wing 85.5 mm, tail 57.0 mm, bill 13.0 mm. Weight 27.0 g. Paratypes: collected in the same area as holotype between 19-21.11.1977: ¢ Reg. No. 298585, wing 86.0 mm; ¢ Reg. No. 298579, wing 85.0 mm; ¢ Reg. No. 298577, wing 86.0 mm; ¢ Reg. No. 298582, wing 86.5 mm; d Reg. No. 298586, wing 86.0 mm. Sub-adult: 92 Reg. No. 298578, wing 85.0 mm. 2 Reg. No. 298588, wing 83.5 mm. Females do not differ from males. Additional specimens, one topotypical $ Gilo, 4.xi.1978, G. Nikolaus, in NMN and 26¢ from Gilo, taken 3—4.1.1978 in Museum A. Koenig, Bonn. ALCIPPE ABYSSINICA Abyssinian Hill Babbler This is a difficult and confusing species as there are so many combinations of different degrees of colour in the plumage of the head, back and under- parts, with many intergrading forms in East African montane populations. White (1962) recognised 3 races from within East Africa: the very distinct atriceps, which Deignan (in Peters 1964) regarded as a separate species, stierlingi from ‘Tanzania and all the other East African races Deignan commits to abyssinica, including kilimensis and chyulu Moreau (19514) recognised atriceps and stierlingi but thought chyulu might be a good race. Friedmann & Stager (1969) assigned specimens from Mt Nyiru, Northern Kenya to abyssinica, but they also thought that chyu/u might be admissible. We now find we have a very distinct series from the North Nandi montane forest and from Mt Loima Forest. They are readibly separable from specimens 353 [Bull.B.O.C. 1981: 101(3)] from the rest of East African Highlands, in which of course there are many intergrades; and, indeed, with more material it might be possible to separate populations from each of the ‘montane islands”. However, we have no hesitation in describing the following 2 new races :— Alcippe abyssinica poliothorax subsp. nov. Holotype: $ Reg. No. 17750/823, Field No. 163, in National Museum, Nairobi. Collected on track Kamwega-Kipsamoiti, North Nandi Forest, Kenya, 0° 20’N, 34° 58’E at 2133 m by Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien and National Museum, Kenya Joint Expedition on 15.xi.1978. The gonads were enlarged. Description: Head, frons to nape and ear coverts dull Gull Grey, Bill, upper light pale horn, paler at the tomium; lower, pale horn with pale tomium. Back to rump Dresden Brown, browner, darker than birds from Mt Loima. Tail Fuscous, outer webs Dresden Brown. Wings Fuscous with outer webs Dresden Brown except outer four primaries which are narrowly edged pale. Throat and upper breast Light Neutral Grey, paler on the belly. Flanks Dark Olive. These birds viewed on the ventral surface appear almost blue-grey compared with other specimens. Weight and measurements: Wing 68.0 mm, tail 58.0 mm, bill 11.0 mm. Paratypes: collected at the same place between 9.xi and 20.xii.1978, 23 dd and 15 9°. Wings, do mean 66.4 (62.0-71.0) mm with 50% between 65.0- 68.0 mm; $2, mean 65.3 (63.0-68.0). Another series of 10 specimens taken in 1979 in the same forest but further south near Chemisia, 0° 15’N, 35° E, match the type series. Set out in series from most localities in East Africa, the very pale ventral surface readily distinguishes this race. Alcippe abyssinica loima subsp. nov. Holotype: 3 Reg. No. 12371/823, in National Museum, Nairobi. Collected on Mt. Loima, Muruasigar, West Turkana, Kenya, 3° 02’N, 35° 00’E at 2100 m by Joseph Mwaki for A. D. Forbes-Watson, on 13.x.1962. Description: Head, frons to nape and ear coverts Deep Quaker Drab. Bill as in A. a. poliothorax. Back to rump Antique Brown. Tail Fuscous with outer webs Antique Brown. Wings Fuscous with outer webs of primaries and secondaries Antique Brown narrowly edged pale, almost white. Throat and upper breast Gull Grey. Chin with a few faint white streaks. Belly paler than breast. Flanks very pale Olive. Overall on the breast and belly birds are paler than examples from the Kenya Highlands, North Nandi and Chyulu Range. Weight and measurements: Wing 68.5 mm, tail 65.0 mm, bill 11.0 mm. Paratypes: 463 and 7 99 collected at the same site as the holotype between 22.x and 8.xi.1962 by J. Mwaki. 4 dd wings mean 70.2 (68.5—70.0) mm, 7 22 wings mean 68.8 (66.0-71.0) mm. SHEPPARDIA AEQUATORIALIS Equatorial Akalat Our fine series from the North Nandi Forest has been compared with examples from the slightly lower Kakamega Forest and with specimens from the Chepalunga Forest, West Mau (some 35 miles from Kericho), as well as with examples from Uganda and Rwanda. Set out in series by locality it was [Bull. B.O.C. 198r 101(3)]} 354 obvious that the North Nandi birds, though superficially similar in general colouration, differed considerably from other races, being “‘golden-yellow” rather than brown, with a conspicuous pale throat. Grades of colour matched against Ridgway ‘“‘Color Standards” showed differences are as follows :— Locality Throat Breast Flanks North Nandi Antimony Yellow Yellow Ochre Raw Sienna Kakamega Ochraceous Orange Ochre Orange Mars Yellow Chepalunga Deep Chrome Mars Yellow Raw Sienna White (1962) only admits one race from the Imatong, acholiensis, consider- ing all other populations to be nominate aequatorials. The North Nandi birds are so distinct we propose to give them subspecific status as :— Sheppardia aequatorialis pallidigularis subsp. nov. Holotype: 3 Reg. No. 17611, Field No. 177, in National Museum, Nairobi, collected on track Kamwega-Kipsamoiti, North Nandi Forest, Kenya, o° 20/N, 34° 58’, at 2133 m by Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien and — National Museum, Kenya Joint Expedition on 15.xi.1978. Description: Crown, head and back dark olive or Medal Bronze. Tail — slightly rufous, upper tail coverts more rufous. Undertail coverts Ochraceous. Reduced white pre-ocular spot. Faint grey supercillium shading to grey at — the ear. Throat conspicuously pale, Antimony Yellow, contrasting strongly — with the Yellow Ochre of the upper breast. Flanks Raw Sienna. Belly faintly yellow tinged white. Soft parts: iris very dark brown, bill dark horn; legs — blueish-grey. Testes enlarged. Altogether more “golden-yellow” on the underside than nominate aeguatorialis from Chepalunga (near type locality). Yellower than examples from Kakamega, which are darker, more brown than golden and without the distinct pale throat. Weight and measurements: Wing 71.0 mm, tail 49.0 mm, bill 11.0 mm. Weight 16.0 g. Paratypes: 27 dd and 1999, all from the same locality as the holotype, collected between 9.xi— 20.xii.1978. Wings, dd, mean 67.3 (63.0- 71.0) mm with 40% at 70.0 and over; 22 mean 65.7 (63.0-71.0) mm. Weights $d mean 15.5 (14.0—-17.0) g. 2 mean 14.8 (11.0-16.5) g. Another series of 18 specimens taken in 1979 in the same forest but further south near Chemisia, 0° 15’N, 35° 00’E, match the type series. Juveniles: Fledglings just assuming their first plumage are heavily spotted and spangled with Light Ochre on a darker Olive-Brown background, while the background of the chest is almost black, with feather tips arrow-marked in ochre. Belly washed with grey and flanks assuming the tawny ochre. Tails not as rufous as in adults. 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