baned . * iritarweats 2 : T. NDS o! as at a) aT ee bipi ate sent} 4-pthet> ; wh eeed ered? reseee) ebberend . eed ni sf ‘ Pf + sot eesene e+? >e4 oa oF Se ae e “ne -- ersten e ode ok peceee ca as a5453. eres 9 Et 6-4 4 eee * 4 ee ee er - Se ee ee ee ee - o~ _ ree3 Sie3¢ - ee ee were - O08 5 O 1d > poem hs st bt stra . a 2 ot | “a Pa Le , & ms ut de alae gh LO | 4s leew Tae : ‘ > “ye MOLLE TEN -- of TE a Pe BRITISH | } | til di od al te | 77 L<¢ ¢ ou \- : 4 _ f , — Be. fdr pteetnasine , Vom. 3 ih 196). > i “~s J: PRIS Rh & Sehr; =% ; pr SON. OGIST: 3. BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNTHOLOGISTS’ CLUB EDITED BY ION J. YEALLASD Volume 83 1963 PRICE FOUR SHILLINGS PREFACE THE YEAR 1963 has seen the publication of an Index of the Bulletins for the period from 1950-1959 inclusive, a period during which no annual Indices were produced. A further notice concerning the 10-year Index is circulated with this for Volume 83. A total of 281 members, associates, members of the B.O.U. and guests have attended the meetings held during the year and, as usual, they have enjoyed meeting together and being addressed on a variety of ornithological matters. Once again we are extremely grateful to Mrs. B. P. Hall for so efficiently carrying out the com- pilation of the 1963 Index and our gratitude is also due to all who have sustained the Bulletin with their communications. To the Caxton and Holmesdale Press, printers of the Bulletin, and in particular to Mr. K. E. Wiltsher, the Manager, the Editor expresses his warm appreciation. J. J. YEALLAND: iti COMMITTEE 1962 Major-General C. B. WAINWRIGHT, Chairman (elected 1962) Mr. R. S. R. FITTER, Vice-Chairman (elected 1962) Mr. J. J. YEALLAND, Editor (elected 1962) Dr. J. G. HARRISON, Secretary (elected 1962) Mr. P. TATE, Treasurer (elected 1962) Mrs. P. V. UPTON (elected 1960) Mrs. B. P. HALL (elected 1962) Mr. P. Hoac (elected 1962) Mr. C. J. O. HARRISON (elected 1963) Chairmen P. L. SCLATER LORD ROTHSCHILD W. L. SCLATER H. F. WITHERBY Dr. P. R. LOWE Major S. S. FLOWER D. A. BANNERMAN G. M. MATHEWS Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON D. SETH-SMITH Dr. J. M. HARRISON Sir PHILIP MANSON-BAHR Colonel R. MEINERTZHAGEN C. W. MACK WORTH-PRAED Captain C. R. S. PITMAN Maj.-Gen. C, B. WAINWRIGHT Vice-Chairmen LorD ROTHSCHILD W. L. SCLATER H. F. WITHERBY G. M. MATHEWS N, B, KINNEAR OFFICERS OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB PAST AND PRESENT 1892-1913 1913-1918 1918-1924 1924-1927 1927-1930 1930-1932 1932-1935 1935-1938 1938-1943 1943-1946 1946-1949 1949-1953 1953-1956 1956-1959 1959-1962 1962- 1930-1931 1931-1932 1932-1933 1933-1934 1934-1935 iv Vice-Chairmen— cont. H. WHISTLER D. SETH-SMITH Colonel R. SPARROW Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low Hon. Guy CHARTERIS W. L. SCLATER Dr. D. A. BANNERMAN Captain C. H. B. GRANT B. W. TUCKER F. J. F. BARRINGTON Dr. E. HOPKINSON C. W. MACK WORTH-PRAED Dr. J. M. HARRISON Sir PHmLIp MANSON-BAHR B. G. HARRISON Lt.-Colonel W. P. C. TENISON Miss E. M. GODMAN Colonel R. MEINERTZHAGEN Major A. G. L. SLADEN Colonel R. MEINERTZHAGEN E. M. NICHOLSON Captain C. R. S. PITMAN Mrs. B. P. HALL R. S. R. FITTER Editors R. BOWDLER SHARPE W. R. OGILVIE-GRANT D. A. BANNERMAN D. SETH-SMITH Dr. P. R. LOWE N. B. KINNEAR Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low Captain C. H. B. GRANT Dr. G. CARMICHAEL LOW Lt.-Colonel W. P. C. TENISON Captain C. H. B. GRANT Dr. J. G. HARRISON J. J. YEALLAND 1935-1936 1936-1937 1937-1938 1938-1939 1938-1939 1939-1940 1939-1940 1940-1943 1940-1943 1943-1945 1943-1945 1945-1946 1945-1946 1946-1947 1946-1947 1947-1948 1947-1948 1948-1949 1948-1949 1949-1953 1953-1956 1956-1959 1959-1962 1962- 1892-1904 1904-1914 1914-1915 1915-1920 1920-1925 1925-1930 1930-1935 1935-1940 1940-1945 1945-1947 1947-1952 1952-1961 1962- Vv Honorary Secretaries and Treasurers HOWARD SAUNDERS W. E. DE WINTON H. F. WITHERBY Dr. P. R. LOWE C. G. TALBOT-PONSONBY D. A. BANNERMAN Dr. PHILIP GOSSE J. L. BONHOTE C. W. MACK WORTH-PRAED Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low C. W. MACK WORTH-PRAED Honorary Secretaries Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON C. R. STONOR N. B. KINNEAR Dr. G. CARMICHAEL Low Lt.-Colonel W. P. C. TENISON Captain C. H. B. GRANT W. E. GLEGG Miss G. M. RHODES N. J. P. WADLEY Miss E. FORSTER Dr. J. G. HARRISON Honorary Treasurers C. W. MACK WORTH-PRAED Major A. G. L. SLADEN Miss E. P. LEACH C, N. WALTER P. TATE 1892-1899 1899-1904 1904-1914 1914-1915 1915-1918 1918-1919 1919-1920 1920-1922 1922-1923 1923-1929 1929-1935 1935-1938 1938-1940 1940-1943 1943-1945 1945-1947 1947 1947-1949 1949-1950 1950-1960 1960-1962 1962- 1935-1936 1936-1942 1942-1949 1950-1962 1962- vi LIST OF MEMBERS AS AT 3lst OCTOBER, 1963 Amended as follows: New Members BurTon, P. J. K., 15 Luxembourg Gardens, Hammersmith, W.6. CALDER, D. R., c/o P.O. Box 277, Durban, South Africa. CHAYTOR, R. G., 16 Highbury, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 2. CUTHBERTSON, G. B., The Bath Club, 41 Brook Street, London, W.1. ELGoop, J. H., Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Ibadan, Nigeria. Goopwin, Miss V., Little Orchard, Rowe Holt, Wimborne, Dorset. GREENWOOD, J. J. D., St. Catherine’s College, Oxford. HANCOCK, J. A., Coniston, Orchehill Avenue, Gerrards Cross, Bucks. HEMPLE, M. P. L., Room 30, Galle Face Hotel, Colombo, Ceylon. Markus, M. B., 206 Lunnon Road, Hillcrest, Pretoria, South Africa. Moss, R., 128 King’s Hall Road, Beckenham, Kent. PeTTiTT, R. C., St. Mary Magdalene’s, Bennett Street, Chiswick, W.4. PEAL, R. E. F., Garden Flat, 13 Belsize Park, N.W.3. TREE, A. J., P.O. Box 667, Kitwe, Northern Rhodesia. STRONACH, B. W. H., Aylesfield, College Lane, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex. TUNMORE, B. G., Keswick House, 49 Keswick Road, Gt. Bookham, Leatherhead, Surrey. Watts, D. E., Kingsmead School, Hoylake, Cheshire. ZISWILER, Dr. V., Zoological Museum of The University of Zurich, Kunstlergasse, 16, Zurich, Switzerland. Resigned ATKINSON-WILLES, G. L. NEVIN, W. S. BAIRD, D. E. ORDEN, CHR. VAN. Beck, J. R. PEASE, H. J. R. CuTBILL, J. L. URQUHART, Maly. A. DUFFIN, Cc Ae VINE, A. E. Houston, W. H. WoopwarbD, I. D. W. J ERVIS-READ, S. F. Died We regret to record that on 30th October, 1963 David Seth-Smith died at his home in Guildford at the age of 88. He was a Life Member, joining the Club in 1902. From 1915 until 1920 he was Editor of the Bulletin, Vice-Chairman in 1936-1937 and Chairman from 1943 until 1946. During his long association with the Club he did much to further its interests and he will be remembered with affection by his many friends. LIST OF AUTHORS, Etc. Page ACCOUNTS, FINANCIAL & hg Ms a uf “ As . Te i AMADON, DEAN Distribution of the Coscoroba eS i> ie f.. % v1 154 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING bo i cA ie: it a .. 81-82 BEATTY, HARRY A. The Lyre-tailed Honey-Guide in the Ivory Coast . ef .. 100-101 BENSON, C. W. Notes on some specimens mainly from Aldabra. . 5 13-15 Pirenestes ostrinus and some other species in Mwinilunga, Northern Rhodesia .. fog ¥ Ag a .. 166-168 | See also LONG, R. CHARLES | Vil Page BENSON, C. W. and PITMAN, CHARLES R. S. Further breeding records from Northern Rhodesia (3) % .. 32-36 E.Goop, J. H. and Warp, P. A snake attack upon a weaver-bird colony. Possible re of synchronous breeding activity .. B. »% ie .. T1-73 GOODWIN, DEREK On a new race of Streptopelia lugens oy hg 4 2) .. 125-126 A new name for Streptopelia lugens arabica si mi $52 a 153 GRIMWOOD, I. R. Notes on birds seen in eastern Aden Protectorate Z. A. .. 50-51 HALL, B. P. Migrants in Ngamiland .... a ti ly .. 61-63 The status of Spizocorys razae Alexander nt si .. 133-134 Cisticola galactotes in Southern and Centra] Africa... a .. 134-137 Harrison, C. J. O. The post-ocular green stripe as a plumage character of the Anatinae 15-20 Mottled plumage in the genus Corvus, its causation and relationship to fundamental barring ... 4f-50 Non-melanic, carotenistic and allied variant plumages in birds .. 90-96 Eggshell pigmentation in the Jacobin Cuckoo, Clamator jacobinus (Bodd.) 154-155 Eggs of the Great Sand Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii Lesson, from Somaliland M Yi , iu “e én .. 158-159 See also Parker, S. rv HARRISON, JAMES M. A variety of the European Green-winged Teal af IQ) ay vB. 12-13 HARRISON, JAMES M. and JEFFERY G. Comments on a hybrid Red Shoveler X Northern Shoveler_ .. 21-25 Spotted breast variants in the European Green-winged Teal and the Northern Pintail .. . 69-71 A Gadwall with a white neck ring, ‘and a review of plumage variants in wildfowl .. a i - ny v4 ff i .. 101-108 HARRISON, JEFFERY G. A congenital abnormality in the beak of a Curlew ai fi .. 88-90 See also HARRISON, JAMES M. HOOGERWERF, A. A new race of the Spotted Munia, Lonchura punctulata(Linn.) .. .. 36-40 On the Yellow-vented Bulbul, Pycnonotus goiavier (Scop.) - oe 56-60 On some races of Motacilla flava Linn. found in Indonesia .. .. 73-75 The differences between Pitta guajana guajana and P.g. affinis 96-98 The Golden-backed Woodpecker, Chérvsocolaptes lucidus (Scopoli) in the Kangean Archipelago 112-114 Notes on Ducula aenea (Linn.), ‘particularly the population of the Kangean Archipelago, and Ducula problematica Rensch from Sumba 120-125 Pitta sordida (Miller) the subspecies sumatrana, javana, and miilleri 138-140 Notes on Ducula rosacea (Temminck) living on the Karimundjawa and Kangean Archipelagos .. .. 1$0-152 Some subspecies of Gracula religiosa (Linn. ) living in Indonesia .. 155-158 Hove, HAIM Verreaux’s Eagle in Israel .. gt 2% he aa ee ae 1-2 Page IRWIN, MICHAEL P. STUART A new race of Anthoscopus caroli (Sharpe) from the Zambesi valley .. 24 LAWSON, WALTER J. Geographical variation in the southern African populations of the Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adustus (Boie)_.. i se we 47 Geographical variation in Batis pririt (Vieillot) . 29-32 On the geographical variation of the Wattle-eye Flycatcher Platysteira peltata (Sundevall) ; 114-116 The geographical variation in the Marico. Flycatcher, Bradornis mari- quensis Smith, with the description of anewrace .. by .. 146-148 LonG, R. CHARLES and BENSON, C. W. The Lemon-breasted Canary in Nyasaland * «th rg as 77 MANSFIELD, D. N. The Cardinal Quelea in Nyasaland “e ft xe Lg .. 119-120 MARCHANT, S. Notes on five species of Iraqi birds Cond, Cit a aA .. 52-56 MARKus, MILEs B. An aberrant Pycnonotus from Johannesburg, South Africa .. .. 117-118 MATTHEWS, G. V. T. Sense and nonsense in Mallard orientation vi P me .. 99-100 PARKES, KENNETH C. The races of the Flaming Sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans) A pe 7-8 A substitute name for the Luzon race of Copsychus saularis ‘ii ba 50 Additional notes on the Philippine Elegant Titmouse, Parus elegans .. 148-150 PARKER, S. A. Nidification of the genus Melanocharis Sclater (Dicaeidae) .. 109-112 Nesting of the Paradise Crow, Lycocorax pyrrhopterus (Bonaparte) and the Spangled Drongo, Dicrurus hottentotus (Linn.) in the Moluccas 126-127 A note on the habits of Mayrornis schistaceus Mayr (MUSIC RI Ns of the South-West Pacific .. a oy oa > .. 159-161 PARKER, S. A. and HARRISON, C. J. O. The validity of the genus Lusciniola Gray th ry: ii .. 65-69 Percy, LORD WILLIAM Further notes on the African Finfoot, Podica senegalensis (Vieillot) 127-132 (With a note by C. R. S. Pitman) PITMAN, CHARLES R. S. The breeding of the Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius L. in Iraq, and a note on the Iraq eggs of the Kashmir Magpie Pica pica bactriana Bp. 9-11 The nesting of the Black-beilied Seed-cracker, Pirenestes postrinus in Uganda and notes on its habitat and classification big fs .. 168-172 See also BENSON, C. W. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE Ex ate AN 2G Bs 13 a 80 SAGE, BRYAN L. Some Pochard X Lesser Scaup hybrids .. Ms Apt AST Notes on a White-eyed Pochard X Marbled Teal ‘hybrid ® .. 161-164 Scott, R. E. page Dungeness Bird Observatory: the first ten years. . f. c. A 82 SERLE, WILLIAM A new race of sunbird from West Africa a me at .. 118-119 SUMMERS-SMITH, D. The House Sparrow 21 ~ TRAYLOR, MELVIN A. Revision of the Quail Finch Ortygospiza atricollis r\ a .. 141-146 VAURIE, C. Systematic notes on the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)... 2: .. 164-166 _ WAINWRIGHT, C. B. Albinistic patterning in a drake Teal 83 WARD, P. See ELGoop, J. H. WATSON, GEORGE E. ** Passer rufipectus’’ Bonaparte in Crete 63-65 Wire, C. M. N. Notes on African Estrildinae 25-29 The indigo Birds i 83-88 WINTERBOT 10M, J. M. A new subspecies of Yellow Canary Serinus flaviventris aii .. 137-138 INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES All generic and specific names are indexed. Only new subscpecific names are included. These are indexed under the generic name in heavy type, and also under the subspecific name. abingoni, Campethera 34 Acrocephalus agricola 67-68 arundinaceus 62, 67—68 baeticatus 62, 67 bistrigiceps 67 concinnens 67 dumetorum 67-68 gracilirostris 62 melanopogon 69 orientalis 68 paludicola 67—68 palustris 67—68 schoenobaenus 62, 66, 68-69 scirpaceus 67-68 sorghophilus 67 stentoreus 67 acuta, Anas 16, 17, 51, 70, 102-107 adusta, Muscicapa 4—7 aedon, Phragmaticola 127 aenea, Ducula 120-125, 151 Aethopyga flagrans 7-8 Aethopyga fflagrans daphoenonota subsp. nov. 8 Aethopyga flagrans decolor subsp. nov. 8 Lane li ti eeger affinis, Aythya 75-77, 103 affinis, Platystera 30—32 africanus, Phalacrocorax 32-33 Agapornis lilianae 92 agile, Dicaeum 111 agricola, Acrocephalus 67-68 Aix galericulata 17, 83, 104, 106 Aix sponsa 17-18 akahige, Luscinia 107 Alauda arvensis 133-134 — gulgula 133 — razae 134 alaudipes, Certhilauda 51 alba, Egretta 33 alba, Tyto 13 albellus, Mergus 18, 103 albeola, Bucephala 18 albescens, Pardaliparus 149-150 albescens, Parus 149 Alcedo leucogaster 167 alexandrinus, Charadrius 159 altirostris, Turdoides 55 americana, Anas 16 americana, Aythya 77 Ammomanes deserti 51 — phoenicura 51 Anas 163 Anas acuta 16-17, 51, 70, 102-107 — americana 16 — aucklandica 104 — clypeata 17, 21-25, 71, 103 — crecca 12-13, 15, 20, 24, 69-71, 83, 104 cyanoptera 102 discors 17, 20, 102, 106 falcata 102, 104 flavirostris 16, 104 formosa 15, 19-20, 24, 106 penelope 16, 18, 20, 24, 51, 103, 10 — platalea 21-22, 102, 104 — platyrhynchos 16, 20, 23, 71, 83, 89, 99-100, 102, 104, 106-107 — poecilorhyncha 16 — rhynchotis 17, 20, 23-24, 102- 103 sibilatrix 16, 103, 106 smithi 25, 71, 103 specularis 106 — strepera 16-17, 70, 101-102, 104-105, 107 — superciliosa 16, 106 — waigiuensis 83, 106 anchietae, Anthreptes 36 angolensis, Estrilda 26-28 angustirostris, Marmaronetta 161-164 Anhinga 128 — anhinga 33 Anser anser 51, 104 — erythropus, 104 — fabalis 104 anser, Anser 51, 104 Anthoscopus caroli 2—4 Anthoscopus. caroli rankinei subsp. noy. 2 Anthreptes anchietae 36 apiaster, Merops 63 apus, Micropus 15 Aquila verreauxi 1—2 arabica, Streptopelia lugens 126 Ardea goliath 33 — purpurea 32-33 Ardeola ralloides 33 armata, Merganetta 131-132 armatus, Hoplopterus 62 arquata, Cichladusa 35 arquata, Numenius 62, 88-90 arundinaceus, Acrocephalus 62, 67-68 arvensis, Alauda 133-134 astrild, Estrilda 93 atricollis, Ortygospiza 141-146 aucklandica, Anas 104 auritus, Nettapus 17 australis, Aythya 103 avosetta, Recurvirostra 62 Aythya affinis 75-77, 103 americana 77 australis 103 baeri 103 collaris 77, 106 ferina 51, 75-77 fuligula 18, 103, 106 marila 103 novaeseelandiae 103 nyroca 18, 51, 103, 106, 161-164 valisineria 77 baeri, Aythya 103 baeticatus, Acrocephalus 62, 67 barbatus, Pycnonotus 117-118 Batis molitor 29-31 — pririt 29-32 baweana, Lonchura punctulata 38 bengala, Estrilda 26-28 benghalensis, Coracias 53 benghalensis, Rostratula 62 bennetti, Campethera 34-35 bishaensis, Streptopelia lugens 153 bistrigiceps, Acrocephalus 67 Biziura lobata 132 blanchoti, Malaconotus 36 borbonica, Phedina 14 brachydactila, Calandrella 133 Bradornis mariquensis 146-148 Bradornis mariquensis vinaceus subsp. nov. 147 Branta canadensis 104 brucei, Otus 52-53 Bubulcus ibis 164-166 Bucephala albeola 18 — clangula 106 — islandica 106 Butorides rufiventris 33 Pie rt del aed caeruleus, Parus 93 cafra, Eupodotis 34 caillauti, Campethera 34 Cairina moschata 17, 83 Calandrella brachydactila 133 Calidris minuta 62 campestris, Motacilla 15 Campethera abingoni 34 — bennetti 34-35 — caillauti 34 canadensis, Branta 104 canarius, Serinus 91, 93 canicapilla, Nigrita 170 capensis, Euplectes 119 capensis, Pycnonotus 117 carbo, Phalacrocorax 33 cardinalis, Quelea 119-120 Carduelis carduelis 93-95 — chloris 93 — spinus 93 caroli, Anthoscopus 2—4 Carpophaga vandepolli 120 caudatus, Turdoides 55 Cercomela melanura 51 Certhilauda alaudipes 51 Chalcomitra rubescens 118-119 Chalcomitra rubescens crossensis subsp. nov 118 chalybeata, Vidua 84-88 Charadrius alexandrinus 159 — hiaticula 158 — leschenaultii 158-159 — pecuarius 62 Chasiempis 161 Chlidonias leucoptera 62 chloris, Carduelis 93 chloropus, Gallinula 129 Chrysocolaptes lucidus 112-114 Chrysocolaptes lucidus kangeanensis subsp. nov. 113 chrysostomus, Neophema 92 Cichladusa arquata 35 Circus pygargus 62 — ranivorus 62 Cisticola galactotes 35, 134-137 — pipiens 35 citrinella, Emberiza 127 citrinipectus, Serinus 77 Clamator glandarius 9-11 — jacobinus 154 clangula, Bucephala 106 clypeata, Anas 17, 21-25, 71, 103 Clytorhynchus 161 collaris, Aythya 77, 106 collaris, Lanius 63 collurio, Lanius 62 communis, Sylvia 82 concinnens, Acrocephalus 67 conirostris, Spizocorys 133 Copsychus saularis 50 Copsychus saularis deuteronymus nom. nov. 50 Coracias benghalensis 53 corax, Corvus 10, 43, 46 cornix, Corvus 9 corone, Corvus 42, 44, 46-47 Corvus corax 10, 43, 46 — cornix 9 — corone 42, 44, 46-47 — frugilegus 41-49 — monedula 42, 47 Coscoroba coscoroba 154 crassirostris, Hemiparra 34 crecca, Anas 12-13, 15, 20, 24, 69-71, 83, 104 Crex crex 62 cristata, Galerida 133 crossensis, Chalcomitra rubescens 118 cyanocephala, Psittacula 92 cyanomela, Trochocercus 161 cyanoptera, Anas 102 Cyanosylvia svecica 82 Cygnus olor 90 xi daphoenonota, Aethopyga flagrans 8 decolor, Aethopyga flagrans 8 Dendrocopus major 106 Dendropicus fuscescens 34 deserti, Ammomanes 51 deuteronymus, Copsychus saularis 50 Dicaeum agile 111 Dicrurus hottentottus 127 discors, Anas 17, 20, 102, 106 domesticus, Passer 21, 63-65 Ducula aenea 120-125, 151 — problematica 122 — rosacea 123, 150-152 dumetorum, Acrocephalus 67—68 Egretta alba 33 — intermedia 33 elegans, Parus 148-150 Emberiza citrinella 127 Erithacus rubecula 107 erithacus, Psittacus 92, 95 erythrophthalma, Netta 77 erythropus, Anser 104 Estrilda angolensis 26-28 — astrild 93 — bengala 26-28 — poliopareia 26 eupatria, Psittacula 92 Euplectes capensis 119 — hordeaceus 119 Eupodotis cafra 34 — ruficrista 33-34 Eurystomus glaucurus 13 excubitor, Lantus 51 fabalis, Anser 104 falcata, Anas 102 Falco naumanni 62 — peregrinus 90 — vespertinus 82 ferina, Aythya 51, 75-77 fischeri, Somateria 19 flagrans, Aethopyga 7-8 flava, Motacilla 73-75, 94 flavirostris, Anas 16, 104 flaviventris, Serinus 137-138 formosa, Anas 15, 19-20, 24, 106 frommi, Pirenestes 169 frugilegus, Corvus 41-49 Fulica 128 fuligula, Aythya 18, 103, 106 fulvus, Gyps 2 fusca, Melanitta 106 fuscescens, Dendropicos 34 gabonensis, Ortygospiza 142-144 galactotes, Cisticola 35, 134-137 galericulata, Aix 17, 83, 104, 106 Galerida cristata 133 — malabarica 133 Gallinula chloropus 129 Garrulus glandarius 46, 106 glandarius, Clamator 9-11 glandarius, Garrulus 46, 106 Glareola 62 — nordmanni 52 — pratincola 52 glareola, Tringa 62 glaucurus, Eurystomus 13 goiavier, Pycnonotus 56-60 goliath, Ardea 33 gracilirostris, Acrocephalus 62 Gracula religiosa 155-158 Granatina 26 griseocephalus, Mescopicos 34-35 guajana, Pitta 96-98 gulgula, Alauda 133 Gyps fulvus 2 haematonotus, Psephotus 92, 95 Halcyon malimbica 167 Haliaeetus vocifer 33 Hemiparra crassirostris 34 hesperus, Serinus flaviventris 138 hiaticula, Charadrius 158 Himantopus himantopus 62, 154 Hippolais icterina 82 — languida 51 — pallida 51 Hirundo rustica 51, 62 hispaniolensis, Passer 64-65 Histrionicus histrionicus 104, 106 Hoplopterus armatus 62 hordeaceus, Euplectes 119 hottentotus, Dicrurus 127 Hypargos niveoguttatus 26 Hypochera—see Vidua hypoleucos, Tringa 62 ibis, Bubulcus 164-166 icterina, Hippolais 82 intermedia, Egretta 33 islandica, Bucephala 106 italiae, Passer 64-65 jacksoni, Ploceus 93 jacobinus, Clamator 154 jamesoni, Lagonosticta 28-29 jardinei, Turdoides 35 kangeanensis, Chrysocolaptes lucidus karimuniensis, Pycnonotus goivier 58 krameri, Psittacula 92 Lagonosticta jamesoni 28-29 — rara 28 — rubricata 28 — rufopicta 28 — senegala 28 Lanius collaris 63 — collurio 62 — excubitor 51 languida, Hippolais 51 lapponica, Limosa 89 leschenaultii, Charadrius 158-159 lessoni, Mayrornis 159-161 leucogaster, Alcedo 167 leuconotus, Thalassornis 106 leucoptera, Chlidonias 62 lilianae, Agapornis 92 Limosa lapponica 89 — limosa 62 lobata, Biziura 132 Lonchura poensis 172 — punctulata 36-40 Lonchura punctulata baweana subsp. nov. 38 lucidus, Chrysocolaptes 112-114 lugens, Oenanthe 51 lugens, Streptopelia 125-126, 153 Luscinia akahige 107 — luscinia 62 Lusciniola melanopogon 65-69 Lycocorax pyrrhopterus 126-127 major, Dryoscopus 106 major, Parus 150 malabarica, Galerida 133 Malaconotus blanchoti 36 malimbica, Halcyon 167 Malimbus 28 marila, Aythya 103 mariquensis, Bradornis 146-148 Marmaronetta angustirostris 161-164 Mayrornis lessoni 159-161 — schistaceus 159-161 — versicolor 159-161 Melanitta fusca 106 melanocephala, Sylvia 53-55 Melanocharis nigra 109-112 — striativentris 109-112 Melanochlora sultanea 150 melanopogon, Acrocephalus 69 melanapogon, Lusciniola 65—69 melanura, Cercomela 51 Melichneutes robustus 100-101 Melopsittacus undulatus 91 Merganetta 130-131 Merganetta armata 131-132 Mergus albellus 18, 103 — serrator 103 Merops apiaster 63 Mescopicos griseocephalus 34-35 Micropus apus 15 minor, Pirenestes 168 minuta, Calidris 62 mistacea, Sylvia 53-54 molitor, Batis 29-31 mollissima, Somateria 18-19, 102-105, 107 Monarcha 159 monedula, Corvus 42, 47 moschata, Cairina 17, 83 Motacilla campestris 15 — flava 73-75, 94 Muscicapa adusta 4-7 — striatus 51, 62 namaquus, Thripias 34—35 nebularia, Tringa 62 Neophema chrysostomus 92 Netta 163 — erythrophthalma 77 — peposaca 18 — rufina 18, 103 Nettapus auritus 17 — pulchellus 17-18 naumanni, Falco 62 nigerrimus, Ploceus 72-73 nigra, Melanocharis 109-112 nigricans, Pycnonotus 117-118 Nigrita canicapilla 170 nisoria, Sylvia 51 nitens, "Trochocercus 161 niveoguttatus, Hypargos 26 nordmanni, Glareola 52 novaeseelandiae, Aythya 103 Numenius arquata 62, 88—90 Nycticorax nycticorax 32-33 nyroca, Aythya 18, 51, 103, 106, 161- 164 Oenanthe lugens 51 olor, Cygnus 90 Onychognathus tristrami 51 Oreocharis 109, 111 orientalis, Acrocephalus 68 Oriolus oriolus 82. Ortygospiza atricollis 141-146 — gabonensis 142-146 ostrinus, Pirenestes 26, 166-167, 168- 1 72 Otus brucei 52-53 — scops 52-53 paludicola, Acrocephalus 67-68 palustris, Acrocephalus 67-68 Paramythia 111-112 Pardaliparus albescens 149-150 Pardalotus 111-112 Parus albescens 149 caeruleus 93 — elegans 148-150 — major 150 — semilarvatus 150 — septentrionalis 149 Passer domesticus 21, 63-65 — hispaniolensis 64-65 — italiae 64—65 — rufipectus 63-65 pecuarius, Charadrius 62 xiii peltata, Platysteira 114-116 penelope, Anas 16, 18, 20, 24, 51, 103, 106 peposaca, Netta 18 peregrinus, Falco 90 perousii, Ptilinopus 92 Phalacrocorax africanus 32-33 — carbo 33 Phedina borbonica 14 Philomachus pugnax 62 phoenicura, Ammomanes 51 Phragmaticola aedon 127 Phylloscopus sibilatrix 92 — trochilus 51, 62, 82 Pica pica 9-11 Picus viridis 95 pipiens, Cisticola 35 Pirenestes frommi 169 — minor 168 — ostrinus 26, 166-167, 168-172 — rothschildi 169 Pitta guajana 96-98 — sordida 138-140 platalea, Anas 21-22, 102, 104 platyrhynchos, Anas 16-17, 20, 23, 71, 83, 89, 99-100, 102, 104, 106, 107 Platysteira affinis 30-32 — peltata 114-116 Ploceus 28 Ploceus jacksoni 93 — nigerrimus 72-73 — superciliosus 167 Podica senegalensis 127—132 poecilorhyncha, Anas 16 poensis, Lonchura 172 poliopareia, Estrilda 26 Polysticta stelleri 19 pratincola, Glareola 52 Prionochilus 111 pririt, Batis 29-32 problematica, Ducula 122 Psephotus haematonotus 92, 95 Psittacula cyanocephala 92 — eupatria 92 — krameri 92 Psittacus erithacus 92, 95 Ptilinopus perousii 92 pugnax, Philomachus 62 pulchellus, Nettapus 17-18 pulchra, Sarothrura 167 punctulata, Lonchura 36-40 purpurea, Ardea 32-33 Pycnonotus barbatus 117-118 — capensis 117 — golavier 56-60 Pycnonotus goiavier karimuniensis subsp. nov. 58 Pycnonotus nigricans 117-118 pygargus, Circus 62 pyrrhopterus, Lycocorax 126-127 Pyrrhula pyrrhula 107 Quelea cardinalis 119-120 ralloides, Ardeola 33 ranivorus, Circus 62 rankinei, Anthoscopus caroli 2 rara, Lagonosticta 28 razae, Alauda 134 razae, Spizocorys 133-134 Razocorys 133 Recurvirostra avosetta 62 religiosa, Gracula 155-158 Rhamphocharis 109, 111 Rhipidura rufifrons 160 rhynchotis, Anas 17, 20, 23-24, 102- 103 Riparia riparia 14, 51 robustus, Melichneutes 100-101 rosaceus, Ducula 123, 150-152 Rostratula benghalensis 62 rothschildi, Pirenestes 169 rubecula, Erithacus 107 rubescens, Chalcomitra 118-119 rubricata, Lagonosticta 28 rufescens, Sylvietta 62 ruficrista, Eupodotis 33-34 rufifrons, Rhipidura 160 rufina, Netta 18, 103 rufipectus, Passer 63-65 rufiventris, Butorides 33 rufopicta, Lagonosticta 28 rustica, Hirundo 51, 62 Sarothrura pulchra 167 saularis, Copsychus 50 schistaceus. Mayrornis 159-161 schoenobaenus, Acrocephalus 62, 66, 68-69 scirpaceus, Acrocephalus 67-68 scops, Otus 52-53 semilarvatus, Parus 150 Semioptera wallacii 126 senegala, Lagonosticta 28 senegalensis, Podica 127—132 septentrionalis, Parus 149 Serinus canarius 91, 93 — citrinipectus 77 — flaviventris 137-138 Serinus flaviventris hesperus subsp. nov. 138 serrator, Mergus 103 sibilatrix, Anas 16, 103, 106 sibilatrix, Phylloscopus 92 smithi, Anas 25, 71, 103 Somateria fischeri 19 — mollissima 18-19, 102-105, 107 — spectabilis 103 sordida, Pitta 138-140 sorghophilus, Acrocephalus 67 spectabilis, Somateria 103 specularis, Anas 106 xiv spinus, Carduelis 93 Spizocorys conirostris 133 — razae 133-134 sponsa, Aix 17-18 stagnatilis, Tringa 62 stelleri, Polysticta 19 stentoreus, Acrocephalus 67 strepera, Anas 16-17, 70, 104-105, 107 Streptopelia lugens 125-126 Streptopelia lugens arabica subsp. nov. 126 101-102, Streptopelia lugens bishaensis nom. noy. 153 striata, Muscicapa 51, 62 striativentris, Melanocharis 109-112 sultanea, Melanochlora 150 superciliosa, Anas 16, 106 superciliosus, Ploceus 167 svecica, Cyanosylvia 82 Sylvia communis 82 — melanocephala 53-55 — mistacea 53-54 — nisoria 51 Sylvietta rufescens 62 Tachyeres 128 Tadorna tadornoides 104 tadornoides, Tadorna 104 Thalassornis leuconotus 106 Thripias namaquus 34—35 Tringa glareola 62 — hypoleucos 62 — nebularia 62 — stagnatilis 62 tristrami, Onychognathus 51 trochilus, Phylloscopus 51, 62, 82 Trochocercus cyanomelas 161 — nitens 161 Turdoides altirostris 55 — caudatus 55 — jardinei 35 Tyto alba 13 undulatus, Melopsittacus 91 Uraeginthus 26 valisineria, Aythya 77 vandepolli, Carpophaga 120 verreauxi, Aquila 1-2 versicolor, Mayrornis 159-161 vespertinus, Falco 82 Vidua chalybeata 84-88 — ultramarina 85-88 vinaceus, Bradornis mariquensis 147 viridis, Picus 95 vocifer, Haliaeetus 33 waigiuensis, Anas 83, 106 wallacii, Semioptera 126 \N The Caxton & Holmesdale Press Sevenoaks BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB . * ri 41 ? va : (a . 1 ; . : ; : - wit tt i</ - , ; ¢ 4 ee | Edited by : | SED Suge JOHN J. YEALLANDU 8 © AS! — January No. | 1963 ‘eTeboo. 1OHT WHO ° J > ae or - yteunel 1963 | Vol. 83 BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Volume 83 Number | Published: [1th January, 1963 | Ky, Soe RA i) The six hundred and third meeting of the Club was held at the Rem- brandt Hotel, London, on 18th December, 1962. Chairman: MAJOR-GENERAL C. B. WAINWRIGHT Members present, 34; Guests, 13; Guest of the Club, Professor M. F. _M. Micklejohn; Total, 48. Professor Micklejohn organised an ‘‘Ornithological Quiz’’ in which the team of Mr. Derek Goodwin, Mr. Colin Harrison and Mr. Peter Tate defeated first that of the Chairman, Captain Charles Pitman and Mrs. Rosemary Upton and then Mrs. Diana Bradley, Miss Elizabeth Forster and Mr. Philip Hollam. A most entertaining evening was concluded with an account of Pro- fessor Micklejohn’s recent researches into the Hoodwink. Verreaux’s Eagle in Israel by HAIM HOVEL Received on 12th April, 1962 The range of Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxi Lesson lies in north- east and southern Africa. Records of the species outside its regular dis- tribution are rare and therefore of considerable interest. _ Hartert mentions a specimen collected in Palestine by Schmitz. The present note relates to an example seen by me on 19th December, 961 at about noon soaring above the Wadi Dalam not far from the ebanese frontier, where it was doubtless preying upon Rock Hyrax, Procavia. Vol. 83 | 2 Bulletin B.O.C. ' In the field the bird appeared as a large black eagle, and its brilliant — white back and rump were clearly seen as it turned in the sun; its bright yellow cere and feet were also noted. The white on the primaries was also apparent as it flew over: a good comparison of size was afforded as at the time four Griffon Vultures, Gyps fulvus (Hablitzl) were also in the air. Reference Hartert, E 1912-1 921. Die Vogel der Paldarkt. Fauna, UW, 1108-1109. A new race of Anthoscopus caroli (Sharpe) from the Zambesi Valley by MICHAEL P. STUART IRWIN Received 24th April, 1962 Anthoscopus caroli rankinei, subsp. nov. sift ype: 9 adult. South bank of the Zambesi River, opposite Feira; — Southern Rhodesia, on the border with Portuguese East Africa at ap- proximately 15° 40! S., 30° 25’ E. Altitude 1,350 ft. Collected by R. W. Rankine, 23rd September, 1959. In the National Museum of Southern Rhodesia. Collector’s No. F.39. National Museum Registration No.~ 40884. Description: Differs from A. c. caroli (Sharpe). A. c. winterbottomi White and A. c. robertsi Haagner, all of which have a distinctive olive wash on the mantle, in being entirely a dark slate-grey above, with a whitish, not buff frons; sides of face and ear-coverts also whitish, not buffy. The grey on the mantle is even greyer than in A. c. sylviella Reichenow and very considerably greyer than A. musculus (Hartlaub), to which it bears some superficial resemblance, especially on the under parts by being off-white, not tinged with buff; the chin, throat, breast and upper half of the abdomen being especially pale. The buffy colour on the abdo- men and flanks is more restricted and pinkish in tone, though closest to A. c. caroli, showing little resemblance to A. c. robertsi which is a pale yellowish-buff, but approaching that form closely in the general paleness © of the throat, chest and upper abdomen, though A. c. robertsi tends to have the under parts more sandy. The most striking feature of this new race is in the slate-grey of the back, though in the pallid frons, ear-coverts — and in the under parts, it does not really match any of the geographically nearest populations. 4 ' Measurements of the type: Wing (flattened) 49.5; tail 29; culmen " base of skull) 9; tarsus, 12.5 mm. 4 Material examined: The type and one other specimen; an adult J, minus’ the bill, obtained in the lower Mazoe valley, Southern Rhodesia, by R. H. N. Smithers as detailed below. This specimen agrees with the type in all respects and is without doubt referable to this new form. Despite the existence of only two specimens, I have no hesitation in describing this Bulletin B.O.C. 3 Vol. 83 race as new, as it differs so obviously from all the neighbouring populations that show a great amount of stability in respect of the mantle colour which never lacks the olive wash, and thus contrasting with this new grey-backed form. This second specimen measures: wing 52; tail 27 mm. Range: At present known only from the type locality and from the Mkota Native Reserve on the lower reaches of the Mazoe River within Southern Rhodesia at 1,200 ft. adjacent to the Portuguese East African boundary at 16° 43’ S., 32° 40’ E. It would seem probable that this new form is restricted to a comparatively narrow section of the hot, dry, low- lying Zambesi valley, largely below 2,500 ft. from the region of about 30° E. Elsewhere on the plateaux on either side of the valley and in lowland coastal Portuguese Territory, it is replaced by olive-backed forms. Remarks: The discovery of such an apparently distinctive race of this widespread and generally distributed species in this narrowly circum- scribed region was unexpected. Previously the species was thought to be quite absent from the dry low-lying mopane tree country of the Zambesi and its main tributary valleys east from about the Victoria Falls gorges and the lowlands of Portuguese East Africa where A. c. robertsi appears. It would seem to be quite absent from the Kariba Lake basin and eastwards of Chirundu until A. c. rankinei reappears near the Portuguese border. By contrast elsewhere, the olive-backed group of forms are widespread in the rather similar hot low-lying country throughout the Limpopo River drainage within Southern Rhodesia, and occur also at the Sabi-Lundi River junction at 600 ft., and undoubtedly elsewhere in the Sabi valley as well. On the other hand further north, along the Zambesi-Luangwa drainages, these forms become restricted to the surrounding plateaux above about 3,000 ft., where they are virtually specific to the Brachystegia formations, avoiding the hot, low-lying country completely, though com- mon until the lips of the escarpments are reached. C. W. Benson in Jitt. further confirms the absence of the species from anywhere within the Luangwa valley proper, though it now seems certain that A. c. rankinei must be found in the region of the Luangwa-Zambesi confluence. Discussion: The type of A. c. rankinei is without ecological data, but the Mkota specimen was taken in a riparian acacia association, and this ‘is the type of habitat in which it seems most likely to occur generally, as Virgin mopane is largely unsuitable. Furthermore within the Limpopo valley the species is very largely associated with acacia and Commiphora, etce., and other dry-country types of small-leaved trees, and where similar associations occur in the Zambesi valley, especially on alluvial ground, it is most likely to be found. In view of this new form’s probable ecological specialisation, together with its circumscribed range and the fact that the plateau populations are restricted to Brachystegia, may cause a reduction in gene flow between the two population groups. Otherwise, within such a restricted area, the valley ‘populations would tend to become swamped. On the other hand, strikingly different looking races of this species are known to intergrade over short distances, as happens between A. c. winterbottomi and A. c. rhodesiae Sclater in Northern Rhodesia. But here the differences can be correlated with an increase in precipitation, without at the same time any major ecological change. A similar type of thing happens in East Africa in the NK TWO: Ooh) 4 Bulletin B.O.C. case of A. c. taruensis van Someren and A. c. sylviella, both of which differ markedly from each other, but seem, nevertheless, closely related and occur very near to one another geographically, though apparently they differ ecologically. Thus A. c. taruensis ranges southwards from about the Tana River in the coastal savannah-forest mosaic, but in Tanganyika penetrates inland up some of the major river valleys such as the Pangani and Ruaha where it comes into close geographical proximity to the very different looking A. c. sy/viella, which is largely, if not wholly, a highland form and in the south of its range apparently restricted to Brachystegia woodland. Dr. D. W. Snow MS revision and in litt., gives A. sylviella . specific rank on the basis of its distinctive colour and the fact that it approaches A. c. taruensis so closely, in eastern Tanganyika. But it would seem best at present to retain A. sylviella as a race of the caroli group, as it occupies rather a central position among several other rather clear-cut races. The distinctions here, as elsewhere, merely tend to accentuate the differences between two forms that have become separated ecologically in precisely the same way that A. c. rankinei appears to have become isolated from the surrounding populations. It is perhaps worth mentioning that two recently collected specimens of — A. caroli from near the top of the Zambesi Escarpment between 2,500— 3,000 ft. in the Sipolilo District of Mashonaland, are still quite typical of the olive toned populations of A. c. caroli. These birds comprise a g 2 from the Umsengedzi River Gorge at approximately 16° 20’ S., 31° 02’ E. They further agree with another recent ¢ from Zana Farm at the northern end of the Umvukwe Range of hills at 16° 37’ S., 31° 04’ E. at an altitude of 4,000 ft. Thus in this sector, the ranges of A. c. caroli and A. c. rankinei are shown to approach each other to within a distance of some 70 miles and no doubt to the westward along the plateau on the escarpment, the gap will eventually be still further narrowed. Geographical variation in the southern African populations of the Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta (Boie) by WALTER J. LAWSON Received 7th May, 1962 ‘The Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta is restricted in southern Africa — to the moister southern and eastern regions, extending from the southern Cape Province, Natal, Zululand, Swaziland and the eastern and north- eastern Transvaal, Mocambique, and the eastern regions of Southern Rhodesia to Northern Rhodesia and Angola northwards. Within southern African subcontinental limits two races are currently recognised in the standard literature, these being M. a. adusta (Boie): — Knysna, Cape Province, with a stated range of the southern part of the Cape Province to Natal and north to the eastern Transvaal, southern - Bulletin B.0.C. 5 Vol. 83 Southern Rhodesia and southern Mogambique, and M. a. subadusta (Shelley): Nyika Plateau, Nyasaland, which ranges from Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia west to the Katanga district of the Congo, Angola and Nyasaland. As a result of a reassessment of the populations of this small flycatcher in southern Africa conducted at the Durban Museum, it became apparent that a further subspecific taxon requires to be recognised in this area. Topotypical nominate M. adusta has heavy brown streaks on the lower throat and breast which have a buffy-olive suffusion, the flanks also being buffy, and on the remainder of the underside the white is not a clear white, but has a tinge of buff. The upper-parts are a deep brown. This form ranges from the southern Cape Province to the eastern Cape Province, in which areas it breeds, and in winter it moves north to Natal, Zululand, southern Mocambique, Swaziland, and to the extreme south of Southern Rhodesia (Sabi/Lundi junction). . The resident populations of Natal, Zululand, the lowlands of Swaziland and eastern Transvaal differ from the nominate race of the Cape, as now defined, in having the streaks of the lower throat and breast more clearly defined and in lacking the buffy-olive suffusion there and on the flanks. The streaks of the chest are grey, not brown, and the white of the abdomen is clear with no tinge of buff. The upper parts are paler than in the nominate race and have an olive tinge to the grey. It also averages smaller in size than M. a. adusta. For the populations of this flycatcher resident in Natal, Zululand to the north-eastern Transvaal, the name Muscicapa fuscula Sundevall, 1850, is available. M. fuscula was based on specimens collected by Wahlberg in ‘‘Caffraria’’, which in this instance must refer to Natal as this species does not occur in the western Transvaal, Sundevall’s *“Caffraria superiore’’. I therefore fix the type-locality of M. a. fuscula as *“Durban, Natal’’, in which general area Wahlberg operated extensively in the early 1840’s M. a. subadusta is paler and greyer on the upper-parts than either of the preceding forms, with the streaking on the chest somewhat indistinct and grey in coloration. It is considerably smaller than M. a. adusta and M. a. fuscula. The Dusky Flycatcher does not appear to be a breeding resident in southern Mocambique, only occurring there in winter, the wintering population in southern Mocgambique being drawn from the two southern taxa. Dr. Winterbottom informs me that Mrs. M. K. Rowan of the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, Rondebosch, has for some years suspected that the southern Cape populations of the Dusky Flycatcher leave that area in winter. This observation is largely confirmed by the fact that the darker coloured birds of the southern and eastern Cape are only to be found north of the limits defined here as their breeding Tange in winter. A very similar situation occurs in the Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis granti, in which species the southern and eastern Cape populations migrate north in winter, the populations from Natal and Zululand not moving to the same extent. The subspecies of the Dusky Flycatcher occurring in southern Africa are therefore: Vol. 83 6 Bulletin B.O.C. Muscicapa adusta adusta (Boie) Butalis adusta Boie, Isis, 1828, col. 318: Knysna, Cape Province. Characterized by having heavy buffy-olive streaks on the lower throat and breast, the white of the abdomen tinged with buff, and not a clear white, the upper parts a deep brown, and in being larger in size than either of the following taxa. Measurements: 10 33 wing 66.5-72.0 (68.9), tail 53.0-58.0 (55.1), culmen 14.0-19.0 (15.2); 10 99 wing 65.0-68.0 (66.5), tail 50.5—55.5 (52.7), culmen 13.5—15.5 (14.5) mm. Material: 52 [southern Cape 22, eastern Cape Province 15 (wintering), Natal 6 (wintering), eastern Transvaal 5 (wintering), Swaziland 1 (winter- ing), southern Mocgambique 2 (wintering), and southern Southern Rho- desia (Sabi/Lundi junction) | (wintering)]. Range: From the south-western Cape Province, eastwards through the southern Cape Province to just north of Port Elizabeth. In winter, how- ever, this form leaves its breeding grounds and migrates north and is then to be found in the eastern Cape Province, Natal, Zululand, Swaziland, eastern Transvaal, extreme southern Southern Rhodesia and southern Mocambique. Muscicapa adusta fuscula Sundevall Muscicapa fuscula Sundevall, Oefv. Ak. Forhandl., 1850, 105: Durban, Natal (see discussion above). 5 Differs from the nominate race in having the streaks on the lower throat and breast grey, not buffy-olive, and more clearly defined, under- parts a much clearer white, not tinged with buff, the breast and flanks without a buffy suffusion. On the upper parts lighter and greyer than in the nominate race, often tinged with olive. Averaging smaller in size. Measurements: 10 33 wing 67.0-70.0 (68.1), tail 52.0-56.0 (53.6), culmen 13.5—15.0 (14.2); 10 9° wing 65.0-68.0 (66.6), tail 51.0-54.0 (52.8), culmen 14.0-14.5 (14.1) mm. Material: 60 |eastern Cape Province 27, Natal 21, Swaziland 1, eastern Transvaal 9, Mogambique 2 (wintering)]. Range: The eastern Cape Province north of the range of M. a. adusta, through Natal, Zululand, the eastern lowlands of Swaziland, and the eastern Transvaal. In southern Mogambique in winter only. Muscicapa adusta subadusta (Shelley) Alseonax subadusta Shelley, Ibis, 1897, p. 452: Nyika Plateau, Nyasa- land. Differs from either of the foregoing races by having the grey streaks on the lower throat and breast indistinct and the upper parts a lighter grey than in either of the two preceding races with no olive or buffy suffusion. Also smaller in size than the two southern races, especially as regards the length of the tail and culmen. : Bulletin B.O.C. 7 Vol. 83 Measurements: 1033 wing 66.0-70.0 (67.3), tail 48.0-51.0 (49.3), culmen 12.5—14.0 (13.3); 10 99 wing 63.0-67.0 (64.8), tail 45.0-51.0 (47.7), culmen 13.0-14.0 (13.5) mm. Material: 56 (Southern Rhodesia 25, Northern Rhodesia 20, Nyasaland 5, northern Mocgambique 5, Angola 1). Range: Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, Angola, south-eastern Congo, Nyasaland and northern Mocambique. For the loan of additional material I am indebted to the Directrs ofo the following Museums: South African Museum, Cape Town (through Dr. J. M. Winterbottom), Transvaal Museum, Pretoria (through Mr. O. P. M. Prozesky), East London Museum and the National Museum of Southern Rhodesia, Bulawayo (through Mr. M. P. Stuart Irwin). I am also indebted to Dr. J. M. Winterbottonm for kindly furnishing me with information regarding Sundevall’s Muscicapa fuscula, and to Mr. P. A. Clancey, Director of the Durban Museum, for much valuable assistance during the course of this study. The races of the Flaming Sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans) by KENNETH C. PARKES Received 30th May, 1962 The Flaming Sunbird (Aethopyga flagrans) is an endemic Philippine species, one of the most attractive members of a generally highly coloured genus of sunbirds. I have examined 70 specimens of this species, represent- ing the combined material in Carnegie Museum, American Museum of Natural History, U.S. National Museum, and Peabody Museum of Yale University. | am indebted to the authorities of the latter three institutions for permission to use their specimens. Study of this series shows that a stepped cline of increasing redness exists within the Philippines from north to south. Two subspecies are currently recognized: ‘‘A. f. flagrans (Luzon, Catanduanes), mantle deep olive yellow tinged with orange on the upper back and shoulders; A. f. guimar- ensis [error for guimarasensis| (Negros, Panay, Guimaras), mantle blood red.’’ (Delacour and Mayr, Birds of the Philippines, 1946, p. 231). The geographic variation in this species warrants recognition of four rather than two races. In most subdivisions of clines for nomenclatorial purposes the end-points receive the earliest names, and later authors may seek to _ apply names to additional transitional stages. In the case of Aethopyga flagrans, however, the terminal populations are the nameless ones. Rand (1951, Fieldiana: Zoology, 31: 588) considered | Guimaras, 2 _ Panay and 3 Negros males to ‘‘agree fairly well among themselves,’’ Vol. 83 8 Bulletin B.O.C. and called them all guimarasensis. Examination of a somewhat larger series from these islands indicates that Negros males are quite recog- nizably distinct from males from Guimaras and Panay; females rather less distinctive. The Negros race may be known as Aethopyga flagrans daphoenonota, subsp. nov. Type: American Museum of Natural History no. 488,886, adult 3, collected at Luzuriaga (4,500 elevation), Cuernos de Negros, Negros Oriental Province, Philippines, 22nd December, 1952, by D. S. Rabor (collector’s no. 4038). Characters: Males similar to A. f. guimarasensis Steere (type locality Guimaras), but with blood red of mantle extending farther posteriorly; posterior portion of back, wing-coverts, and edges of remiges washed with deep orange 1ather than gicenish; orange-red of mid-abdomen slightly richer and more concentrated, Jess diffuse. As for females, the differences between Negros and Panay specimens described by Rand (op. cit.: 589) are, as he postulated, due to relative wear, as shown by comparison of freshly moulted specimens. Negros females are brighter above, more greenish (less giey) on the rump, and have more of an orange wash on edges of remiges and wing-coverts than females of guimarasensis. The chin and upper throat in females of daphoenonota are cleare1, more whitish-grey, and there is a tendency toward concentration of the orange- yellow of the venter, parallelling the condition in Negros males. This sunbird can be added to the growing list of species in which geographic variation within the laige island of Luzon has been demon- strated. The type locality of Aethopyga flagrans Oustalet is ‘‘Laguna’’, presumably ieferring to the vicinity of Laguna de Baie in south-central Luzon. The original description clearly indicates the orange wash on the dorsum typical of the southern population. The only other available name appears to be Cinnyris excellens Grant, which was based on specimens from Albay Province in southern Luzon and is therefore a synonym of flagrans. The population of northern Luzon is thus nameless, and may be called Aethopyga flagrans decolor, subsp. nov. Type: American Museum of Natural History no. 688,081, adult gy collected at Cape Engafio, north-easternmost Luzon, Philippines, 19th April, 1895, by J. Whitehead. Characters: Similar to nominate flagrans from southern Luzon, but adults of both sexes olive-yellow above, lacking almost completely the orange dorsal wash typical of that race; orange of breast stripe and abdominal patch of males duller and less reddish; adult females greyer, less greenish on crown and throat. Juveniles cannot be distinguished. Specimens examined: A. f. guimarasensis—Guimaras, 2; Panay, 7. A. f. daphoenonota—Negros, 10. A. f. flagrans—(all Luzon) Laguna Prov., 34; Sorsogon Prov., 5; Albay Prov., 2; Cavite Prov., 1; Tayabas Prov., 1. Catanduanes specimens, not examined; presumably belong here A. f. decolor—(all Luzon) Cagayan Prov., 5; Ilocos Norte Prov., 3. Bulletin B.O.C. 9 Vol. 83 The breeding of the Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius L. in Iraq and a note on the Iraq eggs of the Kashmir Magpie Pica pica bactriana Bp. by CHARLES R. S. PITMAN Received 13th March, 1962 In the Survey of Iraq Fauna, 1915-1919! and Jour. Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc. (?: p. 298), with reference to Clamator glandarius, it is recorded ‘*Weigold met with several pairs at Urfa* in April and thought they would certainly nest in the nests of Corvus cornix.’’ Also, ‘‘Woosnam obtained one at Bund-i-Kir on the Karun on 6th March and Zarudny includes it as a passage migrant. It breeds in the oak woods of S.W. Persia and it is curious that no one came across it in our area.’’ During March and in May 1961, Mr. S. Marchant, at Baghdad, collected for me some eggs of the local magpie, Pica pica bactriana Bp., which are now in the National Collection at the British Museum (Natural History). Their data are :— 23rd March 1961, two infertile eggs taken, 33.2 x 22.4 and 33.0 x 22.4 mm., from a set of seven eggs, five of which hatched 21st-23rd March. The first egg was laid on 25th February. The eggs are smooth with slight gloss, pale greenish-blue, streakily marked all over, fairly thickly, with light and pale dull brown on underlying pale grey and pale ashy; there are con- centrations of both markings at the large end. The nest was at the top of a Euphrates poplar in a thicket and about 300 cm. above the ground. Another nest was found with two eggs on 28th March, and when examined on 19th May was deserted and contained six eggs. Five (one of which was broken) were infertile and in the sixth there was a well developed embryo. They were smooth, with some gloss; pale greenish-blue, and more dis- cretely marked than the previously described two; markings more rounded and not so streaky; brown and dull brown on underlying pale grey and ashy; there is a concentration of markings in each egg at the top of the large end. The measurements of these six eggs vary from 29.1—31.8 x 21.6—-22.4 mm., and average 31.6 x 22.25 mm. From their small size one would expect bactriana to be a small race of Pica pica, which, however, it is not, as bactriana is considerably larger; yet the range of 100 eggs of typical Pica pica, according to The Handbook of British Birds, 1938, is 27.7-39.4 x 22.8-28 mm., and the average 34.1 x 24.2 mm. But Stuart- Baker (*: p. 38) gives 35.7 x 24.4 as the average measurements of P. p. bactriana eggs in India. If Marchant’s markedly small six eggs are a fair sample of the eggs of the Iraq Magpie, it will be worth re-examining the three skins—identified as P. p. bactriana—now with the Bombay Natural History Society, which were collected by members of the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force. In 1918, when I was on the Tigris, the magpie was not found downstream of Baghdad; on the Euphrates, it did not occur below Hilla. In 1917, I found it nesting at Feluja (on the Euphrates, some 40 miles north-west of Baghdad) on 19th March, and on 28th April young in the nest were found there. At Museyib, on the Euphrates, just above the Hindia Barrage, in the same year, I noted that the magpie was one of the * Urfa is in eastern Turkey and east of the Euphrates. Vol. 83 10 Bulletin B.O.C. commonest garden birds and many juveniles were seen in June. It would seem, therefore, that March is the month during which most magpie eggs are laid. I asked Marchant whether there was a possibility of the Great Spotted Cuckoo victimizing the magpie at Baghdad. He replied in Jitt. “I should doubt whether C/amator glandarius nests this far south in Iraq. This cuckoo is pretty scarce on passage and though I saw one rather late this year (1961), about the end of March, I have never had any idea that they stay to nest in central Iraq. Yet it is remarkable that the local magpies are thrown into a frenzy by their mere presence.’’ It seemed to me that if the appearance of a Great Spotted Cuckoo, at a time when the magpies are nesting, could have such a disturbing effect on them, then there is the likelihood that sometimes a cuckoo breeds at Baghdad. I urged Marchant to make further enquiries, with the result in /itt. (22nd February 1962) ‘‘I was astonished to see a Clamator glandarius at Kirkuk (c. 150 miles north-east of Baghdad) on 10th February, a remarkably early date I believe.’’ Further, a reliable observer at Kirkuk informed him that during the summer in 1961 he had seen magpies feeding Clamator glandarius. Moore and Boswell (*: pp. 121-122) record a magpie’s nest at Mosul (on the Tigris, some 230 miles north of Baghdad), on 19th April 1945 which contained two sorts of eggs, and a pair of Great Spotted Cuckoos were seen near by. On 8th April 1945, also at Mosul, a magpie was seen being chased by a Great Spotted Cuckoo. Marchant writes ‘‘it is a fair guess that C. glandarius breeds in Iraq from Kirkuk northwards, but in my own experience (he has for several years been based on Baghdad) would say that they do not do so as far south as Baghdad. Yet, there is evidence that Pica has increased enormously in the last 15 years in central Iraq and perhaps Clamator will be following them. Pica is already (22nd February) making new nests, but I have seen no Clamator at Baghdad.’’ Writing _further on 28th March 1962, Marchant is dubious that he can have over- looked C. glandarius at Baghdad, for while at Kirkuk on 17th—19th March he came across at least two pairs of this cuckoo which were ‘ “very noisy and entirely conspicuous.’’ None has been observed (or heard) at Baghdad during the 1962 spring, although some 15 Pica nests in all stages from ready-for-eggs to young two weeks old have been located. Presumably the remarkable increase in mapgies in central Iraq and their ever-growing southerly thrust is due to more favourable environmental conditions resulting from the widespread extension of cultivation. Chap- man and McGeoch’s sight record (°: p. 586) of a single bird at Habbaniya (43° 34’ E.: 33° 22’ N.; north-west of Baghdad, and west of the Euphrates) on 28th June 1953 is significant. I am greatly indebted to Mr. S. Marchant for the trouble he has taken to obtain this interesting information, as well as the Pica eggs. In my own experience in East Africa I have noticed that breeding cuckoos do not necessarily advertise their presence, they can be both secretive and silent; and Mr. Myles North, (in /itt.) who found C. glandarius eggs in Somalia (in the nests of Corvus corax edithae Phill.) wrote ‘‘Nor did I ever see glandarius here.”’ Since the above notes were written a further sixteen Pica pica eggs have been received from Marchant, which were collected in 1962. In size they range from 29.1-36.5 x 21.2-25.0 mm. and average 33.45 x 23.1 mm. The total of twenty-two eggs which have now been received average approxi- mately 33.0 x 22.9 mm., markedly larger than the previously discussed six Bulletin B.O.C. 1] Vol. 83 which average 31.6 x 22.25 mm., though they still average smaller than those of typical Pica pica and are much smaller than the average of P. p. bactriana eggs taken in India. These sixteen eggs are from six nests (2/7, 3/6, 1/5) which contained a total of thirty-seven eggs. All the eggs taken were either infertile or deserted; and first eggs were laid respectively on 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 20th and 24th March. A few are unusually elongate and narrow, for instance 36.3 x 22.3 mm. In coloration and markings the majority are typical Pica pica eggs and, as is often the case in corvine eggs, one has a concentration of markings at the narrow end. Several eggs are so thickly marked as to appear almost brownish. Three eggs (infertile) ex c/6 are somewhat unusual and of a pale blue ground, curiously marked with large pale brown spots or blotches, some elongate, on similar and even larger pale grey markings all over. Major W. M. Congreve who has ex- amined these three eggs comments ‘‘not a very common type of marking’’. One c/6, all infertile, presents a problem. Four eggs are typically marked; a fifth is more handsome with rather discrete and not over numerous bright brown markings on underlying pale grey, mainly at larger end and with a dark cap. The sixth egg is rather stumpy and squat and measures 29.1 x 21.8mm.—but in Marchant’s previous sending, one typically marked egg measures 29.1 x 21.6 mm.—and is appreciably the smallest of the sixteen. Its pale brownish coloration all over, streakily marked with pale brown on light violet-grey, with a fairly thick brownish cap on underlying dense violet-grey, is unlike any of the others. Although I have never seen an egg of Clamator glandarius quite like this, the dis- parity in its size and colour makes it strangely out of place in this set, but Congreve agrees that it cannot be attributed to the Great Spotted Cuckoo. Marchant (in /itt.) also informs me that in 1962, at Kirkuk, a nest of Pica pica which held five eggs on 24th March, finally produced at least two young Clamator glandarius ‘‘which were observed daily by Mr. and Mrs. Kitchen’’. One of these young cuckoos, almost ready to fly and which was handled, was noted already to have full adult plumage. References : 1 Survey of Iraq Fauna made by members of the Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, 1915-1919. 2 Ticehurst, C. B. ‘The Birds of Mesopotamia.’ Jour. Bom. Nat. His. Soc., XXVIII (2), 1922. 3 Moore, H. J. and Boswell, C. Field Observations on the Birds of Lraq. I. Publication No. 10 Iraq Natural History Museum, 1956. 4 Stuart-Baker, E. C. Fauna of British India, Birds. 1. July, 1922. 5 Chapman, E. A. and McGeoch, J. A. ‘Recent Field Observations from Iraq.’ /bis 98, 1956. Vol. 83 Zz Bulletin B.O.C. A variety of the European Green-winged Teal by JAMES M. HARRISON Received 16th June, 1962 This note describes a type of leucism with a marked accentuation and some modification of the normal facial pattern in the drake European Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca crecca Linnaeus. Leucism is frequently seen in birds and in general terms may be de- scribed as a degree of loss of pigmentation. This loss of melanin can as a result expose one of the underlying complementary and predominating pigments, converting for instance a yellow-green form or blue form into a yellow form. Where, however, no such other pigment is present a genera- lised pallor is produced and such a subject is well described as leucistic. The subject of this note is an adult drake European Green-winged Teal Anas crecca crecca (Figs. I and II) which was caught in the duck decoy at Numansdorp, Byerland, South Holland on 3rd December, 1961 (Col- lection of the Zoological Museum, Amsterdam, Registered No. 16,317). a tatonie, ea _. .. (Photographs by. P. F. Harrison) . Fig. I. European Green- winged eal an qls. IL. Dorsal aspect of same specimen. showing marked pallor and accentu-- ~~ Note the white lines ‘extending onto the. fore- ation of facial pattern. head of the variant bird. Bulletin B.O.C. 13 Vol. 83 The leucistic character of this individual is well shown in the photo- graphs, but in addition there are several points of especial interest. One of these is the marked accentuation of the head markings, particularly the white lines at the base of the bill, which almost meet in the mid-line of the forehead; these same lines run downwards and backwards below the eyes, measuring approximately 2 mm. to 2.5 mm. wide and terminating on either side posteriorly in broad fan-shaped markings approximately 11 mm. broad x 17 mm. long. In a series of thirty adult drakes of this species examined no similar variation, nor even tendency, was found. Since the extent of the leucism is well shown in the photographs further detailed description is unnecessary. However, another curious feature this bird presents is what appears to be a degree of melanism affecting the specula, for these entirely lack the brilliant iridescent green of the normal bird and have become dull sooty-bronze; a similar change has affected the green of the sides of the head; the nuchal tuft, however, remains unaffected. The measurements fall within the normal range for drakes of this species. It should be noted that the changes described in the wing specula and of the sides of the head do not show in black and white prints; another point it is necessary to stress is that the smallest primary coverts are in fact very pale fawn-grey: this can be seen if this area in the lateral view is closely scrutinised, otherwise it could be thought to be white. Acknowledgements , My sincere thanks are due to Professor K. H. Voous for the loan of this specimen and for permission to publish this note; also to Dr. Pamela Harrison for the photographs. Notes on some specimens mainly from Aldabra by C. W. BENSON Received 13th August, 1962 Thanks to the kindness of Drs. A. Wetmore and Philip S. Humphrey, and to generous assistance from the Frank M. Chapman Memorial Fund, through Dr. D. Amadon, I have been able to study some of the specimens collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott on Aldabra Island, reported on by Ridgway (1895). The following notes are based on material in the United States National Museum except as otherwise indicated. (1) Eurystomus glaucurus: Ridgway (1895: 534) records a specimen of E. g. glaucurus (Miiller), 10th December. It is in adult dress, with wing 194 mm. There is another adult in the American Museum of Natural History, collected by F. R. Mortimer, 24th December, 1904, labelled **Tle Piquart, Aladabra. Migratory bird. Shot by mistake.’’, wing 196 mm. Also in the American Museum is an immature specimen, collected by Krishnasamy Naidoo, on Anjouan, in the Comoros, 10th April, 1907, - wing 192 mm., and not mentioned by Benson (1960: 55). (2) Tyto alba: Although not mentioned from Aldabra by Sclater (1924) or by Peters (Check-list of the Birds of the World, 4, 1940), Ridgway (1895: 533) records four specimens (under the name Strix flammea), but had to leave the subspecies indeterminate for lack of comparative material. Compared to 10 African specimens, three of these four are rather paler Vol. 83 14 Bulletin B.O.C. on the upper side. On the under side, all four Aldabra specimens are white, _ though one has a slight wash of rufous. Five of the African specimens are quite strongly washed with rufous, though the remainder lack any such wash. Another male from Aldabra, dated 27th August, 1906, in the American Museum, is markedly rufous below, while on the upper side it can be matched with various individual specimens from both Africa and Madagascar. On colour I can see no justification for separating the five Aldabra specimens. They have wing 297, 298, 298, 298, 300 mm. Thus, reference Benson (1960: 59), like specimens from Madagascar and the Comoros, they average rather larger than those from Africa, though there is so much overlap that all are best assigned to the African T. a. affinis (Blyth). Four specimens from Anjouan, Comoros, in the American Museum, not included in Benson’s figures, have wing 306, 307, 307, 308 mm.; likewise seven from Madagascar 293, 297, 298, 299, 303, 313, 315 mm. (3) Phedina borbonica: Ridgway (1895 : 535) records a specimen collected on 19th November, but could not decide whether it was a P. b. borbonica (Gmelin) or P. b. madagascariensis Hartlaub, having only descriptions of the differences available. No reference is made to this record in Sclater (1930) or Mayr & Greenway (1960). I have compared the specimen with a series of 29 of P. b. madagascariensis in the American Museum, to which I consider it should be attributed, as indeed is much the most likely on geographical grounds. It is true that it differs in having the forehead, lores and chin uniform dark brown, and the under tail-coverts brown rather than white, but these differences would appear to be due to staining, probably in the process of skinning. In other respects it agrees well with specimens in worn dress (as it is), those in fresh dress being greyish in tone on the upper side. In the British Museum I have compared four specimens of P. b. borbonica from Mauritius and Re-union with 31 of P. b. madagas- cariensis from Madagascar, and three from Pemba Island and Lake Chilwa, Nyasaland. P. b. borbonica differs from P. b. madagascariensis in being much darker above, with the dark shaft-streaks hardly apparent. On the under side, the streaks on the chin to abdomen are margined with pale brown rather than white, resulting in a more dingy appearance. The feathers of the under tail-coverts are brown with white tips, instead of wholly white, except that dark shaft-streaks are apparent in both forms. The specimens of P. b. borbonica have wing 110, 110, 115, 121 mm., while 63 of P. b. madagascariensis measure 108-124, average 114.9 mm. The Aldabra specimen has wing 112 mm. Presumably it had been bred in Madagascar. (4) Riparia riparia: R. r. riparia (Linné) is not recorded from any island in the western Indian Ocean in Sclater (1930) or Mayr & Greenway (1960). However, Rand (1936: 427) records a specimen from Lac lotry, Mada- gascar. It is in the American Museum, and is dated 11th December, 1929. Ridgway (1895 : 526, 536) records two specimens, under the name Clivicola riparia, respectively from Gloriosa Island, 29th January, and Aldabra, 2nd December. All three specimens appear to be R. r. riparia. Ridgway quotes Abbott as having seen several on Gloriosa, though it was not common. ~ Both Abbott’s specimens, like that of Phedina borbonica, seem to have ~ been stained while skinning. The Gloriosa specimen has blackening on the chin, the Aldabra specimen dark brown on the chin and throat, so : Bulletin B.O.C. 15 Vol. 83 that only a little white is apparent on the lower throat, adjacent to the brown chest-band. Ridgway (1895: 534, 535) also records a specimen each of two other palaearctic migrants, from Ile Picard, Aldabra, in December, Motacilla campestris Pallas and Micropus apus (Linné). Unfortunately I was unaware of this until after I had left the United States National Museum. References : Benson, C. W. 1960. The birds of the Comoro Islands. /bis, 103b: 5-106. Mayr, E. and Greenway, J. C. 1960. Check-list of birds of the world, 9. Cambridge, Mass. Rand, A. L. 1936. The distribution and habits of Madagascar birds. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 72: 143-499. Ridgway, R. 1895. On birds collected by Dr. W. L. Abbott in the Seychelles, Amirantes, Gloriosa, Assumption, Aldabra and adjacent islands, with notes on habits, etc. by the collector. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., 18 (no. 1079): 509-546. Sclater, W. L. 1924-30. Systema Avium Aethiopicarum. 2 vols. London. The post-ocular green stripe as a plumage character of the Anatinae by C. J. O. HARRISON Received 20th July, 1962 INTRODUCTION In recent years a number of variant and hybrid ducks have been de- scribed, and the plumage characters discussed in relation to the phylogeny of the species concerned. In the present paper an attempt has been made to review such a character as it appears in normal birds and hybrids throughout a group of species—in this case a subfamily. It is considered that such an examination is likely to give a more accurate assessment of the value of such a character as an indicator of phylogeny than can be achieved by a study of only a few species. The reference numbers given for some of the hybrids refer to specimens in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History). DESCRIPTION When the skin of a hybrid duck, Anas platyrhynchos x A. strepera was examined, it was observed that the head showed a green post-ocular stripe on a chestnut-brown background, very like that of the Common Teal, Anas crecca, this pattern being absent from the plumage of the parent species. Subsequently a study was made of the plumage patterns of the Anatinae to record how frequently this green stripe recurred as an element in the head pattern. In its most marked form this stripe may encircle the eye, and curves away downwards to the nape. In some cases it is less apparent and may not reach the eye, but commences a little posterior to it. In the following list of its occurrence in various species and hybrids the taxonomic arrangement proposed by Delacour (1954—59) has been used. The stripe is present in the following birds :— _ ANATINI Common Teal, Anas crecca, (3) Well-marked stripe, emphasised by a buff border. -. Baikal Teal, A. formosa, (3) Well-marked stripe, edged with white, com- mences posterior to the eye and is broadest at the nape. Vol. 83 16 Bulletin B.O.C. Falcated Teal, A. falcata, (¢) A broad iridescent green stripe on an iridescent purple head. European Wigeon, A. penelope, (3) Vestigial remnant, marked only by a few green feathers near the upper posterior edge of the ear-coverts. American Wigeon, A. americana, (3) lll-defined stripe, commencing posterior to the eye, narrow and mixed with black feathers. Chiloé Wigeon, A. sibilatrix, Stripe present but not obvious from all angles, tends to merge with the purple gloss of the neck. Pintail, A. acuta, ($) There is a small area of lilac iridescence towards the posteoirr edge of the brown plumage, on either side of the head, which, when viewed from behind, shows green. Blue-winged Teal, A. discors, (3) The sides of the head are bluish-green and, viewed from behind, show an ill-defined green stripe. Hybrids Mallard x Gadwall, A. platyrhynchos x A. strepera, (B. M. 1905.11.20.1) In this the sides of the head are light chestnut-brown, the crown is black, and the lores are blackish. A green stripe appears a little posterior to the eye and continues to the nape. Another specimen (B. M. 1905.2.24.1012) is similar but with a more distinct, teal-like stripe, the stripes uniting at the nape to continue as a green area encircling the lower neck. (A. platyrhynchos x A. strepera) x A. strepera. This has the crown chest- nut with blackish barring, ear-coverts golden-buff, and a bronze- green iridescent stripe from behind the eye to the nape. Chilean Teal x Mallard, A. flavirostris x A. platyrhynchos. Crown and checks blackish freckled buff, throat black, faint greenish stripe visible behind eye. Spot-billed Duck x Mallard, A. poecilorhyncha x A. platyrhynchos, (B. M. 82.2.28.10) Cheeks buff speckled with dark brown, crown dark brown. Ili-defined green stripes similar to those of A. americana meeting at the nape. Grey Duck x Pintail, A. superciliosa x A. acuta, (1924.5.31.118.) Ear- coverts buff on anterior, white on posterior, speckled with black; crown mixed black and brown; faint evidence of green stripe. European Wigeon x Common Teal, A. penelope x A. crecca, (B. M. 1929. 8.7.2.) Very like a teal. A broad bold green stripe, with traces of a pale edge, on a light chestnut head. European Wigeon x Pintail, A. penelope x A. acuta, (B. M. 1913.3.1.1.) Cheeks pale cream divided by a vertical band of black below the eye (‘‘Bimaculated’’, see Harrison, J. 1953, Sage 1960) Throat black, crown chestnut, distinct green stripe from eye to nape. Another specimen (B. M. 1905.1.11.1.) This is similar but without the dark band on the cheek, and with a blacker throat and buffer crown. From the foregoing list it can be seen that the green post-ocular stripe, which features as a prominent part of the head colouring of some species of Anas, is also present to varying degrees in other species, and may appear in hybrids where it is not apparent in either parent species. This tendency for hybrid ducks to show facial patterns differing from those of the parents Bulletin B.O.C. 17 Vol. 83 but similar to the pattern found in other species has been described by J. M. Harrison (1945, 1953) and by Sage (1960) with reference to the ‘*bimaculated’’ facial patterns. The phenomenon has been termed *‘reverse mutation’’. The occurrence of the green stripe in some fo these hybrids might be | explained if we assume that A. platyrhynchos possesses a green post-ocular stripe which is concealed by virtue of the fact that the remainder of the head plumage is of the same colour. This might also be true in the case of the Shoveler, A. c/ypeata. The stripe has a signal function in the epigamic displays. Lorenz (1955) has described the ‘‘head-turning’’ posture which occurs in many species of Anatinae, in which the drakes turn the back of the head towards the female, partially erecting the feathers, so that a distinctive pattern is presented to her. The post-ocular stripe plays an important part in forming this pattern. It is significant that in the case of A. platyrhynchos the feathers of the nape and the back of the head are erected, appearing black to the duck, while those of the sides of the head are sleeked down so that a distinct green stripe is then visible in that part of the plumage where the post-ocular stripe would occur. It is also signfii- cant in view of the display function, that the green iridescence on the heads of the males of A. acuta, A. discors, and A. rhynchotis, is only visible when viewed from behind. CAIRININI Carolina Duck, Aix sponsa, (3) In this species most of the head is iridescent. There is a distinct tract of feathers marking the post-ocular stripe which is purple near the eye, but otherwise green. Mandarin Duck, Aix galericulata, ($) There is a distinct green stripe, partly obscured by a creamy supra-orbital stripe which also encircles the eye. Muscovy Duck, Cairina moschata, (3) Iridescent green on the black head-feathers is only visible in some lights, but is more marked in the post-ocular region and less apparent on the crown. Green Pygmy Goose, Nettapus pulchellus, (3) The sides and back of the neck are dark glossy green and there is green iridescence on the feathers of the nape and the post-ocular region. African Pygmy Goose, Nettapus auritus, (3) Crown and nape are dark glossy green. The sides of the head are white, but there is a large patch of glossless pale green feathers bordered with black on each side of the neck posterior to the ear-coverts. Hybrids Carolina Duck x Gadwall, Aix sponsa x Anas strepera, (B. M. 1913.4.5.1) ear-coverts light brown, post-ocular stripe and crown entirely iridescent green, nape and neck purplish black. Carolina Duck x Pintail, Aix sponsa x Anas acuta, (B. M. 1891.8.25.1.) _head mainly dark with green and purple sheen. Cheeks and throat : with many pale greyish feathers. A clear green post-ocular stripe = | ‘present. Another specimen (B. M. 1924.5.3.1). Ear-coverts and neck speckled white and brown, crown and post-ocular stripe completely green. y Vol. 83 18 Bulletin B.O.C. Carolina Duck x Wigeon, Aix sponsa x Anas penelope, (B. M. 1924.5.31. 123). Throat reddish; ear-coverts speckled black on buff, crown speckled black on brown. Green iridescent nuchal tuft, the green colour extending forwards to just over the eye. In this tribe the genus Aix appears to possess a green stripe homologous with that of the Anatini. It tends, however, to be obscured by other signal plumage and seems not to play any special part in the display of these species. The patterns shown by Nettapus present some problems. They appear analogous to the green stripe in that they are signal patterns with similar colours on a similar area of the head plumage, and presumably they have a display function, but, unless one assumes that there is some evidence in the distribution of green plumage in N. pulchellus, there is no clear indication as to whether these are homologous or whether they have evolved independently to fulfil similar needs. AYTHYINI Hybrids Tufted Duck x Ferruginous Duck, Aythya fuligula x Aythya nyroca. Two specimens. One shows a rufous crown and tuft, the rest of the head being glossy green; the other has the same rufous crown and tuft, ‘with the remainder of the head brown save for an ill-defined iridescent green stripe extending back from the eye and broadening to a distinct green area on the nape. Many of the species in this tribe show green or purple iridescence over most of the head. The fact that hybrids of purple-headed and red-headed species, e.g. Aythya fuligula x Aythya nyroca, and Netta peposaca x Netta rufina, show green-glossed heads suggests that the colour of the gloss is related to the underlying pigment. The head of A. fuligula is mainly purple with a greenish gloss only visible in some lights. The reduction of the gloss to a green stripe in the post-ocular region in one of the hybrids suggests that the genetic potential for such a stripe may persist in the inheritance of these species. MERGINI Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola, (3) Gloss of the head is mainly purple and the large white patch behind the eye masks most of the area where the stripe would otherwise be, but a bright glossy green area extends - from this white patch to the nape and the loral region has a dark green gloss. Smew, Mergus albellus, ($) The head is mainly white but there is a dark green glossy stripe arising a little behind the eye and extending to the nape where the two stripes unite to form a dark nuchal tuft. In the genera Mergus and Bucephala the conspicuous signal plumage of the head consists of crests and white patches. The presence of an apparent green stripe in two species does suggest that this pattern may be shared by this tribe, and since a number of species in these genera have green-glossed heads the possible presence of concealed green stripes cannot be ruled out. SOMATERIINI Common Eider, Somateria mollissima, ($) There is a pale, non-glossy green stripe in the post-ocular region, although the area immediately behind the eye is covered by part of the black cap. There is also a pale Bulletin B.O.C. 19 Vol. 83 - green patch on the side of the head which appears to be part of the same area of coloured plumage that includes the stripe, but is separated from it by a white line. Steller’s Eider, Polysticta stelleri, (3) Head is mainly white with a tuft of non-glossy pale green feathers on the nape, and a paler area on the forehead. The Eiders present a problem similar to that shown by Nettapus. In each case there is an area of pale non-glossy green feathers present on the head in a similar region to the post-ocular stripe but more extensive in area. This plumage is, in the case of the Eiders, undoubtedly analogous to the stripe, being used in a head-turning display, but it is not possible to be sure of its homology. The Spectacled Eider, Somateria fischeri, has in the males a similar green colour over most of the head. The fact that this type of colouring occurs in two different tribes does suggest that it may represent a form of the green stripe, and that the difference in colour may be due to a simple factor such as appears to control the green and purple glosses. It seems more likely that there is homology here rather than that the patterns of Nettapus and the Somateriini should have arisen from independent evolution of similar signal markings within a related group. It is probable that the conspicuous and well-formed stripe apparent in Anas formosa, for example, is a variant of the basic green stripe as elaborate and highly evolved as the green markings on the head of Somateria mollissima. DISCUSSION From this list of species in which it occurs it can be seen that the existence of green-glossed feathers in the post-ocular region of the head is more widespread than might be supposed from a superficial examination of the character. [t has been assumed here that where plumage of a similar colour occurs at a similar place on the body in different species which are considered to have a common genetic origin, this plumage is produced by related genes. The green stripe is conspicuous and usually confined to males, and has a function in the epigamic displays. It is most apparent and most elaborate in the Anatini, where it plays an important part in displays, In Aix it is present but partially obscured by other plumage patterns used in display, and it may reasonably be suspected that it precedes the latter patterns as a signal plumage. The same might be true in the Mergini. Its appearance in a hybrid of the Aythyini suggests that it is a part of the genetic inheritance of this tribe, but there is no evidence that it has ever been phenotypically apparent. The markings in Nettapus and the Soma- teriini could be regarded as a divergent evolution of signal markings from the same character. The green post-ocular stripe, as a plumage character of the Anatinae, appears to show a distribution similar to that of plumage characters studied in other groups, and also to the bimaculated pattern as discussed in the study of estrildine plumage patterns (Harrison, C. J. O. 1960, and in press). It is apparently present as part of the genetic inheritance of most, if not all, of the subfamily, but is only phenotypically apparent in the plumage of some genera. In some species it is not apparent; in some it is present in a simple, inconspicuous form; in others it has been evolved into a more elaborate form to play a conspicuous part in the display plumage Vol. 83 20 Bulletin B.O.C. and to help form the patterns which aid specific recognition. In others - again it is present but partly obliterated by other patterns used in epigamic display; and there seems to be evidence that secondary loss may occur, as is suggested by hybrids of A. platyrhynchos and A. penelope which seem to show that in these species areas of conspicuous uniform coloration may occur at a later stage in the evolution of plumage pattern, resulting in a loss of the components of the more complex patterns. There is a parallel to the latter in some estrildine species where a spread of uniform coloration can be seen to be obliterating or suppressing patterned plumage. The study of estrildine patterns also reveals that where birds of the same widely dispersed family have a common inheritance of plumage pattern, such patterns show only limited variation; and, where there is pressure for the evolution of new patterns, such patterns will tend to evolve along similar lines showing convergence at their various stages. It is possible for allopatric species which are not immediately related to evolve very similar patterns. In Anas, A. discors and A. rhynchotis may furnish examples of this, each showing the crescentic white patch on the head, and the bluish gloss with the concealed green stripe, yet each possibly evolved independently on the separate continents. From the evidence of variants and hybrids (see also Harrison, J. 1945, 1953, 1959) it would appear that Anas platyrhynchos, A. crecca, and A. formosa, may have had an ancestral head pattern showing both the bi- maculated pattern and the green post-ocular stripe in a simple form. In A. crecca only the stripe is now apparent and in A. platyrhynchos neither is obvious. However, it is inadvisable to conclude that this type of pattern loss gives an indication of direct derivation or of phylogenetic relationship between one species and another. There appears to be a need for variation in plumage patterns in order to ensure specific recognition, and it is likely that the facial patterns of A. platyrhynchos, A. crecca, and A. formosa represent equal divergence and elaboration of a common basic pattern, resulting in specific identity. Since the genetic existence of such patterns does not necessarily result in their phenotypical appearance in the plumage of the species we cannot definitely conclude that the evidence which we possess proves that there is any closer relationship between these three species than that implied by their generic grouping with other species. References : Delacour, J. 1954-9. The Waterfowl of the World. Country Life: London. Harrison, C. J. O. 1960. Signal plumage and phylogenetic relationship in some doves. Bull. B.O.C. 80: 23-31. Harrison, C. J. O. The incidence and origin of spotted patterns in the Estrildidae. in press. Herpes f M. 1945. Exhibition of two varieties of the Teal Anas crecca. Bull. B.O.C. - Harrison, J. M. 1953. On the significance of the variation of patterns in birds. Bull. BOC. 7337-40. Harrison, J. M. 1959. Analogous variation in Mallard and its possible significance. Bull. B.O.C. 79: 22-24. Lorenz, K. 1955. Comparative studies on the behaviour of the Anatinae. Trans. i C. H. D. Clarke. Avicultural Mag.; London. Sage, B. 1960. Pai bic ad Pintail x Teal hybrids. Bull. B.O.C. 80: 80-86. . ae of? 2 j 063 f yt im tty ae AOR A EKO yh ): Ao proc ixeara > Bee SE jon ‘sip anotedranal for: ie rlattes t GAO’ tM 30tbs silt iot. bszavibba od Bbinoils gest SA. Mi RGus: ae 22 Tyee ono 3s 16 in i aiiiw Amat AeuoD ssqnd off 1b sbie sae HO bony} ; iB Stony Maas etd EDSHGitiiso af vidoe Rom tea a haan Sines ottpe ot Yhidestp ye Gus Bebition 4d blvd Bi OF Doig pre eaMtEN SiNiwies neg ada to 15) se Se Divoile ssanashoR Citrsieqvi asi a! ATi SAK oi bs Rindiasasty by ord by rd} Rep logkatin oye | ha pee ors ezigab bre shi? tied! om aul? stooiha: Diuore 255 Pay 3 Apslue, ~-1OM QQ Ton Ast vd bewaol! y 25 src“ wmigie ort 00° noHouber a ism Sat jenotairesb . n+ ‘ ay" ~f 1. t# : : 3 “4 wi.) Rovudnien somqnisseCl"* Aol edgar msiag iF: Tt Din ot { ve : v. .at us ene Dey Onan Leese *” Sv i 1 Sonn 4 a oe P ‘et ay Hin’. x “apa b> of veer Jodi ba Bon: it ross} jeettrclooy9 Pteenohsioh ot TA braiiseho quilt to ,oaete eis “ams SR fic DRT toe epaths in sidatto GEpoT s Tui YAY iw dis) pau weer Bi Pt nistor veo solvdnlAs potixsrit lot sits Ans ma -wows “Ine riper?" VUsBOISUy2 2h; ely bailgquy, jraisint es tiny hn nad buode uaiieoy 6.04 anituden Pe gol NST Botts4(t) OO UI Ao fs pis Msdiniy, Aon Tod erasiouadAé ae v2 sche PeheDe sotapiv's dé-aelhe We SD A. oy wien ays th Out vous noaulel sition ws neh Te fied aia tops a Sess re roy Vsibe yy Al 0 Vio? dest tempor cs < 2 ’ A = Rae = 2 ‘ : k ; é 4 z ‘ AMAA. a OT vier rs ee ee Aadiastgiacn ' PpSeRi ii ot ver: eigeis ot ile . bh y \, f ; ae sa Pirie . > as a n> ee ‘ reps BB isle basi } ‘vi iyy7 25 eI NOTEA TAAGO ach a igisdaé rf Shower? ape 4 BSF eee tid CA PRAM eis. rome ey Hehe det. yiagedes «dC? aidwcni- ith b bet 1 ng tidmrevor" di’! ‘e-iita A2! é ss visiopiod 36: lew sulseni wiser yw >lQioG ofT) a Gee — es Seeley seein be - . + & > cs ae use weet) Sceahials “S-tyeuae> 314 a tse | : . a5 co idial on Lae, ; > st aad. snl ofl). Of. Sldaverd 122 9702 70G 10 Aoatev bn. ah et: Oh basen iiss blue sencbare4iss teh ERS STRIOGAOH TOC HEINER &) fd bored) nue CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the B.O.C. and should be addressed to the Editor, Mr. John Yealland, The Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, N.W.1. These should be concise and typed on one side of the paper, double-spaced, with a good margin. The first time a species is mentioned, the scientific generic and specific names should be included. Subsequently the same name need only have the initial letter of the genus. Scientific names are printed in italics and should be underlined in the typescript. References should be given at the end of the paper. Authors introducing a new name or describing a new species or race should indicate this in their title and display the name prominently in the text followed by nom. nov., sp. nov., subsp. nov. as appropriate. In these descriptions, the first introduction of the name should be followed by paragraphs for ‘‘Description’’, ‘‘Distribution’’, ‘“Type’’, ‘‘Measure- ments of Type’’, ‘‘Material examined’’ and further sub-headings as required. Proofs must be returned without delay. No changes may be made at this stage, other than corrections. At the discretion of the Editor, the Club will pay for a reasonable number of monochrome blocks, which the contributor may retain for his own use. Contributors are entitled to a maximum of thirty free copies of the Bulletin, supplied only as specifically requested by authors. Those con- tributing to a meeting should hand in their MS. at that meeting; otherwise a note will be inserted mentioning the contribution. BACK NUMBERS OF THE BULLETIN Applications for back numbers which cost 5s. each, should be made to N. J. P. Wadley, 58 Ovington Street, London, S.W.3. Members who have back numbers of the Bulletin, which they no longer require are requested to send them to N. J. P. Wadley. SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members annually for 40s. (payable in advance) or per copy 5s., payable to the Hon. Treasurer, P. Tate, 4 : Broad Street Place, London, E.C.2 CORRESPONDENCE Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, Dr. J. G. Harrison, ‘‘Merriewood’’, St. Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. DINNERS AND MEETINGS FOR 1963 15th January, 19th February, 19th March, 16th April, 21st May, 17th September, 15th October, 19th November and 17th December. (The October or November meeting will be held jointly with the B.O.U.) Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton & Holmesdale Press, South Park, Sevenoaks, Kent. BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB 17FE51963 II MLIACE Edited PURCHASED, JOHN J. YEALLAND Volume 83 February No. 2 1963 Ge segue iy cugeh tie AN cue ee woe 2IDOUORT, ite (hee 1 Sie a aa Sikes: eRe ene, rege Ws BOT, coho < m Ave ‘Z “Er P ene ene “éee a ae a Wie eee ws aa 5 : at nf %, 6 + 4.7 cael LMS, aoe J » + ‘ ‘ ¢ w ie J i rod % x ‘ = © ae * oe ~ : . et ey - Li ia 1 ‘= - ay shew? nce os = ee P ce oY "e $ ‘he , 5 ie ¢ ‘ by S 4 . » 4 . ~ wk i? K 2 4 +.” 4 e t FF i x ” aad 2 a ‘ea 4 & ‘ U ¢ as | a i A ” & » o> 7. <. : py i ‘ LU ri 3 i” Pt ; mk Bo a > Lh eee ia ek Bn iat , q " wre ; 4.8 CAO + # 5 ie 4 > ae sp La ee ; bea Pee ia ty a of s 4 “f » - deapey ‘ Ken Oe oa 1963 21 Vol. 83 BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Volume 83 Number 2 Published: 8th February, 1963 brandt Hotel, London, on 15th January, 1963. Chairman: Mr. R. S. R. FITTER Members present: 16; guests 3; total 19. Dr. D. Summers-Smith gave a well illustrated address on The House Sparrow It is postulated that the Palaearctic sparrows (genus Passer) evolved from an ancestral sparrow spreading from tropical Africa down the Nile valley into the Mediterranean region. Some of these birds came into contact with man, who in the Tigris-Euphrates region was evolving from a nomadic hunting way of life to a sedentary agricultural one, and be- coming closely associated with him evolved as the species we now call the House Sparrow, Passer domesticus. This species spread with agricultural man and by the beginning of the 19th century was present over most of Europe and southern Asia as far as Burma. With the opening of Siberia to agriculture it has spread across to the Pacific coast and from deliberate introductions to other parts of the world colonised by men from western Europe it is now present over much of the land surface of the globe. Not only is it probably the most widely spread species of land bird, but cen- suses carried out in many parts suggest it is also the commonest. Observations of colour-ringed birds in England show that this species is extremely sedentary, many individuals living their lives within a compass of one or two miles from their birth place. Pairs are not only faithful to each other but retain the same nest-site throughout their lives. Contrary to expectation in a resident species, the greatest mortality among the adults occurs during the breeding season and not in the winter months. It is suggested that the key to the bird’s success has been its association with man. This has provided it with secure breeding sites and an assured food supply throughout the year and has allowed it to take up a sedentary way of life with the consequent advantages this affords. Continued spread and population increase are to be expected with the increasing agri- cultural development and urbanisation that are now taking place all over the world. Comments on a hybrid Red Shoveler x Northern Shoveler by JAMES M. AND JEFFERY G. HARRISON (Exhibited to the B.O.C. on 15th May, 1962) SUMMARY A hybrid between the Red Shoveler Anas platalea Vieillot and the Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Linnaeus shows certain characters Vol. 83 Ws Bulletin B.O.C. & Red Shoveler x Northern Shoveler Chin and throat of hybrid Red Shoveler x Northern Shoveler, showing how the cheek crescents unite, just behind the blackish throat; also the spotting on the whitish breast Bulletin B.O.C. 23 | Vol. 83 referable to the parent species and others referable to the Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis Latham and the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Linnaeus. The latter are considered to have arisen by gene recombination and to be ancestral, providing further evidence that the Shoveler species group developed by a single direct line of evolution with close affinities to the Mallard. INTRODUCTION About five years ago, Frank Grant of Evington, Leicestershire, bred three hybrids between a drake Red Shoveler A. platalea and a duck Nor- thern Shoveler A. clypeata. All three were drakes by plumage and were aggressive and unsatisfactory to keep with other wildfowl. Through the kindness of Richard Bream we have been able to borrow a mounted drake of one of these hybrids in full plumage, beautifully prepared by E. Wil- liams of the Leicester Museum. Mr Bream tells us that this specimen was in its third year and that its full plumage had been the same in each of its three seasons. DESCRIPTION Apart from the head and neck, the characters shown by the hybrid incline strongly towards the Red Shoveler, particularly in the spotting on the pale chestnut scapulars and flanks. The breast is also heavily spotted, as in that species, but the ground colour is pale buffy-white and is of approximately the same extent as is the white breast of the drake Northern Shoveler, so that a similar but less obvious pattern contrast is present between the breast and belly, which is lacking in the Red Shoveler. The remainder of the belly is bright reddish-chestnut, as in the Northern Shoveler, finely spotted or barred with black towards the periphery. There are two prominent white patches on either side of the rump, comparable to the Northern rather than the Red Shoveler. The under and upper tail- coverts are black, the central tail feathers are rather more elongated than in the Northern Shoveler (see measurements) and sepia; the remainder of the tail feathers are whitish, barred sepia. The rump is dark sepia. The mantle is pale chestnut with prominent dark sepia crescents. The wings and long scapulars are as in all Shovelers and present no modification with the typical bright blue shoulders, green speculum, edged broad white in front, narrow white behind and the long scapulars are white, black and blue. The crown, lores and throat are dark sepia, almost black, with a slight purplish reflection on the crown. Running upwards on either side in front of the eyes are prominent whitish crescents, somewhat speckled with dusky striations. The concave sides are towards the eyes and extend level with them, above and below. These crescents join below on the chin, just distal to the blackish throat patch. The remainder of the cheeks and neck are lavender-grey, lightly reflecting a bluish-green. This colour and the pale crescents can be exactly matched by some specimens of the Australasian Shoveler A. rhynchotis. The specimen shows a well developed white ring between the neck and upper breast: this is almost complete, though just separated at the back by a narrow extension downwards of the lavender-grey of the neck. This - character can be matched by the drake Mallard A. platyrhynchos and as a transient character by certain first year drakes of the Northern Shoveler, Vol. 83 24 Bulletin B.O.C. while moulting into first winter plumage. This character is of considerable interest, particularly as the bird is an adult and the character constant. The irides were dull yellow, the tarsi and toes ochreous yellow, webs dusky, as in the Red Shoveler and the bili black. The measurements in mm. were as follows: Red Shoveler 33 Northern Shoveler 3g (after Delacour) Hybrid (after Delacour) Wing 213-222 242 230-252 Culmen 63-67 64 60-70 Tarsus 34-38 38 32-37 Tail 115-120 96 72-85 It will be noted that the tail has become elongated well beyond the normal range of the Northern Shoveler and the wing elongated well beyond the normal range of the Red Shoveler, so that on size a definite intermediacy is present. DISCUSSION This remarkable hybrid is of considerable interest, in that it possesses not only characters of its two parent species, but also characters on the head and neck, which are found in two other dabbling duck species, the Mallard and the Australasian Shoveler, the cheek crescents being as well marked as many of the New Zealand race of the latter Anas rhynchotis variegata Gould. We are considering, therefore, a further example of heterophoric reverse mutation, which brings it into line with the hybrid European Green-winged Teal Anas crecca crecca Linnaeus x Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Linnaeus (Harrison 1953) and the hybrid Wigeon Anas penelope Linnaeus x Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Linnaeus (Harrison, 1959), both of which developed head patterns resembling none of the three parent species involved. Instead, both head patterns were very similar to that of the drake Baikal Teal Anas formosa Georgi, being strongly “bimaculated”’. In this case, the three characters not found in either parent species are first, the strongly marked whitish crescentic markings on the cheeks, meeting under the chin. This can be exactly matched by drakes of the Australasian Shoveler, as can the second character, the pale lavender-grey on the sides of the head and neck, with bluish-green reflections. The third character, the prominent white neck ring is strictly comparable to the white neck ring of the Mallard drake, being of the same proportion and in exactly the same position in the hybrid. In this connection, it is of interest to remember that Northern Shoveler, first winter drakes in tran- sition plumage, often show transient white neck rings and pale cheek crescents (Harrison and Harrison, 1959), so that for a few weeks only, young Northern Shoveler drakes may have a pattern remarkably similar on the head and neck to the hybrid, although less striking in appearance. An example was illustrated in our paper (1959, Joc. cit.) on p. 138. The Bulletin B.O.C. a Vol. 83 difference in the hybrid is that the pattern has been shown to be constant, persisting into adult full plumage. We consider that the neck ring, cheek crescents and colour of the sides of the head and neck are all ancestral characters revealed by gene recom- bination in the hybrid state. The white neck ring is further evidence in confirmation of Delacour’s opinion (1956) that the Shoveler species group has affinities with the Mallard. The last two characters indicate the close affinities between the three Shoveler species inhabiting the Holarctic area, South America and Australasia respectively. This only leaves the one other Shoveler species, the Cape Shoveler Anas smithi (Hartert) of South Africa and it is noteworthy that Winter- bottom and Middlemiss (1960) consider that clypeata and smithi diverged before the latter had evolved a marked sexual dimorphism, and that smithi has probably remained close to the ancestral form from which clypeata evolved. This hybrid therefore provides further striking evidence that the Shoveler species have arisen, not by parallel evolution in widely separated parts of the world, but by a single distinct line of evolution (Delacour’s ““Blue-winged Ducks’’) within the genus Anas, and with close affinities to the Mallard. The “‘bimaculated’’ face pattern revealed in the other two hybrids in which the Northern Shoveler was involved is probably even more ancestral, the crescent being a part of this character, which has become dominant in some forms. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are most grateful to Richard Bream, Frank Grant and Geoffrey Grant of the Leicestershire Wildfowlers’ Association for telling us of the hybrid and to the former for the loan of the specimen. We would also like to express our thanks to Mr. J. D. Macdonald for permission to study the necessary comparative material in the British Museum (Natural History) and to Mrs. Pamela Harrison for the photographs illustrating this paper. References: J. M. Harrison (1935). On the significance of Variations of Pattern in Birds. Bull. B.O.C. Vol. 73, pp. 37-39. J. M. Harrison (1959). Comments on a Wigeon x Northern Shoveler Hybrid. Bull. B.O.C. Vol 79, pp. 142-151. J. M. Harrison and J. G. Harrison (1959). Evolutionary Significance of Certain Plumage Sequences in Northern Shoveler. Bull. B.O.C. Vol. 79, pp. 135-142. J. Delacour (1956). The Waterfowl of the World. J. M. Winterbottom and E. H. J. Middlemiss (1960). Notes on the Cape Shoveler. Bull. B.O.C. Vol. 80, pp. 154-162. Notes on African Estrildinae by C. M. N. WHITE Received 24th September, 1962 The present notes have been prepared whilst revising the African wax- bills for the final section of my revised Check List of African passerine birds. I prefer to keep the waxbills as a subfamily of the Ploceidae, and not to raise them to full family status as Steiner has proposed should be done. Vol. 83 26 Bulletin B.O.C. 1 Hypargos niveoguttatus (Peters) The nominate form in which females have a brown throat and breast are clearly distinct from macrospilotus in which females have a red throat and breast, as Clancey has claimed. Nominate niveoguttatus ranges from southern Mozambique to eastern Southern Rhodesia on the plateau, but not into the Zambezi valley where macrospilotus occurs. The latter occupies the rest of the range, and I cannot confirm the claims of any of the three additional forms proposed by Clancey. 2 FPirenestes ostrinus (Vieillot) I regard all the forms of Pirenestes as conspecific since they only differ basically in the degree of melanin in the plumage with black replaced by brown in the extreme west and extreme east of the total range. Whilst differences in bill size still seem to distinguish the two upper Guinea forms sanguineus and coccineus, I find the differences in bill size elsewhere very unsatisfactory characters despite the great range of variation between the smallest and largest birds. There is complete intergradation between them, and in particular it seems quite impossible to separate satisfactorily rothschildi from ostrinus. Until field work provides some more convincing grounds for considering that taxonomic significance should be accorded to these variations, I prefer to treat both the large frommi and rothschildi as synonyms of ostrinus and vincenti as a synonym of minor. I note that whilst Chapin’s arguments in favour of an ecological separation and different diet being related to bill size in the lower Guinea area and its periphery are plausible, they do not provide a satisfactory basis for ex- plaining similar differences in bill size in minor. 3. Estrilda poliopareia Reichenow Whilst the other forms of E. paludicola are obviously correctly treated as conspecific, the grounds for including poliopareia are less certain. The creamy (instead of brown) iris, larger bill, and orange upper tail-coverts suggest that though derived from paludicola, it is perhaps better regarded as a full species. The range is remarkably restricted, since it is only known from the region of Agoulerie in the Eastern region of Nigeria, though evidently quite abundant in its single locality. 4 The genera Granatina and Uraeginthus Granatina consists of two species which form a clear superspecies with a commonly recurring type of range in the dry areas of south-western and north-eastern Africa. The three blue waxbills which form Uraeginthus are also very similar to each other and wholly or virtually allopatric, forming another superspecies. Thus both genera in terms of biogeo- graphical species are monotypic, and such small peculiarities as each shows should be regarded as specific characters, indicating that both genera should be merged with Estrilda, as already proposed by Delacour. 5 Estrilda angolensis (Linnaeus) and E. bengala (Linnaeus) These two very similar species exhibit two problems, the question of whether or not they are conspecific, and the degree of geographical variation in each. (a) So far as I can trace, there is no evidence that angolensis and bengala are ever sympatric, but exactly what happens when the ranges meet is obscure, and I have failed to find any example in collections from such Bulletin B.O.C. 27 Vol. 83 a critical locality which is plainly an intermediate. In Northern Rhodesia angolensis occurs on the Copperbelt and benga/a in the north-west at Mwinilunga and Kabompo. Efforts to obtain specimens from such an intervening area as Solwezi have been unsuccessful, neither species being found there to date. Both species occur in the Katanga though not ap- parently sympatrically. As might be expected bengala is the more wide- spread in the Katanga but in the British Museum and at Tervuren I have examined angolensis from Bunkeya, the Lufira river and Kilwa on Lake Mweru and both have been reported from the Upemba area. The extension of angolensis to the Kasai seems more doubtful. At Tervuren there is a good series of bengala from the Kasai, and a bird from Tshishika identified as angolensis appears to me to be a female bengala katangae. There is, however, a perfectly typical male angolensis from Luluabourg. Since bengala is well known about Luluabourg one cannot omit the possibility that this male is really an aberrant bexgala which has lost its crimson cheek patch through some aberration just as a bird with a trace of crimson cheek patch has been collected in Songea far from any bengala. In Tanganyika angolensis occupies the south-east, north to Dar-es-salaam and west of Dodoma. It then penetrates north in a corridor of dry country to the Masai- land track between Handeni and Kondoa Irangi, and sporadically north to Naberera about 100 miles south of Kilimanjaro. Bengala occurs in Tanganyika both east and west of these northern angolensis. The bengala population of coastal Kenya extends to the coastal area of north-east Tanganyika but its southern and western limits are not known. Bengala occupies the Brachystegia regions of west Tanganyika from Rukwa to Biharamulo and east south of a line Lake Eyasi-Monduli—Meru—Kiliman- jaro south to the Kondoa Irangi-Handeni track and across the eastern end of the latter to 40-50 miles NNE of Kilosa. It also occurs at Iringa. Thus where angolensis and bengala meet in Tanganyika they appear to be ecologically separated in a way which does not apply to them in Northern Rhodesia. In view of the above it seems wise to continue to treat bengala and angolensis as specifically distinct although intensive investigation of areas where ranges meet may show that they are in fact conspecific. (b) Geographical variation in E. angolensis is very slight. It has been usual to regard birds from west Angola, Bechuanaland and Barotseland as a paler nominate form, with a darker form, niassensis, in the remainder of the range, and a perhaps still paler extreme, damarensis, in northern South West Africa. Examination of a large amount of material in the British Museum and the National Museum, Bulawayo, shows that this division is very ill-defined. However, females from west Angola and nor- thern South West Africa have the blue of the underside ending at the breast, whilst elsewhere it extends down the flanks. Two forms, angolensis and niassensis can be upheld on this character. Bechuanaland birds hitherto placed under angolensis agree with niassensis on this character. (c) Geographical variation in E. bengala may be summarised as fol- lows :— E.b. bengala in the whole of the northern savannas from Senegal to Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and west Kenya is rather warm brown above and females have the throat, face, breast and flanks blue. Synonyms are schoanus Neumann and ugandae Zedlitz. Both individual and seasonal variation mask any closer trinomial divisions. Vol. 83 28 Bulletin B.O.C. E.b. ugogoensis Reichenow occupies the range in west and central Tanganyika outlined above; it is like bengala but cold greyish-sepia above. The name ugogoensis has long been applied to the birds of coastal Kenya and north-east Tanganyika. In fact the type locality, ‘““Seke, Dodoma’’ is the same as Iseke, Manyoni district, sixty miles WSW of Dodoma. This indicates that uwgogoensis must be based on the west Tanganyika form, separated by a belt of angolensis from the coastal bengala. Kigomaensis Grant & Praed is a synonym of ugogoensis. E.b. brunneigularis (Mearns) (Kenya highlands east of -the rift), and E.b. littoralis (van Someren) (coastal and adjacent south-east Kenya to coastal north-east Tanganyika) have females with face and throat brown instead of blue. Littoralis is slightly paler than brunneigularis and takes the place of ugogoensis as the name of the coastal birds. E.b. katangae (Vincent) is like ugogoensis above but males have a more purplish facial patch, and females are very distinct, being buffy brown below with only face and throat blue. It occupies the range in Kasai, Katanga and Northern Rhodesia. I believe that recognition of these five forms is sufficient to denote the geographical variation. 6 The genus Lagonosticta Delacour united Lagonosticta with Estrilda, and since then, a number of different views have been expressed as to its recognition, and if recognised, what species should go into it. Lagonosticta is best retained as a genus characterised by colour and pattern typical of the Firefinches in the narrow sense (i.e. the species rufopicta, senegala, jamesoni, rubricata, landanae and rara.), much as it is convenient to separate Malimbus from Ploceus for analogous reasons. If other species are removed from Estrilda to Lagonosticta, I can see little point in recognising Lagonosticta. 7 Lagonosticta jamesoni Shelley Investigation of this species has brought to light a number of features of special interest in showing the varying extent to which its forms are siblings of L. rubricata (Lichtenstein). The two species can always be structurally distinguished because of the emargination of the outer primary in rubricata, lacking in jamesoni. There are four well marked races of jamesoni, commented on below. L.j. jamesoni has a wide range from Zululand and the Transvaal to the Rhodesias, Katanga, Tanganyika and southern Kenya. I cannot distin- guish taruensis van Someren after examining specimens from Doinyo Erok, Voi and Tsavo which should represent it. Nominate jamesoni overlaps nominate rubricata, r. haematocephala and r. rhodopareia, and though it has been called a sibling species, it is in fact quite easily recog- nised from any of these forms of rubricata, being strongly washed with pink on the upper side, and much paler and more rosy pink below. L.j. ansorgei Neumann occupies the Angola escarpment north to the Congo mouth. Males are dark brown above without any pink wash and the sides of crown are scarlet instead of pink whilst the under side is like- wise scarlet. Here it lives with L. landanae Sharpe (either conspecific with rubricata or a representative species). Ansorgei and landanae are much more alike than jamesoni is to the forms of rubricata living with it but Bulletin B.O.C. 29 Vol. 83 differentiation is easy as ansorgei has a blue black bill; /andanae a pink bill. Landanae also has a pink wash on the crown lacking in ansorgei. L.i. fricki Mearns was originally described as a race of rubricata and long believed to be a synonym of the Ethiopian form of rubricata until Chapin briefly pointed out that it is in fact a valid form of jamesoni. Males of fricki are like those of ansorgei but a darker more crimson red below. They are virtually inseparable from males of rubricata rhodopareia living with them, apart from the lack of wing emargination in fricki. Females of fricki are, however, considerably darker and more reddish-pink on the throat and breast and have bright red loral and chin spots lacking in rubricata rhodopareia. It had been supposed that fricki was only known from the original series in Washington from the Gato river. However, once its characters were defined I found in the British Museum 2 males ad., | male imm., 4 females: from Yavello, Ethiopia; 1 male imm., 1 female from Boma plateau, S. Sudan; | male Mt. Maroto, Uganda; 1 male, 1 female from Gessima R., Laikipia, Kenya; all wrongly identified with L. rubricata rhodopareia. L.j. fricki thus has a much wider range than was supposed, and is much more a sibling of its rubricata counterpart than either of the foregoing. L. j. virata Bates. Originally described as a race of rubricata, and still treated thus by Bannerman in his Birds of Tropical West Africa, virata proved to have no emargination of the outer primary. Males resemble those of rubricata polionota Shelley almost exactly above but are more purplish-red, less crimson below. The female unexpectedly is quite unlike that of rubricata polionota, and is like the male of virata but slightly duller below. L. j. virata is only known from the original series from Mopti, Kulikoro and Fiko in Mali (British Museum) and one from Bamako in the Zoological Museum, Copenhagen, which I have examined. It is unlikely to be confined to this area of Mali and should be sought for elsewhere in West Africa. In preparing these notes I am indebted to the British Museum (Nat. Hist.), Musée de l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren and Zoological Museum, Copenhagen for facilities to examine material; and to the National Museum, Bulawayo, the United States National Museum, Washington, and the American Museum of Natural History, New York for the loan of material; to Sir Hugh Elliott for information about ranges and observa- tions in Tanganyika, and help over the type locality of E. b. ugogoensis; and to Mr. Melvin A, Traylor for information about material in the Chi- cago Natural History Museum; also to Mrs. B. P. Hall, Mr. C. W. Benson, and Mr. D. Goodwin who examined some of the material with me. Geographical variation in Batis pririt (Vieillot) by WALTER J. LAWSON Received 3rd September, 1962 The Pririt Batis Batis pririt (Vieillot) is a small, attractive flycatcher endemic to southern Africa, which occurs in the arid and semi-arid districts of western, central and southern South Africa. It is closely allied to the allopatric Batis molitor, a species of the moister treeveld savannas Vol. 83 30 Bulletin B.O.C. of eastern southern Africa, with which it forms a super-species, the males of the two species being very similar to one another in appearance. B. pririt males are smaller in size than those of B. molitor, while the females differ more sharply in the zonation and intensity of the coloration of the under parts. Batis pririt is treated by all workers on Ethiopian birds as a monotypic species, being based on a Levaillant reference. The type-locality is usually given as “‘Lower Orange River’’, but this has recently been amended to *‘Somerset East’’ in the eastern Cape Province, by Macdonald (1957). Levaillant (1805) states ‘“commune aux deux cOétés est et Ouest d’Afrique, d’un cdété sur les bords de la grande riviére des Poissons et dans tout le pays des Caffres, et de l’autre, dans celui des Grands Namaquois et notament dans le bois de mimosas qui bordent la Grand Riviére .. .’”’ As it is probable that he never reached the Orange River the placing of the type-locality at Somerset East is probably more accurate. For the purpose of stabilising the names of this flycatcher, it is necessary to accept Somerset East as the type-locality of the nominate race, as the two taxa I propose to admit meet about the course of the middle and lower Orange River. Examination of the adequate series of this flycatcher in the Durban Museum suggested that the Pririt Batis exhibits geographical variation worthy of nomenclatural expression, specimens from the Cape Province south of the Orange River, Griqualand West and the western Orange Free State, southern Transvaal and the central and eastern ‘lowlands’ of the Bechuanaland Protectorate differing in their dorsal coloration from those of South-West Africa and the western portions of the northern Cape Province, north of the Orange River, and western Bechuanaland Pro- tectorate. The males of the southern populations differ markedly from those found in South-West Africa and adjacent areas in having the head- top a much darker grey. The black facial stripes, which extend onto the lateral surfaces of the neck, are more pronounced and the grey of the back is suffused with black, giving the upper parts a very dark, saturated appearance. In the South-West African specimens the back is of a grey similar to the pale grey of the head-top, with a marked white ‘collar’ between the extensions of the black facial stripes on the sides of the neck. In addition the white sub-apical spots on the feathers of the rump are more pronounced, and the secondaries have a more pronounced white stripe to the outer edge, a character which is poorly developed in the austral populations. The white of the under parts is also clearer. In the females of the southern populations the head-top and back are a dark grey with a blackish suffusion over the latter surface. The deep buff of the breast does not extend onto the dorsal surfaces of the neck in the form of a collar to the same extent as it does in the northern birds, and is almost vestigial in some specimens. Exampies from South-West Africa and adjacent areas have the head-top and mantle a light grey with marked spotting to the rump feathers, the white edge to the secondaries is also more pronounced and the deep buff is well marked on the neck. There is no significant size differences between the two forms. For the populations of South-West Africa and adjacent areas the name Platystira affinis Wahlberg, 1855: Damaraland, is available. Bulletin B.O.C. 31 Vol. 83 The presence of a dark race of B. pririt in the south of its range and a paler one in the north is exactly duplicated by the situation in the allopatric species B. molitor, the nominate race of which species occurs in the eastern Cape Province, Pondoland, Natal, Zululand, eastern Swaziland and southern Sul do Save, Mocambique, 2. m. molitor is darker in coloration above than its northern representative, B. m. palliditergum Clancey, which ranges from the Transvaal, Southern Rhodesia, eastern and northern Bechuanaland Protectorate, and Ovamboland and the Etosha area, in northern South-West Africa, northwards. In both species the darker of the two races lives in the south and is replaced in the north by a lighter backed form. The mantle of the female of B. p. pririt is darker than its counterpart B. m. molitor, whereas the males of the two are virtually impossible to tell apart on colour differences. The two races of Batis pririt in southern Africa are therefore; Batis pririt pririt (Vieillot). Muscicapa pririt Vieillot, Nouy. Dict. d’Hist Nat., 21, p. 486, 1818: Type-locality restricted to Somerset East, eastern Cape Province, by Macdonald (1957). The male is characterized by having the head-top and mantle a dark grey, with a pronounced admixture of black in the mantle. The black facial stripes extend onto the sides of the neck and almost form a complete collar of black, the white on the hind neck being constricted. The white outer edges to the secondaries are narrow and virtually lacking in some. The female, like the male, has the head-top and mantle a dark grey but with an olivaceous wash. The deep buff of the breast does not extend round the neck in the form of a collar owing to the black facial stripe extensions almost obliterating it. Measurements: 10 33 wing, 56.0-58.5 (56.7); tail, 44.0-46.0 (44.7); culmen, 14.0-15.5 (14.9). 10 99 wing, 55.0-57.0 (55.8); tail, 42.5-46.0 (44.1); culmen, 14.0-15.0 (14.5) mm. Material: 102 (Cape Province, 83; Orange Free State, 10; southern Transvaal, 7; and Bechuanaland Protectorate, 2). Range: Cape Province south of the Orange River, the extreme eastern Northern Cape Province (Griqualand West), and the western Orange Free State, south-western Transvaal and the south-eastern and central Bechuanaland Protectorate. Batis pririt affinis (Wahlberg) Platystira affinis Wahlberg, Oefv. K. Sv. Vet._Akad. Férh., 1855, 214: *“In Mimosis terrae Damararum’’: here restricted to Okahandja, Damara- land, South-West Africa (see below). The male differs from that of the nominate race in being markedly paler above, having the head-top and mantle a pale grey, with no ad- mixture of black on the mantle. The black facial stripe extends onto the neck, but does not form a complete collar, the two lobes being separated by white on the nape. The outer edges to the secondaries are broadly edged with white. The female has the head-top and mantle a paler grey than in the nomi- nate race, with no admixture of black on the mantle. The deep buff collar is more pronounced, and the black facial stripes do not form a collar over the nape. Vol. 83 32 Bulletin B.O.C. Measurements: 10 33 wing, 56.0-58.5 (57.4); tail, 43.0-45.5 (44.2); culmen, 15.0-16.0 (15.6). 10 99° wing, 55.0-58.5 (57.7); tail, 44.0-46.0 (45.0); culmen, 14.0-16.0 (14.8) mm. Material: 82 (South-West Africa, 56; north-western Cape Province, yi Range: South-West Africa, except in the extreme north, and the north- western northern Cape Province as far east as Kuruman, and the western Bechuanaland Protectorate in the highlands. Remarks: An examination of the original description of this form shows that Wahlberg collected his material ‘‘In Mimosis terrae Damararum’”’, i.e., Damaraland. The exact route taken by this traveller on his journey to Lake Ngami, during which trip he collected Platystira affinis, is not known for certain, but “‘He seems, however, to have travelled via Okahandja, Otjihaenena, the Nosob River... at least to judge from the labels of a number of birds collected in the February and March 1855’’ (Gylden- stolpe, 1934). As it is desirable to fix the exact type-locality of this form I have accordingly proposed Okahandja, Damaraland, South-West Africa above. I am indebted to the Directors of the following Museums for the loan of additional material used in this study; South African Museum, Cape Town (through Dr. J. M. Winterbottom), Transvaal Museum, Pretoria (through Mr. O. P. M. Prozesky) and the East London Museum. I am also indebted to Mr. P. A. Clancey, Director of the Durban Museum, for much valuable help during the preparation of this paper, and Dr. J. M. Winterbottom for assistance with the literature. References : Gyldenstolpe, N. (1934), The Travels and Collections of Johan August Wahlberg, 1810-1856: A pioneer naturalist in South Africa. Ibis 1934, 264-292. Levaillant, F. (1805), Histoire naturelle des oiseaux d’Afrique, iv, 38, pl. 161. Paris. Macdonald, J. D. (1957), Contribution to the ornithology of western South Africa, p. 120 British Museum, London. Further breeding records from Northern Rhodesia (No. 3) by C. W. BENSON AND CHARLES R. S. PITMAN Received 9th August, 1962 The same considerations apply in this paper as those explained in the introduction to our paper in Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl., 81, 1961: 156-163. In particular, all eggs mentioned are in the British Museum, unless other- wise indicated. Phalacrocoracidae, Anhingidae, Ardeidae (1) E. Cooper collected two fresh eggs, from a C/3 of Ardea purpurea, and likewise of MNycticorax nycticorax and Phalacrocorax africanus, 26th August, 1961, Neganega, near Kafue River at 15° 45’ S., 28° 02’ E. The eggs of A. purpurea and N. nycticorax are light blue, smooth, without gloss: size respectively 57.2 x 39.1, 55.0 x 39.8; 49.0 x 40.3, 50.9 x 38.5 mm. Those of P. africanus are pale blue, slightly chalk-surfaced, smooth, with slight gloss; size 45.1 x 30.4, 45.4 x 29.1 mm. A parent was collected at each of these nests, and identified by C. W. B. The nests were reported by Bulletin B.O.C. 33 Vol. 83 Cooper as being in a mixed colony, in reeds bordering a lagoon, mostly at about six feet above water level. [t was estimated that there were over 100 of P. africanus; about 100 of A. purpurea and Egretta alba (about the same size as A. purpurea, mostly with mainly black rather than yellow bills, the colour having probably temporarily changed in the breeding season, see Witherby et al., Handbook British Birds, 3, 1944: 139); about 50 of Ardeola ralloides (nests lower than those of the other species, mostly only about four feet above water level); and a few of Anhinga anhinga. The nests of-all species contained three eggs, and even on 3rd September none had hatched, except for one clutch of A. purpurea. A Monitor Lizard (Varanus niloticus) was seen swimming immediately beneath one nest. It shook the reeds, so that all three eggs fell out, one being caught on the surface of the water and swallowed whole. It then dived for the other two, with what result is not known. For numerous records of predation of eggs by this lizard, see Pitman (1957, 1961). (2) J. M. C. Uys counted a mixed colony of 183 nests of Ardeola ralloides and Butorides rufiventris, in a reed-bed in the north-west of the Kafue National Park, the two species being in about equal numbers. The only further details available are that egg-laying started in early March, 1961, and continued until early April. Thereafter no observations were possible, but by early April some young had already hatched. (3) R. I. G. Attwell observed a mixed colony of Phalacrocorax africanus (abundant), P. carbo (rare), Anhinga anhinga (abundant), Egretta intermedia (common) and Nycticorax nycticorax (uncommon), on the Lufupa River, in the north of the Kafue National Park, on 13th May, 1961. The identification of E. intermedia (quite easily confused with other Egretta spp., especially E. alba) by this experienced observer may be ac- cepted. The colony extended over some 500 yards of river bank, in Syzygium trees. Beneath the colony were crocodiles (Crocodilus niloticus), and Clarias and Schilbe fishes. Predation by Clarias and six large croco- diles on young which fell into the water was noticed (for numerous records of predation of birds by fishes and crocodiles, see Pitman, 1957, 1961). (4) Nineteen records of occupied nests of Ardea goliath are available from the north side of the Kariba Lake, during 1959-61, from various observers. Of ten containing eggs or young not more than one week old, the number was in five cases four per nest; in the remainder three. Of nine containing more developed young, only one held as many as three; three held two, and five one only. Evidently there is considerable mortality among nestlings, possibly attributable to Fish Eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer). Most nests were solitary, often several hundred yards out in the lake, from one to eight feet above water level, in the tops of dead trees. These nine- teen records by months in which egg-laying is calculated to have occurred are as follows: January, five; February, two; March, three; April, June, July and October, one each; November, two; December, three. Consider- _ing also the records summarised in the Check List (1957, pp. 3, 157), laying can evidently take place in Northern Rhodesia at any season. Eupodotis ruficrista ruficrista (Smith) Coll. C/1 fresh, February, 1961, Livingstone aerodrome (B. L. Mitchell). Rounded, smooth with some gloss; pale stone, with raw umber and burnt umber spots (with staining around) of varying size, generally sparse but Vol. 83 34 Bulletin B.O.C. more thickly at narrower end, on underlying, very sparse, spots of grey and light grey; size 49.2x41.1mm. No parent was seen. However, the measurements are well within those given by McLachlan & Liversidge (Roberts’ Bds. S. Afr., 1957) for E. r. ruficrista, and another egg of this form, measuring approximately 52x 45mm., is very similar in colour and markings. On the other hand, eggs of FE. cafra, although similar in size to those of F. ruficrista, are distinct in these other respects. Hemiparra crassirostris crassirostris (Hartlaub) Coll. C/3 soon to hatch, 16th September, 1961, Lochinvar (D. M. Reid-Henry). The nest was on a semi-floating platform of coarse reed- growth in water six inches deep. One of the eggs was lost. The remaining two are smooth with slight gloss; light brown, without any olive tint, boldly and irregularly blotched and spotted brown and sepia all over, on underlying (and rather sparse) grey; size 42.1 x 30.3, 41.1 x 30.3 mm. They were borrowed from the National Museum, Bulawayo. J. M. C. Uys saw a pair accompanied by a juvenile not yet quite able to fly, in the Busanga Swamp, 18th September, 1960. For the only other local record indicative of the breeding season, see Benson (1959: 263). Mescopicos griseocephalus ruwenzori Sharpe The records in Benson (1959: 266) of immature specimens suggest egg-laying in May/July (five different clutches concerned). Five adult males in the American Museum of Natural History and the British Mu- seum, from Angola south of 10° 50’ S. and west of 16° E. (M. g. persimilis Neumann, only differing from M. g. ruwenzori in its smaller size), have wing 103-107 mm., culmen (from base, as in all further measurements below) 25-26 mm. But three further males (crown red, in contrast to females, in which it is grey at all ages) therein from this same area, where breeding seasons may be expected to be similar to those in Northern Rhodesia, appear to be not fully grown, as follows: Mt. Moco, 20th August (Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.), wing 101, culmen 22 mm.; Ngungo, Bailundu, 10th August (Am. Mus. Nat. Hist.), wing 105, culmen 20 mm.; Leba, 3rd August (B. M.), wing 103, culmen 22.5 mm. Compared to the adults, all three are a duller olive, while that from Mt. Moco has only a trace of red on the abdomen, the other two none at all. They were probably from eggs laid in June. In the British Museum, six adult males of M. g. ruwenzori from northern Nyasaland and the Mukutu Mts., eastern Nor- thern Rhodesia, have wing 109-112, culmen 26-29 mm. Another male therein has wing 101, culmen 21 mm. It also lacks any red on the abdo- men, and is a duller olive than the adults. It is labelled ““Songwe, October’, and is probably from an egg laid in August. The foregoing data suggest that this species has an unusually early breeding season, up-to-date egg-laying records by months for other species of Picidae for the Rhodesias and Nyasaland (Southern Rhodesian records supplied by R. K. Brooke and C. J. Vernon) being as follows: May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Campethera benetti 4 16 8 1 me abingoni 3 3 1 Pe caillauti 1 2 Dendropicos fuscescens 1 2 ‘1 3 12 11 1 1 Thripias namaquus 1 2 2 5 2 1 Bulletin B.O.C. a Vol. 83 Benson (Breeding Seasons of Birds in the Rhodesias and Nyasaland, in MS.) has found that in general there is no difference in the seasons of evergreen forest species and of those of the same family living in open woodland. But in the Picidae, M. griseocephalus, much more markedly associated with forest than the other five species, apparently breeds generally earlier than they do. C. bennetti and T. namaquus are not known to occur in this habitat at all. Turdoides jardinei kirki (Sharpe) Coll. C/6, 17th October, 1961, Fort Jameson District at 13° 30’ S., 32° 30’ E. (V. J. Wilson). The male parent was also collected, and has been examined by C. W. B. Eggs typical, smooth, fairly glossy, blue; size 23.1 x 18.0, 24.9 x 18.2, 23.0x 18.1, 23.0x 18.1, 23.4x 17.9, 24.3 x 17.8 mm. This is an unusually large clutch, but the size may be accepted as correct, since Wilson inspected the nest and its six eggs on at least three occasions before collecting them and the parent. All six were in a very advanced state of incubation. R. K. Brooke informs us that of 79 clutches taken in Southern Rhodesia, six were C/1, fourteen C/2, fifty-three C/3, and six C/4. Cichladusa arquata Peters J. M. C. Uys found a nest containing two eggs (not collected) under the eaves of his house at Moshi, Kafue National Park, 14° 24’ S., 26° 10’ E., 15th November, 1961. It was lined with grass, and some pieces of cloth and strippings from sisal rope used in the binding of the thatch of his office. The eggs were plain white, size approximately 25 x 16 mm. There were a few Hyphaene palms, with which this species is so often associated, in the vicinity, but none of them more than six feet high. Association with human dwellings is also reported by Benson (Nyasaland Check List, 1953). Although Uys had spent much of his time for the two previous years at Moshi, during which the house and office were built, it was not until 8th November, 1961 that he ever noticed this bird there, when two pairs were seen. M. S. Slogrove observed a nest containing two young about one week old under the eaves of a building in a game-viewing camp for tourists at Mfuwe, by the Luangwa River at 13° 03’ S., on 6th December, 1961. The young were fed with caterpillars by both parents. The construction of this camp was started in 1959, and completed in 1960. Cisticola galactotes subsp. Coll. C/3 fresh, 9th December, 1961, Sihole, Kalabo District at 15° 19’ S., 22° 34’ E. (M. A. Traylor). Eggs glossy, cream; very thickly and finely freckled all over with brown-madder on underlying pale violet: size 15.0 x 12.3, 15.2 x 12.3, 15.8 x 12.3 m.m The subspecies in this locality is probably C. g. schoutedeni White, see Benson (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl., 80, 1960: 111), but this is being investigated by Traylor himself, who has collected a long series of specimens of this species in the Kalabo District generally. There is no question of these eggs being of C. pipiens, since Traylor tells us that whereas C. galactotes was common at Sihole, C. pipiens was not found there at all. The eggs are typical of C. g. suahelica Neumann. We are unaware of any eggs of C. g. galactotes (Temminck) being other than immaculate terra-cotta. Vol. 83 36 Bulletin B.O.C. Malaconotus blanchoti hypopyrrhus Hartlaub Coll. C/3 fresh, 14th September, 1961, near Lusaka (R. V. Wood). Eggs smooth, with some gloss; cream with faint pinkish tinge, boldly but very sparingly marked light raw umber, on underlying blotches or coalescences of light grey (all markings with a tendency to concentrate around or at top of large end); size 29.5 x 21.5, 29.4 x 20.4, 30.9 x 20.4 mm. Although this clutch was not taken in the vicinity of a dwelling house, C. R. S. P. has a record of a nest in a hedge in the centre of Broken Hill; and in Uganda, in the grounds of Makerere College, Kampala, and another at a County Headquarters. It seems that this species is attracted to some extent to human settlements. Anthreptes anchietae (Bocage) Coll. C/1 fresh, 17th April, 1961, Serenje (C. W. B.). Egg smooth, without real gloss; off-white, with a narrow wreath of sepia, bunting-like scribblings and spots, on a similar wreath of underlying ashy; size 18.3 x 11.8 mm. The nest was in the top of a Pterocarpus angolensis tree, about 20 feet above the ground. A. Angus reports that it is composed mainly of flowers of Protea sp. and the hairy ovaries of Faurea saligna, bound to- gether mainly with the rachids of the leaf of some papilionaceous plant such as Indigofera sp. and the awns and glumes of the grass Loudetia superba. There can be no doubt about the identification of the bird, as a good view was obtained of one of the parents as it left the nest. For the only previous description traced of the eggs, see Benson (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl., 71, 1951: 8). This earlier clutch is very similar. References : Benson, C. W. 1959. Some additions and corrections to a Check List of the Birds of Northern Rhodesia. No. 2. Occ. Papers Nat. Mus. S. Rhod., 3(23b): 257-285. Pitman, C. R. S. 1957. Further notes on aquatic predators of birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl., 77: 89-97, 105-110, 122-126. Pitman, C. R. S. 1961. More aquatic predators of birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl., 81: 57-62, 78-81, 105-108. A new race of the Spotted Munia, Lonchura punctulata (Linn.) by A. HOOGERWERF Received 26th January, 1962 When comparing all adult specimens belonging to the subspecies fretensis present in the Bogor Museum (18 skins) with a corresponding series of nisoria from Java* I find it impossible to separate a sufficient percentage of birds belonging to the former subspecies from those of the latter, though seen in a series fretensis might be a trifle duller on the under parts. The population of Lonchura punctulata, living on the island of Bawean (between Java and Borneo), however, differs from both fretensis and nisoria because the brownish edges on the feathers of the under surface are distinctly lighter and also average narrower, giving those parts a paler appearance, whereas the chestnut-brownish area on the chin and throat does not extend so far downward as in both other races. And finally, the * In accordance with Kenneth C. Parkes! the subspecific name for Javan birds should be nisoria (Temminck) instead of punctulata (Linnaeus). Bulletin B.O.C. 37 Vol. 83 white on the under parts covers a larger area. Moreover Bawean birds average lighter above when comparing old skins of the different subspecies, collected at about the same timee, specially on the lower back and upper tail-coverts. The tint on the sides of the head and the neck averages lighter. In order to demonstrate the similarity between nisoria and fretensis and the differences between both races and birds obtained on the island of Bawean, I may point to the following results, after comparing all eight adult Bawean birds with 18 fretensis and 23 nisoria, mixed together. When separating the ten skins having the smallest quantity of brown on the chin, throat and foreneck there are six out of the eight Bawean birds among them, three of the 18 fretensis and only one of the 23 nisoria. Separating ten birds having the dullest under parts we again have six skins from Bawean, three of fretensis and only one of nisoria, Selecting ten specimens being darkest brown on the chin and throat area, we pick out only one skin of Bawean, three of fretensis and six of nisoria. Looking for 15 skins which have the most white on the lower under surface we find all eight Bawean birds, six nisoria and only one fretensis among them. And when we separate the ten skins showing the more elongate markings in the plumage of the under parts, indicated in the diagnosis of the sub- species fretensis, we select only one bird from Bawean, five of fretensis and four of nisoria. From the above it seems evident that there is not much reason to main- tain fretensis, not on account of the characters mentioned by Boden Kloss? and not for any other difference. All characters mentioned in the diagnosis of fretensis seem to have only an individual significance and cannot be considered as being of subspecitic value. Therefore this Bawean Island material seems closer to the subspecies blasii, sumbae and fortior and perhaps also to particeps from Celebes than to birds originating from Java and Sumatra, though Stresemann® suggests that b/asii should show darker markings below but that is not so in the two skins now in my. hands. Our opinion concerning the resemblance of Bawean birds to those three subspecies is based on the rather scanty material at present in the Bogor Museum and on the particulars published by Rensch* about fortior. After reading Rensch’s remarks: ‘‘Die Rasse fortior ist von nisoria nicht nur durch die bedeutendere Grésze zu unter- schieden, sondern auch durch die geringere Melaninpigmentierung der Unterseite: das Braun der Kehle zieht sich nicht so weit auf die Brust herab und die weiszen Partien der Brust-und Bauchfedern sind ausgedehnter’’ (the italics are mine), it is evident that the Bawean representative of this species seems rather similar to fortior, whether we examine old material or freshly collected birds, though one bird has some green on the upper tail-coverts, a quite unknown feature in Bawean birds. On account of this similarity it would seem justifiable to include Bawean Island within the range of the subspecies fortior, but this last race is decidedly larger than birds from Bawean which in size exactly agree with birds belonging to fretensis and nisoria, when not a trifle smaller still. The size-differences with fortior are evident when comparing our measurements with those published in the diagnosis (ten fortior: wing 53-55, averaging 54 mm.). Though the subspecies blasii, sumbae and particeps seem rather Vol. 83 38 Bulletin B.O.C. similar to fortior on the under parts, they are greenish-yellow on the upper surface of the tail, which perhaps is also the case in certain skins of fortior but not in birds from Bawean Island. Comparing the 14 juvenile birds we obtained on Bawean with as many young, birds of fretensis or nisoria it is also in this case quite easy to pick out all Bawean specimens because they are much paler on the under parts, especially on the breast, throat and chin, whereas the upper parts seem to average less brown. Perhaps this last difference may be seen as a con- sequence of post-mortem changes, but I do not believe that this is also the case in the colour of the under parts. The only juvenile skin of blasii I could study, is also darker below than in the average Bawean bird. When mixing old skins with recently collected material from Bawean it seems justifiable to disregard any post-mortem change in the plumage, though wings and upper surface seem to average a trifle darker in fresh skins. Though nearly all Bawean skins were preserved in formalin, this seems of little importance regarding the differences indicated above because we find the same differences in dry preserved skins and in those collected in 1928 which almost exactly agree with our fresh ones. All adult specimens collected by me on Bawean Island had the ovarium small to well granular and the testes of the males were small. Therefore there seems sufficient reason to separate Bawean’s population of Lonchura punctulata from all other subspecies known from areas within the boundaries of the Indonesian Archipelago under the name: Lonchura punctulata baweana subsp. nov. Types: § Mus. Zodl. Bogor, No. 5562, 8th May 1928, South Bawean (Java Sea); leg. P. F. Franck. 9 Mus. Zo6l. Bogor, No. 22.957, 11th June 1954, Sangkapura, Bawean; leg. A. Hoogerwerf. juv. 3 Mus. Zodl. Bogor, No. 22.955, 5th June 1954, Mt. Bulu, Bawean; leg. A. Hoogerwerf. ad. g@ In size agreeing with the subspecies nisoria, fretensis, blasii, sumbae and particeps, but smaller than fortior, not only in the wing but also in tail measurements. On account of the lighter brown of the dark markings on the feathers of the under parts and the narrow edges to the feathers which form these markings, together with the smaller area of chestnut on the chin and throat, baweana is at once different from nisoria and fretensis. The feather- ing on the sides of the head and the neck averages a trifle lighter in baweana as is the case in the plumage of the upper surface. From the subspecies blasii, sumbae and particeps, baweana differs by the lack of any greenish tint on the upper side of the tail and from fortior because of its smaller size (wing-average: 54 mm. in fortior (males and females) against 52 mm. in adult ¢ and 51.17 in adult 2 of baweana). The juveniles are separable from those of the subspecies nisoria, fretensis and blasii on account of their being paler below, especially on the breast, throat and chin. Measurements: (in mm.) 63 Wing; nisoria: 52, 52, 53, 53, 53; fretensis: 51, 51, 52, 52, 53; fortior: 52; particeps: 48, 50; baweana: 52, 52; Tail; nisoria: 34, 37, 37, 38, 40; fretensis: 35, 37, 38, 41, 42; fortior: 37; particeps: 28, 38; baweana: 38, 38; Bulletin B.O.C. 39 ie gt @ Si G WOKS | § i Lonchura punctulata subspp. 1. Lonchura punctulata baweana subsp. nov. (Bawean Island) 2. “ 2 fretensis (Sumatra) Se 9 Fe nisoria (Java) 4. ‘ ¥. fortior (Smaller Sunda Islands) Culmen; nisoria: 9.2, 10, 10, 10.8, 11.9; fretensis: 11.2, n1.9, 12; ; fortior: 11, 10; particeps: 10, 10; baweana: 11, 11.1. Max., min. and average measurements: nisoria fretensis fortior particeps $§2-53 51-53 32 48, 50 Wing: ee Pat BES DS 52-60 51-80 49 Rensch°: 53-55 (1032) 54 34-40 35-42 37 28, 38 Tail: ——_— —— PRONEY 37-20 38-60 33 Rensch!: 38-39 (33) 38-67 9-2-11-9 11-2-12 11, 10 10, 10 Culmen: —— —— SEBS. 10-38 11-62 10:50 10 dlasii: 34, 37; particeps: 35.5; baweana: 35, 35, 37, 38; 215 o0: Vol. 83 , ae la li a Lier he baweana = as 2 52 38, 38 38 11, 11-10 11-05 9° Wing, nisoria: 49, 50, 51, 52, 53; fretensis: 50, 51, 51, 52, 52; fortior: 53, 55; blasii: 51, 51; particeps: 51; baweana: 50, 50, 51, 52, 52, 52; Tail, nisoria: 32, 35, 40, 40; fretensis: 32, 33, 35, 41, 42; fortior: 40, 43; Bulletin B.O.C. ae aac Lonchura punctulata subspp. (juveniles) 1. Lonchura punctulata fretensis (Sumatra) D5 ns oe baweana subsp. nov. (Bawean Island) Si s nisoria (Java) Culmen, nisoria: 9.1,.10.1, 10.2, 10:5, 11.6; fretensis: 10335 01. tie 12.1, 12.6; fortior: 11.2, 11.2; blasii: 10, 11; particeps: 10.50; baweana: 102, 10.4, 10.5, 10:5, 11.1, 11cis Max., min. and average measurements: nisoria fretensis fortior particeps blasii baweana 49-53 50-52 ash SS) Sl By ye) | 50-52 Wing: —— —— on 3) 51-20 54 51 51°17 32-40 32-42 40, 43 35-50 34, 37 35-38 Tail: — —— ———. —_—— 36-75 36-60 41-50 35-50 36-50 9-1-11-6 10-5-12-6 ND etl <2 10-50 10, 11 10-2-11:1 Culmen: Ss —_—— —_ —Ss§- ——_—— 10-30 11-52 11-20 10-50 10-36 References : 1 Parkes, Kenneth C. Taxonomy and Nomenclature of three species of Lonchura (Aves: Estrildinae), Proc. U.S. Nat. Museum, 108, 1958, pp. 279/93. 2 Boden Kloss, C. An account of the Sumatran birds in the Zoological Museum at ; Buitenzorg with descriptions of nine new races, Treubia, 13, 1931, p. 363. ® Stresemann, Erwin. Die Formen von Munia punctulata (L), Nov. Zodlogica 19, 1912, ol, “ Rensch, B. Die Vogelwelt von Lombok, Sumbawa und Flores, Mitteilungen aus dem Zool. Museum in Berlin, 16, p. 598. ® Rensch, B. ae Vogelrassen von den kleinen Sunda-Inseln, Orn. Monats Berichten, 36, 1928, p. 7. | . pee CAO ALT AOD, Oe Grn: To eis: Shr Mesh Bsa: bate ion. Gun or tuiclPas eX ark shaajtse kd nag» AR &. Wis ert ott ass Pf satle se viet WEA pobre t. dia*! OSS] Chobao r re » Ld . , é » : s eee Pas 4 " ip £¢ por ba whe tue iTU5! taal j “ ; e & So « ape Siiba minke Sinead .bebul: F baie 30 ommmp won 2. znivuboain! cud itg af SAY Pic} ts RS ohh ah hi Bis Bites Dre BGA 28) + S47 Ki tL et rr 1 vcs al if bw Bloody RE tradi to Rotohorin? yeu b20 7 Ma ae i aie Yoclrriestl d * oes i} - \g SA } asbry £ Pande 8 Bon: Gerimnzs lgeae’’ Z i. Ty ORS a. + i : ; 1 Ve aC 43 Ri te se r wie 1 Peybeueans oleae ed boon 7st wiralhs maeit GH. oat OF stdeveg de nae’ ae bie vita ‘O41 Dirt i Mf rt Vest if) WG at rari varin bs) ROA PIO whi ie : ‘s ee Aikesh ect Tahe st | u AN ; i ay baiaita 2123 23th viii. : f 4 : > Ens : a33 eae od bl 13 {3 He ey = ov A sjoH Aeakitien : + . 7 t (jiirolis . On set ,. a. os t ; : . ‘2 ‘ey fine aie ae HILO ¢ awh tt " Jee dw 4200 CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the B.O.C. and should be addressed to the Editor, Mr. John Yealland, The Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, N.W.1. These should be concise and typed on one side of the paper, double-spaced, with a good margin. The first time a species is mentioned, the scientific generic and specific names should be included. Subsequently the same name need only have the initial letter of the genus. Scientific names are printed in italics and should be underlined in the typescript. References should be given at the end of the paper. Authors introducing a new name or describing a new species or race should indicate this in their title and display the name prominently in the text followed by nom. nov., sp. noy., subsp. noy. as appropriate. In these descriptions, the first introduction of the name should be followed by paragraphs for ‘‘Description’’, ‘‘Distribution’’, ‘‘Type’’, ‘‘Measure- ments of Type’’, ‘‘Material examined’’ and further sub-headings as required. Proofs must be returned without delay. No changes may be made at this stage, other than corrections. At the discretion of the Editor, the Club will pay for a reasonable number of monochrome blocks, which the contributor may retain for his own use. Contributors are entitled to a maximum of thirty free copies of the Bulletin, supplied only as specifically requested by authors. Those con- tributing to a meeting should hand in their MS. at that meeting; otherwise a note will be inserted mentioning the contribution. BACK NUMBERS OF THE BULLETIN Applications for back numbers which cost 5s. each, should be made to N. J. P. Wadley, 58 Ovington Street, London, S.W.3. Members who have back numbers of the Bulletin, which they no longer require are requested to send them to N. J. P. Wadley. SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members annually for 40s. (payable in advance) or per copy 5s., payable to the Hon. Treasurer, P. Tate, 4 Broad Street Place, London, E.C.2 CORRESPONDENCE Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, Dr. J. G. Harrison, ‘‘Merriewood’’, St. Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. DINNERS AND MEETINGS FOR 1963 19th February, 19th March, 16th April, 21st May, 17th September, 15th October, 19th November and 17th December. (The October or November meeting will be held jointly with the B.O.U.) Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton & Holmesdale Press, South Park, Sevenoaks, Kent. BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Edited by JOHN J. YEALLAND 3 Volume 83 pun 12 ASED. March No. 3 1963 det, * rt , ? 5 b- } ai % s Sc uy : + s ; 4 ¥ 7 Ba ie ‘ a + PS * ie st . ~ I Ae ~ i ‘ y Matar pe tee. da ian * yore SESLISS eae “ee ex Ee Se if ~ HG path ‘St > . : 1963 4] Vol. 83 BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Volume 83 Number 3 Published: Ist March, 1963 The six hundred and fifth meeting of the Club was held at the Rem- brandt Hotel, London, on 19th February, 1963. Chairman: MAJOR-GENERAL C. B. WAINWRIGHT Members present: 24; guests 9; total 33. Dr. J. G. Harrison exhibited and commented upon a Curlew which had a congenital deformity of the maxilla. This bird will be illustrated and described in the Bulletin. Mr. W. E. Eales, Warden of the Blakeney Point Reserve, Norfolk, showed a film of some of the birds of that area, sequences of Brent geese and the terns being particularly good. He also showed a film of the Borough Fen decoy. Mottled plumage in the genus Corvus, its causation and relationship to fundamental barring by C. J. O. HARRISON Received 15th September, 1962 INTRODUCTION While examining skins in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History) for evidence of melanic schizochroism I had occasion to study the skins of young Rooks, Corvus frugilegus, showing abnormally light markings on the feathers. These birds had formed part of the data for a Vol. 83 42 Bulletin B.O.C. series of papers by J. M. Harrison (1949, 1950, 1957a, b) and Sage (1956a, b, c, 1957a, b, 1958) describing such mottled plumages in the Rook, C. frugilegus, Carrion Crow, C. corone, and Jackdaw, C. monedula. It was suggested in these papers that the markings were of genetic origin and evidence of a reversion to an ancestral mottled pattern in the Corvidae. I considered that the evidence shown by these skins was not wholly in accord with these conclusions and re-examined them accordingly. DESCRIPTION OF SPECIMENS The skin of a juvenile, C. frugilegus from Waith, Lincolnshire (a), collected | Gece ey ni i ; | MILLIMETERS | | | | } i 1 i i Fic. 1. Feathers from specimen (A). Enlarged covert feather showing ‘‘hunger- traces’? and primary showing white bars Bulletin B.O.C. 43 Vol. 83 in May 1902 (B. M. No. 1938. 3. 19. 112) was considered to show impor- tant evidence. This had the remiges and rectrices partly in quill. The contour feathers were greyish in colour on the rachis and towards the tips, and of a loose fluffy texture. The feathers of the wings and tail were almost normal, but marked with a few narrow transverse greyish bars which became almost white on the innermost web of the inner primaries. Most of these inner primaries showed clearly three pale subterminal bars, close together, and most conspicuous on the inner web, less easy to see on the outer web where they appeared obscured by iridescence. About a centimeter nearer the proximal end of the feather was another pale bar. These bars were less well marked on the coverts and one of the greater coverts of the scapular region showed no pale bars but significantly re- vealed a series of ““hunger-traces”’ (also referred to as fret-marks, or fault- marks) occupying the same relative position on the feather as did the pale bars on the primaries (Fig. 1). On this same feather there was another “‘hunger-trace”’ nearer the base of the feather. This was not apparent as a pale bar on the remiges but did appear as a modified “‘hunger-trace’’. The bars were less apparent on the outer primaries and the lesser coverts. They were absent from the tail, but the corresponding “‘hunger-traces,” although slight, could be seen on some feathers. Some of the feathers which grow later, the axillaries and under wing-coverts, were quite normal in appearance. Another specimen of the same species from Grainsby, Lincolnshire (b), May, 1920 (B. M. No. 1938. 3. 19. 115) showed a single whitish transverse bar on most feathers. The secondary feathers showed a number of “‘hunger- traces” as well. On most of the wing feathers this pale bar was about 4mm. below the tip of the feather. In this specimen the tail feathers, which were only half out of quill, appeared normal, as did feathers on the under side of the wing, the axillaries, the lesser coverts, and the lower mantle. Other contour feathers were of a loose fluffy texture like those of the first bird, and also showed a single transverse white bar. Another specimen (c), also from Grainsby, June 1923 (B. M. No. 1938. 3. 19. 114) was very like the previous bird. The contour feathers were, however, whiter and gave the body a greyish appearance. Most of the feathers of wings and back showed a whitish subterminal bar with a fainter bar nearer the tip, this double bar being visible only on the larger feathers. The inner webs of the innermost primaries showed in addition a series of three well spaced bars, about a centimeter apart, along the length of the feather. These bars became progressively less apparent on the outer primaries. Many feathers showed series of “‘hunger-traces’’, although these did not necessarily coincide with these whitish bars. There was again evidence of later normal feathering. There was also a wing of another individual (d) from Ashwell, _ Baldock, Herts, May, 1946 (B. M. No. 1946. 35. 1). This showed a single whitish bar which was almost terminal on the primaries and on the secondaries, from some of which it had worn away. It was more subtermi- nal on the coverts, and the lesser coverts were normal, as were the axillaries and the under wing-coverts. A mounted specimen of the Raven, C. corax, in the Museum collection had completely abnormal plumage, being a dilute partial-albino. The feathers of the lower belly, forehead, and throat were loose and fluffy in appearance. The pigmented portions of the plumage were greyish-brown, Vol. 83 44 Bulletin B.O.C. the feathers being well pigmented at the tips and becoming progressively paler. The innermost secondaries showed a transverse pale bar across the middle of each feather with a well marked “‘hunger-trace’’ on the distal edge of it. In addition to the above birds Dr. J. M. Harrison kindly loaned: me specimens from his collection showing barred plumage. These consisted of six specimens of C. frugilegus all from Ashwell, Hertfordshire, and a speci- men of C. corone from Sevenoaks, Kent. All appeared to be young birds. The first (e), collected 13th May, 1950 had only wings and tail preserved. These showed a much more normal plumage than that of the birds already described, and the feathers had a marked iridescent gloss. There was a brown bar, partly masked by iridescence, across the secondaries, about 30 mm. below the tip, and a less obvious bar in a similar position on the primaries. There was also a similar bar on the greater and median coverts but the lesser coverts appeared normal. On the rectrices the bar was pre- sent but faint. A single wing of another specimen showed a pale bar mid- way along the secondaries, but this became very faint on the primaries and coverts. The wings and tail of a third individual (f) taken in May 1950 showed a prominent whitish bar on the remiges, becoming faint towards - the outermost primaries, and similar bars on the coverts. The position of the bar in this case was relatively near the base of the feather. The tail showed a pale bar midway on the partly grown feathers. A skin (g) taken 7th May, 1949 showed a condition similar to that of the museum speci- mens, with loose-textured contour feathering, and almost all the feathers marked with a white terminal bar except the rectrices which were only half-grown. Another skin (h) taken 12th May 1950 had the same loose- textured contour feathers but with more normal feathers appearing at the lower edge of the mantle. Most of the feathers showed a white bar similarly placed to that of(e), the bar on the rectrices being more distally placed to that of the remiges, the former being later in growth. A final specimen of this species taken 5th May, 1950, had black contour feathers marked with a brown sub terminal bar. On the remiges, rectrices, and greater coverts this bar was not apparent but its position was indicated by a faint “‘hunger- trace” that was little more than a change in the thickness of the feather structure. On the rectrices its position was almost terminal. The specimen of C. corone taken 30th Dec., 1959 has normal contour feathers but almost all the feathers of wings and tail were brownish and showed some loss of iridescence. The rectrices showed a series of three ‘““hunger-traces’’ towards the tips, in the same position on each feather, and all had whitish bases. The remiges showed a broad whitish bar towards the base of the feather, more marked on the inner web. On some feathers the bar had a well marked “‘hunger-trace”’ on the distal edge of it which in places had caused some of the barbs to break off short. Presumably as a result of the rate of growth the bars appeared in a slightly different position on each primary, producing an arc of pale markings across the feathers. From the coincidence of position in “hunger-traces”’ on different feathers in wings and tail, indicating a simultaneous growth of such feathers, I was of the opinion that this was a young bird. | CAUSATION UF MARKINGS There are two points to be noted concerning the variant plumages described above. One is the apparently random position of the pale bars in. Bulletin B.O.C. 45 Vol. 83 relation to the feather (Fig. 2), the other is the apparent relationship between such bars and “‘hunger-traces”’. The causation of “‘hunger-traces”’ is well-known and has been recognised by bird-keepers, particularly falconers who were dependent on the condition of the bird’s plumage, for a very long period. It was known that even a short period of starvation, during the time when feather growth was taking place, would result in a narrow transverse zone of malformed or weak structure on the feather, and that such a feather was liable to break off along this line of weakness. Riddle (1908) made a careful study of “‘hunger-traces’’, or “‘fault-bars”’ as = i J i / A B . | in : | Ow) ag Fic. 2. Sketches of single inner primaries from specimens of C. /rugilegus to show variation in position of bars IN \ ‘ - Yy Wj y Yi; . Vol. 83 46 Bulletin B.O.C. he called them. He found that they could be produced experimentally by reducing food, by feeding chemicals which affected nutrition or reduced blood pressure and hence the blood supply to the feather, or by mechanical damage to the feather germ; and considered them normally produced by poorer nutritive conditions. He also found that a temporary loss of melanin pigment was often associated with the traces, that a zone of unpigmented structure might occur on the proximal side of a well-marked trace, and that the factors producing these traces might, in some circum- stances, produce unpigmented zones on feathers instead. This agrees with the evidence from the skins which have been examined, where “hunger- traces’ are replaced by unpigmented bars on some feathers, and where traces show adjacent proximal pale bars in some cases. There is also evidence from other sources. D. Goodwin (pers. comm.) bred a number of Jays, Garrulus glandarius, in captivity, and some young were hand-reared. With the earlier broods difficulty was experienced in providing natural food, and the first plumage of the young birds exhibited barring of this type. On one occasion a young bird which had begun to show evidence of transverse barring on the growing feathers was placed in the nest of wild Jays while its sibling was hand-reared. It was found that the bird placed in the nest, which presumably was receiving natural food, did not show barring on those portions of the feathers which grew subsequent to its being placed there, while the hand-reared bird showed barring on the entire length of the feather. Such captive birds moulted into normal adult plumage with no evidence of barring. Yarrell (1843) recorded an example of C. frugilegus with barred plumage which moulted into normal plumage, and Mayaud (1950) described two specimens with barred plumage in which normai adult feathers were appearing. Rollins (1959) found that by offering an unnatural or deficient diet to young Blackbirds, Turdus merula, he could produce a grey bar on black tail feathers. He found that by persisting in such feeding he succeeded in producing feathers with normally pigmented tips but with grey proximal portions. Such feathering is well-known to aviculturists, being prone to appear in the plumage of young birds, particularly those whose normal insect diet it is difficult to supply in adequate quantities under captive conditions. It is usually lost during the moult into adult plumage but may reappear there if the diet is still deficient. It is likely to be most apparent in the remiges and rectrices, possibly because in such feathers a greater length tends to be exposed, while only the terminal portion may be ap- parent in the contour feathers, the paler proximal portion being hidden. J. M. Harrison (1957b) illustrates an example of this in C. corone and C. monedula, both young birds. The former species seems particularly prone to such defects, especially in urban or suburban areas where the principle feeding places are often rubbish tips, and the diet is likely to be abnormal or deficient. Where normal melanisation is reduced to such an extent that it only occurs towards the tip of each feather the whole plumage may have a pale spotted appearance. The plumage of the aberrant C. corax already described has this appearance. There appears to be good evidence that a period of insufficient nutrition, similar to that which gives rise to ‘‘hunger-traces’’ in feathers, may result in an absence of melanin pigments in the portion of any feather grown during that period. If the time of reduced nutrition is sufficiently short the portion =~" | _ Bulletin B.O.C. 47 Vol. 83 of the feather lacking melanin may appear as a pale transverse bar on the feather. Riddle (op. cit.) was able to calculate the rate of growth of feathers in some species. He found that the primaries of fowls and pigeons grew at the rate of 4-6 mm. daily. The three pale bars c. 3-4 mm. wide separated by dark bars c. 14 mm. width at the distal end of the primaries of the first specimen of C. frugilegus suggest that this bird may have suffered three consecutive days of inadequate diet, with a short period of adequate nourishment each day. Since the absence of melanisation apparent in the light transverse bars is not accompanied by abnormal feather structure as in the “hunger-trace”’ it seems likely that it represents a period of unbalanced nutrition, rather than of complete absence of food. If we consider the position of pale bars on the feathers, the tendency for such markings to occur at the tip is most noticeable. This suggests that the periods of insufficient nutrition most frequently occur when the growth of the feathers has just begun. Since these are young birds most of the feathers will be growing simultaneously, and this is likely to throw a great strain on the metabolism of the bird. It is a period at which it is most likely that the internal resources available may temporarily fall below a threshold at which normal melanisation can occur. If these bars are due to nutritional deficiencies occurring at a particular period in feather growth, then patterns which show similar markings on the feathers over a large part of the body are only likely to occur in young birds where most of the feathers will be growing simultaneously. In older birds, if such markings occur, one would expect them to be distributed irregularly over the various feathers indicating the stage of moult at which the deficiency occurred. This would appear to be true in the case of the adult C. monedula described by Sage (1957b). Bolam (1912) mentions retention of barred plumage in an adult C. frugilegus but does not record if it maintained any symmetry. The remiges, rectrices, and most of the wing-coverts are not moulted in the first autumn but are retained, so that a young bird would show evidence of its earlier plumage in the wings and tail until the following summer. The example of C. corone described by Sage (1956a) and of which he received only the wing, could therefore still have been in juvenile plumage, and the same applies to the young birds seen by J. M. Harrison (1957a) in Kent, in winter. The only apparent evidence to the contrary is the description and illustration, in the early nineteenth century, by P. A. Millet, of a single French specimen of C. frugilegus which has extensive greyish-white tips to the feathers of wings and tail, but which shows white skin at the base of the bill (J. M. Harrison, 1950). Since this bare skin appears during the first winter and summer, while the flight feathers may be retained until the end of the first summer it is possible that this also was a young bird. MOTTLED PLUMAGE AND REVERSION Both Sage and J. M. Harrison, in the papers to which reference has been made, appear to assume that this abnormal plumage is genetic in origin and recessive in character, and that it may represent an “‘ancestral’’ plumage of the Corvidae. There does not appear to be any good evidence for this. The phenomenon is one which mainly affects juvenile plumage, and can be shown experimentally to be due to defective nutrition. The patterns Vol. 83 48 Bulletin B.O.C. created by it are variable, and appear to be due to factors affecting pig- mentation of the whole plumage at one particular period in time. There is no evidence that it is passed from one bird to another. Where such plumages occur in captive birds they are lost in subsequent moults. The fact that such plumage peculiarities occur repeatedly in different years at the same rookery does not necessarily indicate that a hereditary factor is present. They could be due to factors present in the food and feeding areas available in the locality, or to individual birds. The individual bird which consistently fails to rear or feed its young properly, year after year, is known to aviculturists. The widespread occurrence of these abnormal plumages in small numbers (Sage, 1958.) does not need any genetic ex- planation if it is merely an aspect of nutrition. J. M. Harrison (1957b) has suggested that such plumage aberrations are due to inbreeding in a popu- lation which has increased considerably in the absence of predation or control. Such factors could, however, equally result in the diminution or impoverishment of food supplies, with a need to utilise the less natural types of food made available by man. Lack of predation would also enable poorly nourished individuals with defective plumage to survive. Some of the individuals referred to by Sage (1957a, 1956b) as ““mottled”’ appear from the description to be probably either dilute (chlorochroic) or non-phaeomelanic schizochroic individuals. MOTTLED PLUMAGE AND FUNDAMENTAL BARRING While these abnormal plumages are not a reversion to an ancestral plumage pattern of the Corvidae they are of interest in their relationship to “fundamental barring” and the derivation of plumage pattern in general. Fundamental barring is the name given to the pattern of narrow trans- verse dark and light bars that is apparent on some of the feathers of many individuals in a great number of species where such bariing is not a characteristic part of the plumage pattern. Such barring appears to be peculiar to feathers containing melanins, including those where such melanins are concealed by structural colours or iridescence. The wide- spread occurrence of such barring was recognised by Whitman (19C7) and Riddie (op. cit.). It was commented on by Lowe with regard to British (1941) and Asiatic birds (1942) and examined more fully by Glegg (1944) under the name of “latent” or “subordinate” barring, although neither appeared to be aware of earlier work on the subject. Glegg examined four specimens each (adult and juvenile, males and females) of as many species on the British List as he was able with a view to discovering how wide- spread this character was. In all he examined 935 skins and found evidence of fundamental barring on some part of the plumage of every one. He also noted the association between such barring and the presence of melanin pigments, but drew no conclusions from it. Riddle (op. cit.) found that by reducing blood pressure in birds he could produce “hunger-traces”’ or whitish areas on a feather. He found that there was a daily rhythm of blood-pressure fluctuation, with low pressure from 01.00-05.00 hrs. He also found that each pair of light and dark funda- mental bars appeared to constitute a day’s growth for the feather, and he deduced that this fundamental barred pattern represented a daily rhythm of melanin deposition, with reduced melanisation in the early hours of the morning resulting in the presence of a paler bar, narrower than the ad- jacent dark one. The light bars on the plumage of corvids offer additional Bulletin B.O.C. 49 Vol. 83 confirmation of the idea that a temporary reduction of melanin will pro- duce a barred pattern comparable to that found as a fixed pattern in the plumage of other birds. There is additional evidence for the apparently inadvertent production of alternate layers, which differ in pigmentation and composition due to a daily rhythm, in the physical functioning of the body of the bird. This occurs during the deposition of yolk within the follicles of the ovary of the female. If the feeding of foods containing fats and carotenes to domestic poultry is limited to a short period of the day, or if the diet is deficient in these, then a stratum of so-called white yolk, lacking both pigments and fats, is laid down during the early hours of the morning, and the resultant egg-yolk shows a series of concentric layers of white and yellow yolk indicating the period of formation. Since the period when white yolk is produced is relatively short, a segment of the yolk will show narrow trans- verse pale bands on a darker background. We have here another example of a daily rhythm of pigment deposition resulting in the production of an “accidental” barred pattern. The normal method of melanin deposition appears to produce this barred protopattern in the plumage. if there was selective pressure for the production of a patterned plumage a barred pattern produced by pigment variation would already be present. This pattern is more apparent in some individuals than in others, possibly due to slight physiological differences. If these physiological differences are genetic in origin then there is already the basis for a genetically fixed, barred pattern. Both Whitman (op. cit.) and Riddle (op. cit.) were of the opinion that plumage patterns in birds were derived from fundamental barring. Recent studies of plumage pattern (Harrison, 1963, and in progress) show that more complex patterns on feathers appear to be derived from simple barred patterning of the fundamental type, and this would seem to lend support to the idea that this fundamental barring based on a daily rhythm of fluctuation in melanin deposition may be the basis of plumage pattern in birds. The abnormal patterns described earlier are the result of the production of similar bars due to a reduction of blood-pressure or an impoverishment of the food supply, which produces a temporary exaggerated imitation of this normal process. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am very grateful to Dr. J. M. Harrison for the loan of specimens showing mottled plumage. References: Bolam, G. 1912. Birds of Northumberland and the Eastern Borders. Glegg, W. E. 1944. An enquiry into the scope and significance of certain latent or sub- ordinate markings on the feathers of birds on the British List. Jbis 86: 511-516. Hancock, J. 1874. A catalogue of the Birds of Northumberland and Durham. Nat. Hist. Trans. of Northumberland and Durham. 6: 37-38. Pl. 3. Harrison, C. J. O. 1963. The incidence and origin of spotted patterns in the Estrildidae. Ibis. 105. (in press.) Harrison, J. M. 1948. Exhibition of a variety of the Rook. Bull. B.O.C. 69: 117-8. Harrison, J. M. 1950. Remarks on the “‘ mottled” variety of the Rook, Corvus frugilegus frugilegus. Bull. B.O.C. 70: 7. Harrison, J. M. 1957a. The ‘‘ white wing-barring’’ and other variants in the Carrion Crow and Rook. Bull. B.O.C. 77: 84-85. Harrison, J. M. 1957b. Significant pattern variations in European Corvidae. Bull. B.O.C. 77: 131-133. Vol. 83 50 Bulletin B.O.C. Lowe, W. P. 1941. Barred tails in British Birds. Jbis 83: 617. Lowe, W. P. 1942. Barred tails in birds. Ibis 84: 437-439. Mayaud, N. 1950. On the “‘mottled”’ variety of the Rook. Bull. B.O.C. 70: 18-19. Riddle, O. 1908. The genesis of fault-bars in feathers and the cause of alternation of light and dark fundamental bars. Biol. Bull. Marine Biol. Lab. Woods Hole. 14: 328-370. Rollins, N. White plumage in Blackbirds. Bull. B.O.C. 79: 92-96. Sage, B. L. 1956a. On the occurrence of “‘mottled’’ plumage in the Carrion Crow. Bull. B.O.C. 76: 13-14. Sage, B. L. 1956b. A summary of the known geographical distribution of mutant ““mottled’’ Rooks. Bull. B.O.C. 76: 25-28. Sage, B. L. 1956c. Notes on an aberrant Carrion Crow, Corvus corone corone, Linnaeus obtained in Hertfordshire. Bull. B.O.C. 76: 64-65. Sage, B. L. 1957a. Further notes on the geographical distribution of the ‘‘mottled’’ Pepcid traeas of the Rook Corvus frugilegus frugilegus Linneaus. Bull. B.O.C. Sage, B. L. 1957b. On the occurrence of ‘‘mottled’’ plumage in the Jackdaw Corvus monedula spermologus Vieillot. Bull. B.O.C. 77: 55. : Sage, B. L. 1958. Supplementary notes on the geographical! distribution of the‘ mottied”’ variety of the Rook. Bull. B.O.C. 78: 74-75. Whitman, C. O. 1907. The origin of species. Bull. Wis. Nat. Hist. Soc. January 1907. Yarrell, W. 1843. History of British Birds. A substitute name for the Luzon race of Copsychus saularis by KENNETH C. PARKES Received 7th January, 1963 Defying all laws of probability, certain things in this world seem to be particularly unlucky for certain people. It appears that I should in the future avoid at all costs the introduction of a new scientific name bearing the prefix hetero-. Recently in this journal (Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl., Vol. 81, p. 33) I had to propose the new name Orthotomus atrogularis rabori to replace my O. a. heterolaemus, 2 name whose prior use I had completely overlooked. History now repeats itself, and I find that the name Copsychus saularis heterogynus, which | recently proposed for the Luzon sub- species of the Dyal, is also preoccupied, as the genus Kittacinc/a is no longer considered separable from Copsychus. | therefore offer a substitute name, as follows: Copsychus saularis deuteronymus, nom. nov. Replaces Copsychus saularis heterogynus Parkes, Postilla, no. 67, 1962, p. 3, not Kittacincla malabarica heterogyna Oberholser, Bull. U.S. Nat. Mus., Vol. 98, 1917, p. 53, now Copsychus malabaricus heterogynus (Oberholser). Oberholser’s use of this name was called to my attention by the recent paper by Hoogerwerf (Ardea, Vol. 50, 1962, p. 183), in which doubt is cast on the taxonomic validity of this and several other Oberholser races of Copsychus malabaricus. Notes on birds seen in eastern Aden Protectorate by I. R. GRIMWOOD Received 27th October, 1962 The following notes elaborate on the information given in Col. R. Meinertzhagen’s Birds of Arabia, 1954, whose nomenclature is followed throughout. I am indebted to Mr. John Williams, of the Coryndon Museum, Nairobi, for the identification of the specimens noted as having been collected. Bulletin B.O.C. 51 Vol. 83 EXTENSIONS OF RECORDED RANGE Bar-tailed Desert Lark, Ammomanes phoenicura arenicolor—male collected Wadi Mitan (52° 20’ E., 18° 10’ N.) 17th May, where several small parties were seen associating with the commoner A. deserti. Bifasciated Lark, Certhilauda alaudipes desertorum—male collected Wadi Mitan (52° 20’ E., 18° 10’ N.) 17th May. Female collected Thamud (49° 50’ E., 17° 15’ N.) 30th April. This lark was seen throughout the area north of the Wadi Hazar-Thamud—Sanau—Habarut track, both on the “iol” and up to two miles within the sand sea, which was as far as observa- tion was carried. It was not, however, noted east of the Wadi Hazar (long. 49° 20’) on the Al Abr—Thamud road. Geese. A party of unidentified grey geese were seen on sea near Ahwar (46° 45’ E., 13° 30’ N.) 17th April. Geese are reported to visit the neighbourhood of Mukalla in small numbers every year and one shot there in the winter of 1960/61 by Lt.-Col. J. W. G. Gray, of the Hadrami Beduin Legion, was identified by him as Anser anser. Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca—single male in company with a pair of Wigeon (Anas penelope), three male and seven female Pintail (A. acuta) and one male Pochard (Aythya ferina) seen on small coastal creek six miles west of Mukalla on 6th April. BREEDING Tristram’s Grackle, Onychognathus tristrami—a pair seen carrying nesting material, sea cliffs east of Mukalla, 22nd April. A large colony occupying cliffs at Maula Mattar appeared to be breeding (23rd April). Bifasciated Lark, Certhilauda alaudipes desertorum—the female col- lected Thamud, 30th April was ovulating. Great Grey Shrike, Lanius excubitor—a nest containing C/2 found Thamud, 27th April. A third egg added 28th April. The nest, about six feet from the ground in bush in a wadi, consisted of a fairly deep cup made of fine twigs, roots and grass, lined with fine grasses and some hair. Mourning Chat, Oenanthe lugens (presumably of race boscoweni)—a pair seen feeding a single fully-fledged youngster on rocks at foot of sea cliffs east of Mukalla, 22nd April. Blackstart, Cercomela melanura—a fully-fledged immature collected Al Abr (47° 15’ E., 16° 10’ N.) 25th April. MIGRATION DATES Solitary individuals of the European Swallow, Hirundo rustica, Sand- martin, Riparia riparia Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striatus, and Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus, were noted along the southern edge of the Rub-al-Khali sand sea from longitude 49° to 52° 30’ E. between the 26th April and 23rd May. All showed signs of distress and sought shade within vehicles at every opportunity, giving the impression of being stragglers from a major migration which had passed through earlier. A single specimen of Upcher’s Warbler, Hippolais languida, was also seen and collected in the Wadi Mitan on the 2nd May. Barred Warblers, Sy/via nisoria, in numbers aggregating perhaps 150, together with a few Olivaceous Warblers, Hippolais pallida, were however, seen in a small patch of thorn trees at Al Abr on the 25th April. Specimens of both were collected. Vol. 83 52 Bulletin B.O.C. Notes on five species of Iraqi birds by S. MARCHANT Received Ist November, 1962 1 Glareola nordmanni (Nordm.) Most recent authors (Meinertzhagen,* Taxonomic Sub-Committee,}° Voous!’) regard this bird as a colour-phase of Glareola pratincola (L.), and personally I believe that this is so, but both forms are customarily regarded as occurring in Iraq. The Taxonomic Sub-Committee’? says that “G. nordmanni has been found breeding in Irag alongside G. pratincola’’: Meinertzhagen® says the same. The Handbook,'® however, queries this point. The occurrence of nordmanni in Iraq, as far as I have been able to dis- cover, rests on two specimens shot by Pitman at Felluja on 15th April, and mentioned by Ticehurst,"’ and one skin in the British Museum, collected at Khan Nuktar, Baghdad, on 2nd November (a very late date for Glareola in Iraq). The other nordmanni skins in the British Museum were obtained at Jedda, Najran, south Palestine and Arabi Island in the Persian Gulf in April, July and October. All these specimens were probably birds of passage. Pitman (in Ticehurst!!) also had sight records of nordmanni between Felluja and Baghdad, at Lake Aggar Quf, and Hindiyah in May, July and August, which is doubtless the basis for supposed breeding in Iraq. McGeoch (pers. comm.) informs me that he had close (3-5 m.) views of three birds at Ramadi on 27th April which he considered to have black axillaries and on 3lst May certainly saw one black-winged bird out of eight at Habbaniyah. I| believe that ail these records apply to birds that could also have been on migration. It has been recognised that separation of normanni and pratincola in the field by the colour of the axillaries is not at all easy (Hayman*). During three and a half years in Iraq I never satisfied myself that I saw a single nordmanni out of hundreds of birds. At one colony of about twenty pairs near Baghdad in 1962 I felt sure that none was present, while I saw none at another larger colony in 1961 (Marchant,® Marchant & Macnab’). Clearly there is as yet no definite evidence for breeding of nordmanni in Iraq, whether alongside pratinco/a or independently, and in fact the occur- rence of nordmanni in the country has seldom been proved. 2 Otus brucei (Hume) Peters® retains the specific identity of this bird, giving the range as Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Turkestan from south of the Aral Sea to eastern Persia, Baluchistan and Gilgit: and recorded from Sind and several localities in India. Races of Otus scops (L.) which may meet or supposedly overlap the range of this bird are turanicus in Transcaspia, Bukhara, northern Persia and Armenia; and pulchellus in Russia east of Long. 35°E, Caucasus and S.W. Asia, which last winters in the upper Nile Valley, and perhaps elsewhere. Meinertzhagen,® correctly in my opinion, regards brucei as a race of scops. Admittedly it is rather distinct, being essentially drab isabelline with none of the russet markings of pulchellus and other races, but such plumage characteristics are relatively insignificant: its behaviour and breeding habits seem to be identical with those of scops. The evidence for sympatry of brucei with turanicus and pulchellus is poor. ae I i...) Bulletin B.O.C. 53 Vol. 83 The matter is blurred by migration since skins of pulchellus in the B.M. were taken at various places in the Middle East in March, April and September, even one from Huleh, Palestine in June, but I judge that all of these were migrants. There are also pulchellus skins from Teheran, Fars and elsewhere in Iran in May and June, which are much more likely to represent the breeding population. On the other hand the occurrence of brucei to the north-east of Iraq is not well established by B.M. skins, there merely being one April bird from the Aral Sea and one from “Asiatic Russia’’—both old specimens and, I consider, of doubtful significance. From my own records (Marchant, °,6 Marchant & Macnab’) and those of Chapman and McGeoch!. (and pers. comm.), I have little doubt that brucei is only a breeding visitor to Iraq from March to October. Outside my own dates I have only been able to find one December skin in the B.M. collection and two February skins, one in the B.M. and the other in the Iraq Nat. Hist. Museum. My only record of another race of scops in Iraq was on 28th February, evidently on passage. It is unknown where brucei winters. Though there seem to be no intermediates between brucei and other races of scops among the skins which [ have seen in London and Baghdad, brucei is probably best regarded as a distinct race of scops; and I suspect that it does not extend far into Iran as a breeding bird, where it is replaced by pulchellus. 3. Coracias benghalensis L. Meinertzhagen® regards this bird as a race of C. garrulus L., and Voous!® perpetuates this claim of conspecificity with reservation. In recent years benghalensis has extended its range many miles up the Tigris and may now be found slightly north of Baghdad (Marchant’, ®), where with little doubt it breeds in small numbers, though no nest has yet been seen. Throughout south and central Iraq the race semenowi of C. garrulus is acommon summer breeding visitor. No hybrids nor interbreeding has been detected. Considering also the distinctly different plumage patterns of the two birds, it seems that they should be treated as separate species, perhaps within a superspecies. 4 Sylvia melanocephala (Gm.) Vaurie™ maintains the bird known as Sylvia mystacea Ménétries as a full species, but many recent authors are inclined to regard it as a race of melanocephala (Voous!®, Harrison*®). Following Dresser? who quotes Ménétries’ original description of mystacea, the distinction of this bird from nominate melanocephala and momus rests on the blackness of the crown and nape and its contrast with the grey back, and the vinous tinge on the under parts. In mystacea the crown and nape are a dull black, not a deep black: this merges into the grey of the back and is not sharply and clearly contrasted: the throat and breast are pale chestnut or dull vinous gradually fading to white on the abdomen. Mystacea is also a larger bird than momus and, according to Ménétries, has yellow eyelids, whereas in races of melanocephala they are dull or brick red, or salmon-pink. Mystacea is usually said to inhabit S.E. Russia south to the north Caucasus, Transcaucasia, Iraq, Palestine, throughout Iran east to southern and northern Afghanistan, north through Transcaspia to the Aral Sea and so on further east: it migrates through Iraq and Iran to winter in southern Arabia and north-east Africa (Vaurie™). S. momus lives in Syria and Pales- tine, being essentially sedentary, while nominate me/anocephala ranges to Vol. 83 54 ; Bulletin B.O.C. Asia Minor (Vaurie,'* Handbook?®), with other races on Cyprus, Crete and in Egypt. I have been unable to find any evidence that the breeding ranges of momus and mystacea overlap in Syria and Palestine. I do not consider that the majority of Iraqi skins in the B.M. are par- ticularly close to mystacea. One has to be careful of confusion with migrants, since admittedly true mystacea moves out of the area north of Iraq in winter, while in central Iraq at any rate no or few individuals of the melanocephala-mystacea group are present between November and February (Marchant®, ®). Considering the B.M. material collected in or near Iraq from February to October, all skins are only very faintly washed vinous on the under parts, if there can really be said to be any vinous wash at all, except one February skin from Kumait and one March skin from Abadan. These exceptions were probably mystacea on passage. In contrast all skins collected in Iran and Transcaucasia in March and April are deeply vinous below. Forty-two other mystacea skins, mostly with strong vinous wash, from Arabia and Eritrea were all taken between September and March and were clearly wintering birds. Further there are eighteen Iraqi skins in the collection of the Bombay Nat. Hist. Society, including probably eleven of Ticehurst’s" collection. Two of these are useless, because of foxing, but the under parts of eleven others are de- scribed as white or cartridge-buff with no or very pale and partial vinous wash. The remaining five are described below as vinous or pale vinous. This hardly suggests close affinity of this character with mystacea for the majority of Iraqi birds and even the few that couid fully be regarded as belonging to mystacea were all probably passage birds (one each in Feb- ruary, March, April, September and October). Admittedly all the Iraqi skins which I have seen and probably those in the Bombay Nat. Hist. Society’s collection can be separated from races of melanocephala by the duller black head and lack of sharp contrast with the back. Yet on balance of characters and consideration of proved distribu- tion, I cannot see any valid reasons for the continued recognition of mystacea aS a separate species. Further I have little doubt that with a really comprehensive series of breeding birds it would be found that the Iraqi population is mid-way between momus and mystacea, being closer to the former in the lack of vinous wash on the under parts and to the latter in their dull crown merging into the colour of the back. In this connexion some support comes from field observation at Bagh- dad. There I have looked as carefully as possible at many breeding males without once being able to see any vinous wash on the under side: yet, during the first week of April birds with obvious vinous wash appeared suddenly and as suddenly disappeared. McGeoch (pers. comm.) agrees with me that the summer residents at Habbaniyah appear essentiaily white below in the field, though he had records of vinous birds in March. Repeatedly I have seen the non-vinous, resident, singing males behave aggressively towards the vinous birds and drive them out of their terri- tories. Presumably these vinous birds are true mystacea on northward passage. I may add that as far as I have ever been able to see, the breeding birds at Baghdad have red eyelids. There are two B.M. skins, collected in January at Mosul by La Personne for Cox and Cheesman and reported on by Ticehurst!® who identified them, correctly in my opinion, as nominate melanocephala. He adds that Bulletin B.O.C. 55 Vol. 83 they were not uncommon at that time and place. The only surprising thing in this is the note of their frequency, because no subsequent authors have recorded any race of me/anocephala as anything but unusual between November and February. I can well believe, however, that some birds may be in the country at this time and that such could indeed be winter visitors from the breeding range of nominate me/anocephala. 5 Turdoides species Although originally confused, Ticehurst'? showed that there were two distinct, but similar species of Turdoides in Iraq, T. caudatus and altirostris. Vaurie!® gave a further detailed diagnosis. From these accounts 7. cauda- tus ranges in various races from India as far north-west as Baghdad and Khanagin, whereas a/tirostris is confined to Iraq and south-west Iran from Khanaqin and Qasr-i-Shirin to Ahwaz, the lower Karun river and Fao. Both authors, however, stress the different habitat of a/tirostris which is said to be often or mainly in reed beds: in detail neither author records the species between Khanaqin and the Kut-Amara district. British Museum skins merely add one caudatus from Felluja, twenty- five miles west of Baghdad (see also Chapman and McGeoch! and Har- rison*®). There are, however, four specimens of altirostris, collected by the writer at Baghdad, where Mr. B. E. Allhouse (pers. comm.) also recently got a skin. Chapman and McGeoch? and Harrison® recorded altirostris at Habbaniyah, Saqlawiyah on the Euphrates opposite Habbaniyah, and south of Felluja. McGeoch (pers, comm.) informs me that it was regular at Habbaniyah, and the only species present. It seems plain, then, that a/tirostris occurs much more evenly and com- monly throughout south and central Iraq than one might suppose from Ticehurst! and Vaurie,/* and indeed that it may be the commoner of the two species. It is of further importance to note that it is by no means confined to a reedy habitat. At Baghdad my specimens were taken in an area of market gardens, orchards, palm and poplar thickets, where they must have been plentiful. There were no reeds in the vicinity. Ticehurst!! records similar habitat at Basrah. In the field I had always assumed that the very common babblers were all caudatus and could never satisfy myself that I saw any altirostris: but the separation of two such similar birds in the field must be difficult and I attach little importance to my assumption. It is unfortunate that a serious effort was not made to dis- tinguish them, because several nests were found, none of which can now be certainly attributed to either species. Moreover, I consider that previous accounts of the breeding of both species in Iraq (Ticehurst!!) should be read with caution unless the breeding birds were collected at the same time, as they probably were by Cumming at Fao (altirostris). Acknowledgements I am grateful to Mr. J. D. Macdonald for allowing me to examine mate- rial in the British Museum in the course of this study: and also to Messrs. Humayan Abdulali and J. Mathew of the Bombay Natural History Society for supplying me with information on skins in their collections. Capt. Pitman and Mr. J. A. McGeoch have read the draft of this paper and kindly supplied comments. References: 1 Chapman, E. A. & J. A. McGeoch (1956). Recent field observations from Iraq. Ibis 98: 577-594. Vol. 83 56 Bulletin B.O.C. 2 Dresser, H. E. (1880-96). The Birds of Europe. Vol. 11. 3 Harrison, J. M. (1959). Notes on a collection of birds made in Iraq by Fit./Lt. David L. Harrison. Bull, B.O.C. 79: 9-13, 31-36, 49-50. * Hayman, P. J. (1956). A note on field identification of pratincoles. Brit. Birds, 49: 31 5 Marchant, S. (1961). Iraq bird notes—1960. Bull. Iraq Nat. Hist. Mus. 1 (4): 1-37. 6 Marchant, S. (1962). Iraq bird notes—1961. Bull. Iraq Nat. Hist. Mus. 2 (1): 1-40. 7 Marchant, S. & J. W. Macnab. Iraq bird notes—1962. Bull. Iraq Nat. Hist. Inst. 2 (3): 4-38. 8 Meinertzhagen, R. (1954). Birds of Arabia. ® Peters, J. L. (1940). Check-list of birds of the world. Vol. 4. 10 Taxonomic Sub-Committee of the B.O.U. Ibis 98: 161. 1 Ticehurst, C. B. et al. (1920-22). The birds of Mesopotamia. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 28: 197-237, 269-315, 325-349, 371-390. 12 Ticehurst, C. B. et al. (1926). Additional notes on the avifauna of Irag. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 31: 91-119. 18 Vaurie, C. (1953). Systematic notes on Palaearctic birds. No. 3. Turdoides caudatus and Turdoides altirostris. Am. Mus. Nov. 1642: 1-8. 14 Vaurie, C. (1959). The birds of the Palaearctic fauna. 16 Voous, K. H. (1960). Atlas of European birds. 16 Witherby, H. F. et al. (1938-41). The Handbook of British birds. On the Yellow-vented Bulbul, Pycnonotus goiavier (Scop.) by A. HOOGERWERF Received 26th January, 1962 Though the difference between the subspecies analis and personatus is not very distinct in much of the material before me (because there seems to be much overlapping in specimens from the western parts of Java and the islands south of Sumatra) there is no reason to unite them. It seems justifiable to consider birds from Sebesi and Legundi Islands as personatus and those obtained close by Udjung Kulon, on Princes Island and Klapper Island as analis, though in some birds of Udjung Kulon the superciliaries are very light which gives rise to the supposition that this territory is of a mixed population. Birds from Kangean fit well in the small series (recently collected) of analis but they average in being a trifle darker above. Comparing fresh material with skins which were stored for a considerable time is of little use because of discolouring, especially on the wings and upper parts. When comparing our series recently secured on the Karimundjawa Islands with freshly collected skins of analis and personatus they all differ because of their much darker pure olive-brown upper parts, which, moreover, are less squamated than is the case in both these races, thus resembling gourdini known from Borneo. Though in old material of gourdini before me this is only partly the case, Karimundjawa birds seem closer related to this last race than to analis or personatus, also when comparing the under parts. They are much darker, especially on the sides of the belly and sometimes also on the chest than analis or personatus, though there are some recently collected birds from Legundi and Sebesi Island which also show these dark flanks but they differ much from Karimundjawa birds on account of the clear white superciliaries and less uniformly coloured upper parts. On the cheeks this last population is duller than in analis or personatus, maybe on this point, too, resembling gourdini. The superciliaries are very dull and the ear-coverts dark. . Bulletin B.O.C. 57 Vol. 83 When comparing a rather large series of gourdini with analis and personatus Chasen and Boden Kloss! concluded that Bornean birds never have the superciliaries pure white but always clouded with brown and that they have the ear-coverts uniformly pale brown. Furthermore these authors found the squamations on the breast especially heavy. These differences also apply to our Karimundjawa birds, though the markings on the breast are not always so heavy. But the most important differences in Karimundjawa birds, when compared with analis or personatus, the darker and more uniformly coloured upper parts and the much larger area of olive-brown on the flanks were not mentioned by Chasen and Boden Kloss so that our Karimundjawa birds cannot be identical with gourdini, not even when they are of the same size, which is not the case, for birds of this latter race are smaller, especially in the tail of the males. The affinity to gourdini could be confirmed when comparing our Karimundjawa material with five skins very recently collected on Borneo, which must belong to this race. They differ, however, from birds origina- ting from the Karimundjawa Islands on account of the more squamated upper parts, the somewhat lighter tint on the under surface, the much clearer superciliaries and the shorter wings and tail which make birds of both these territories at once separable. Though when comparing our birds special attention was paid to the development of the gonads, this seems not very important because we failed to establish conspicuous differences in the plumage between birds having small or well developed gonads. Post-mortem changes in the plumage are rather important when the skins have been stored for a long time but they still show part of the differences rather distinctly. Skins - obtained from the Karimundjawa Archipelago as far back as 1926 and _ 1930 differ from old skins of analis or personatus because of their darker and more smooth upper parts. They resemble each other on this point much more than in the small series of old gourdini which shows more individual variation. Also on the under surface the larger quantity of olive-brown and the darker grey on the sides of the head remained distinct in those old skins. Chasen and Kloss? examined six males and four females of this. Py- cnonotus secured on the Karimundjawa Islands when this material was not older than six years and it seems strange that they did not notice the differences mentioned above, though they remarked: ‘‘Perhaps a little more heavily marked below than P. g. analis of Java and therefore tending to approach P. g. gourdinii described from south Borneo’’... I do not think it probable that we have to do with a mixed population, because the collected specimens show a remarkable uniformity, especially on the upper parts. Though there are no important size differences between Karimundjawa’s population of this buibul and that belonging to analis or personatus; birds from Karimundjawa average a little heavier in the bill of both sexes and the males show a longer wing and tail. From the measurements given below it is also evident that the males are larger than gourdini in all their dimensions. Gonads of the material examined were small, but some females had the ovarium well granular and two or three males had the testes moder- ately developed (3-7 mm.). A juvenile male was obtained on 28.10. Vol. 83 58 Bulletin B.O.C. I propose to separate the population of Pycnonotus goiavier living in the Karimundjawa Archipelago under the name: Pycnonotus goiavier karimuniensis subsp. nov. Types: 3 Mus. Zo6]. Bogor, No. 24. 174, 3rd November 1955, Pulau Mendjangan Ketjil, Karimundjawa Archipelago (Java Sea); leg. A. Hoogerwerf. 2 Mus. Zodl. Bogor, No. 24. 179, 15th November 1955, Pulau Kamud- jan, Karimundjawa Archipelago (Java Sea); leg. A. Hoogerwerf. Range: Perhaps all islands belonging to the Karimundjawa Archipelago. S° Bill averaging larger than in the subspecies analis, personatus or gourdini; wing and tail of the male longer than in birds belonging to these three subspecies. Averaging less clear white below, resembling more gourdini than analis or personatus but in 30% of the skins from Karimundjawa this character cannot be called convincing. Much olive-brown on the flanks, especially on the sides of the belly and sometimes also on the sides of the breast. So much brown is an exception in the subspecies analis or personatus, but perhaps more common in gourdini. Not differing in the extent and tint of the yellow on the belly or the under tail-coverts when compared with analis or personatus but this area seems smaller than in most gourdini in which the yellow is also duller. The dark olive-brown tint of the upper parts of all karimuniensis, the less distinct superciliaries and darker ear-coverts make the new subspecies at once different from all freshly collected personatus and analis, but the superciliaries are a trifle clearer in old skins. Moreover the plumage of the upper surface is much less squamated than in these two subspecies, more resembling gourdini, though the old skins of this last race before me do vary much in this respect. Freshly collected skins of this subspecies have decidedly less uniformly coloured upper parts and much clearer superciliaries. Though the difference in the colour of the upper parts in old material is less distinct, the colour of these parts is darker and more pure olive- brown and kept its smooth character in birds of the new race. In such old material the differences in the under parts remained distinct. A new subspecies of this bulbul, Pycnonotus goiavier jambu, was very recently described by Deignan® from Thailand but birds belonging to that race cannot be identical with karimuniensis because jambu is said to have the ‘‘entire upper parts much more richly suffused with ferruginous and the centre of the abdomen rather more sullied with brownish’’. As no measurements at all are given in the diagnosis, comparison in size with our new subspecies is impossible. Measurements: dd Wing: analis (Kangean): 87, 88, 90, 91, 91, 91, 92, 92, 92, 93, 93, 94; gourdini (Leyden Museum, measured by Junge): 87, 88, 89, 89, 92; gourdini (Chasen and Boden Kloss): 84, 88, 88, 88, 89, 89; gourdini (Stresemann*): 88, 88, 90; karimuniensis: 88, 89, 89, 90, 90, 90, 91, 91, 92, 92, 92, 93, 93, 93, 93, 93, 93, 93, 95. Tail: analis (Kangean): 78, 81, 81, 81, 82, 83, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 88; gourdini (Leyden Museum, measured by Junge): 76, 77, 78, 79, 80; Bulletin B.O.C. 59 Vol. 83 ee? i Ge tae ' . Es od Po rere = { | a | : ee Meee <6 fh EAL Pycnonotus goiavier subspp. 1. Pycnonotus goiavier personatus (Sebesi Island) pa a * analis (Udjung Kulon) 3-4. ,, a » (Kangean Archipelago) 5: ‘3 karimuniensis subsp. nov. (Karimundjawa Islands) 7-8. ,, - gourdini (old skins from Borneo) gourdini (Chasen and Boden Kloss): 82, 84, 85, 85, 85, 85; karimuniensis: 82, 83, 83, 84, 85, 85, 85, 85, 86, 86, 86, 86, 86, 86, 87, 87, 88, 89, 90. Simeten. dnalis (Kangean): §3;.13.8, 14.3, 15,15.1, 15.1, 15.3; 15.8, 16, 16, 16.5, 16.5; gourdini (Leyden Museum, measured by Junge): 15, 16, 16, 16, 17; karimuniensis: 15.2, 15.6, 15.9, 16, 16.2, 16.2, 16.5, 16.6, 16.8, Seer. 17, 17, 17.2, 17.2, 17.8. Max., min. and average measurements: analis analis gourdini personatus Strait Sunda Udj. Kulon karimuniensts (Kangean) (Java) 53 33 2 103 87-94 84-95 87-92 89-92 90 87, 89 88-95 Wing: —__— es ——— eee ———— ———— 91-17 90-30 89 90-20 88 91-60 84-89 92-95 Chasen and Kloss: ——. Chasen (63): — 87-67 93-20 88-90 Stresemann: ——_— 88-67 *. 78-80 76-93 76-80 80-84 80, 83 80 82-90 ail: —— — ——— — ——— —— 83-42 84-40 78 81-80 81-50 85-74 82-85 Chasen and Kloss: —_—— 84-33 13-16°-5 15-:2-17°8 15-17 15-1-16°5 13-8-15-8 15, 16°8 15-2-17°8 Culmen: —— — ~ 15-20 16-40 16 “45-87 «1487 15-9 16-60 Vol. 83 60 Bulletin B.O.C. 2 Wing: analis, (Kangean): 86, 86, 87; gourdini (Leyden Museum, measured by Junge) : 82, 85, 88, 91, 92; gourdini (Chasen and Boden Kloss) : 80, 82, 84, 84, 86; gourdini (Stresemann): 81, 85, 86; karimuniensis: 81, 84, 86, 86, 86, 87, 88, 88, 89; Tail: analis (Kangean) : 76, 79; gourdini (Leyden Museum, measured by Junge): 73, 73, 75, 77, 77, 81; gourdini (Chasen & Kloss): 78, 78, 83, 85; karimuniensis: 76, 77, 80, 80, 82, 82, 83, 83, 84; Culmen: analis (Kangean): 14.2, 14.8, 15.5; gourdini (Leyden Museum, measured by Junge): 15, 15, 15, 16, 17; AKarimuniensis: 14.8, 16, 16, 16.2, G25, 16:5, 16.5; 16.7. Max., min. and average measurements: Wing: Tail: Culmen: References: 14-2-15°5 analis analis (Kangean) (J = 86-87 85-90 86-33 87-80 Chasen and Kloss: Stresemann: 76, 79 80-86 77-50 82-20 Chasen and Kloss: 15-2-16°5 82-92 87-60 80-86 83-20 81-86 84 gourdini personatus (Sumatra) 5 83-87 84-80 Strait Sunda Udj. Kulon karimuniensis af 29 85, 86 87 81-89 85:50 86-11 85-88 Chasen (49): ——— 86-38 73, 74 78 76-84 73°50 80-78 13-7,15 15,16.-5 14-80-16-70 14-35 IS-*7 16:15 1 Chasen, F. N. and Boden Kloss, C. Ona collection of birds from the lowlands and islands of North Borneo, Bulletin Raffles Museum, Singapore, 4, 1930, p.66. 2 Chasen, F. N. and Boden Kloss, C. Ona small collection of birds from the Kari- mundjawa Islands, Treubia, 14, 1932-1934, p.170. 3 Deignan, H. G. New races of birds from East Asia, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, 75, 1955, pos ¢ Stresemann, Erwin. p. 128 Vogel vom Flusz Kajan, Nordost Borneo, Temminckia, 3, 1938, wy a ee KC silpiae Oey: 3 4 ts 4 o. ere ach oF fxs yr MY- JUN Tik ennteciiGco Dero! Lid my ie ‘pet Ti iy '6 DAvtstinbs. 57 ane saontt |. { Vey Bia botint « ines cobears db ta tia div dhioagenaleiu ‘ AIG wei ie Shs 8 bay: Pate POLOe WiMasr sear) Hao ab BOTS 6 ONL Ter pio i 36 ee ei. SRY 0 f frty 2 Mis hebebitty A hinge “} ¥ ‘4 . : . , ‘ ec Wiad ty DSF £3 , 2SRish cms et ie RUG isd if)? Ait Bd PiuOke Moos ki iowenvy vas oi benilssha / paysite pre Pony > AAU. WSF. © ASF ort ar j ‘ * aAASL ; ets as. Slee Pairs aie Ista ely Dr Bat Shs 8 Bee} Sant PLP he aie: 25; SON OVS YOM Od . MOR tN MAswaiol 3 ey : a. i, ; , Sol i* 6a bis este nr eit L Site 4 Ts) hee) Met : ; Sr) + Chis ; ; . ay . ‘ ¢ ~“_ a ae, or sa; WE, IN rEip OM, VR : beep ate MgSO ‘iF PS my te wy aS ‘ i. " +4 eer att A elk Tathstec ata te a8 (> SBT; f Ste LoS T¢ berraiah-csletile aot Si vor Mie dist cs sais ive a : 49, rr rt s righ . » ane . ‘ A Y e is f = : ; - ¢ . - =y ’ » ~~ » | ¢ ¢ ts ts Wii year) cei TMI TTT. bated we Ah Kh bey is LBRS Olea Bs be oe, ® 7 : if a J ti u“ EMG-r ist Vil : net ri RATT 91 ei AS be Fi * at 2ty nh P 4 ‘ ; Pie r j J : es ] tea et Te fi Ppery : LIP of ey at oj} wint reriety ‘fs Wereretoits Mrithenirret of ory SH.1ine ain firs va St PAaA I 4 ae eal ; | oT i sy . : iO “dap ° relay Reray 0 Va Tiled ad FE errtsuit yy Meata\t/<2 (RODE sre, oii SP yah, ATE Sierra ve ia} Holiw anise ont Jo gisdencunh sond MATES OR.ON IN ease ob gila! Minh ZEMtiaael ioe ge Davetons:) od yarn we} uf tT * i Sf) te wasvar ei And SD TD) Rr ines 211 ory ae 3 L. FUL: - 4 : i | IDARAGR OZ AOD oct ty] 403 4)ebie se] Ditsenith sormonTto tests 940)0) . . Ae viet Ht Ag it ee CL or mte ta , 7 ret. HGIOTE ROCHON IS rin ue4 peeet GT COMTI AA. Pa ayia pein | vod tqo8 art gam yi! GF att cide cel arte Sie AarAsootl me\i Gite poco} bit ny pen )yiat as Lieve ie, Jo0RSYOr) VO THO > ania (i Ag > fe ne elem 2 henna peke aa semen Saree tious = —— =~ anges p~ aa! oni Ry 7 GRADO IN TI“~RO warriaa a wk ¥eF Jxotailas4 , «water teh aan? cee Habereloth\ 6 ao > off {cage * it, ot: a cm As CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the B.O.C. and should be addressed to the Editor, Mr. John Yealland, The Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, N.W.1. These should be concise and typed on one side of the paper, double-spaced, with a good margin. The first time a species is mentioned, the scientific generic and specific names should be included. Subsequently the same name need only have the initial letter of the genus. Scientific names are printed in italics and should be underlined in the typescript. References should be given at the end of the paper. 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BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB zo (* Hate, in Lx EMS ADM c 7 Pai aN i363 Edited by JOHN J. YEALLAND Volume 83 April No. 4 1963 a se i » % a: Sat % ~ rit aee rien Reig 5 seat i. = u a ¥ 2: hy . > é f ee ak a ce Bayes a7 te BEI, By a 19 Se Ae Die hina gee sh ANG SA. SSE SCR oe a: ERNE eh ta Se may! Le ’ = P 7 rs bal f 61 Vol. 83 BULLETIN OF “THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Volume 83 Number 4 Published: Ist April, 1963 The six hundred and sixth meeting of the Club was held at the Rem- brandt Hotel, London, on 19th March, 1963. Chairman: SIR LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON Members present: 29; guests 8; total 37. Mrs. B. P. Hall addressed the meeting, illustrating her talk with coloured photographs kindly lent by Mr. R. H. N. Smithers, the subject being Migrants in Ngamiland From Ist December 1962 to the 10th January 1963 I accompanied Mr. R. H. N. Smithers, the Director of the National Museums of S. Rhodesia, and his wife on an expedition to Ngamiland. One of the objects of the trip was to observe and collect the migrants in the area. Three main camps were made, the first near Shorobe on the edge of the Okavango swamps, 23 miles north-east of Maun. There was some open water here edged with beds of small Cyperus reed and grassland, and, above the level of the July floods, fringed with riverine forest of big trees, including figs and Hyphaene palms. The vegetation on the sandy patches of higher land in the swamp area—the permanent islands in the flood season—was predominantly acacia, while away from the swamps it was mopane. The second camp was on the north bank of the Botletle river 25 miles south-east of Maun. Here the river is about 300 yards broad with extensive beds of tall Phragmites reeds. The riverine fringe was narrower than at the Shorobe camp and there were no palms; away from the river the vegetation was predominantly dry thorn, with abundant acacia. The third camp was on the north edge of Lake Ngami at Sehitwa. The lake was shallow with four or five miles of wide bare muddy shores with only sparse patches of small reeds opposite the camp, but about three miles to the east, there were patches of high, lush (probably annual) weed growing in and around old mealie lands on the edge of the lake. The surrounding country was typical Kalahari thorn bush, more open than the country near the Botletle. Lake Ngami was richest in migrant water birds, with enormous flocks Vol. 83 62 Bulletin B.O.C. of waders in which Ruffs and Reeves (Philomachus pugnax), Marsh Sand- piper (Tringa stagnatilis), and Wood Sandpiper (7. glareola) were common, the latter particularly so round the edge of the lake. Greenshank (T. nebularia) and Curlew (Numenius arquata) were seen, usually in twos or threes. One Little Stint (Calidris minuta) was netted, and one Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) identified*. The migrants mixed freely with the resident species, Stilts (Himantopus himantopus), which were breeding, and Blacksmith Plover (Hoplopterus armatus) being abundant, while Painted Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis), Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta) and Kittlitz’s Plovers (Charadrius pecuarius) were fairly common. No waders at all were seen at the Shorobe camp, where suitable mud shores were lacking, and on the Botletle river they were only in small numbers, a Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper (Tringa hypoleucos) being collected. At Lake Ngami also there were flocks of several hundred Pratincoles (Glareola) and both ‘‘red-winged’’ and ‘‘black-winged’’ birds were netted together and collected from the same flocks, though red-winged were far more common. We can add little to the controversy of whether the two varieties represent species or not, for we failed to distinguish them in the field, only red-winged birds being identified with certainty. It is perhaps worth noting that a higher proportion of black-winged birds were netted, and that all black-winged birds were in partial moult. Another migrant abundant on Lake Ngami was the White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucoptera), which was common also at Shorobe but less so on the Botletle. The aggressive behaviour of the flocks of terns to anyone wading into the shallows was oddly proprietorial for birds not on their breeding grounds but was not sustained for more than five or ten minutes. The Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) and the Sedge Warbler (A. schoenobaenus) were both common in beds of Phragmites reeds, and in the tall vegetation round the mealie lands on Lake Ngami, being in about equal numbers with the African species A. baeticatus and A. gracilirostris. Specimens of both migrant species were in moult at the end of December (see Williamson 1960). The Sedge Warbler was found also in knee-high patches of rank vegetation near the water. Single Corncrakes (Crex crex) were seen in the reeds at all three camps. European Swallows (Hirundo rustica) were common everywhere, hawk- ing Over open country to the complete exclusion of any African species, but they were particularly abundant on the Botletle river, where enormous tight-knit flocks whirled up and down the river in the evenings. On the shores of Lake Ngami, Lesser Kestrels (Falco naumanni) were common and so was Montagu’s Harrier (Circus pygargus), which far out- numbered the resident Marsh Harrier (C. ranivorus). Among bush birds only the Thrush Nightingale (Luscinia luscinia) seemed in any way dependent on the presence of water, being found in rich riverine growth along the Botletle. Willow Warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus), Spotted Flycatchers (Muscicapa striata) and Red-backed Shrikes (Lanius collurio) were associated more with the dry thorn bush away from the river and the lake at both the Botletle and Ngami camps. The Willow Warblers were usually to be found in bird parties with sun- birds and Crombecs (Sylvietta rufescens), while most of the flycatchers * See Ostrich 1963, Bulletin B.O.C. 63 Vol. 83 were found skulking in the base of bushes. It is possibly significant that the only one collected from a typical flycatcher perch was the only specimen that was not in moult. The migrant Red-backed Shrike is found through most of southern Africa but literature suggests that it is particularly common in northern and central Bechuanaland (Roberts 1935; 154, Hall 1956: 108) in areas from which the resident Fiscal Shrike (Lanius collaris) is curiously absent. European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) were only seen once, being the only birds encountered on an open stretch of grassland in thorn country north of Shorobe. All three specimens collected were in moult. It is not possible from such a brief stay in a limited area to be dogmatic about the behaviour of migrants in their winter quarters but it is apparent that their ecological relationship with resident species is highly variable in the different families. It is also worth noting the preference that most bush and woodland species seem to show for the dry thorn country, rather than riverine forest, or mopane woodland (which is singularly barren of resident species as well); it is possible that the protection from predators afforded by thorn country may have some bearing on this. Finally, it is evident that considerable research is needed into the incidence of winter moult among migrant species, as indeed workers like Williamson have already appreciated. This factor is particularly important to systematic workers trying to determine the subspecies of migrants. Since for this purpose it is essential to compare specimens that are in like plumage it is difficult to see how satisfactory identification can be made between subspecies that vary only in degree of colour, for birds on their breeding grounds (May to August) which provide the yard-stick for subspecific identification, are not truly comparable with winter birds, nor is there any certainty that the new plumage acquired in winter will be identical with that acquired by the same bird in a summer moult. To further research in this field the British Trust for Ornithology has instigated a moult enquiry, keeping card records for Palaearctic species. Anyone interested who has opportunity to handle or collect specimens is urged to contact the Trust (2 King Edward St., Oxford) so that they may co-operate in tackling this problem. References : Hall, B. P. 1956. Ona small collection of birds from Panda Matenga N.F. Bechuana- : land. Ostrich 27: 96-109. Roberts, A. 1935. Scientific results of the Vernay-Lang Kalahari expedition, March to September 1930. Ann. Trans. Mus. 16: 1-185) Williamson, K. 1960. Identification for ringers (1). The genera Locustella, Lusciniola, Acrocephalus and Hippolais. B.T.O. Identification Guide No. 1. ** Passer rufipectus”’ Bonaparte in Crete by GEORGE E. WATSON Received 4th November, 1962 The type of Passer rufipectus Bonaparte (1850, Consp. Ay. 1: 509), | collected in Egypt, has been considered a hybrid between a local House | Sparrow (P. domesticus niloticus) and a migrant Spanish Sparrow (P. hispaniolensis) with an aberrant chestnut throat patch (Meise 1934, Orn. Monatsber. 42: 12). The characters of the presumed parental popula- tions are shown in Table 1. Another presumed hybrid from north-east Vol. 83 64 Bulletin B.O.C. Africa which had pronounced rufous and chestnut pigments was named P. italiae senckenbergianus by Hartert (1904, Vég. pal. Fauna: 152) and a similar bird from Egypt (Dresden Museum, 1499) was described by Meise (1934: 13). A breeding male sparrow (Yale Peabody Museum 60943) which cor- responds to the description of P. rufipectus was collected in an olive grove- wheat field near Tylissos, Crete, May 3, 1959. The specimen is of the italiae type except that the usually black markings at the side of the black throat are mixed with chestnut and some of the lower back and rump feathers are washed with rufous. It has the pair of creamy white back stripes and jagged posterior margin to the throat patch found in P. hispaniolensis and thus scores 57.5 in Meise’s (1936, Journ. f. Orn. 84: 633) hybrid index in which “pure” domesticus is 0, italiae about 50, and “‘pure’”’ hispaniolensis 100. The latter two characters are present in most, but not all, of the Cretan — population which is probably the stabilized autochthonous result of | hybridization (index 40-60) between P. domesticus and P. hispaniolensis — (Meise, 1936: 664). This population is taxonomically indistinguishable from the Italian population, best called P. domesticus italiae. Therefore, P. i. schiebeli Rokitansky (1934, Falco 30: 8), type locality Khanea, Crete, is a synonym of P. d. italiae. In the P. domesticus-hispaniolensis superspecies, aberrant individuals with extensive chestnut or rufous coloration are not rare. Spanish Spar- rows with chestnut throat feathers have been found in north-east Africa — (Hartert, 1904, Nov. Zool. 11: 458). House Sparrows with chestnut mark- ings on the throat are frequent in Switzerland (Daut 1921, Orn. Beob. 18: 53) and have been collected in northern Europe, the British Isles (Sharpe, 1888, Cat. Birds Br. Mus. 12: 310), and the United States (Calhoun, 1947, Auk 64: 305). A similar male (YPM 59427) was collected by me in Mugla, south-western Turkey, 14th April, 1960. Part of the throat patch of this ‘specimen is chestnut, the lower back is washed with rufous, and some of the upper tail-coverts are totally rufous. Its hybrid index is 2.5 (jagged throat margin). The wing of the type of P. rufipectus is 79 mm. (Meise, 1934: 12), a — little longer than the mean of the Cretan population, which, according to ~ Rokitansky (1934), Falco 30: 8), measures 76-82 (78 mm.) in 50 males. Because P. d. niloticus is smaller, measuring 72-77 (75 mm.) in 20 males (Vaurie, 1959, Birds Pal. Fauna; 570), it seems likely that P. rufipectus — represents an aberration of the Cretan population which occasionally — wanders to Egypt in the winter (Meinertzhagen, 1930, Nicoll’s Birds of — Egypt; 120) rather than the product of a mixed pairing between an Egyptian — House Sparrow and a wintering Spanish Sparrow which failed to return north. P. i. senckenbergianus and the other Egyptian hybrid, since they are smaller, 74.5 and 73.5 (Meise, 1934: 12), probably are crosses of P. d. — niloticus and P. hispaniolensis. TAXONOMIC CONCLUSIONS: Passer rufipectus Bonaparte from Egypt, thought by Meise to be a hybrid of P. domesticus niloticus x P. hispaniolensis, is here considered to — be an aberrant vagrant of the Cretan sparrow population P. d. italiae. On the basis of their smaller size P. italiae senckenbergianus Hartert and a similar sparrow with pronounced rufous colouring from Egypt in the Bulletin B.O.C. 65 Vol. 83 Dresden Museum may be the result of local hybridization between the small Egyptian P. d. niloticus and P. hispaniolensis. TABLE | Characters of the populations of the Passer domesticus — hispaniolensis superspecies <2 Hybrid index Population Description (Meise 1936: 664) P. d. domesticus Grey crown, grey cheeks, restricted black throat, Europe & western plain flanks, brown back, large 0 Turkey P. d. niloticus Grey crown, grey cheeks, restricted black throat, Egypt plain flanks, brown back, small 0 P. d. italiae Brown crown, usually white cheeks, extensive black Italy, Crete throat, plain flanks, usually brown back, large 40-60 P. hispaniolensis Brown crown, white cheeks, extensive black throat, Southern Europe, black streaked flanks, black and cream back, large i00 south-west Asia, North Africa TABLE 2 Summary of taxonomic conclusions Specimen Description Meise 1934 | Watson Type of **P. Large hybrid with | —aberrant P. domesticus | =aberrant Cretan rufipectus” from | reddish neck niloticus x P. hispanio- P. d. italiae Egypt lensis **P. i. sencken- Small hybrid with | —aberrant P. domesticus | ==aberrant P. do- bergianus’’ from | reddish neck niloticus x P. hispanio- mesticus niloticus north-east Africa lensis x P. hispanio- lensis Dresden Mus. Small hybrid with | =aberrant P. domesticus | =aberrant P. do- 1499 from Egypt | reddish neck niloticus x P. hispanio- mesticus niloticus : lensis x P. hispanio- lensis Y.P.M. 60943 Like ‘“‘rufipectus”’ -- ==aberrant Cretan from Crete Hybrid index 57.5 | P. d. italiae Y.P.M. 59427 P. domesticus with --- =aberrant P. d. from Turkey reddish neck domesticus Hybrid index 2.5 | The validity of the genus Lusciniola Gray by S. A. PARKER AND C. J. O. HARRISON Received 6th December, 1962 Seebohm (1881) included eleven species in the genus Lusciniola. Sub- | sequently, however, many of these were found to have affinities with other | genera, and in more recent works the genus has been regarded as mono- typic, containing only the type species, Lusciniola melanopogon, the Moustached Warbler. This species does not appear to show any marked differences from Vol. 83 66 Bulletin B.O.C. species of the genus Acrocephalus. It bears an extremely close resemblance to the Sedge Warbler, A. schoenobaenus, having a similar colour pattern, size, and shape and size of bill and legs; the tail being similar also but differing slightly in the degree of graduation shown by the tip. There is some difference in wing shape, A. schoenobaenus having a longer and narrower wing, while that of L. melanopogon is shorter and more rounded. The latter species is also darker and more red-brown on the dorsal surface, and paler underneath, while the former is a more buff-brown with less contrast between the upper and under side. The general similarity is very close and the colour difference is of a type which could normally be regarded as of merely subspecific value. While the similarities are self-evident, it is difficult to discover what valid characters exist for the generic separation of Lusciniola from Acrocephalus. If one compares the descriptions of the two species in such works as the Handbook of British Birds (Witherby et a/. 1938) one finds that the only characters which appear to be of critical value are the relative length of the tenth primary (—outermost or first primary of earlier systematists), the difference in the extent of the spring moult, and the behavioural character of cocking the tail. LENGTH OF TENTH PRIMARY In order to discover the validity of the relative length of the tenth primary as a generic character, random samples of this species were measured, and of as many species as possible of the genus Acrocephalus. In view of the small sample it is possible that the range of measurement within the species is greater than that shown, but this would not affect the inferences drawn from the resultant data. Data are shown on the accumpanying graph. For the sake of clarity the small group of species found on the Pacific Islands, the data for which would appear at the lower end of the range shown, have been omitted. The distance from the carpal joint to the tip of the tenth primary has been expressed as a percentage of the distance from the carpal joint to the tip of the longest primary covert, the latter being a reasonably con- servative character in the wings of all the species concerned. It can be seen that the long tenth primary of melanopogon merely represents an extreme in a trend which is apparent throughout the genus Acrocephalus, and there is no evidence of a discontinuity at any point which could form a valid character for generic separation. The other value calculated was the roundedness of the wing. Here the distance between the first secondary and longest primary tips on the closed wing has been expressed as a percentage of the total wing-length. It can be seen that there is a con- sistent correlation between the two characters. The shorter and more rounded the wing, the longer the tenth primary will be. A short or vestigial tenth primary is usually associated with a long wing. This is considered to be an adaptive character, the longer wing and short tenth primary being found in migratory species, the shorter wing and longer tenth primary in sedentary species. This has been recognised in a number of different families (Kipp, 1942, 1958; Meinertzhagen, 1951; Dorst, 1962; Stegmann, 1962). On the evidence of primary feather length alone, there is no basis for maintaining the separate identity of Lusciniola and Acroce- phalus. Bulletin B.O.C. 67 Vol. 83 meray (lt nai rer gaze ae ae PEATE BEER EEE EEC CCL N@ |--- 90 | ~- MSE ASUS oO The Validity of the Genus Lusciniola Vertical axis—relative length of tenth primary= (Carpal joint to tip of 10th primary) 100 carpal joint to tip of longest primary covert Horizontal axis—relative roundedness of wing= _(tip of Ist secondary to tip of longest primary) 100 _ wing length Species: 1, melanopogon. 2, concinnens. 3, agricola. 4, sorghophilus. 5, bistrigiceps. 6, schoenobaenus. 7, paludicola. 8, palustris. 9, dumetorum. 10, scirpaceus. 11, stentoreus. 12, arundinaceus. 13, baeticatus. Vol. 83 68 Bulletin B.O.C. MOULT Witherby (1929) made a preliminary survey of the moults in many Palaearctic species, and some of his conclusions appear to have been uncritically accepted by many later writers. He considered that melano- pogon had a complete moult in autumn and a body moult in early spring. In the genus Acrocephalus he considered that arundinaceus, scirpaceus, palustris, and schoenobaenus had two complete moults each year; that paludicola had a complete autumn moult and a body moult in spring; and that (arundinaceus) orientalis, agricola, and dumetorum, were intermediate in that they showed a variable spring moult. Williamson (1960), however, examined specimens of these species from winter quarters as well as from breeding and migration localities, and the evidence from these suggests that there is one relatively protracted moult in the winter quarters, the time of which may be individually variable but may relate to the geo- graphical locality in which overwintering occurs. The beginning of the moult is already apparent in some individuals during the autumn mi- gration period, and the completion of it is apparent in some migrating individuals in spring. It seems likely that Witherby was misled by this fact, and deduced from such birds that there were two moults, when in fact only one occurred. The evidence at present available suggests that all the species concerned have a single annual moult in the non-breeding period. TAIL-COCKING The final character considered here is that of cocking the tail. B. W. Tucker (in Witherby et a/. 1938) commented ‘*. .. when moving about amongst swamp vegetation cocks its tail in a manner quite unlike an Acrocephalus which (its) habits otherwise resemble’’. However, this com- parison was only with the European species and not with the full range of Acrocephalus species which are likely to show greater variability in posture and behaviour. The extreme morphological similarity of melanopogon to A. schoenobaenus has already been indicated. The two species are sym- patric in Southern Europe and possibly in a small area of Turkestan, and appear to occupy the same type of habitat. There appears to be a slight difference in the preferred nesting site, but that is all. In view of their similarity it is to be expected that the two birds will show differences of appearance, voice, and posture, which will enable them to maintain specific identity. There is a relatively slight but nevertheless distinct difference in colour. To the human ear the songs of the two species show a general similarity but are sufficiently different to be separable. The tail- cocking might well function as a specific signal posture which helps to maintain the specific identity. D. Goodwin (pers. comm.) has pointed out that the same character could be used to separate the Blackbird, Turdus merula, from other Turdus species. This character would appear to be of specific rather than generic value. SPECIFIC RELATIONSHIP In view of the lack of valid characters for separation and in view of the very close similarity of schoenobaenus and melanopogon in so many of their characters, it seems reasonable to suggest tentatively that these are especially closely related. The former is migratory, the latter mainly sedentary. The importance of this in relation to the length of the primaries Bulletin B.O.C. 69 Vol. 83 has already been mentioned. To some extent the species replace each other geographically, schoenobaenus having a breeding range extending from Scandinavia through Europe to the Mediterranean and eastwards into Siberia, while melanopogon is present to the south of this. The latter species has a discontinuous distribution, one race being found around the Caspian Sea, eastwards into Turkestan, and south to Iran and Iraq, while the other has a broken distribution through southern Europe on the edge of the Mediterranean, and into north-west Africa. This suggests that the species may have had a more continuous distribution in earlier times, and have been isolated in residual areas by the increasing aridity of the Middle East and North Africa. The decrease of suitable swampy breeding areas to the south may have brought it into secondary contact with schoenobaenus, with which it may share a common ancestral origin, sufficient differences having evolved during isolation to ensure specific separation. At the present time the distribution of the two species is mainly allopatric in Asia, with possible sympatry in two small areas; but there is considerable sympatry in southern Europe. CONCLUSION From the evidence available it is considered that Lusciniola is not a valid and separate genus, the single species concerned not being generically separable from species in the genus Acrocephalus. The latter generic name having nomenclatoral priority, the specific name of the Moustached Warbler should now be Acrocephalus melanopogon (Temminck). References: Dorst, J. 1962. The migration of birds. Heinemann: London. Kipp, F. A. 1942. Ueber Fliigelbau und Wanderzug der Vogel. Biol. Zb/. 62: 189-299. Kipp, F. A. 1958. Zur Geschichte des Vogelzuges auf der Grunflage der Fliigelan- passengun. Vogelwarte 19: 233-242. Meinertzhagen, R 1951. Review of the Alaudidae. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 121; 81-132. Seebohm, H. 1881. Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum. Vol. 5. London. Stegmann, B. 1962. Die verkiimmerte distale Handswinge des Vogelfliigels. Journ. f. Ornith. 103; 50-85. Williamson, K. 1960. Identification for Fingers. 1. Brit. Trust. Ornith. Field Guide no. 7. Witherby, H. F. 1929. The moults of European Passeres. Journ. f. Ornith. Erg. 2: 236- 248. Witherby, H. F. er. a/. 1938. The Handbook of British Birds. Vol. 2. Witherby: London. Spotted breast variants in the European Green-winged Teal and the Northern Pintail by JAMES M. AND JEFFERY G. HARRISON Received 25th September, 1962 The two specimens to be described show a striking and unusual degree of spotting of the breast. The first is a drake European Green-winged Teal Anas crecca crecca Linnaeus, which was shot on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent on 7th December, 1956 by J. M. H. The bird was in normal full winter plumage at the time and as it was only wing-tipped, it was kept alive with our wildfowl collection until it died on Ist June, 1962. When this happened, we were surprised to find that the entire belly was well marked with black spots, smaller than on the upper breast and merging with the grey ver- miculations between the legs. While alive, this unusual plumage was not Vol. 83 70 Bulletin B.O.C. observed, as the belly is practically impossible to see without catching the bird, so we do not know at what age the full plumage changed its character. All that can be said with certainty is that the bird was at least six years old when it died. A drake Northern Pintail Anas acuta acuta Linnaeus in normal full plumage was caught alive in Essex in January, 1958. On 27th July, 1962, it was caught up when in full eclipse plumage and was found to have a marked degree of black spotting covering the breast and belly. Like the Teal, this plumage was not noticed until the bird was handled. Both were living under conditions where an abundant supply of natural food was available and this was supplemented by corn. MChe: Drake Pintail (in eclipse) with spotted breast. 27. 7. 1962. Right: Drake Teal with spotted breast. 1. 6. 1962. As can be seen from the plates, both of these plumages are quite different from normal. We have already recorded one similar, but less marked variant in a drake Teal (Harrison, 1946) and the same variant in two out of a series of 12 drake Gadwall Anas strepera Linnaeus (Harrison 1958). The presence of spotted breasts and bellies as variants in drakes of three Holarctic duck species seems worthy of further consideration. We Bulletin B.O.C. 71 Vol. 83 believe that this variant is more primitive than others we have described, such as the frequent presence of white neck-spots and semi-rings in drake European Green-winged Teal, which we believe indicates an affinity to the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Linnaeus (Harrison 1961) at species level. It is a fact that the juveniles and females of many species of duck have spotted bellies and also that some species principally in the southern hemisphere, show a lack of sexual dimorphism with duck-like plumages, which Sibley (1957) attributes to lowered selection pressure against hybridisation. In discussing the Cape Shoveler Anas smithi (Hartert) Winterbottom and Middlemiss (1960) consider it probable that the Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Linnaeus diverged from A. smithi before the line had evolved a marked sexual dimorphism and that A. smithi has remained close to the ancestral form from which A. clypeata evolved in the north. It is our view that the occasional spotted breast in drakes of Holarctic duck species represents a reversion to this type of undifferentiated ancestral form and the presence of this variant in the eclipse plumage of the Pintail drake is particularly interesting, in view of the fact that this plumage is also likely to be reversionary, having a survival value from its cryptic coloration and being able to develop in the post-breeding season, when selection pressure against hybridisation must be at ‘ts lowest. We are indepted to Dr. Pamela Harrison for photographing the speci- mens. References: Harrison, James M. (1946). ‘‘ Exhibition of two varieties of the Teal, Anas crecca crecca.’’ Bull. B.O.C. LXVI, p. 24. Harrison, James M. and Jeffery G. (1958). ‘‘Plumage Variants in drake Gadwall’’. Bull. B.O.C. 79. pp. 78-9. Harrison, James M. and Jeffery G. (1961). ‘‘A European Green-winged Teal with a white neck-ring’’. Bull. B.O.C. 82. pp. 88-90. Sibley, C. J. (1957) ‘‘The Evolutionary and Taxonomic Significance of Sexual Dimor- phism and Hybridisation in Birds’’. Condor. 59. pp. 166-191. Winterbottom, J. M. and Middlemiss, E. H. J. (1959). ‘‘ Notes on the Cape Shoveler’’. Bull. B.O.C. 80, pp. 154-162. A snake attack upon a weaver-bird colony. Possible significance of synchronous breeding activity by J. H. ELGooD AND P. WARD Received 22nd November, 1962 In the series of articles by Pitman (1958, 1962) on reptile predators of birds, there are few accounts of a snake being observed while in the act of killing a wild bird and presumably few people have ever witnessed such an encounter. We feel, therefore, that this description of a snake’s attack upon a small weaver-bird colony may be of interest even though the snake was not identified. The reactions of the birds in the colony to the marauder’s visit were quite different from what one would expect. The happenings observed provoked a discussion between us leading to a hypothesis being formulated _ concerning the significance of synchronous nesting in weaver-bird colonies. Vol. 83 12 Bulletin B.O.C. The encounter On 11th October, 1962, a small colony of Chestnut-and-Black Weavers, Ploceus nigerrimus castaneo-fuscus, Lesson was discovered in a roadside swamp near Oyo, western Nigeria. The thirty or so nests were supported by stems of a tall grass and were placed at heights varying between 1-2 metres above the water level. Although attached to grass stems in a man- ner more typical of Euplectes (nests of P.n. castaneo-fuscus are usually found in bushes overhanging water, in tree-tops or in bamboo) the nests were of normal form. While the colony was being scrutinized for signs of activity, a snake was seen to ascend one of the grass stems supporting a nest; it could not be identified but was about one metre long and of slender build; pale olive- brown above, silvery below, but lacking any distinctive markings. The climbing snake was scarcely interrupted by three female weavers which were diving directly at its head, though at each swoop of a bird, it ducked momentarily. On reaching the nest a somewhat clumsy entry was effected after some searching for the opening: the weight of the snake then caused the collapse of the supporting grass so that both snake and nest disappeared from view. Within two minutes, however, the predator was seen climbing to another nest nearby. The interval before the snake’s reappearance was so short that it is unlikely that it had found anything in the first nest. The second nest was entered very rapidly and it was possible to see that when the snake withdrew its head after only a few seconds’ search inside, there was nothing in the mouth. Thereupon it detached itself and fell out of sight; then once again, within two minutes, it was seen to be climbing to a third nest. This time the search was fruitful and when the snake withdrew it was seen to be holding a well-feathered nestling in its jaws, with the head still protruding. According to Pitman (1962), this method of seizure is not uncommon. The snake again dropped from view but this time the fall may have been caused by the attack of an adult bird which dived at the intruder as it pulled out the nestling. The total period for the searching of three nests was only about five minutes. During this time more birds were attracted back to the colony yet only four or five females made any attempt to drive away the predator. Even these feeble attempts deserved respect, however, for they were not merely mobbing actions but definite attacking movements; and, as Hinde has stated (1961), small birds do not normally attack predators. DISCUSSION Synchronization of breeding activities is a common feature of Ploceine weaver colonies. Leaving aside the much disputed reasons for colonial breeding, the importance of synchronization within a colony, which ap- pears to have received little attention from students of bird behaviour, is the subject of the following hypothesis: In those parts of the world where specialized nest-robbers occur (especially in the tropics where some nesting takes place in all months of the year) it seems probable that any such predators finding an accessible colony within their feeding area would attach themselves to it until it became empty. It is unlikely that small birds can effectively defend their nests, but fortunately there is a factor which must limit the losses of eggs and young: the appetite of the predators. It follows therefore, that by Bulletin B.O.C. 73 Vol. 83 limiting to a minimum the length of the time during which a colony is occupied, the percentage loss of offspring will also be minimal. Close synchronization of breeding activities, being a means of reducing the period of occupation of a colony, may thus be regarded as a form of pas- sive defence against specialized nest predators, although this is probably not its only function. References: Hinde, R. A. 1961 in Biology and Comparative Physiology of Birds. Vol. ll, ed. A. J. Marshall. Academic Press. Pitman, C. R. S. 1958. Bull. B.O.C. 78: 5, 6, 7. Pitman, C. R. S. 1962. bid. 82: 2, 3. On some races of Motacilla flava Linn. found in Indonesia by A. HOOGERWERF Received 16th July, 1962 The difficulties encountered when classifying representatives of this wagtail are already pointed out by other authors. Voous' tried to solve part of the problems; he classified the greater part of the material present in the Bogor Museum which I used when studying my freshly collected birds from Princes Island and those from the Karimundjawa and Kangean Archipelagos. Study of this material induced me to publish these notes. When comparing the series before me with the particulars published by Voous, the results differ on several points. There are for instance two females obtained in January, named by him as adult simillima which have the under parts much darker yellow than two females classified by the same author as adult faivana (obtained in September and October), though following Voous’ own paper, the opposite should be the case in birds in the winter plumage. An adult bird (shot in October) classified after some hesitation as tschutschensis by the same author is indeed ‘‘duller yellow’’ on the under surface, when compared with both January skins, indicated above as simillima, but certainly not duller than a third specimen classified as simillima ad. 3 by the same author, which was secured in October in Central Java and also not duller than still another male in winter plumage from Krakatau Island (Strait Sunda): both these birds show also dark _ brownish markings on the chest. This tschutschensis was labelled by Gerlof Mees, who secured the skin near Bogor (West Java), as 2° ?, but Voous made the remark on the label ‘‘looks like a 3’’. However, in his publi- cation he calls this same bird a male without any further comment. This is in my opinion not justified, particularly in this case where it concerns a subspecies which shows sexual dimorphism and which was never before secured on Java. As the most important reason which induced Voous to consider this bird and a second juvenile male obtained at the same date and in the same locality, not identical with taivana or simillima, he mentions the darker upper parts. But when comparing fresh skins of faivana or simillima with material stored for a considerable time in a museum, the necessity to use material obtained at about the same time is very evident. I had occasion to ascertain this as an undisputable fact after comparing my freshly collected skins with those secured many years ago in exactly the same localities and in the same months. Vol. 83 74 Bulletin B.O.C. Both these birds considered as tschutschensis were shot in 1948 and studied certainly not later than two years after their death and they were the only fresh skins Voous could study in the Bogor Museum. When we mix these skins with the fresh ones, recently obtained by me from the localities mentioned above it proves quite impossible to separate them on their darker upper surface. But the adult bird is a trifle greener on those parts and the juvenile a distinct light grey, probably not characters which make tschutschensis separable from both other races discussed above, because such differences were not mentioned in Voous’ paper. That all my fresh skins of this wagtail should belong to this (for Java) new subspecies is unbelievable and is certainly not so. Voous himself classified a juvenile male and female originating from Karimundjawa (secured there in November 1930) as taivana and | am of the opinion that my freshly obtained October/November birds from that same group of islands also belong to this race, though they are strikingly darker above than the skins obtained there 25 years earlier. Three adult females collected by me on Princes island, Karimundjawa and Kangean fully agree in the feathering of the under parts with two females named by Voous as faivana, which were shot in the same months (September and October) on Krakatau and Billiton Islands. But the dark markings on the chest are more obvious in those fresh skins than is the case in both these taivana and this—after Voous—should form an indi- cation in the direction of simillima. However, in accordance with the same author, this last race always has the head greyer than the mantle and back which, indeed, is so with the adult simillima of both sexes before me, though not always in the same striking way. In the three adult females indicated above, the pileum and the remaining upper parts are exactly the same colour and two of them have a little green on the lower back. They have also very distinct white eye-stripes. _ On account of the great similarity in the tint of the under parts, together with the uniform colour of the upper surface when compared with the skins considered by Voous as taivana which were obtained in the same months, I think it fully justified to consider those fresh skins as taivana. In this subspecies I also included two juveniles obtained from Princes Island and Karimundjawa which also agree with old material of this race, partly from this last group of islands, excepting again the darker upper parts. In view of the above there seems little reason to consider both Bogor skins, classified by Voous as tschutschensis Gm (=alascensis)—one specimen of uncertain sex—to belong to this race. In my opinion they are taivana; they have the Bogor Museum nos 18.851 and 18.852. One female from Karimundjawa has a rather dark pileum and seems also a trifle darker on the ear-coverts than the other birds seen by me, which makes it rather similar to macronyx. But it has a distinct eye-stripe and the upper parts do not differ from fresh taivana which induced me to classify this skin, too, as belonging to this last subspecies; it is no. 24.347 of the Bogor Museum. The individual size differences in birds of this species are not large but females seem to average a trifle smaller than males. In 1959 the same author published a second paper? dealing with the races of the Yellow Wagtail wintering in Borneo. Among the 44 adult specimens within a series of 54 skins present in the Sarawak Museum he Bulletin B.O.C. 75 Vol. 83 classified 34 skins as taivana (=77%), nine as simillima (=20°%) and again one as fschutschensis. He also draws attention to a possible hybrid of simillima x taivana. I think Mayr?’ was right when giving as his opinion that in this case only an analysis of breeding populations can lead to reliable results and that conclusions based on a study of specimens on migration or in their winter quarters may be misleading in such a difficult species complex as Motacilla flava. References : 1 Yoous, K. H. The races of Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) wintering in the Indo Australian Archipelago; Treubia 20, 1949-1950, p. 647-656. 2 YVoous, K. H. A new note on the races of the Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) wintering in Borneo; The Sarawak Museum Journal, 9, 1959, p. 13-14. 3 Mayr, Ernst. The interpretation of variation among the Yellow Wagtails; British Birds, 49, 1956, p. 115-119. Some Pochard x Lesser Scaup hybrids by BRYAN L. SAGE Received 12th December, 1962 The hybrids discussed in this paper are of particular interest in that they are the only known specimens of this interspecific cross, and apparently not previously described. Annie P. Gray (Bird Hybrids 1958) mentions only one instance of this cross having been obtained and that refers to the birds dealt with here. At least five of these hybrids were bred in captivity in 1928 by Lord Lilford, at Lilford Hall, Northamptonshire, England. The male parent was a European Pochard, Aythya ferina (L) and the female a Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis (Eyton). The specimens that I have had available for study consist of an adult male and female in full plumage from the same brood. They were formerly in Lord Walter Rothschild’s collection at Tring Museum, but are now with the Rothschild collection at the Ameri- can Museum of Natural History, Registered Nos. 734547 and 734549 respectively. The geographical distribution of these species is such that natural hybrids are not to be expected. DESCRIPTION OF SPECIMENS Male. Head and neck—dark chestnut, darker and browner than in male Pochard; blackish-brown feathers are present on the posterior part of the crown and on the nape, and from the throat down the foreneck; there is a small white chin spot. Upper parts—upper mantle dark greyish-brown with some blackish- brown feathers present at the sides and across the base of the neck; remainder of mantle, back and scapulars dark greyish on a brown ground colour, darker than in male Pochard, and finely vermiculated with greyish- white; rump and upper tail-coverts dark blackish-brown. Wings—outer primaries dark brownish-grey; inner primaries and secondarie. pale grey; wing-coverts mouse brown; under wing white. Under parts—breast blackish-brown, the feathers of the central and lower breast with broad whitish tips; remainder of under parts pure Vol. 83 76 Bulletin B.O.C. white; flanks and sides of body vermiculated with brownish, rather more markedly than in male Pochard; vent and lower belly finely vermiculated with pale greyish-brown. Female. Head and neck—virtuaily indistinguishable in colour and pattern from the females of the parental species, but sides of face below and behind the eyes, and the sides and front of the neck are strongly flecked with white; short thick white streak immediately posterior to the eye; some feathers of the crown, lores, area below the eyes, and the chin have blackish tips; the chin is broadly white and there is an extensive white facial shield covering a larger area than in the Lesser Scaup. Upper parts—colour and feather pattern as in female Pochard, but back and mantle less grey and more brownish with very fine greyish vermicu- lations; the underlying colour of the back and mantie is as in the female Lesser Scaup. Wings—wing-coverts pale ash-brown; secondaries pale grey; primaries ash-brown but darker than wing-coverts, paler on inner webs; a very faint olive gloss can be discerned on some of the primaries at certain angles in a strong light; under wing white. Under parts—mainly white, shade and feather pattern similar to female Lesser Scaup but much whiter; upper breast and sides of breast darker brown; vent whitish with brownish-grey vermiculations; sides of body and flanks very pale grey-brown with fine greyish vermiculations. MEASUREMENTS OF HYBRIDS AND PARENTAL SPECIES hybrid hybrid Pochard Lesser Scaup male female male female male female Wing 206 203 211-220 201-212 190-201 185-198 Culmen 44 43 45-49 43-47 38-42 36-40 Depth at nostrils 18.5 19 18* 17-19* Width at nostrils 20 20.5 18-19* 20-21* Max. width 20 23 19-20* 24* All measurements are in millimetres. *Six specimens measured. From the above table it can be seen that the wing and culmen measure- ments of both sexes of the hybrid fall within the range of those for the female Pochard. It is worth noting, however, that the bill of the female hybrid is as spatulate as that of the Lesser Scaup, whilst that of the male hybrid is hardly more so than in the Pochard. DISCUSSION Hybrids in the Anatidae often exhibit characters which are not referable to either of the parental species, and which sometimes appear to be of phylogenetic significance. A close study of the plumage characters of these Pochard x Lesser Scaup hybrids in this connection is disappointing, both sexes being almost pure intermediates. However, it is worth drawing attention to the thick white streak immediately posterior to the eye in the Bulletin B.O.C. Tt Vol. 83 female hybrid. Until such time as further hybrids of various parentages have been examined and evaluated, it is not possible to say exactly what significance may be attached to this character. The female Pochard some- times shows a pale streak in the same locus. But it may also be borne in mind that the females of the Redhead, Aythya americana (Eyton), Canvas- back, Aythya valisineria (Wilson) and Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris (Donovan), normally show a thin white or pale line in the same area. A well developed thick white streak in conjunction with white at the base of the bill and on the sides of the head is found in the females of the African and South American Pochards, Netta e. erythrophthalma (Wied.) and N. e. brunnea (Eyton). As already stated, wild hybrids between the Pochard and the Lesser Scaup are not possible due to the non-overlapping breeding distribution of the two species. However, natural hybrids between the Lesser Scaup and other American species in the genus Aythya may occur. In view of the fairly close morphological resemblance of the Redhead to the Pochard, hybrids between the Lesser Scaup and the former species may well exhibit an appearance similar to those described in this paper. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to Dr. Charles E. O’Brien of the American Museum of Natural History for kindly arranging the loan of the hybrid specimens from the Rothschild collection. Mr. J. D. Macdonald of the Bird Room, British Museum (Natural History), kindly gave me access to material-in his charge. I also have to thank Dr. James M. Harrison for the loan of comparative material from his collection. The Lemon-breasted Canary in Nyasaland R. CHARLES LONG AND C. W. BENSON Received 15th November, 1962 We have examined an undoubted specimen (3) of the Lemon-breasted Canary Serinus citrinipectus Clancey and Lawson, collected for one of us (R. C. L.) at Chiromo, southern Nyasaland on Ist April, 1962, and now in the Nyasaland Museum, Blantyre. Mr. M. P. Stuart Irwin has kindly compared it with material in the National Museum, Bulawayo. He reports that it is not fully adult, retaining the darker, more brown feathers characteristic of immature specimens on the upper side, though yellow feathers typical of adults are coming in on the throat and chest. It has wing 65, tail 37 mm., while Irwin has given us the following measurements in mm. of six specimens of Serinus mozambicus collected by R. C. L. in the Port Herald District, southern Nyasaland: Wing: 233 66, 67 Tail: 38, 40 4°22 64, 66, 67, 67 38, 39, 39, 40 | As Irwin (1961) has pointed out, S. citrinipectus averages slightly smaller than S. mozambicus, alongside which it lives. This is the first record of S. citrinipectus from north of the Zambezi, though Irwin (1961) has recorded it from the south bank at Tambara, Portuguese East Africa. Reference: Irwin, M. P. Stuart. 1961. The taxonomic status and relationship of Serinus citrinipectus Clancey and Lawson, with notes on related members of the genus. Durban Mus. Novit., 6 (11): 135-148. HSER 294 BRITISH ORNIT INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FO EXPENDITURE **Bulletin’’ Vol. 82 Cost of publication, distribution, etc. Less Sales et i ; Notices, etc. for Meetings Postages, Projectionist and Miscellaneous Ex- penditure be = 2 2 Audit Fee .. Contribution ‘ ‘Zoological Record’’ Expenses of Guest Speakers Club Guests “f Projectionist Miscellaneous Expenditure and Postages Excess of Expenditure over Income, brought down 4; GENERAL FUND: As at 3lst December, 1961 BULLETIN FUND: As at 3lst December, 1961 .. eg! Add re Ten Year Scientific Index :— Donations from Members .. Less Transfer to Income and Expenditure Account SUBSCRIPTIONS 1963, paid in advance CREDITORS on *. f TRUST FUND: (The Capital of this Fund may not be used. The income from it is General Revenue.) F. J. F. Barrington Legacy fs C. B. WAINWRIGHT, Chairman P. Tate, Hon. Treasurer | | | Oat aAnn — be NUNN = BALANCE SH 1353 10.4 294 8 9 34 46 326 0 3 58 14 10 -& nN N ON YN NH 1,000 0 O £2,550 2 8 We have examined the above Balance Sheet and Income and Expend it | in accordance therewith, and in our opinion correct. FINSBURY CIRCUS HOUSE, BLOMFIELD STREET, LONDON, E.C.2, 18th February, 1963. LOGISTS’ CLUB , YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER, 1962 1961 £ 264 5 54 INCOME SUBSCRIPTIONS : 252 Members 3 Associates Income Tax recovered under Deeds of C ovenant 1961/62 oa Ps bya n INVESTMENT INCOME: General Fund Trust Fund Balance, Excess of Expenditure over Income, carried down = : re Sales of **Bulletin’’ less expenses Transfer from for previous years, *h Bulletin Fund’” DECEMBER, 1962 GENERAL FUND, INVESTMENTS: 44% Defence Bonds, at cost .. 3% Savings Bonds 1960/70, at cost | Less Reserve * (Market Value £1 089) PROJECTOR, LANTERN & SCREEN—Nominal Value STOCK OF *< BULLETIN’ ’—Nominal Value DEBTORS rv ; CASH AT BANK TRUST FUND, INVESTMENTS: 34% War Stock £1,399 Ilys. Od. (Market Value £861) t with the books and records of the Club and certify them to be W. B. KEEN & Co., Chartered Accountants. oo! oo 108 10 429 5 CP £524 14 4 SO 36 13 II 58 14 10 £95" 3 oN oocoo 9 Pe nn nNnooc?e: £2,850 2 6 Vol. 83 80 Bulletin B.O.C. British Ornithologists’ Club REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS The Club held eight meetings during the year at which the total atten- dance was 326, an increase of 16 over the previous year. In addition there was a joint meeting with the British Ornithologists’ Union in October. MEMBERSHIP The Committee very much regret to record the death during 1962 of Mrs. H. D. Lowe and Dr. W. A. Richards, M.B., B.S., F.R.C.S. There were 14 resignations and 10 new members were elected, bringing the total membership to 246. FINANCE The accounts for the year 1962, submitted herewith, show that the Expenditure exceeded the Income by £95, and after setting-off against this, £37 received from the sales of old ‘‘Bulletins’’, there was a net deficit for the year of £58. A transfer from the ‘‘Bulletin Fund’’ has been made to meet this. Commencing February 1963, printing charges have had to be increased by approximately 20%. This will mean that despite the increase in the ~ subscriptions for members and subscribers which took effect on Ist — January 1963, unless there is a large increase in the number of new mem- bers, or large sales of ‘‘Old Bulletins,’’ the result for 1963 is likely to show an excess of expenditure of about £80. Naturally this situation cannot continue indefinitely, and every possible — attempt will be made to effect economies. One solution which is in the ~ hands of members is to sign a seven year covenant. If every member did this the deficit would disappear. { C. B. WAINWRIGHT, ; Chairman. i | ~RADP inLr PURCHASED. , } a HOT Lie jad vs OF - guy %s asda Oe tT io 6 dass ee an Prctis, pas Diiiia Si etor Eats TH iis TING OO Divot escheat sciresay) ad} of Louiligha . ’ a ee se gis hy bac y tus Lg Re : Cn! PR LeRT PRE ce ek me ee ey, Be A se +“ 4 ty hb “2% ; ‘ + P . i < ‘ - f r ] ve vf . ‘ ‘ i ’ ‘ Biber! e ribekaalesi tae Ma ¢ Od od y ‘ , z iA hy “> TI eat e Fe MLES ie th SL : rt ’ 9 7h ; Est eae ri) 74 id SM ? } ‘wh t¥ cay aoa ae Ae A ee Ring ee ance 5 tat "toa eee BPP ZI Sar 20h i ahr Baked | ee vi BP ak ae VE) Ti } : wr ys . pe or < pe eet Ate oe TCE a? abd Cele : = revs Mate ie veer Pitas th ay rises t ee a irs aa inegti ete Bh ye o itiat i a* 4 4 ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘e* ee eal : . Stee Shes] itr ete rt? + Sty ‘ woe ey orca espe geese) Pa Z Rie 29 > As ae : meaty pips aah ‘ « ot P sat 2 4 ; y 4 ry ’ LP: } ea ~ ‘7 i - + rie ue, y rpreast *y ; ao at " at wy 4? ci pve dy vere 5 7 BXTANA & Claes OT eh etal Be; ies ede ish i‘) nthe BP) ‘ ; PIT +9 My pa aTie pat *. tt. vee ay ant f natd ty? é ar rhGarly rr; * f . » z F H ‘ A Ye hicyre > x _ ‘ Ss v4 usak ee Sf) ‘ te bh ° ' & ° ‘“ 0 WIR We) Ye: Paice 3h Ayier0u GAS bls na Pe A a Mie a » a bk Ps ion oe ha, > f gh : G4 7 cola ' « « et. - 4 mit Pewee ch ae eats ato. ta erste T Hilt Bas lira Ritda) o2t il cr Miriyey Rt Tinie Ey Aor ete (Oa TY “es mgs 4 Peo See ec, «wt ode —_— a Ne + A i. Y “a te 9 4) s yas eRe, one eta inn, nde Ww ta alae i? awokls wit th: rs fait, ch. ves eS ety 35s 3 x! Bive ry]. 4 BG Sle us ‘BODOG! Ris) es Boba) re OUR SOL ON) ioe? O83 )i0 th rr decd vin aM een; OTE aeamaittala 2) etx? orrist eh Y ‘29 SiShs oat. ferns be gO ite 2 ae | ibe ra ry ip , ei oe aA Se 78 \; ae ‘at SPIGA hy pan. -¢ Css een nip Msi 5 at i (tt, q me So hoi aed TERNS Bs RFI oS qi" CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the B.O.C. and should be addressed to the Editor, Mr. John Yealland, The Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, N.W.1. These should be concise and typed on one side of the paper, double-spaced, with a good margin. The first time a species is mentioned, the scientific generic and specific names should be included. Subsequently the same name need only have the initial letter of the genus. Scientific names are printed in italics and should be — underlined in the typescript. References should be given at the end of the paper. Authors introducing a new name or describing a new species or race should indicate this in their title and display the name prominently in the text followed by nom. nov., sp. nov., subsp. nov. as appropriate. In these descriptions, the first introduction of the name should be followed by paragraphs for ‘‘Description’’, ‘“Distribution’’, ‘‘Type’’, ‘‘Measure- ments of Type’’, ‘‘Material examined’’ and further sub-headings as required. Proofs must be returned without delay. No changes may be made at this stage, other than corrections. At the discretion of the Editor, the Club will pay for a reasonable number of monochrome blocks, which the contributor may retain for his own use. Contributors are entitled to a maximum of thirty free copies of the Bulletin, supplied only as specifically requested by authors. Those con- tributing to a meeting should hand in their MS. at that meeting; otherwise a note will be inserted mentioning the contribution. BACK NUMBERS OF THE BULLETIN Applications for back numbers which cost 5s. each, should be made to N. J. P. Wadley, 58 Ovington Street, London, S.W.3.. Members who have back numbers of the Bulletin, which they no longer require are requested to send them to N. J. P. Wadley. SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members annually for 40s. (payable in advance) or per copy 5s., payable to the Hon. Treasurer, P. Tate, 4 Broad Street Place, London, E.C.2 . CORRESPONDENCE Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, Dr. J. G. Harrison, ‘‘Merriewood’’, St. Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. DINNERS AND MEETINGS FOR 1963 16th April, 21st May, 17th September, 15th October, 19th November and 17th December. (The October or November meeting will be held jointly with the B.O.U. Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton & Holmesdale Press, South Park, Sevenoaks, Kent. oe OES” * BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Edited by JOHN J. YEALLAND 2- MAY i9&3 PURCHASCD. Volume 83 May | No. 5 1963 | ; Ras Si es ¥. a4 Oh a+», ¥ ‘ — 4 ren Te ie a if Y Ketan Fe toe By ; : Pe: - ofS = hate A Gig el ve TLS naw | 1963 81 Zz ~ MAY {963 PURCHAS : BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB Volume 83 Number 5 Published: Ist May, 1963 Annual General Meeting The seventy-first Annual General Meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, S.W.7 at 5.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 16th April, 1963. Mr. R. S. R. Fitter took the chair, apologies being received from Major-General C. B. Wainwright, who was indisposed. The minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, held on 17th April, 1962 were read and confirmed. It was proposed by Captain C. R. S. Pitman and seconded by Mr. P. Hogg and resolved that the Report and Accounts for the year 1962 be duly adopted. In the discussion on the Accounts, it was pointed out that the recent increase in the subscription rate was going to be nullified by the latest rise in printing costs. The one way in which the Club’s income can be substantially increased is by members signing Deeds of Covenant and all members were urged to give this their serious consideration as a matter of urgency. Dr. J. G. Harrison proposed and Mr. P. Tate seconded a vote of thanks to Mr. N. J. P. Wadley for his work in managing the sales of past Bulletins, which is so important to the Club’s finances. It was pointed out that any members with back numbers no longer required should send them to Mr. Wadley and it was agreed to consider the possibility of having rare num- bers photostatted, in order to complete long series for sale. It was proposed by Mr. P. Tate and seconded by Mrs. W. Boyd-Watt that a vote of thanks be given to Messrs. W. B. Keen & Co., the auditors. A copy of the Ten Year Scientific Index was shown to the meeting. A vote of thanks to Mrs. B. P. Hall and Miss Francis Duckett for all that they have done towards this Index was proposed by Mr. J. J. Yealland and seconded by Captain C. R. S. Pitman. On the recommendation of the Committee, Mr. C. J. O. Harrison was elected to the Committee vice Mr. P. A. D. Hollom, who retires in rotation. Vol. 83 82 Bulletin B.O.C. The six hundred and seventh meeting of the Club was then held. Chairman: Mr. R. S. R. Fitter. Members present, 20; guests, 3; total: 23. Mr. R. E. Scott addressed the meeting, illustrating his talk with colou1 slides, the subject being: Dungeness Bird Observatory : the first ten years The bird observatory at Dungeness, Romney Marsh, Kent commenced operations in August, 1952 and has progressed into a highly organised institution publishing its own annual report and providing adequate accommodation for visiting ornithologists. Full migrational records are kept and through the offices of the British Trust for Ornithology liason with the other British observatories is effected. The migrational studies can be broadly divided into three headings: the trapping and ringing of migrant birds; a daily census to indicate arrivals, departures, influxes, etc.; and visual observations on actual migrating birds. During the first ten years over 68,000 birds of some 156 species have been ringed, mainly nocturnal passerine migrants (8,500 Whitethroats, 6,000 Willow Warblers, etc.). This bulk ringing and the subsequent recoveries add substantially to the British total, enabling a consideration of migration patterns through Europe to be more fully understood. Briefly, the year’s migration pattern follows the following course: during the winter months with any cold or severe weather conditions typical wintering British species such as thrushes and larks move south and west towards a milder climate and return again with subsequent milder weather. During March and April the British wintering species depart eastward to their Continental breeding areas, while with winds in a southerly quarter birds such as the continental race of the Robin together with Gold- and Firecrests may be d1ifted northwards over the Channel. During April and May, the summer visito1s—including warblers, chats, etc.—arrive on a N.W. heading and at such times easterly weather brings an arrival of drifted vagrants such as Icterine Warbler and Blue- throat. During extremely fine weather at this time of the year, ‘‘over shooting’? may occur, when Golden Oriole, Red-footed Falcon or some other species with a southerly distribution come further north than was intended. The pattern followed in the autumn is similar, but, of course, in the teverse direction. The autumn, however, provides far greater numbers of birds and considerably more variations on the basic pattern. The trapping and ringing aspect of the observatory’s work provides sccepe for several ancillary studies, which include weights and _ their variation, measurements and structure, moult, plumage variation and parasites. The steadily increasing numbers of retraps show well the regularity with which an individual bird returns to its same breeding or wintering quarters, Ee ee Bulletin B.O.C. 83 Vol. 83 The Ten-year Scientific Index The scientific index of the Bulletin covering the period 1950-1959 inclusive has now been published at the price of ten shillings. Application should be made to the Hon. Treasurer, P. Tate, 4 Broad Street Place, London, E.C.2. Donors to the Index Fund will have received a complimentary copy. Albinistic patterning in a drake Teal by C. B. WAINWRIGHT Received 13th November, 1962 The occurrence of albinistic patterning in certain species of the Anatidae has been recorded by the Harrisons (1961), involving a white neck spot, white chin spot and symmetrical white primaries. They have recorded this in the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Linnaeus, the Mandarin Aix galericulata (Linnaeus), the Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata Linnaeus and Salvadori’s Duck Anas waigiuensis Rothschild and Hartert. Although they have also recorded a white neck spot and semi-rings in Teal Anas crecca crecca Linnaeus, they have no records of white primaries occurring in this species in association with a white neck spot. It is of interest therefore to record that on 3rd August, 1962, I trapped and ringed a drake Teal at Abberton Reservoir, Essex. The bird was in eclipse plu- mage and the third and fourth primaries of each wing were completely white. There was a white patch at the base of the neck anteriorly and pale patches were present on the webs of both feet. Reference: Harrison, James M. and Jeffery G. Albinistic patterning in the Mallard, Muscovy, Mandarin and Salvadori’s Ducks. Bull. B.O.C. 81., pp. 168-172. The Indigo Birds by C. M. N. WHITE Received 18th December, 1962 The Indigo Birds are members of the Viduinae, sometimes placed in a separate genus Hypochera, but better included in Vidua, since they only differ from typical members of that genus in that males in breeding dress do not develop elongated tail feathers. Male Indigo Birds in breeding plumage are black with usually a metallic iridescence which may be pure green, steel green, blue-green, blue or violet; sometimes they are more or | less matt black with or without a violet tinge. In addition there are two | other variable characters. The primaries are mostly drab brown but are usually black in the north of the range. Soft parts may exhibit red bills and | feet or whitish bills and pinkish-brown feet. On the basis of various com- | binations of these characters a number of species have been described, and there is little agreement among students as to how many species should Vol. 83 84 Bulletin B.O.C. be recognised. I do not propose to recapitulate here the varying views on the species accepted by different writers, as these can be found in readily accessible standard works. It is, however, worth noting that some writers have expressed doubt as to how to distinguish between the females and non-breeding males of various ‘‘species’’; moreover, it is difficult to know how those who have claimed to assign females and non-breeding males to different species have been able to do so, since in most parts of Africa more than one ‘“‘species’’ occurs, and few if any specimens have been collected with associated males in breeding dress as unquestionable breed- ing pairs. Indigo Birds are almost certainly polygamous and certainly parasitic on Firefinches (Lagonosticta) so that data on their breeding biology are very scanty, and throw no light upon the question of how many species exist. As many as four ‘‘species’’ of Indigo Bird are sym- patric in some areas, and where reliable field data exist, as in Central Africa, there is no evidence that these ‘‘species’’ are ethologically or ecologically distinct. If several species exist, they present an exceptional example of very closely related species living completely sympatrically with identical habits and behaviour. In an earlier note (Bull. B.O.C. 1962, 82, 22-26) I reviewed the situation in the Rhodesias and Nyasaland, and suggested that perhaps only a single polymorphic species exists, possibly with polytypic variations. Since then I have been able to examine the material in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) and the Musée de 1’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, and this has per- mitted the elaboration of my earlier analysis. The metallic iridescence of Indigo Birds can be divided into two main groups. The first of these consists of green, greenish-blue and blue birds. The second consists of glossy purplish and matt black or purplish-black birds. Examples can be found which may be difficult to assign to one or the other of these groups but in general they are fairly clearly defined. Bill colour is often easy to recognise even if it has not been noted on skins, foot colour is unsatisfactory because many specimens lack the information on their labels, and it is usually not possible to decide from dried speci- mens what the colour was in life. The West African Indigo Birds Apart from names generally regarded as synonyms, six names have been accepted by different writers as validly applicable to the Indigo Birds living between Senegal and the Cameroons. I have examined about 80 males in breeding dress from this area. By far the commonest type occur- ing is steel green, and these steel green birds can be divided into three groups :— i. Small birds with red feet and blackish primaries: wing 62-65 mm. (chalybeata). ii. Similar but bluer birds (neumanni). iii. Steel green birds with brown primaries and brownish feet; slightly larger, wing 64-67 mm. (camerunensis). Typical chalybeata is represented by ten males from Senegal and Bulletin B.O.C. 85 Vol. 83 Mali. From the same two countries there are also six birds which only differ in being a brighter and purer green. These represent aenea. It is difficult to believe that these last represent a different species rather than a purer green variant of chalybeata, and I regard them as the latter. From Gambia and Portuguese Guinea there are seven green Indigo Birds available. Two from Gambia agree with chalybeata, three from Gambia and one from Portuguese Guinea represent camerunensis, and one from Portuguese Guinea is a pure green bird of the aenea type but with primaries and soft parts like camerunensis. This is the ‘‘species’’ which was described as nigeriae. From Sierra Leone I have seen nine males of which Six are camerunensis, two are nigeriae and one is chalybeata. Chalybeata differs from camerunensis only in its blacker primaries and redder feet, and it is suggested that each of these characters may be controlled by a single gene, and that from Gambia to Sierra Leone transition thus occurs from chalybeata to camerunensis by a mixed population, with black primaried birds becoming scarcer southwards. Since nigeriae represents a pure green variant of camerunensis analogous to aenea as a pure green variant of chalybeata, it is suggested that there is no justification for regarding nigeriae as a species. For the remainder of West Africa the data are as follows :— Ghana— one ‘‘nigeriae’’; Nigeria—(except north-east) 24 camerunensis, two ‘‘nigeriae’’; Cameroons—two camerunensis, two ‘‘nigeriae’’. Two examples from Ubangi (Yakota and Irena) are also camerunensis. Four males from north-east Nigeria represent neumanni as defined above, a form transitional from chalybeata to the blue ultramarina of Sudan and Ethiopia. Although I prefer taxonomically to unite this intergrade with ultramarina, it is convenient to use the name in this context to refer to these birds. Thus far there seems no reason to believe that these green West African Indigo Birds represent more than a single polytypic species. The remaining West African Indigo Birds are purplish: they consist of one from Senegal, one from Portuguese Guinea, seven from Nigeria and one from the Cameroons. These represent wilsoni. | believe they are merely a purple variant of the steel green camerunensis which they other- wise resemble. All the female and non-breeding males from the area just discussed are alike. The north-eastern Indigo Birds I include here Ethiopia and the Sudan south to the Nile—Uelle water- shed. Fifteen males from Eritrea and Ethiopia and 19 males from the Sudan are remarkably constant. They are a rich blue in colour with black primaries and apparently red feet. Their females and non-breeding males are more sharply streaked above than those of West Africa on a paler ground colour. There is a slight size variation, Ethiopan males having wings 64-67 mm. and those of the Sudan 59-65 mm. Westwards from Darfur to Chad they tend to become a little greener as they intergrade with nominate chalybeata. There is no difficulty in recognising these blue Indigo Birds as u/tramarina. In the Bahr-el-ghazal and the Uelle area, however, specimens are either steel green or purple as are four from Vol. 83 86 Bulletin B.O.C. Torit. They agree with the West African birds which evidently extend east of Ubangi into this area. Their females also agree better with West African birds. There are a few anomalous Indigo Birds from North East Africa. Two males from north-west Ethiopia (Gallabat and Lake Tana) are indistin- guishable from the steel green West African camerunensis; two birds from the Uelle-Nile water parting are like them but have red bills and are indistinguishable from southern African amauropteryx; one example from Darfur is pure green ‘‘nigeriae’’. Those who recognise several species of Indigo Bird will have to extend the distributions of these ‘“‘species’’ far outside their normal ranges to account for these sporadic birds. Unless Indigo Birds migrate long distances and sometimes remain behind in breeding dress, which is not perhaps completely impossible, but for which there is no evidence, these aberrant examples will have to be regarded as aberrations arising from the polymorphic nature of a single species. Tropical East Africa All the Indigo Birds of Kenya, Uganda, Ruanda Urundi, Kivu and Tanganyika south to the railway line are bluish-green birds with pale bills, sometimes (? always) reddish feet, rather dusky brown primaries. Oc- casionally they have a rather purplish tinge. I find difficulty in discerning any well marked colour phases in this area. The females and non-breeding males are well streaked above like u/tramarina but darker. They represent centralis. In the Congo north of the Katanga they seem to merge west- wards into steel green birds like the West African camerunensis in Kasai and the lower Congo. These western Congo birds have females and non- breeding males usually well streaked above as in centralis, and no doubt represent a transition from West African birds to centralis. | think they are best left as part of the West African form, but the earliest name for the latter is wilsoni, and it may be that camerunensis which was actually based on birds from northern ex-French Congo could be applied to the western Congo birds if it is desired to separate them. Southern and Central Africa Polymorphism is most marked in this area and this no doubt explains in part why some writers have been led to accept so many possible species of Indigo Bird. Purple birds (funerea) occur from Natal to southern Tanganyika and to the Katanga. About half of the series of some 250 males from these areas are in fact funerea. It seems likely that purple birds from south of the Limpopo have red feet; further north pinkish or brownish feet. This could be used to distinguish two forms if the purple birds were a distinct species from the steel green ones, but if they are phases of a single species, it would hardly suffice to enable 50% of the examples to be separated. I do not therefore believe that this variation in foot colour is of taxonomic significance. A number of birds from the Rhodesias, Nyasaland and northern Portu- guese East Africa differ from funerea in lacking the purple iridescence; they appear to be matt black or purplish-black. This appears to be due to the Bulletin B.O.C. 87 Vol. 83 failure of these individuals to develop the structure of the feather barbules requisite for iridescence, and is analogous to a similar but much rarer phenomenon found for example in sunbirds. These matt birds represent nigerrima. | regard them as a phase of funerea. The other 50° of southern and central birds are steel green with red bills and feet and represent amauropteryx. They look surprisingly different from funerea and it is not remarkable that they have long been regarded as a species. Their range is slightly different from the purple birds, for they are largely absent in Northern Rhodesia west of the Luangwa and north of Broken Hill and in the Katanga may be wholly lacking. They pre- dominate over funerea in the dry and hot areas of the lower and middle Zambezi valley and in the Luangwa valley, but funerea occurs with them in the Shire valley in south Nyasaland. The only example seen from Ovamboland is of amauropteryx type. My reasons for doubting that amauropteryx represents a distinct species apart from its lack of ethological features where it is sympatric with funerea are as follows. In the north-east of its range, amauropteryx often loses its red bill which is replaced by whitish. One from Southern Rhodesia, one from Bechuanaland, six from Northern Rhodesia and 13 from Nyasaland are of this type. Such white-billed birds also sometimes are purer, less steel green, and on this type was based codringtoni which I regard as a pure green variant analogous to nigeriae and aenea. A series from Rukwa in south-west Tanganyika and one from Iringa are also of this type. These white-billed green birds of Southern Africa merge into orientalis in Tanganyika, and are hardly separable from West African - green birds except by their red feet. Thus the red-billed amauropteryx is certainly not a distinct species but forms part of the polytypic totality of steel green Indigo Birds. The southern and central purple funerea are inseparable from wi/soni in its purple West African phase apart from the fact that all southern and central African females and non-breeding males are darker and more streaked above than those of West Africa. If funerea and amauropteryx in southern and central Africa are considered to be distinct species, then of course the purple birds which occur sporadically from Senegal to the Cameroons and the Uelle will have to be regarded as funerea. I believe that the foregoing facts justify the view that all steel green Indigo Birds, for which the earliest name is chalybeata are a single poly- typic species, which occurs also in a pure green variant morph in scattered localities and grades into a blue geographical form in north-east Africa. | have not demonstrated so conclusively that the purple birds also represent a phase of the same species, but it appears to me to be at least as likely that they are a phase as that they represent a separate species. Poly- morphism in Indigo Birds is in any case no less probable as an explanation than the now generally accepted polymorphism in Paradise Flycatchers. Before the purple birds are treated as a distinct species, better field evidence to support the argument is needed. The trinomial arrangement of a polymorphic species such as this may well give rise to different interpretations. I prefer to adopt a conservative | arrangement and would, from the data provided above, recognise Vol. 83 88 Bulletin B.O.C. Vidua chalybeata_ chalybeata (syn. aenea) ultramarina (syn. neumanni) wilsoni (syns. nigeriae and camerunensis) centralis funerea (syns. amauropteryx, codringtoni, nigerrima and purpurascens.) Dr. L. Auber kindly examined some feathers of various phases of Indigo Birds. He reports that feathers other than from matt black birds show **(i) the iridescence is not confined to the barbules inserted along the distal facet of the barb, but is seen also on the corresponding barbules inserted along the proximal facet of the barb, and (ii) the iridescent terminal barbule portions (modified pennula) are less broadened than in Sturnus, their individual cells have less distinctly rectangular outlines, and each of the cells has its two terminal corners distinctly protracted into cilia.’’ The feathers of the matt black type show moderate broadening of the -pennula (and absence of hooklets from a considerable tip portion of the vane), and thus ‘‘a certain degree of the morphological specialisation that is rendered more prominent by iridescence’’ in the metallic phases. This appears to support the view already advanced above that the matt black ‘““nigerrima’’ merely represents a failure to develop the normal feather structure. The feathers of the pure green ‘‘nigeriae’’ show a higher degree of broadening of the modified pennula than in other iridescent birds, which, Dr. Auber writes, would result in a more intense green than the steel green birds. Thus the pure green phase is due to over development of certain structural features in some individuals, i.e. the reverse of the under development of the matt type. For assistance in these studies I am greatly indebted to the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) and the Musée de 1’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, for facilities to examine material, and to Dr. L. Auber for his microscopic examination of feather samples. A congenital abnormality in the beak of a Curlew by JEFFERY G. HARRISON Exhibited at the February Meeting Through the kindness of N. T. Davey, a member of the Wildfowlers’ Association of Great Britain, | have received a Curlew Numenius arquata Linnaeus, which he shot on 29th October, 1962 on the Wash near Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire. The bird was a female in good condition, weighing 1lb. 1240z. (weights of two females shot in December, 1962, IIb. 1440z. and 2Ib. 40z.). It was normal in every way except for its beak. As can be seen from the photo- graph, the upper mandible is grossly shortened, being 53 mm. short of the tip of the lower. In other respects, this is a normal upper mandible. The lower mandible is of normal length for a female (132 mm.), but at a point 8 mm. proximal to the end of the upper mandible there is a swelling and an incomplete fracture is present, the distal part of the fractured lower Bulletin B.O.C. 89 Vol. 83 Congenital bill deformity in a Curlew, showing the ‘‘short upper beak’’ and incomplete fracture of the lower mandible. mandible being displaced downwards. The skull was prefectly developed and showed the normal partial pneumatisation, typical of the species. The rest of the body and the limbs were all normal. The only evidence of injury in the beak is the incomplete fracture of the lower mandible. There is no doubt that this has been brought about gradually due to abnormal stresses on the unprotected projecting part, while the bird was feeding. It is remarkable that it had been able to keep itself in such reasonable condition with such a deformity, which, in my opinion, is due to the congenital defect known as ‘‘short upper beak’’. Discussion: Congenital abnormalities in the beaks of wading birds are rare. Dr. James Harrison (1947) has recorded a remarkable case of a Bar- tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Linnaeus with a bifid lower mandible, considered to be due to a congenital failure of the two halves of this mandible to fuse. In a previous paper, Dr. Janet Kear and I (1962) described three types of congenital abnormalities in the beaks and skulls of wildfowl, based largely on eggs which failed to hatch at the Wildfowl Trust, the majority being wild Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus. One was the condition of ‘‘short upper beak’’, which was found to occur either by itself or in association with acrania or meningocoele. In that paper we wrote as t | | follows:— **In poultry, the condition of ‘‘short upper beak’’ is well known, often in association with micromelia (embryos with reduced limbs). This is discussed by Waddington (1952). A recessive gene known as ‘“‘short Vol. 83 ; 90 Bulletin B.O.C. upper beak’’ was extracted by Landauer (1941) from a Houdan cross-bred flock. Originally it produced extreme inhibition of the growth of the maxilla and of the long bones of the limbs, usually resulting in death before hatching. Continued selection resulted in a stock in which the effects of the gene are much less severe and the homozygotes are often viable. One would have imagined that the presence of the “‘short upper beak’’ would always prevent hatching, but this is not so, for Hilprecht (1956) has recorded Mute Swans Cygnus olor Linnaeus, both on Lake Geneva and in Hamburg with this condition, so that they had to feed with their heads on one side. The Curlew is obviously a further case in point. It is of interest that six examples of congenital bill deformities should have been found at the Wildfowl Trust in 1961, whereas none was found in 1962. One is tempted to wonder whether there is any underlying external cause at work. Waddington records that insulin injections to 5-day embryos produce ‘‘short upper beak’’ deformities. The recent discovery that an infertile egg of a Peregrine Falco peregrinus Linnaeus from Perth- shire contained no less than four toxic agricultural sprays of the chlorinated hydrocarbon group brought this to mind. (Moore and Ratcliffe, 1962.) These must have got into the egg via the falcon, which had absorbed them from her prey, which would most likely be pigeon, which had eaten contaminated corn. Do seed dressings cause congenital deformities, as yet another harmful side-effect? Wildfowl and Curlew are corn-eaters at times and it is certainly something which should be investigated. Acknowledgements: | must thank Mr. N. T. Davey for sending me the Curlew described and Mr. Peter Whitaker for sending me three others for comparison. Dr. Janet Kear and Dr. James Harrison have advised me on this note and Dr. Pamela Harrison took the photograph for me. I am very grateful to them all. References : Harrison, James M. (1947) ‘‘Malformation of Bill of Bar-tailed Godwit’’. British Birds, XL. 92-3. Harrison, Jeffery G. and Kear, Janet (1962) ‘‘Some Congenital Abnormalities in the Beaks and Skulls of Wildfowl’’. Veterinary Record 74, 632-633. Hilprecht, A. (1956). ‘‘ Hocherschwan, Singschwan, Zwergschwan.’’ A. Ziemsen Verlag, Wittenberg Lutherstadt. Moore, N. W. and Ratcliffe, D. A. (1962) ‘‘Chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in the egg of a Peregrine Falcon (Falco Peregrinus) from Perthshire. Bird Study, 9, 242 - 4. Non-melanic, carotenistic and allied variant plumages in birds by C. J. O. HARRISON Received 20th November, 1962 _ There has been some confusion in the past in the recording and descrip- tion of variant plumages, especially those concerned with red and yellow pigments, and this paper represents an attempt to clarify some part of this. Four terms are usually used in describing plumages showing variant coloration. These are :— Melanism, which refers to an increase in melanic pigment resulting in an abnormally dark plumage; A/hinism, which refers ne Bulletin B.O.C. 91 Vol. 83 to loss of pigment producing a paler or white plumage; Erythrism, which refers to the replacement of black eumelanin and brown phaeomelanin by a third chestnut-red melanin, giving the plumage a reddish appearance; and Xanthism or Xanthochroism, which term must infer that there is an increase in the yellow pigment resulting in a plumage which appears yellow or yellower than the normal. It is the latter term which has been used for the type of variant plumages which are described here. It would appear that there has been confusion between two entirely different forms of plumage variation, and that some plumages which have been described as Xanthic are the result of schizo- chroism, while others are true carotenistic or allied variants. In desciibing and discussing such plumages it has not been possible to make an ex- haustive search through literature but it is considered that the variant individuals examined, or to which reference has been found, are sufficient to indicate the different types of colour change that occur. Most of the study skins examined are those in the collection of the British Museum (Natural History) and, where reference is made to these, the reference number is given. SCHIZOCHROISM Within many populations of birds having plumages containing melanin pigments individuals occur in which this pigment is absent. This loss can be of two types. ‘‘Leucistic’’ individuals have melanin pigment present which colours the body, giving dark eyes and colouring the soft parts, but the melanin does not enter the feather structure and the plumage is white. **Albinistic’’ individuals show an absence of melanin in the body as well as the plumage, the most obvious indication of this being the pink colour of the eyes. If a carotene or similar pigment is present this may not be affected by the loss of melanin. The species in which this is most clearly seen, and in which it is most widely known, is the Budgerigar, Melopsittacus undulatus. Loss of melanin can occur together with retention of the yellow pigment present in most of the plumage, resulting in a bird which appears yellow in colour. The converse situation can occur in which the yellow pigment is lost but the melanin remains. The structural element also present in the feathers modifies the appearance of the eumelanin, and the bird appears blue in colour. This phenomenon of the separation and loss of pigments, resulting in individuals differing in colour from the normal, the colour of which was due to the combined effect of the pigments, is called schizochroism. In the case of similar pigment separation in a species such as the Canary, Serinus canarius, one can describe the yellow form as a non-melanic example of melano-carotenoid schizochroism, and the equivalent form which lacks the yellow pigment as a non-carotenoid form of melano- carotenoid schizochroism. Unfortunately there is no similar term available for the Psittacidae. It has been found that the red and yellow pigments of many parrots, including the Budgerigar, are not carotenes, and these have at present no name (Fox and Vevers 1960). As a result it is not possible to define the plumage variants in similar terms although the homology can be recognised. The vernacular name used for red-eyed yellow-plumaged Vol. 83 92 Bulletin B.O.C. varieties of both parrots and finches is ‘‘Lutino’’. This is unsatisfactory, firstly because homologous plumages in some species are not necessarily yellow, and secondly because lutein is a particular carotene pigment which is not found in the Psittacidae and Fringillidae. Melanic schizochroism can occur (Harrison 1963) in which the eumela- nin and phaeomelanin are separated to produce either fawn or grey individuals. This is of comparatively frequent occurrence in many avian families. The non-melanic examples of melano-carotenoid schizochroism, or its equivalent form, appear in a number of species. The following list, while not exhaustive, give some idea of the range of families in which this variant can occur. COLUMBIDAE Many-coloured Fruit Dove, Ptilinopus perousii. (B. M. no. 1864. 4. 7. 3). This is one of the fruit pigeons which are normally mainly green in colour. In this specimen the plumage is yellow where it would normally be green, and white where the normal bird is grey. (See Goodwin 1959). PSITTACIDAE Budgerigar. Melopsittacus undulatus. The non-melanic form is widely bred in captivity, and is typically yellow, with white on the flight feathers and tail. The black barring on wing-coverts, mantle and head, together with the moustache streaks and spots below the bill, are replaced by unpigmented areas which appear white. Nyasa Lovebird, Agapornis lilianae. Alexandrine Parrakeet, Psittacula eupatria. Plum-headed Parrakeet, Psittacula cyanocephala. Ring-necked Parrakeet, Psittacula krameri. Red-rumped Parrakeet, Psephotus haematonotus. Blue-winged Grass Parrakeet. Neophema chrysostomus. Boosey (1962) records non-melanic examples of the above species, in which those parts of the plumage which are normally green appear yellow. The absence of melanins also modifies the colour of areas of signal plumage on such individuals where the apparent colour was partly due to melanin. The red face-patch of A. /ilianae is not affected, but the maroon wing-patches of P. eupatria become brick-red. The head of P. cyanocephala retains its rose-pink colour in the variant birds but lacks the bluish bloom of the normal individual. P. krameri is peculiar in that the black of the neck-ring is retained in the yellow variety. This suggests that this signal plumage is controlled by a different gene. Psephotus haematonotus shows sexual difference, the cock retaining some melanin and appearing pale green. The red rump is retained in the non-melanic form. African Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus. The normal bird is grey with a scarlet tail. Non-melanic individuals are white with a scarlet tail. There is a mounted specimen of this variety in the public gailery of the British Museum (Natural History). SYLVIINAE Wood Warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix. Sage (1962) illustrates a non- melanic hen of this species. The bird is dark-eyed and appears to be a a Bulletin B.O.C. 93 Vol. 83 leucistic form. Loss of melanin is not complete. There appears to be a faint suggestion of it on the head, and a dark feather near the carpal joint of the left wing. The bird is described as primrose-yellow on head and back, and darker yellow on the shoulders and tail-coverts, with white under parts and white outer tail feathers. It was associating with a cock which showed partial melanin loss, resulting in a yellow patch on the crown, the plumage being otherwise normal. PARIDAE Blue Tit, Parus caeruleus. Rollins (1962) has described a non-melanic individual. This was white on the head, wings, and tail, with yellow on back, rump, scapulars, and under parts. FRINGILLIDAE Canary, Serinus canarius. The yellow form of the canary originated as a non-melanic form, but the distribution of yellow in many individuals suggests that mutations have arisen since in which here has been an increase in the distribution of carotene pigments over the plumage. Siskin, Carduelis spinus. The non-melanic form has been bred in captivity. In an article in ‘‘Cage Birds’’ of 4th February 1960, R. Jefferson described and illustrated an example of this. He had bred two such birds, both cocks, which were described as yellow in colour, with faint traces of the normal melanin pattern appearing on feathers acquired at the first moult. Greenfinch, Carduelis chloris. This again has been bred in captivity. Non-melanic hens are mainly white with yellow on belly, wing-flashes, and outer tail feathers. The cocks are yellow over much of the body, having a more extensive distribution of carotene pigment than the hens. Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis. Stresemann (1924) described a Goldfinch lacking melanin pigment. This bird was white with a ted face-patch and the normal yellow bars on the wings. PLOCEIDAE Black-headed or Golden-backed Weaver, Ploceus jacksoni. A wild- caught specimen from Uganda (B. M. no. 1929. 1. 7. 43) is almost entirely yellow, this being deepest on the head, wings, and tail. The normal adult cock has a black head, chestnut mantle, and the feathers of wings and tail mainly black and greenish. ESTRILDIDAE Common or St. Helena Waxbill, Esirilda astrild. A specimen taken in the Sudan (B. M. no. 1887. 9. 28. 126) is white instead of the normal brown, but retains the scarlet streak through the eye, and a pink patch on the belly. It can be seen from descriptions given here that the loss of melanin does not cause an alteration in the distribution of the other pigments present. The carotenes and other pigments appear in those parts of the plumage where they are apparent in the normal bird. It would however appear, as is the case of the weaver, that heavy melanisation of plumage may mask the carotenoid pigment also present in the feathers. Both types of non- melanic variants may retain non-melanic pigments, and the non-melanic Vol. 83 94 Bulletin B.O.C. individuals described might be either leucistic or melanistic. Both types of yellow individual have been bred in the Budgerigar. In such plumages as have been described here there is no evidence of feathers becoming yellow or yellower, but merely of melanin loss revealing pigments already present. The term ‘‘xanthic’’ or ‘‘xanthochroic’’ would appear in- applicable to such variant plumages. CAROTENISTIC AND ALLIED VARIANTS It has been possible to find only four examples of apparent mutations modifying the visual appearance of red or yellow pigments. Three of these are concerned with carotenes and could be called examples of carotenism, one of these being of a type which might qualify as xanthism in the strict sense of the term. The fourth example is concerned with pigment in a species of parrot. The latter example was also described by Rensch (1925) who used the term ‘‘lipochroismus’’ when describing it. These examples appear to show four different types of variation, involving :— a. Change in distribution of pigment. b. Increase in the amount of pigment. c. Change in colour of pigment. d. Replacement of melanin by a non-melanic pigment. Change in the distribution of the pigment, which in this case is carotene, was shown by a Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis, bred in captivity by S. Evans, and described by him in *‘Cage and Aviary Birds’’ 13th September 1962, p. 256. According to this description the red colour, usually confined to the anterior part of the head, extends back to the black band at the back of the head, and the usual narrow grey band on the nape is replaced by red and bronze. The breast is orange, and this extends right to the under — tail-coverts. The normally light brown contour feathers are a rich reddish- brown. In addition to the yellow on the flight feathers, the rump and mark- ings on the tail, normally white, are yellow in this bird. The red and yellow carotenes, normally present in part of the plumage appear to have spread to both the unpigmented and melanised feathers. Increase in the amount of pigment present was shown by a specimen of the Blue-headed Wagtail, Motacilla flava flava, collected in Africa by Dr. W. Serle, described by him (1959) and now in the collection of Dr. J. M. Harrison. Serle described the bird as orange in colour, but in a more recent examination of the specimen it was found that the colour difference was less marked than this. The normal bright lemon-yellow of the under side of the species was, in this specimen, a very deep yellow with a slight orange tint, similar to the Deep Chrome of Ridgway’s colour standards. The olive-green of mantle, back and rump, was modified to a bright golden green rather similar to that found on the mantles of some tropical woodpecker species, while most of the rest of the plumage, apart from the head, was suffused with this deep yellow tint. The head was the normal pale blue and white of the adult male, but Milne (1959) has pointed out that in this species head coloration appears to be controlled by genes different from those responsible for the colour of the rest of the plumage, and varies independently. : | Bulletin B.O.C. 95 Vol. 83 The difference in colour between this individual and the normal mem- bers of the species is very similar to that shown by ‘‘colour-fed’’ canaries compared with the usual non-melanic yellow forms. In colour-feeding the individual is fed during the period of moult with food rich in red carotenes. Although the canary is unable fully to utilise red carotene or convert yellow carotene to red pigment in the way that the goldfinch is said to do, a certain amount of the red carotene is taken up and the plumage, instead of appearing pale yellow, became deep yellow or almost orange. This is purely temporary and depends on the food taken during or before the moult. One may speculate on the possibility that the abnormal colour shown by the wagtail might have been a temporary change due to nutrition rather than a permanent mutation. To some extent the latter specimen shows evidence of the third type of variation; namely change in the colour of the non-melanic pigment. A more marked example of this was a Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis, recorded by Col. R. Meinertzhagen, who possesses a painting of the bird together with a tuft of feathers from it (Meinertzhagen 1963). In this species the normal green colour of most of the plumage is produced by melanin combined with a yellow pigment. In the individual concerned this yellow was mostly replaced or masked by a red pigment, so that the bird has a striking orange-red coloration. This effect can again be reproduced artificially. During a study of the loss of red colour in the plumage of captive birds of various species Rhodoxanthine, an extract of the red pigment found in Yew (Taxus baccatus) berries, was given to various species during the moult (V6lker 1958). When this was fed to Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis) it was found that the normally yellow wing bar became red. This again was a temporary effect, and one may speculate as to whether the abnormal colour shown by the woodpecker had a genetic or nutritional origin. The last type of variation appears to be peculiar to the Psittacidae. Rensch (1925) described an example of the African Grey Parrot, Psittacus erithacus, in which odd grey feathers were replaced by red feathers at successive moults. The normal plumage of this species is grey, with a scarlet tail, and these new feathers resembled the tail in colour. There is a specimen of this species in the British Museum (B.M. No. 1887, 9, 28, 291) taken in Africa, in which the greater part of the plumage shows this red colour. The breast, belly and under tail-coverts are pinkish red with a few grey feathers, the upper breast and throat are grey with scattered pink feathers. The flanks, rump, upper tail-coverts, back, and tertials are a deeper red, more like that of the tail, with one or two grey feathers. The lesser wing-coverts are mainly red, and the mantle, greater coverts, and flight feathers are grey with a few red feathers irregularly distributed. Only the ear-coverts, crown, and nape, are pure grey. Some of the grey feathers of the body are tinted with red, or show an irregular distribution of grey and red pigment replacing each other on the feather. Yealland (1960) also mentions the tendency shown by this species to show red feathers in the plumage. Boosey (1962) writing of the non-melanic variety of the Red-rumped Parrakeet, Psephotus haematonotus, records the following—‘*. . . one of Vol. 83 96 Bulletin B.O.C. our yellow hens, which was for two years a normal Yellow except for a few red feathers on the rump, moulted out during 1951 with all her plumage spotted with red feathers, particularly on the wings.’’ The red on the rump is normally present only in the male of this species. GENERAL COMMENTS Of the variant plumages described here, those in the first group cannot be regarded either as xanthic plumages or as carotenoid variants, but are simply non-melanic examples of schizochroism. This was recognised by Van Tyne and Berger (1960) who described xanthism as a form of schizo- chroism, giving the non-melanic form of the Budgerigar as an example. The remaining four examples all represent variants in which the yellow or red pigments present differ from the normal in quantity, distribution, or appearance. The first three might be described as examples of ‘‘caro- tenism’’ if this term is used in the rather vague and loose sense in which the terms albinism and melanism are usually applied; but it is probably true to say that these are not covered by current terminology. The schizochroic variants described could potentially occur in any species having both melanic and non-melanic pigments. The carotenistic variants are either accidents of nutrition, or else they represent new mutations within the species concerned. References : Boosey, E. J. 1962. Foreign Bird Keeping 2nd Ed. Iliffe: London. Fox, H. M. and Vevers, G. 1960. The nature of Animal colours. Sidgewick and Jackson: London. Goodwin, D. 1959. Some colour varieties of wild pigeons. Bull. B.O.C. 79: 3-9. Harrison, C. J. O. 1963. Melanic schizochroism in avian plumage (in press). Meinertzhagen, R. 1963. Mottisfont Diary. (in press). Milne, B. S. 1959. Variation in a population of Yellow Wagtails. Brit. Birds 52 : 281-295. Rensch, B. 1925. Die Farberaberration der Vo6gel. Journ. F. Orn. 73: 514-539. Rollins, N. 1962. Abnormal white, yellow, and fawn plumages. Bull. B.O.C. 82: 83-87. Sage, B. L. 1962. Albinism and melanism in birds. Brit. Birds 55: 201-225. Serle, W. 1959. Exhibition of an aberrant Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava flava Lin- naeus, obtained in British Cameroons. Bull. B.O.C. 79: 2. Stresemann, E. 1924. Schizochroism beim Stieglitz. Ornith. Monatsbr. 32: 114, 172. Van Tyne, J. and Berger, A. J. 1959. Fundamentals of Ornithology. J. Wiley: New York. Volker, O. 1958. Uber die autochthone Enstehung des roten Lopichroms in den Koppffedern des Stieglitzes. (Carduelis carduelis). Journ. f. Orn. 99: 422-5. Yealland, J. J. 1958. Cage Birds in colour. Witherby: London. The differences between Pitta guajana guajana and P.g.affinis by A. HOOGERWERF Received 26th January, 1962 On an earlier occasion I published a paper! on this subject. After study- ing some more material I add a few notes. Voous? identified a bird of this species from Mt. Slamet (western part of Central Java) as West Java’s affinis. The sex of this bird is not mentioned but on account of the wide breast band (6 mm.) I am inclined to consider it a male. It is classified as affinis because of the narrow breast band and the yellowish-buff under parts. Bulletin B.O.C. 97 Vol. 83 As pointed out in my earlier paper [ do not think it justified to consider both these characters as of subspecific value. In the subspecies affinis the variation in the width of the breast band is important and this seems also to be the case in birds belonging to the nominate race because in the three females before me this band varies from 2.5 to 5 mm. Birds belonging to this species appear to vary considerably in the ground-colour of the under parts. The remarks of Hartert that in the female this colour is not white but yellowish-buff proves not to be correct, because in the females too there is much variation on this point. Moreover it is of some importance to point out that the colour impressions one gets from the under parts are highly influenced by the direction whence the light falls on the skin. In the two females before me belonging to guajana, the two of affinis and two perhaps intermediate birds from Central Java, this tint varies from nearly white to buffy light brown in the two birds from Central Java and also the two specimens secured by me in Udjung Kulon (West Java)—which both had very small ovaria—vary importantly in this respect. The breast band in these last mentioned four birds runs from 3 to 6 mm. As in the males and females the nearly white colour on the chin, throat and foreneck varies considerably as is very noticeable in both females from Central Java mentioned above. On the upper surface too there are apparently no other variations than individual ones. There is much difference in the colour of the mantle, _ back and wing-coverts. Some very dark males originate from Bogor and an extremely light male comes from Indramaju: both localities are situated in West Java. The Udjung Kulon females differ importantly too in this respect but one of them—with very dark upper parts—is perhaps not fully adult: it shows dark spots on the pileum and a little brown in some white patches on the wing-coverts. There is furthermore some variation in the extent and tint of the yellow superciliary streak and in the colour of the upper tail and coverts; also the quantity of white on the wings may vary considerably. Post-mortem changes in the plumage of these birds seem to be of little importance, provided the material is not preserved in liquids, for the dark _ skins collected in 1919 and in 1938 near Bogor and Djakarta do not differ much from the dark bird recently shot in Udjung Kulon and the light female from this last area agrees well with a similar bird secured near Madiun in 1935. Size differences of some importance within the same subspecies could not be established in our material but it is again evident from the few measurements given below that birds of both sexes of guajana average larger than affinis, which confirms my earlier findings. A female obtained in the neighbourhood of Semarang (Central Java) with a wing length of 112 mm. seems to belong to the nominate race, known from East Java. A second female from East Java has a wing of 108 mm. but a rather heavy. bill, a third and fourth female from Central Java, with a wing size of 107 and 108 mm. seem to be somewhat intermediate between both these subspecies, though perhaps closer to guajana. Vol. 83 98 Bulletin B.O.C. The discrepancies between the figures given below and those published in my earlier paper, are caused by the fact that the wings were now measured pressed down along the ruler and formerly in the natural position, whereas the bill was now measured along the culmen and for- merly from gape to tip. Measurements: (in mm.) . dod Wing; guajana: 109, 111, 111, 112, 115; affinis: 104, 105, 106, 107, 109 mm. Tail; guajana: 62, 66, 68, 68, 75; affinis: 67, 69, 71, 74, 75 mm. Culmen; guajana: 23, 23.1, 23.5, 23.5; affinis: 20.5, 20.5, 21.5, 22, 23.9 mm. Max., min. and average measurements: guajana affinis Wing: 109-115 104-109 111.60 106.20 Tail: 62-75 67-75 67.80 71.20 Culmen : 23-23.5 20.5-—23.9 23.28 21.68 02 Wing; guajana: 108, 112; affinis: 102, 104 mm. Tail; guajana: 61, 62; affinis: 58, 63 mm. Culmen; guajana: 22.1, 20; affinis: 19, 22.8 mm. Max., min. and average measurements: guajana affinis Wing: 108; 412 102, 104 110 103 Tail : 61, 62 58, 63 61.50 60.50 Culmen: Di Mies 20 19.0228 21.05 20.9 References : 1 Hoogerwerf, A. Over het verschil tussen Pitta g. guaj uajana affinis; Zoélogische Mededelingen, 28, 1947, p. 267/70. f@ 2 Voous, K. H. Note gana pollegtion of Javanese : 948;\p. 91. PURCHASED. at eee Ue TF . mad x Ven >om Ct - . a ny a - é , .PY a Tk , r . “+ - eh BC RUTUALTTVE YS. cd 7 J alt 20) a be are! Fy ta & was On Sis ehopiucdrine.) iy j . d hs, WA te vost } éyit oe ae LF f ve ‘ 4 ~t > v « ren it I eoiticnt. SiS 2" gneeeR oohbel 36 Paes 6 diy Léorqesidlob as | : Pack Pe hisn < oceR: iti anion ots Besotiiown shestosac # eer teri : Hgie Y Ded ore sees, oiparReey cosdod babylon od: bivos! pesiaen ite eect és SG AML ZABASOF vars Al? IOs. ti aha ba bina aourisie A aise gy) OARG boa shor ’ _ , i ; je 2 By0 A Bh irons MRK Aes wHlobor a Mindi A ii iS ined CURBCUP bee Shi KECE D Bit ec heroines ee OK OO GVO ion toe VO. 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CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the B.O.C. and should be addressed to the Editor, Mr. John Yealland, The Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, N.W.1. These should be concise and typed on one side of the paper, double-spaced, with a good margin. The first time a species is mentioned, the scientific generic and specific names should be included. Subsequently the same name need only have the initial letter of the genus. Scientific names are printed in italics and should be underlined in the typescript. References should be given at the end of the paper. Authors introducing a new name or describing a new species or race should indicate this in their title and display the name prominently in the text followed by nom. nov., sp. nov., subsp. nov. as appropriate. 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Members who have back numbers of the Bulletin, which they no longer require are requested to send them to N. J. P. Wadley. SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members annually for 40s. (payable in advance) or per copy 5s., payable to the Hon. Treasurer, P. Tate, 4 Broad Street Place, London, E.C.2 CORRESPONDENCE Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, Dr. J. G. Harrison, ‘‘Merriewood’’, St. Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent. DINNERS AND MEETINGS FOR 1963 21st May, 17th September, 15th October, 19th November and 17th © December. (The October or November meeting will be held jointly with the B.O.U.) — Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by The Caxton & Holmesdale Press, South Park, Sevenoaks, Kent. BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB 2 - SEP 1963 PURCHASED Edited by JOHN J. YEALLAND Volume 83 September No. 6 1963 wi ‘paw i alnaitte oe ih Hers etapa swale he ie erie, $oBbx coe ae git i eae Sheree ATA RE Ae: Prikiris od res eee job My epee. Raosay ecg Sa sins OR { 1963 99 Vol. 83 BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB xe P 2 Volume 83 . 2 We Ee » 7 Number 6 4 the @q ey Hy . an Rac ns Published: 2nd September, 1963 The six hundred and eighth meeting of the Club was held on the 21st May, 1963 at the Rembrandt Hotel, London. Chairman: Major-General C. B. Wainwright Members present, 26; guests 8; Honorary Associates (Overseas) 4; total 38. The summary of his talk was kindly contributed by Dr. G. V. T. Matthews, Scientific Director of the Wildfowl Trust, who addressed the meeting on Sense and nonsense in Mallard orientation Mallard from Slimbridge fly off to the north-west, no matter in which direction they have been transported or how far. This does not depend on the topography of the release point, nor on the age, sex or previous ex- perience of the birds; it is shown throughout the year, by day and also at night, when the birds’ flight path is revealed by a small leg-lamp (detachable in water). Different breeding populations have different orientation tendencies. Those from London fly off south and east, as do duck from Stockholm, Sweden. At Peakirk, Northamptonshire, birds caught in early autumn fly north-westerly, but in winter, when many migrants from the Baltic are in, the birds scatter widely, as would be expected in a mixed population. There is some evidence that the orientation is not a learned one. It is not simply an escape reaction, nor concerned with the re-assembly of a scattered flock—flocks fly even more decidedly north-west than do individuals. It does not last for long, subsequent recoveries being scattered in all directions. While the biological function is thus obscure we can call it ‘nonsense’ orientation. Certainly it helps to make nonsense of some experiments on bird navigation. Thus the immediate homeward orien- tation claimed for some stocks of homing pigeons can more satisfactorily be explained in terms of a northward ‘nonsense’ orientation. The consistent orientation provides a useful tool for investigating the methods by which birds determine directions. By day the sun is the Vol. 83 100 Bulletin B.O.C. reference point. Heavy overcast results in disorientation. Birds with their internal ‘clocks’ reset (by being kept in an artificial day out of phase with the normal one) fly S.W. if six hours fast, N.E. if six hours slow. With clocks twelve hours out they go S.E. around sunrise and sunset but it appears that their sun-angle correcting mechanism unwinds during their ‘night’, as if the sun ran backward after sunset, through south at midnight. Under the stars, time does not appear to enter into the calculations, and directions are probably determined from the alignment of the con- stellations. Under the moon alone the indications are that the angle flown must again be continuously adjusted according to the time of night,(and the day of the month). The Ten-year Scientific Index The scientific index of the Bulletin covering the period 1950-1959 inclusive has now been published at the price of ten shillings. Application should be made to the Hon. Treasurer, P. Tate, 4 Broad Street Place, London, E.C.2. Donors to the Index Fund will have received a complimentary copy. The Lyre-tailed Honey-Guide in the [vory Coast by HARRY A. BEATTY Received 4th February, 1963 The history of ornithological observations in the Upper Guinea forest area of West Africa dates back to the time of its early exploration and includes the names of many notable collectors. Yet not once was any mention made of Melichneutes robustus, the Lyre-tailed Honey-Guide, as occurring there. No specimen was collected; no one reported seeing the bird or even hearing its nasal tooting in the sky. It has been seen in Southern Nigeria, but the forest there is connected with the great block of forested Lower Guinea, where Melichneutes is now known to be very widely distributed. It was my good fortune in 1951-52 to spend about twelve months in the Gaboon, where I visited Mr. P. C. Rougeot at Tshibanga; and at seven different localities I became thoroughly familiar with the strange noises made by the Lyre-tail as it dives from the sky toward the tree-tops. Early in 1960 I started again on an extended trip in West Africa to make collections for the Peabody Museum of Yale University at New Haven, Connecticut. Abidjan on the Ivory Coast was reached on the 17th of March, and on the 31st of March I left for the mountains of the interior. After a flight to Man, three more days of travel by motor lorry brought me to the village of Yale, at the very base of the Nimba Mountains. With the aid of a local guide I was able to reach an altitude of 6,000 feet on Mt. Nimba by the 5th of April. The constant drizzle and frequent electrical storms soon forced us to abandon our mountain camp, and we returned to Y4le village on the 10th of April. Thereafter excursions were made daily from that village into the mountains, and once or twice a week we climbed up the steep slopes to the ridge at the summit. This whole region, montane and lowland alike, is Bulletin B.O.C. 101 Vol. 83 covered with jungly rain forest, its tall trees and undercover closely packed, and interlaced with a tangle of rope-like lianas. The presence of the Lyre-tail in this forest became evident almost at once. At 8 a.m. on the 4th of April, as my guide and three other men were entering the village with me, the unmistakable sounds made by a Lyre-tail in flight came through the crisp air from the direction of the forest. We stood listening, fascinated by the noise, which seemed at first to come from afar, yet gradually to approach us. We agreed that its maker must be about three-fourths of a mile away as the performance ended. This was a morning of brilliant sunshine, yet with mist in the valley. The Lyre-tail gave its serenade four times, only at intervals. Thereafter it seemed to repeat its performance almost daily until the 4th of May. We listened to it on thirteen different days during that period, sometimes only once in a day, but more often two, three, or four times, and on the 19th of April even five times. On the 12th of April a Lyre-tail was judged to have passed within 200 yards of the village in one long con- tinuous flight of almost a half-mile. We heard the bird only on sunny mornings, around 8 or 9 o’clock, but none was heard after the 4th of May, although I remained in the vicinity until the 12th of June. On wet, misty mornings the Lyre-tail remained silent, at least until the fog had been dissipated and the sun came out warm and brilliant. Many natives, here of the Yakoba tribe, were familiar with the noise and referred to it as “‘zierre’’; but not one of them seemed to know it was produced by a small bird. A group of men and women from a place one full day’s walk to the south-east of Yale assured me that they frequently heard the same sounds while working in their coffee plantations. I was convinced they knew it well, but all my efforts to secure a specimen of Melichneutes went unrewarded. On my way back to the coast I stayed for thirteen days at Man, but never did I hear the Lyre-tail there. In any case we may now be certain that the range of the elusive Lyre-tailed Honey-Guide is not restricted to the rain forests of Lower Guinea, including Southern Nigeria, but extends westward to the high forests of the Nimba Mountains, near the junction of the Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Liberia. This is at approximately 74 degrees of north latitude and 8 degrees of west longitude, some 170 miles inland from the coast. A Gadwall with a white neck ring and a review of plumage variants in wildfowl hy JAMES M. AND JEFFERY G. HARRISON Received 27th December, 1962 Through the kindness of the Wildfowl Trust, we have recently received on loan the skin of an adult drake Gadwall Anas strepera Linnaeus with a pronounced white neck ring. The bird was shot by Lord William Percy on 25th February, 1913 on South Uist, Outer Hebrides, and was presented to the Trust by him together with the rest of his wildfowl collection. In our previous note (Harrisons 1959 A) we have recorded this variant in three out of twelve drake Gadwall in our collection, so that it is reason- ably common. This example is, however, quite the most marked of any Vol. 83 102 Bulletin B.O.C. we have seen, the ring being almost comparable to that of a drake Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, as can be seen from the photograph. In addition, the ground colour of the neck and throat, instead of being whitish-brown, is pale chestnut, which also extends to a lesser degree onto the cheeks. On account of these two striking variations, Lord William Percy had labelled the bird as a hybrid Gadwall X Pintail Anas acuta Linnaeus, which is an understandable error. On re-examining our series of Gadwall, we find that one of our three examples (November 1933, Rainham Hall, Kent) also shows this chestnut colour on the throat and neck, as does a further unrecorded example with a white neck ring shot in north Kent in November 1959 (coll. J.M.H.) and it would seem that these two variant characters may be linked. The South Uist bird and the one we recorded from Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh, were presumably of Icelandic nesting stock and it is note- worthy that on Ist July, 1962 a drake Gadwall was seen by one of us (J.G.H.) with a well-marked white neck ring, in Reykjavik. The presence of the white neck ring variant in drake Gadwall probably provides further evidence of the close relationship of this species to the Falcated Teal Anas falcata Georgi, in which the drake as part of the elaborate pattern of the head and neck, also has a constant and well developed white neck ring. We were wrong in attributing this character in our earlier paper (/oc. cit.) on Gadwall variants to a Mallard relationship. Discussion: It is desirable to consider the significance of this and the other variant characters which have been described in wildfowl, both with and without the influence of interspecific hybridisation. C. J. O. Harrison (1963) considers that these variant characters have no greater phylo- genetic significance than that the species displaying them belongs to the Anatidae, or even to some higher taxonomic unit, whereas we regard many of these characters as indicative of a closer relationship at the levels of genus and species. That plumage characters are sufficient to justify this assumption is supported by Delacour (1956) who writes: ‘‘There is even good evidence that the Shovelers do not constitute a monophyletic group: the South American Red Shoveler (platalea) and the Cinnamon Teal (cyanoptera) on the one side; the Australian-New Zealand Shoveler (rhynchotis) and the Blue-winged Teal (discors) on the other, greatly resemble each other in plumage pattern, so nearly that the closest relationship must be assumed*’’. The following variants appear to provide additional evidence of affinity in races or in species well known to be closely related on other morpho- logical and behavioural characters :— 1. VARIANTS WITHIN THE SPECIES (a) The spotted breast shield of the Mallard. This is present throughout the range, but only as an unusual variant in the typical race Anas p. platy- rhynchos, being increasingly common in the Icelandic population and con- stant in the sedentary Greenland race Anas p. conboschas Brehm (Harrison, J. G. 1944). This is a good example of Huxley’s morphic cline. (b) The black V on the chin of the Eider. This is constant in drakes of the *Our italics, Bulletin B.O.C. 103 Vol. 83 Pacific Eider Somateria mollissima y-nigra and is found occasionally in the other races (Delacour 1959). It is a constant feature of the King Eider, Somateria spectabilis Linnaeus, and is therefore another example referable to Group 2. It is even present in ‘‘ghost’’ form in a first summer drake obtained in west Greenland in 1963. (c) Transient white neck ring in Pintail. See white neck spots and rings, Group 3a. 2. VARIANTS RESEMBLING A CLOSELY RELATED SPECIES (a) The barred and spotted breast shield of the Wigeon. This is a not uncommon variant in drake European Wigeon Anas penelope Linnaeus and the same markings are constant in the Chiloé Wigeon Anas sibilatrix Poeppig (Harrisons 1957 A). (b) The barred underparts of the Northern Shoveler. Three of a series of 33 drake Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Linneaus had dark barring covering the whole of the underparts, a character found in the Cape Shoveler Anas smithi (Hartert) and the Australasian Shovelers Anas rhynchotis Latham. (Harrisons 1959 B). (c) The pale facial crescent of the Northern Shoveler. This is a transient character only shown particularly by first year drakes in moult and is beautifully illustrated by Peter Scott in Delacour (1956). This character is constant in adult drakes of the Australasian species A. rhynchotis (Harrisons 1959 B). (d) The white facial band of Tufted Duck. This is a frequent variant in female Tufted Duck Aythya fuliguia Linnaeus and it is occasionally as extensive as in female Greater Scaup Aythya marila Linnaeus; Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Eyton and New Zealand Scaup Aythya novaesee- landiae Gmelin. (Harrison, J. G. 1954 A). It is illustrated by Peter Scott in Delacour (1959). (e) The dark flecking on ithe under parts of Tufted Duck and Greater Scaup. This is a rare variant in the winter plumage of these two species (Harrisons 1961 A: 1962 A), but constant and striking in the New Zealand Scaup. _ (f) The white under tail-coverts of the Red-crested Pochard. We have one duck Red-crested Pochard Nefta rufina (Pallas) in our collection with this character and Mr. Eric Gillham (verbatim) has seen others in St. James’ Park, London. It is a constant feature of the Rosy-bill Netta peposaca (Vieillot). (g) The white under tail-coverts of the Tufted Duck. This is a common variant in female Tufted Duck and is illustrated by Peter Scott in Delacour (1959). It is a constant feature in the Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca (Giildenstadt), Australian White-eye Aythya australis Eyton, Madagascar White-eye Aythya innotata (Salvadori) and Baer’s Pochard Aythya baeri (Radde). (h) The pink breast of the Smew. One example of an adult drake Smew Mergus albellus Linnaeus with a patch of pink on the upper breast is on record (Harrison, J. G. 1954 A). The tint was the same colour as on the breast of the drake Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Linnaeus. (i) The black flecking on the belly of the Grey Lag and Pink-footed Goose. Black flecking, almost amounting to small bars, is a common Vol. 83 104 Bulletin B.O.C. variant in the Grey Lag Goose Anser anser (Linnaeus) and we have one Pink-footed Goose Anser fabalis brachyrhynchus (Baillon), in which it is present as a minimal expression. It is constant and striking in the White- fronted Goose Anser albifrons (Scopoli) and Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus (Linnaeus). (j) The white facial band in the Grey Lag and Bean Goose. Narrow facial bands of white are not uncommon in the Grey Lag Goose and the races of the Bean Goose Anser fabilis (Latham), including the Pink-footed Goose. This character is highly developed in the White-fronted and Lesser White-fronted Goose. It is also frequently seen in the domestic grey goose, when it may be much broader. 3. VARIANTS PRESENTING CHARACTERS WHICH ARE MORE WIDESPREAD WITHIN THE ANATIDAE. : Certain other well-marked variations have been described, which probably also indicate degrees of affinity. (a) White neck spots and rings. This character when seen in its minimal form takes the shape of a white triangular spot anteriorly at the base of the neck. In its complete form it is a ring as in the drake Mallard. This is a — widespread and not uncommon variant in drake European Green-winged Teal Anas crecca crecca Linnaeus (Kuroda 1937; Harrisons 1962 B) and has been recorded in a Yellow-billed Teal Anas flavirostris flavirostris Linnaeus (Harrisons 1958 B). The frequency of this variant and the known relationship of the Green-winged Teals to the Mallard make it probable that these examples could have been included in our second group. Similarly, the present variant Gadwall we believe indicates a relationship to the Falcated Teal, although the Mallard and the Falcated Teal are two more Gistantly related species of dabbling duck, in which the white neck ring has been strongly developed. The drake Northern Shoveler commonly shows a white neck ring as a transient character during moult (Harrisons 1959 B) and a white neck ring is revealed in a hybrid between an Argentine Red Shoveler Anas platalea Vieillot and a Northern Shoveler (Harrisons 1963 A). Both of these characters we believe support Delacour’s views (1956) that the *‘Blue-winged Duck’’ are evolved from Mallard. Peter Scott has also informed us (in /itt.) that some drake Northern Pintail Anas acuta acuta also show transient white neck rings during the eclipse moult. This species is also close to the Mallard and when in this plumage shows a strong resemblance to the bright type of drake Kerguelen Pintail A. a. eatoni Sharpe, as is illustrated by Peter Scott in Delacour (1956). This is therefore a third example of a variant within the species (Group I), as already des- cribed for Mallard and Eider Duck. At the same time it should be noted that white neck rings are widespread in the Anatidae, occurring in some races of the Canada Goose Branta canadensis (Linnaeus), in the Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides (Jardine and Selby), the New Zealand Brown Teal Anas aucklandica nesiotis (Fleming) and possibly the Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histri- onicus (Linnaeus). We do not think that this makes any difference to our conclusions on Teal and Shoveler variants. | In addition, white neck spots occur as part of an albinistic pattern revealed by inbreeding in the Mandarin Aix galericulata (Linnaeus) and Bulletin B.O.C. 105 Vol. 83 Gadwall drake with white neck ring variant. Drake Eider, showing well-marked black V on chin. Hatched from Icelandic egg and died in March 1961 when three years old. Vol. 83 106 Bulletin B.O.C. in Salvadori’s Duck Anas waigiuensis (Rothschild and Hartert), probably from the same cause; while the white ring of the Mallard under these conditions enlarges to produce a pattern similar to the Northern Shoveler (Harrisons 1961 B). (b) White chin spots. These occur as common variant features in drake Red-crested Pochard, European Pochard and Tufted Duck and are constant in the Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris (Donovan) and the Ferruginous Duck. A white chin spot has been recorded as a feature in an inbred Mallard population and in the Mandarin and Salvadori’s Duck (Harri- sons 1961 B). It is a prominent character in some Pochard X Carolina Aix sponsa (Linnaeus) hybrids and in Pochard X Tufted Duck. (c) Bimaculated facial pattern. This is one of the most difficult characters to evaluate and is seen in its extreme form as a normal character in drake Baikal Teal Anas formosa Georgi, as well as some ducks of the species, (Harrison, J. M. 1958 A), but is also present to a lesser degree, as pointed out by C. J. O. Harrison (1963), in both sexes of the Chiloe Wigeon, duck Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca (Linnaeus), duck Scaup (summer plumage only) and duck Harlequin Histrionicus histrionicus. In our paper on plumage sequences in Northern Shoveler (1959 B) we stated that we thought the pale facial crescent of the Australasian and Northern Shoveler is homologous with the anterior half of the bimaculated facial pattern, a view which C. J. O. Harrison supports. This, therefore, brings into this group the Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Linnaeus, the Austra- lasian Shoveler, the Bronze-winged Duck Anas specularis King, the drake Harlequin and Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica (Gmelin). This then links with the loral spot of the Goldeneye Bucephala clangula (Lin- naeus) and the White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus Eyton. As a rare variant, a bimaculated facial pattern occurs in drake European Green-winged Teal (Harrison, J. M. 1954 B) and in albinistic Mallard (Harrison, J. M. 1959 C). In hybrids, a pattern remarkably similar to drake Baikal Teal is revealed in European Green-winged Teal X Mallard —the original ‘‘Bimaculated Duck’’ (Meyer 1857); X Shoveler (Payn, W. H. 1949; Harrison, J. M. 1954 B); X Pintail (Meinertzhagen 1930; Sage 1960): American Green-winged Teal Anas crecca carolinensis Gmelin X Pintail (Sage 1960): Wigeon X Shoveler (Harrison, J. M. 1959 D): Mallard X Grey Duck Anas supercilliosa Gmelin (Manson-Bahr 1953): Pintail X Red-crested Pochard and as a crescent only in Red Shoveler X Shoveler (Harrisons 1963 A). It is not revealed, however, in a hybrid Wigeon X European Green-winged Teal (Harrison, J. M. 1962 C). It was on these grounds that the Baikal Teal was presumed to show a primitive and basic pattern within the Anatidae (Harrison, J. M. 1953). 4. VARIANTS TOWARDS AN UNDIFFERENTIATED PLUMAGE Three species in which the drakes normally have white bellies, have been ; recorded with well-marked spotting. This includes Gadwall (Harrisons 1959 A); Teal and Pintail (Harrisons 1963 B). 5. VARIANTS IN OTHER GROUPS These variants are not limited to wildfowl. Similar findings have been recorded in Great Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopus major (Linnaeus) and Jays Garrulus glandarius Linnaeus (Harrison, J. M. 1951). Several Bulletin B.O.C. 107 Vol. 83 examples of the Robin Erithacus rubecula Linnaeus have been obtained in Britain showing the lower part of the gorget as a broad dark greyish band as in Luscinia a. akahige (Temminck) from the Far East and similarly two Bullfinches Pyrrhula pyrrhula nesa Mathews and Iredale from Britain have been found with characteristics of the eastern Pyrrhula p. griseiventris Lafresnaye (Harrison, J. M. 1946; 1957 B). Summary and Conclusion 1. The white neck ring variant in drake Gadwall is discussed and is shown to be linked with a pale chestnut ground colour on the throat, neck and cheek. 2. Other variants in the Anatidae are summarised. These fall into four groups: 1. Variants within a species—in Mallard Pintail and Eider Duck, the former being a good example of a morphic cline. 2. Variants resembling a closely-related species—eleven examples are given, which taken as a whole, provide further evidence of the relationships involved. 3. Variants presenting characters which are more widespread within the Anatidae. This includes white neck spots and rings, white chin spots and the bimaculated facial pattern. 4. Variants towards an undifferentiated plumage—three examples are given. It is our opinion that all the variants in groups (1) and (2) provide indisputable evidence of an evolutionary relationship, as do many of those in group (3). We see nothing against C. J. O. Harrison’s view that certain ‘‘signal characters’’—for example ‘‘bimaculation’’—are patterns common to the Anatidae, which have become recessively dominant in some species, but remain latent in others. Nevertheless, as we have shown, if two closely related species are considered, in which a ‘‘signal character’’ is well developed in one, but absent in the other, there is a greater chance that variants of the latter will reveal ‘‘signal characters’’ of the former, rather than of some more distant species. This we regard as further evidence of a close phylogenetic and evolutionary affinity between the two. Such discontinuous variants can be very striking and precipitate. C. J. O. Harrison has pointed out that within a family, the evolution of ‘‘signal characters’’ for species recognition is likely to be the same only in widely separated species and the closer the species, the greater the dissimilarity is likely to be. The evolution of the white neck ring in Mallard and Falcated Teal illustrate this. Their ranges overlap, but in the latter the ring is part of an elaborate pattern, in the former it is simple. Closely related to the former are the Green-winged Teal and to the latter, the Gadwall. None have white neck rings, but it is surely more than co- incidence that these species should be the ones to reveal as variants both white neck spots and well-developed rings? “Signal characters’? have been quoted as being a safeguard against hybridisation. This is probably particularly true of the Anatidae of the Northern Hemisphere. It is curious therefore that certain hybrids should Vol. 83 108 Bulletin B.O.C. so closely resemble another species and when one remembers that so many hybrids of the Anatidae are fertile, this would seem to favour the chances of further hybridisation. Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Dr. Geoffrey Matthews, Scientific Director of the Wildfowl Trust for the loan of the Gadwall specimen described and to Dr. Pamela Harrison for the photographs; also to Mr. C. J. O. Harrison of the British Museum (Natural History) for permitting us to see his paper on the Estrildidae before it went to press. Dr. Edmund Gleadow kindly pre- sented us with the drake Eider illustrated here. References : Delacour, Jean (1956). The Waterfowl of the World Vol. U. — (1959). The Waterfowl of the World Vol. III. Harrison, C. J. O. (1963). The Incidence and Origin of Spotted Patterns in the Estril- . didae. The Ibis. 105, 2, 145-55. Harrison, James M. (1946). Exhibition of two Varieties of the Robin. Bul/. B.O.C.., LXVI; 69. — (1951). Some Phylogenetic Trends in Garrulus glandarius Linnaeus and Dendro- copus major (Linnaeus). Proc. Xth. Int. Orn. Congress, 167-172. — (14953) On the significance of variations of pattern in birds. Bull. B.O.C., 73; 37-39. — (1954 B) Further instances of Aberrations of Pattern and Colour in the Anatidae. Bull. B.O.C., 74: 52-53. — (1957 B). Variant Patterning in the Robin and the Bullfinch. Bull. B.O.C. 77: 113-4. — (1958 A). The Baikal Teal in the British Isles; a new record and a note on the incidence of the ‘‘bridled’’ face pattern. Bull. B.O.C., 78; 105-107. — (1959 C). Analagous Variation in Mallard and its possible significance. Bull. B.O.C., 79; 22-25. — eee D). Comments on a Wigeon X Northern Shoveler hybrid Bull. B.O.C., 79; 142-151. — (1962 C). A wild-shot Wigeon X European Green-winged Teal. Bull. B.O.C.., 82; 165-169. Harrison, James M. and Harrison, Jeffery G. (1957 A). Further remarks on variant Wigeon. Bull. B.O.C., 77; 130-131. — — (1958 B). The White neck spot variant in the European Green-winged Teal and the Yellow-billed Teal. Bull. B.O.C., 78; 104-105. — — (1959 A). Plumage Variants in drake Gadwall. Bull. B.O. C., 79; 78-79. — — (1959B). Evolutionary Significance of certain plumage sequences in Northern Shoveler. Bull. B.O.C., 79; 135-142. — — (1961 A). Variant winter plumage of the female Tufted Duck. Bull. B.O.C. 81; 103-105. — — (1961 B). Albinistic Patterning in the Mallard, Muscovy, Mandarin and Salvadori’s Ducks. Bull. B.O.C., 81; 168-172. — — (1962 A). Variant winter plumage in the Scaup. Bull. B.O.C., 82; 43. — — (1962 B). A European Green-winged Teal with a white neck ring. Bull. B.O.C., 82; 88-90. — —(1963 A). Comments on a hybrid Red Shoveler X Northern Shoveler. Bull. B.O.C., 83; 21-25. — — (1963 B). Spotted breast variants in the European Green-winged Teal and the Northern Pintail. Bull. B.O.C., 83; 69-71. Harrison, Jeffery G. (1944) The Races of the Mallard. Bull. B.O.C., LXIV; 58-60. — (1954 A). Onan abnormal Tufted Duck and Smew. Bull. B.O.C., 74; 53-54. Kuroda, N. (1937). An examination on the individual variations among 1,000 Teals. Tori, 9; 273-299. Meyer, H. L. (1857). Illustrations of British Birds and their Eggs. Vol. V1. Manson-Bahr, Sir Philip (1953). Reverse Mutation in Ducks. Bull. B.O.C., 73; 61-62. Meinertzhagen, R. (1930) Nicholl’s Birds of Egypt. Vol. I. Payn, W. H. (1949). A hybrid Teal and Shoveler. Bull. B.O.C., 69; 49-50. Sage, Bryan (1960). Notes on some Pintail X Teal hybrids. Bull. B.O.C., 80; 80-86. Bulletin B.O.C. 109 Vol. 83 Nidification of the genus Melanocharis Sclater (Dicaeidae) by S. A. PARKER Received 28th May, 1963 Mayr and Amadon (1947, p. 12), state that the nidification of the New Guinea flowerpecker genera Melanocharis, Oreocharis and Rhampho- charis is unknown. A revision of part of the egg collection in the British Museum of Natural History has brought to light the nests and eggs of two species of Melanocharis, M. nigra (Lesson) and M. striativentris Salvadori; the eggs of the latter were described by Ogilvie-Grant (1912, p. 12-13). The nest and egg of M. nigra were collected in 1906 by C. Wahnes in the Sattelberg Range, Huon Peninsula, for W. Rothschild. The nest and eggs of M. striativentris were obtained by Emil Weiske during 1899-1900, at 5,000 ft. on the Aroa River, south-east New Guinea. Nests The nest of M. nigra (B.M. No. N.193.457) is an exquisitely woven, unlined cup of umber-brown fern scales, smoothly rounded inside and out, and as deep as it is broad. It is built on to the lateral fork of a hori- zontal twig (which has been incorporated into the base of the nest) and covered externally, especially basally, with a thin meshing of white plant Nest of Melanocharis nigra Sattelberg, Huon Pen. New Guinea. x 14 natural size. Vol. 83 110 Bulletin B.O.C. | Nest of Melanocharis striativentris Aroa R., 5,000’. S.E. New Guinea. x 14 natural size. Bulletin B.O.C. 111 Vol. 83 down and seed pappi; some of the finer strands may well be spiders’ silk. It is decorated externally with pieces of a lichen (Parmelia sp.), the black lower cortices against the nest and the creamy upper sides facing out- wards, in which position the lichen naturally grows. Measurements in mm.: external diam. 51, internal diam. 32, ext. depth 51, int. depth 23. The nest of M. striativentris (B.M. No. N. 60. 1.) is similar in shape; its larger size reflects the relatively larger owner. It is a tightly woven, unlined cup of terra-cotta fern scales, bound with plant down and pappi (and spiders’ silk?) to the fork of a twig growing downwards at an angle of 50° from the horizontal, and thinly covered externally with the same material. The fern scales used here are much finer than those in the first nest, and the interior of the cup has the appearance of baked clay. This nest is also decorated externally with a lichen (Sticta laciniata |Swartz) Ach.), the creamy-green upper cortices facing outwards, though as the under side of this lichen is similar in colour to the upper, the birds have occasionally placed a piece on the nest lower cortex outwards. Measure- ments in mm.: ext. diam., 62 int. diam. 42, ext. depth 74, int. depth 27. Eggs The egg of M. nigra (B.M. No. 1941. 9.4.925) measures 17.9 x 14.3 mm., and almost fills the bottom of the nest. It is ovate and fairly glossy; the ground colour is white, faintly pinkish; blotches and streaks of umber, pale purplish-browns and secondary lilac-greys are distributed over the surface and form a concentrated zone around the larger end. The c/2 of M. striativentris (B.M. No. 1901. 7.4.63—4) has already been described by Ogilvie-Grant (/oc. cit.). Only one egg is measurable; the other is represented by a large fragment. The whole egg is ovate and measures 20.4 x 14.9 mm. It resembles that of M. nigra closely, although its markings are darker shades of the same colours, and the zone occurs nearer the pole of the egg, giving it a capped appearance. All three eggs are similar to those of Dicueum agile, another flower- pecker, though much less heavily marked. Discussion ; Rand (1942, p. 513) describes a nest of Paramythia, another New Guinea flowerpecker. This nest was in the dense branches of a shrubby bush on the forest edge, and not far above the ground. (The sites of the _ Melanocharis nests are not recorded). It was a large, untidy cup composed _ chiefly of moss-like hepatics, with some lichens and semi-woody stems throughout, and had a scanty lining of fine grass stems, rootlets, etc. In the bottom of the nest was a substantial pad of fern scales. It thus differs somewhat from the nests of Me/anocharis in the nature of the materials, the only mosses and hepatics found in the nests of nigra and striativentris being small pieces of Floribundaria and Lejeunea, which were detected on the outsides with a hand lens. It agrees in general shape and use of fern- scales in the construction, however. Apart from the hole-nesting Pardalotus (which also constructs domed nests), Paramythia and Melanocharis are the only dicaeids known to build cupshaped nests. Dicaeum and Priono- chilus (= Anaimos) make pensile nests with side entrances. Mayr and Amadon (/oc. cit.) and Salomonsen (1960) postulate two groups within the family Dicaeidae, expressed by the evolutionary sequence Melanocharis, Rhamphocharis, Prionochilus, Dicaeum and Oreocharis, Paramythia, Pardalotus, with Melanocharis the least and Vol. 83 112 Bulletin’ B.O.C. Pardalotus the most highly-evolved. It is interesting to note that nests built by members of the first group are often of greater structural com- plexity than those belonging to the second, Melanocharis and Paramythia respectively serving as good illustrations. Acknowledgement My grateful thanks are due to members of the Cryptogamic Herbarium staff at the B.M. (N.H.) for kindly identifying the materials used in the construction of the two nests described. References : Mayr, E. & Amadon, D. (1947) A review of the Dicaeidae. Am. Mus. Nov. 1360: 1-32. Ogilvie-Grant, W. R. (1912) Catalogue of eggs in the British Museum, vol. 5. Rand, A. L. (1942) Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 43. Birds of the 1938-39 New Guinea Expedition. Bull. Am. Mus. 79: 425-516. Salomonsen, F. (1960) Notes on flowerpeckers. 1. The genera Melanocharis, Rhampho- charis and Prionochilus. Am. Mus. Nov. 1990: 1-28. Footnote A. L. Rand, (i961 The tongue and nest of certain Flowerpeckers. Fieldiana: Zoology, Vol. 39, No. 53, pp. 581-587) describes the nest of Melanocharis versteri. From the description and photograph it appears to be very similar to the nests described above. Unfortunately, Rand’s paper was not seen until the present note was in press.-S.A.P. The Golden-backed Woodpecker, Chrysocolaptes lucidus (Scopoli) in the Kangean Archipelago by A. HOOGERWERF Received 26th January, 1962 Both specimens of this woodpecker shot by me on the Kangean Islands are females of which only one is adult. The Bogor collection contains only three males and one juvenile female from Java, so that as far as this material is concerned, the adult female from Kangean could not be com- pared with relevant material from Java, but after my return to Holland I compared the Kangean birds with a good series of the subspecies cher- sonesus and strictus from Java at present in the Museum for Natural History in Leyden. Attention was concentrated on this latter race because it is strictus of — which the females have a yellowish crown as in birds from the Kangean — Archipelago. Hartert! found that the only female from Kangean studied by him did not differ in plumage from the females from Java, but he measured a somewhat smaller bill: this is also the case in my material. Vorderman?” obtained a single male when he visited Kangean in 1892, which, he thought, differed from Javan birds on account of the more pinkish under parts. This bird is now in my hands but I cannot discover such a tint, but together with my recently collected female this male differs in other respects from Javan specimens. The feathers of the under surface, especially those on throat, foreneck and chest have much narrower dark edges than is the case in birds from Java, causing the light centre of the feathers to be larger, which gives the under parts quite a different appearance. Moreover the narrow dark streaks on the throat and chin, in nearly all Javan specimens available, are less pronounced or absent in skins from the Kangean Archipelago. The black streak on the sides of the head and the neck is less distinct too; the crown of Vorderman’s male Bulletin B.O.C. 113 Vol. 83 seems not so dark red as in all Java skins studied by me and also old. There is a rather striking difference in the tint of the yellow on the crown of the females, for this colour is more strongly washed with cinnamon than in specimens from Java. The adult female collected by me on Kangean had a small, but well granular ovarium. From the particulars given above it is evident that the Kangean popu- lation of this woodpecker is separable from the subspecies known from Java, which also may average a trifle larger in the bill. Some birds from East Java are in plumage somewhat intermediate between representatives of strictus from West Java and the Kangean population but they seem closer to the latter race. For birds living in the Kangean Archipelago I propose the name: Chrysocolaptes lucidus kangeanensis subsp. nov. Types: 3 Mus. Zo6l. Bogor, No. 2500, May 1892, Ardjasa, Kangean Archipelago (Java Sea); leg. A. G. Vorderman. 2 Mus. Zo6l. Bogor, No. 23. 181, 17th September 1954, Paliath Island, Kangean Archipelago; leg. A. Hoogerwerf. 32 In size not much differing from the subspecies strictus, but the bill and wing may average a trifle shorter in the new race. The general tone of the plumage on the under parts is lighter owing to the narrower edges on the feathers and the somewhat lighter colour, especially upon the feather- ing of the throat, foreneck and chest. The dark streaks on the chin, throat and foreneck are less striking or absent in birds of the new race. The broad, nearly black band on the sides of the head and neck is less pro- nounced in kangeanensis. The red on the crown of the male is lighter in specimens of the new subspecies and the yellow of the occiput of the females is more cinnamon coloured, showing a very few or no black spots at all as in s¢rictus. The three birds from Kangean collected by Vorderman and myself could be compared with about 15 belonging to strictus, present in Bogor and Leyden. Measurements: (in mm.) dd Wing; strictus (Java): 142, 144, 144, 145, 146, 149, 149, 150; kan- geanensis: 139; Tail; strictus (Java): 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 90; kangeanensis: 84; Culmen; strictus (Java): 38, 39, 39.5, 41, 41.5, 41.5, 44.5; kangeanensis: 36.50. Max., min. and average measurements: strictus kangeanensis Wing: 142-150 139 146.13 Tail: 80-90 84 84.75 Culmen: 38—44.50 36.50 40.71 Vol. 83 114 Bulletin B.O.C. OP Wing; strictus (Java): 141, 142, 142, 145, 145, 146; kangeanensis: 142; Tail; strictus (Java): 79, 84, 84, 85, 85, 86; Kangeanensis: 86; Culmen; strictus (Java): 36.50, 37, 39, 39, 39.50; kangeanensis: 36.10. Max., min. and average measurements: strictus: kangeanensis: Wing: 141-146 142 143.50 Tail: 79-86 86 83.83 Culmen: 36.5—39.5 36.10 38.20 References : ' Hartert, Ernst. The Birds of Kangean Islands, Nov. Zodl., 9, 1902, p. 434/5. 2 Vorderman, A. G. Bijdrage tot de kennis der vogels van den Kangean-Archipel, Natvurk. Tijdschrift Ned. Indié, 52, 1893, p. 185/6. On the geographical variation of the Wattle-eye Flycatcher Platysteira peltata (Sundevall) by WALTER J. LAWSON Received 15th January, 1963 This attractive flycatcher ranges from Uganda, Kenya Colony and Tanganyika, west to the southern Congo, Angola and Northern Rhodesia, and south to Nyasaland, Mocambique, eastern Southern Rhodesia, Zululand and Natal. The number of geographic races recognised within the species varies according to the authority. Sclater (1930) admits three: P. p. peltata (Sundevall), 1850: Umlalazi River, Zululand; P. p. jacksoni Sharpe, 1891: Sotik, Kenya and P. p. mentalis (Bocage), 1878: Caconda, Angola, whereas Mackworth-Praed & Grant (1955), and Benson & White (1957) admit only P. p. peltata and P. p. mentalis, placing P. p. jacksoni as a synonym of P. p. mentalis. Chapin (1953) admits as valid races P. p. peltata, P. p. mentalis and P. p. brevipennis Grote, 1928: Magogoni, on the Rufu River, (inland from Dar-es-Salaam), Tanganyika, and regards P. p. jacksoni as a synonym of P. p. mentalis. Sclater (1930) places P. cryptoleuca Oberholser, 1905: Useri River, near Kilimanjaro, and P. p. brevipennis as synonyms of P. p. peltata. As a result of a recent reassessment of the geographical variation exhibited in Platysteira peltata, conducted at the Durban Museum, it became apparent that at least three races must be recognised in our formal grouping of the populations into subspecific taxa. From Natal, Zululand, north through coastal Mocambique as far Bulletin B.O.C. 115 Vol. 83 north as the lower Zambesi River valley and into the lowlands of southern Nyasaland; also in the lowlands of eastern Southern Rhodesia there occurs P. p. peltata. This is a small-sized race which has the black head, wings, tail and breast-band (in the male), or throat and upper breast (in the female) washed with metallic green. The mantle is dark grey, with a wash of non-metallic green. A further race, the name of which is discussed below, ranges through the eastern Southern Rhodesia highlands, north of P. p. peltata, inland Mocambique (above 200 metres), Nyasaland, northern Mogambique, north of the Zambesi River valley through eastern Tanganyika to eastern (coastal) Kenya Colony and southern Somalia; also in the south in the upper Zambesi River valley and eastern Northern Rhodesia. It differs from the nominate race in having the mantle black, with a strong glossy metallic green wash. This diagnostic character is very well marked in the males, but less so in the females. The third race is P. p. mentalis, which ranges from Angola through the southern Congo, Northern Rhodesia west of the Muchinga Range, southern, western and central Tanganyika in the highlands, west of Mt. Kilimanjaro to the Kenya highlands and Uganda. It differs from the other two races in having a metallic blue gloss to the feathers, not green, and is larger in size. On the question of a name for the populations of eastern Southern Rhodesia, inland regions of Mocambique, Nyasaland, eastern Northern Rhodesia, eastern Tanganyika and eastern Kenya and southern Somalia the name Platystira cryptoleuca Oberholser, Useri River, near Kili- manjaro, Tanganyika is available, P. p. brevipennis Grote being a synonym. P. p. jacksoni Sharpe falls within the established range of P. p. mentalis, with which it is placed as a synonym following Chapin (1953). Arising from this research it is considered that Platysteira peltata can be divided into three racial taxa, the nomenclature, characters and ranges of which are detailed hereunder: Platysteira peltata peltata (Sundevall) Platystira peltata Sundevall, Oefv. K. Sv. Vet. Akad. Forhandl., Stock- holm, vol. 7, 1850, p. 105: ‘‘Caffraria inferiore’’ = Natal. Type: from Umlalazi River, Zululand. Black head, wings, tail and breast band (in male), or throat and upper chest (in female), washed with metallic green. Mantle dark grey, with a wash of non-metallic green. Small sized. Measurements: 10 33, wing 64.0-68.5 (65.9), tail 51.5-56.5 (53.5), culmen 16.5-18.0 (17.5); 10 99, wing 62.0-68.0 (65.0), tail 49.0-55.0 (53.0), culmen 15.0-17.0 (16.5) mm. Material: 35 (Mocambique 11, south-eastern Southern Rhodesia 18, Nyasaland 6). Range: Natal below 1,500 feet from just south of Durban, to the coastal districts of Zululand, thence through the lowlands of Mocgam- bique as far north as the lower Zambesi River valley and in the lowlands of southern Nyasaland and south-eastern Southern Rhodesia. Vol. 83 116 Bulletin B.O.C. Platysteira peltata cryptoleuca (Oberholser) Platystira cryptoleuca Oberholser, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., vol. 29, 1905, p. 913: Useri River, near Kilimanjaro, Tanganyika. Differs from P. p. peltata in having the mantle darker and blacker, strongly overlaid with glossy metallic green. Similar in size to the nominate race. Measurements: 10 33, wing 64.0-68.0 (66.2), tail 52.5-56.5 (54.1), culmen 17.0-18.0 (17.5); 10 99, wing 64.0-67.0 (65.5), tail 52.0-55.5 (53.2), culmen 16.5—-17.5 (17.3) mm. Material: 36 (eastern Southern Rhodesia 12, Mogcambique 7, Nyasaland 2, Northern Rhodesia 1, Tanganyika 12, Kenya Colony 2). Range: The highlands of eastern Southern Rhodesia, north through the inland regions of southern Mocambique above c. 200 metres, to Nyasaland (except southern lowlands), west along the Zambesi River valley as far as Chirundu, and extending to eastern Northern Rhodesia, eastern Tanganyika, eastern Kenya (east of the Rift Valley) and southern Somalia. Remarks: P. p. brevipennis Grote, Anz. Orn. Ges. Bay., vol. 1, No. 12, 1928, p. 195: Magogoni, Rufu River, Tanganyika, is a synonym. Platysteira peltata mentalis (Bocage) Platystira mentalis Bocage, Jorn. Lisboa, 6, 1878, p. 256: Caconda, Angola. Differs from P. p. peltata and P. p. cryptoleuca in having a metallic blue, not green, gloss to the feathers. Similar to P. p. cryptoleuca in having the mantle dark, not grey as in the nominate race, but differs as stated above. Larger than the other races. Measurements: 10 33, wing 70.0-71.5 (70.6), tail 54.0-58.0 (55.7), culmen 16.5-18.5 (17.5); 10 99, wing 68.0-71.5 (69.9), tail 54.0-59.5 (55.5), culmen 16.5-19.0 (17.2) mm. Material: 57 (Northern Rhodesia 52, Kenya Colony 5). Range: From Angola through the southern Congo and Northern Rhodesia west of the Muchinga Range, to southern, western and central Tanganyika in the highlands west of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Kenya high- lands and Uganda. Remarks: P. p. jacksoni Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 445: Sotik, western Kenya is a synonym. For the loan of additional material I am indebted to the Directors of the following Museums; South African Museum, Cape Town (through Dr. J. M. Winterbottom), National Museum of Southern Rhodesia, Bulawayo (through Mr. M. P. Stuart Irwin) and the Coryndon Memorial Museum, Nairobi (through Mr. J. G. Williams). References : Benson, C. W. and White, C. M. N. (1957). Check List of the Birds of Northern Rho- desia. Lusaka. Chapin, J. P. (1953). Birds of the Belgian Congo Pt. 3. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 1. 75A or COIR } dost WH. 0ObgOF Js F 2° ieee pos & thirw Prsaticje Qidueh. reahe od} Yo shia ono no ts 6 18 Foprak oe] a Maraioe op iiss 43 Lito ‘booty OneBN. bse alt vi) MSi2d4e bobo lani'st ble ao Si Me Dsiirig As serait Doe <ciepd Oot Go % bg * cana POR SION? WRT ISON ori) oH boston i = 4 ¥ ~ ~~ — vee s. & } ey ~ — nw > — hee “ ’ . TOR WE a CM ee | . Tp (etree) lint ast Ca S| Y OEM. hb to oxetouhariesi "aK, eve a wis a4 wk P s . ; See as OMIT OO teeta rine “yt? | * a x nia Sl ‘ 4 tapi Be fv "da PT A) B83 ype ; 5 és Or utiVaays 4 i ' * Lik le as ‘ =e. ot : 2 AGB 1 ID ses TA enk <TD We anita” 3 i tiie idl se ¥ a9 by oP Lerisit Hey j ie) : i tai ‘ ei ? wee EY a >i -* tr La ee s P ah 7 Ao" fas i/ i, Bos i. P rt} ar 40. at i! RGR IT: GENT ' retin a Vie Bez ; rh AME. MAGI Cn TE 4a’ * a nt ie bpoOa re ey is ainit a harris keygen te aN, eee een 5 PLL OID y: Bae mc e O08 148, a | i iA rc HrF4 of aft VSy ¥ ; ‘Ter 3 fe — ; i a MATA ASA OF vo ai doris | P vfshicns peer aT Pu ate Ly: Oe ks AS care no eset OF Helire asl x vata et ‘ _ 8. wa AOVAT Hat ful of Be: “Atlin: .. i” elit ye: vs er ee 4) *} . } 2 | RGA, e Ayal’ re NES yeh aT ire 2 oP DRE OF afi ita Si4A @ TA isis baa ROMs Oi yer fn oh) poe setinsnyse eT ig ex ait that ash thw g Bit AFIT eT yok AD ott i 2 ~t a rn oye ee CR Oe ae : t rng A Rate | px i RY 2008 Aieenit Rn pp va hasty 5! eee io Aliso! b eas: fod vis-enolludhinn> ahee Y aol Nt Aotba si bab bbs od CONTRIBUTORS Contributions are not restricted to members of the B.O.C. and should be addressed to the Editor, Mr. John Yealland, The Zoological Society — of London, Regent’s Park, London, N.W.1. These should be concise and typed on one side of the paper, double-spaced, with a good margin. The first time a species is mentioned, the scientific generic and specific names should be included. Subsequently the same name need only have the initial letter of the genus. Scientific names are printed in italics and should be underlined in the typescript. References should be given at the end of the paper. Authors introducing a new name or describing a new species or race should indicate this in their title and display the name prominently in the text followed by nom. nov., sp. nov., subsp. nov. as appropriate. In these descriptions, the first introduction of the name should be followed by paragraphs for ‘‘Description’’, ‘‘Distribution’’, ‘“Type’’, ‘‘Measure- ments of Type’’, ‘‘Material examined’’ and further sub-headings as required. Proofs must be returned without delay. No changes may be made at this stage, other than corrections. At the discretion of the Editor, the Club will pay for a reasonable number of monochrome blocks, which the contributor may retain for his own use. Contributors are entitled to a maximum of thirty free copies of the Bulletin, supplied only as specifically requested by authors. Those con tributing to a meeting should hand in their MS. at that meeting; otherwise} a note will be inserted mentioning the contribution. | BACK NUMBERS OF THE BULLETIN Applications for back numbers which cost 5s. each, should be made to } N. J. P. Wadley, 58 Ovington Street, London, $S.W.3. Members who have back numbers of the Bulletin, which they no longer require are requesi to send them to Mr. Wadley. SUBSCRIPTION TO BULLETIN The Bulletin may be purchased by non-members annually for 40s. (payable in advance) or per copy 5s., payable to the Hon. Treasurer, P. Tate, ¢ Broad Street Place, London, E.C.2 : CORRESPONDENCE Other correspondence should be addressed to the Hon. Secretary, D J. G. Harrison, ‘‘Merriewood’’, St. Botolph’s Road, Sevenoaks, Kent DINNERS AND MEETINGS FOR 1963 | 17th September, 15th October, 19th November and 17th December. | (The October or November meeting will be held jointly with the B.O.U. | Published by the BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB and printed by ‘ The Caxton & Holmesdale Press, South Park, Sevenoaks, Kent. le Ny BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB 1963 Edited by JOHN J. YEALLAND olume 83 October o. 7 1963 q PAA te Rs ee mpc ye nes ay ihe: ait, oe pete Pert: oe * stata rhe, We Roe, te: tes ape? Pe ts ee, Lean envies wa aeNtaeG — ee RR "i ‘ome Risk? sprees yt psoas hy Sart: wee tae | pease ce wants : jaan SAE Drie SRS sty vy rane te SN: pepo aaa Re 3 boceh # ) eee iat sie Th a. a ; bit Dds edd Sue vet | : "a = o anne ane : ‘ . =f c3 ‘ is pas : ’ : | ee TAR hei oe mat Sis AiO athe ; ; ee aS ' ‘ ’ = ’ 4 + ‘alt r ‘ i ' Sphe ‘ ML a oe ‘eon. : © ei aa i { Peas , 1 4 et Pei Pe 4 Pe ; , , is ~ c ee : . a i! ry Noe Aes tek 9 ad r a Ne +p us a . ? Lee ; i eee pres wae Ig e gs Paral og roles PEN bette eas bh? Bie gay" A) age x r hah es i ' 7 1 4 . hie. x AP st hy 8S we SR i ae wy , ae | fives i sight #ii Ee way Ne Fe: | ae ay Ena. | Hing hes LLL ean ico. oe ashe Dh re cs A Teta “SRY ROR Lor. PRR Dae. OR eal ty 4 a : t a f ; " x, és { uty wa ua af ee Mee yt. a % Wire we * i 4 eer é j : bas © Ligh eal HE ur nk pe git ae a i : a 4 weyers xe h Koaesdel goes He apy \ iF Ya be Aas pnt % 4s Mes Mae a" ) 5,4 Bel . ry s wut an i : re Bie We $ hae bal Bea 4 ay ; Dy elit : oe . 1963 117 Vol. 83 BULLETIN OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB a eee “a ~ me fe o\, Volume 83 & ts aay ot et jae a | Number 7 red published: Ist October, 1963 ~ —— The six hundred and ninth meeting of the Club was held at the Rem- brandt Hotel, London, on the 17th September, 1963. Chairman: Major-General C. B. Wainwright Members present, 22; Guests 6; Honorary Associates (Overseas) 2; Members of the B.O.U. 4. Total 34. Mr. M. D. England addressed the meeting on a visit that he and others made to an undisclosed part of Portugal. His talk was illustrated with coloured photographs, including some of the Black-winged Kite (E/anus caeruleus), a species that the party partic- ularly hoped, but scarcely expected to find. An aberrant Pycnonotus from Johannesburg, South Africa by Mites B. MARKUS Received 2nd May, 1963 On 24th July 1962 an abnormal adult male bulbul was caught at Bryanston, Johannesburg. According to plumage it was an example of Pycnonotus barbatus layardi Gurney (Pycnonotus capensis layardi of some authors) which inhabits the locality, but exhibited an irregularity of the eye-wattles. The normal diagnostic eye-wattle colour of P. 6. layardi is black, but these were lemon-yellow, resembling those of two birds which were collected north-east of Potchefstroom in the Western Transvaal (Markus!); their eye-wattles were a light brownish-khaki, becoming yellow- ish towards the inside, those of one bird being slightly darker than those of the other. Attention was recently drawn to the Johannesburg specimen elsewhere (Markus?). This bird was in non-breeding condition with testes circa 1.25 mm. in diameter, a wing measurement of 103.5 mm., a tarsus of 19.5 mm. and the culmen 22 mm. in length, taken from the forehead. Iris brown; the irides of the Western Transvaal bulbuls referred to in the previous paragraph were reddish-brown. In view of the fact that Johannesburg lies within and not on the periphery of the range of P. b. layardi, the specimen under discussion would not appear to be an intergrade, as such, between P. b. layardi and the very closely allied red eye-wattled Pycnonotus nigricans (Vieillot) and is therefore of particular interest. P. nigricans replaces P. b. layardi approximately 80 miles to the north-west and is also con- sidered conspecific with white eye-wattled Pycnonotus capensis (Linnaeus) by some specialists. There is nothing to indicate that the abnormal speci- men was at any time a caged bird, nor does there appear to be any reason to suspect that it may have wandered from another area as P. b. layardi in Vol. 83 118 Bulletin B.O.C. this region is, in my experience, a sedentary form. This occurrence of a yellow instead of the normal black eye-wattle in P. barbatus would seem to be of evolutionary significance and the possibility that it is either indicative of a mutation or that it represents an ancestral condition and is an atavism due to gene interaction, should be considered. Other pycnono- tids exhibiting the same type of anomaly have apparently been trapped in the same geographical area on previous occasions. The bulbul was captured during the course of bird-ringing activities by Garth, Robin and Guy Johnson. Mr. R. A. Reed submitted it to Mr. O. P. M. Prozesky of the Transvaal Museum, Pretoria whom I wish to thank for passing it to me for examination. References : 1Markus, M. B. (in press). Bulbuls from the Zone of Contact between Pycnonotus barbatus layardi Gurney, 1879 and Pycnonotus nigricans (Vieillot) in the Transvaal. Ostrich. ?Markus, M. B. (in press). The Birds of the Pretoria District. Biologica. The Ten-year Scientific Index The scientific index of the Bulletin covering the period 1950-1959 inclusive has now been published at the price of ten shillings. Application should be made to the Hon. Treasurer, P. Tate, 4 Broad Street Place, London, E.C.2. Donors to the Index Fund will have received a complimentary copy. A new race of sunbird from West Africa by WILLIAM SERLE Received 20th February, 1963 In a paper (bis 92 [1950] : 627) I mentioned an adult male Chalcomitra rubescens (Vieillot) from Bamenda which differed from the other examples of a series of adult males of this species collected in British Cameroons in that it lacked metallic colouring on the throat and breast. At Mamfe on 10th March 1953, I collected a similar male, one of two adult birds which seemed to be a pair. It appears that there exists in the north-western corner of the range of the species a well-marked race for which I propose the name Chalcomitra rubescens crossensis, subsp. nov. Description:— Male similar to male Chalcomitra rubescens rubescens (Vieillot), but lacking metallic colouring on the throat and breast, those parts being dark brown concolorous with the rest of the underparts. The female, to judge from the single very worn specimen obtained, does not differ from the female C. r. rubescens. Distribution:— The lowland forest in the vicinity of Mamfe on the Cross River, and the wooded savanna country to the west of Bamenda, both of which are localities in former British Cameroons and now in the Federal Republic of Cameroun. Type:— In the British Museum. Adult male, Mamfe, 5° 45’ N, 9° 20’ E., altitude 400 feet, Federal Republic of Cameroun, 10th March 1953. Collected by Dr. William Serle. Collector’s No. N.1614. Brit. Mus. Reg. No. 1963. 12. 1. Measurements of type:— Wing 63; culmen 19; tail 38; tarsus 16 mm. Bulletin B.O.C. 119 Vol. 83 Other measurements and soft parts:— An adult male collected on 26th May 1948, to the west of Bamenda, 5° 55’ N., 10° 10’ E., at 4,500 feet. Wing 66; culmen 20; tail 43; tarsus 17 mm. Soft parts:— Iris brown; bill and feet black. Remarks:— The central mass of the Bamenda highlands appears to form the eastern boundary of the range of the new race, for an adult male in typical C. r. rubescens plumage was collected at Bamale, 5° 58’ N., 10° 25’ E., 3,600 feet, only twenty miles in a direct line from Bamenda, but on the eastern side of the watershed near the headwaters of the Nun River. Another specimen collected on the northern foothills of the Ba- menda highlands near Fungom, 6° 32’ N., 10° 12’ E., 2,500 feet, cannot be assigned to its race for it is a female. The southern and western limits of the new race are not known. A long series of males collected in the vicinity of Kumba, 4° 40’ N., 9° 25’ E., are all typical C. r. rubescens. The Cardinal Quelea in Nyasaland by D. N. MANSFIELD Received 15th March, 1963 On 22nd January, 1963 I found three nests of the Cardinal Quelea Quelea cardinalis (Hartlaub), on the outskirts of the town of Lilongwe, Nyasaland. The nests, each of which contained two eggs, were within a few feet of each other and about five feet above the ground, in tall grass among trees in abandoned cultivation. Cape Bishops Euplectes capensis (Linnaeus) and Black-winged Red Bishops EF. hordeaceus (Linnaeus) were also present. Two red-headed (breeding dress) male queleas were seen. One of them was collected; also a female, a clutch of eggs and a nest. These have been examined by C. W. Benson, who compared the male and female with four males in breeding dress and one female from the Luangwa Valley, Northern Rhodesia, and two males in breeding dress and one female from the Rukwa Valley, south-western Tanganyika, loaned by M. P. Stuart Irwin, from the National Museum, Bulawayo. No difference in colour was noted, except that the male from Lilongwe differs slightly from the other males in having the red on the head a trifle brighter, extending rather further onto the chest, and the belly more markedly yellowish. Wing measurements in mm. are as follows:— males, Rukwa, 58, 60; Luangwa, 58, 59, 60, 60; Lilongwe, 61: females, Rukwa, 58; Luangwa, 58; Lilongwe, 59. The eggs, which were fresh, and measure approximately 17 x 12, 17 x 12.5 mm., are very similar in size and colour to the description of two in aclutch of three from the Luangwa Valley (Benson & Pitman, 1956). The nest, like that described in the same reference, is an elliptical ball, but much larger, comparable dimensions in mm. being:— height 150; width 100; width of entrance 30; bottom of entrance 80 from bottom of nest and top 40 from top of nest. Unlike the Luangwa nest, it is not suspended at each side to a bush, but to a grass-stem, probably of a glabrous form of Panicum maximum. It is made mostly of the fragments of the panicles of this same species, a few seeds still attached making this identification certain. These grass identifications are by A. Angus, of the Northern Rhodesia Agricultural Department. Vol. 83 120 Bulletin B.O.C. Fuggles-Couchman & Elliott (1946) found this quelea nesting in northern Tanganyika, apparently in large colonies, and it was evidently very com- mon. There is no real evidence that this is the case anywhere in the Luangwa Valley or at Lilongwe. J. M. Feely has told Benson that in the Luangwa (Lundazi District) he has seen some ten nests scattered through an area of one acre, together with nests of bishops Euplectes spp., in Pennisetum and Phragmites reeds, on a sand-bank on the edge of a river. This certainly does not fall into the category of a large colony, and the nest recorded by Benson & Pitman (1956) was solitary. Stoehr & Sclater (1906) record the Cardinal Quelea as ‘‘moderately common’’ along the lower Luangwa. But Benson tells me that in the course of 60 miles of travelling on foot through the valley (Fort Jameson District) in February, 1953 he did not see it on more than six occasions (solitary red-headed males distinguished), while E. L. Button has told him that it is also uncommon further north, in the Lundazi District. In spite of fairly intensive work in Nyasaland in the past, mine is the first record of its occurrence in that territory. It appears to be more common in the Rukwa Valley, Vesey-FitzGerald & Beesley (1960) giving it as ‘‘frequent’’, the Red-billed Quelea not merely as ‘‘abundant’’ but ‘‘very abundant’’. References : Benson, C. W. and Pitman, C. R. S. (1956). Some breeding records from Northern Rhodesia. Part 3. Ool. Rec. 30: 37-43. Fuggles-Couchman, N. R. and Elliott, H. F. I. (1946). Some records and field-notes from north-eastern Tanganyika Territory. Ibis 88: 327-347. Stoehr, F. E. and Sclater, W. L. (1906). Notes on a collection of birds made in North-east Rhodesia. Journ. S. A. Orn. Union 2: 83-114. Vesey-FitzGerald, D. and Beesley, J. S. S. (1960). An annotated list of the birds of the Rukwa Valley. Tanganyika Notes and Records 55: 91-110. Notes on Ducula aenea (Linn.), particularly the population of the Kangean Archipelago, and Ducula problematica Rensch from Sumba by A. HOOGERWERF Received 16th July, 1962 Before studying material of these pigeons it seems worth while to pay some attention to Junge’s! experience when investigating the validity of Biittikofer’s Carpophaga vandepolli. His paper shows how careful we — should be when studying the colour-differences of the greyish feathering because those parts seem to become more vinaceous in skins of birds with much fat. I believe this to be correct and there is a second cause of dis- colouring of the plumage, viz. the use of petrol to get rid of fat, as I could prove in the Bogor Museum’s workshop. Instead of cleaning the skins with hot sawdust, they were immersed in petrol, often for many hours, sometimes for a whole night. Owing to this method, birds from the same locality became very different, though—as could be proved after some experiments—not all Ducula skins showed the same striking differences. Probably the fat extracted from the skin by the petrol is partly absorbed by the feathers, discolouring the original tones, startling the taxonomist and leading to false conclusions. Thus it is proved once more that not only is it necessary to prevent OI Bulletin B.O.C. 121 Vol. 83 chemicals coming into contact with the plumage immediately after the birds have been killed but that one should keep a watchful eye on the way in which the material is handled later. Skins preserved with alcohol, formalin, petrol, etc. should be considered with much criticism. As only in very rare cases it is known whether they were preserved with these liquids or not, it seems necessary to take always into account the important alterations in the plumage caused by these materials. With a view to this I concentrated my attention on fresh skins preserved under my personal supervision and without the use of liquids when studying the material discussed below. Moreover the state of development of the gonads was taken into account, though in the present species this seems not to be of much importance regarding colour differences in the plumage. The variation in the colour of the plumage in old skins is extremely large, except perhaps in the straw-coloured or rusty tinge on the neck of the subspecies paulina, sulana and pallidinucha, which I discussed earlier?. Comparison of Kangean and Bawean birds with those from the neigh- bourhood of Strait Sunda shows that those from the first mentioned islands are a trifle more vinaceous on the under surface. When picking out from a series of twenty birds the ten with the most vinaceous tint on the under parts, there are three skins from Bawean, three from Kangean, two from Udjung Kulon (West Java), one from Legundi and one from Sebuku Island (Sunda Strait). Separating nine skins with the most vina- ceous tint on the occiput and the sides of the head and with the darkest vinaceous nuchal collar, we found four Bawean, four Kangean and one Legundi skins. This means all Kangean and Bawean birds, because the two Kangean skins not separated were of juvenile or badly damaged specimens. From all the 15 birds originating from Strait Sunda and surroundings there is only one approaching our Kangean and Bawean material on this point, though among the Strait Sunda specimens we found the largest number of fat birds, sometimes causing a post-mortem discolouring of the plumage in spite of all measures taken by me to prevent it. Therefore I think it possible that the distinct dirty vinaceous nuchal collar, together with the extensive clear vinaceous tint on the occiput and the sides of the head, which show all Kangean and Bawean representatives of the species, may prove to be of subspecific importance. Owing to these characters Kangean and Bawean birds seem to be somewhat intermediate between pallidinucha of Muna and Buton (South Celebes) and representatives of the subspecies polia. There is also a rather important difference in the length of the tail, for the populations of Ducula aenea from Kangean and Bawean have a longer tail than all the other birds of the same species studied by me and—as is evident from the figures given below—they average much less in weight. Among all the birds of Ducula aenea before me there is only one skin from North Borneo approaching those of Kangean and Bawean in the colouring of the head and nuchal area, but this bird was collected as far back as 1912 and nothing is known about the way of its preservation. A second Bornean bird, collected 20 years ago, however, shows the clearest | pileum, neck and upper mantle of nearly all specimens examined. Some birds obtained from the Smaller Sunda Islands (I could only examine Vol. 83 122 Bulletin B.O.C. old material from these islands and four fresh skins, collected by me on Komodo and Rintja, near Flores) differ on the same points from those from Kangean and Bawean as do the others, but skins from Komodo and Rintja show much darker under tail-coverts than Kangean birds. Above I followed Stresemann? in considering the material coming from Java, Strait Sunda, Borneo and Flores as belonging to the subspecies polia. The specimens of this pigeon recently obtained by me on Komodo and Rintja show only two characters of those indicated by Mayr’, viz. the little white on the frontal area and the lack of