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BULLETIN
OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
EDITED BY
DR. JEFFERY G. HARRISON
Volume 80 1960
PRICE FOUR SHILLINGS
PREFACE
THE PUBLICATION of the index number of Volume 80 has been delayed this year in order that the Committee could consider the possibility of pro- ducing once again an annual index of scientific names, for which there is an urgent need. Our sincere thanks are due to Mrs. B. P. Hall, who went to great trouble to produce such an index early in the New Year and we are pleased to say that it has been found possible to publish it in full.
This, together with the fact that we had produced a volume of 172 —
pages, seems likely to result in a small deficit in the Club’s finances, which the Treasurer proposes to meet from the ‘‘Bulletin Fund’’, which has not had to be used for the past eight years.
The supply of papers remains most satisfactory and the number of — subscribers continues to increase with new ones from the Argentine,
Australia, Brazil, Canada and Dakar, which is most encouraging.
Once again Mr. C. N. Walter has very kindly prepared the List of
Authors and I would also like to thank the following for their help with
the present volume:— Miss E. Forster, Mrs. B. P. Hall, Dr. James — Harrison, Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed, Captain C. R. S. Pitman, Mr. © R. W. Sims and Mr. N. J. P. Wadley. At the time of going to press, we are ©
pleased to announce that Mr. N. J. P. Wadley will be taking over control
of the sales of old ‘‘Bulletins’’, which Mr. R. A. H. Coombes has had to —
give up on moving to Scotland. His splendid efforts have been of the greatest value to the Club’s finances.
The numbers attending the B.O.C. meetings in 1960 were as follows :— : Members, 177; Guests, 51; Guests of the Club, Mr. P. P. G. Bateson, — Dr. and Mrs. R. K. Dell, Mr. P. Olney, Dr. W. E. Swinton and Captain ~
G. Tuck, R.N.(Retd.); total, 234. This does not include the two joint meetings with the B.O.U. in March and October.
JEFFERY HARRISON.
Sevenoaks, January, 1961,
111
COMMITTEE 1959 9 Captain C. R. S. Prrman, Chairman (elected 1959)... Mrs. B. P. HALL, Vice-Chairman (elected 1959). Dr. J. G. HARRISON, Editor (elected 1952). Miss E. ForsTER (elected 1960). Mr. C. N. WALTER, Hon. Treasurer (elected 1950). Mr. I. J. FERGUSON-LEES (elected 1958). Mr. P. A. D. HOLLom (elected 1959). Mr. R. S. R. FITTER (elected 1959). Mrs. P. V. UPTON (elected 1960).
OFFICERS OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB PAST AND PRESENT
Chairmen P. L. SCLATER 1892-1913 LorD ROTHSCHILD 1913-1918 W. L. SCLATER 1918-1924 H. F. WITHERBY 1924-1927 Dr. P. R. LOWE 1927-1930 Major S. S. FLOWER 1930-1932 D. A. BANNERMAN 1932-1935 G. M. MATHEWS 1935-1938 Dr. A. LANDSBOROUGH THOMSON 1938-1943 D. SETH-SMITH 1943-1946 Dr. J. M. HARRISON 1946-1949 Sir PHILIP MANSON-BAHR 1949-1953 Colonel R. MEINERTZHAGEN 1953-1956 C. W. MACK WORTH-PRAED 1956-1959 Captain C. R. S. PITMAN 1959- Vice-Chairmen LorD ROTHSCHILD 1930-1931 W. L. SCLATER 1931-1932 H. F. WITHERBY 1932-1933 G. M. MATHEWS 1933-1934 N. B. KINNEAR 1934-1935 . H. WHISTLER 1935-1936
1V
Vice-Chairmen—cont. D. SETH-SMITH Colonel R. SPARROW Dr. G. CARMICHAEL LOW Hon. Guy CHARTERIS W. L. SCLATER Dr. D. A. BANNERMAN Capt. C. H. B. GRANT B. W. TUCKER F. J. F. BARRINGTON Dr. E. HOPKINSON C. W. MACKWORTH-PRAED Dr. J. M. HARRISON Sir PHiLIP- 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 Mr. E. M. NICHOLSON Captain C. R. S. PITMAN Mrs. B. P. HALL
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
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-
1892-1904 1904-1914 1914-1915 1915-1920 1920-1925 1925-1930 1930-1935 1935-1940 1940-1945 1945-1947 1947-1952 1952-
ee
V
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. MACKWORTH-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
Honorary Treasurers C. W. MACK WORTH-PRAED Major A. G. L. SLADEN Miss E. P. LEACH C. N. WALTER
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-
1935-1936 1936-1942 1942-1949 1950-
vi LIST OF MEMBERS AS AT 31st OCTOBER 1959
Amended as follows :—
New Members
Apams, J. K., 95 Alleyn Park, West Dulwich, S.E.21.
BaARHAM, Mrs. K. E., St. Mary’s, Eashing, Godalming, Surrey.
BEATTIE, Mrs. J., 147 Harley Street, London, W.1.
CUTBILL, J. L., Libyan American Oil Co., Bengazi, Libya, P.O. Box 119. FirtH, Cdr. T. N. B., (R.N.) H.S.W. Division, Admiralty, Whitehall, S.W.1. Garr, J. J., 126 Longhill Road, Catford, S.E.16.
GILBERT, Miss H. V., The Lodge, Bishopstone, Hereford.
Harrison, C. J. O., 178 Mantilla Road, S.W.17.
Horwoop, M. T., the Forestry Dept., Minna, Nigeria.
JACKSON, P. F. R., 74 Bell Lane, Hendon, N.W.4.
McCuHESNEY, D. S., 207 Wynthrop Road, Solway 9, New York, U.S.A.
MepuurstT, H. P., Accounts Dept., B.P. Refinery (Aden) Ltd., Little Aden, Aden.
Moreau, R. E., The Yews, Berrick, Benson, Oxon. Port, L. N., British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, S.W.7.
Porter, Dr. D., Ipswich and East Suffolk Hospital, Anglesea Road Wing, Ipswich.
_ Tuck, Capt. G. S., D.S.O. (R.N.), Prattendens, Bury, Nr. Pulborough, Sussex. ULFSTRAND, S., Zoological Institution, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden.
Resigned or died
ALLISON, S., 161 Harrington Drive, Nottingham.
CHALIF, E. L., 37 Barnsdale Road, Shorthills, New Jersey, U.S.A.
da CunHA, R. 8 Hylands Close, Epsom, Surrey.
EDBERG, R., Olaigatan 11, Orebro, Sweden.
Evans, Mrs. R., 15 Westmorland Road, Maidenhead, Berks.
Hay, W., District Office, Songea Southern Province, Tanganyika. HOLLANDS, F. G., M.B., B.S., F.R.C.S., Red Ley, Quarndon, Derbyshire. Home, H. G., 23 Marlborough Place, N.W.8.
NAUMBERG, W. W., 120 Broadway, New York 5, N.Y., U.S.A.
RookgE, K. B., M.B., B.Ch.(Cantab.), Cranborne, Wimborne, Dorset. SWYNNERTON, G. H., Game Dept., P.O. Box 397, Arusha, Tanganyika. Trott, A. C., C.M.G., O.B.E., 33 Portmore Park Road, Weybridge, Surrey. de ViLuierS, J. S., Apt. 6, 1540 McGregor Street, Montreal, Canada. WILLIAMS, N., ‘‘ Harvey Hills’’, P.O. Kabete, Kenya, East Africa.
LIST OF AUTHORS, Etc.
ACCOUNTS, FINANCIAL ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
BATESON, P. P. G. Spitsbergen and the Ivory Gull
BENSON, C. W. The Status of Campethera bennettii vincenti Grant and Mackworth-Praed Recent records form north-western Northern Rhodesia: Part I ass ae one ans a Part II a oa a Aye: ies Scoptelus aterrimus in Northern Rhodesia ... See Lona, Rev. R. Charles
BENSON, C. W. and IRwin, M. P. Stuart A new form of Apus barbatus from the Victoria Falls ...
BirD ARTISTS
Page
vii
Biswas, Dr. Biswamoy A new name for the Himalayan Red-Winged Babbler, Preruthius
~ CLANCEY, P. A.
A New Race of Crowned Plover Vanellus (Stephanibyx) coronatus (Bod- daert) from South-West Africa :
Geographical Variation in the White- backed Mousebird Colius colius (Linnaeus) : ee, :
On the Races of Prinia pectoralis (Smith) eg
A New Race of Red-billed Quelea from South-Eastern Africa
On some interesting Bulbuls Pycnonotus sp. from the Transvaal ie
On the question of the type-locality of Mirafra africanoides Smith, 1836 ...
The races of the Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus (Linnaeus), with the characters of a new form from South-West Africa mh *
CONTROVERSIAL DISCUSSION ; Is the Mute Swan becoming a menace
DEIGNAN, H. G. The Oldest Name for the Roseate Pipit The Oldest Name for the Bat-eating Pern A New Race of the Brown Barbet from Thailand — Remarks on the Flower-pecker, Dicaeum agile (Tickell) .
DELL, Dr. R. K. Influence of man on the birds of New Zealand
GILLHAM, E. H. Remarks on the female plumages of the Tufted Duck and a compara with the Ring-necked Duck ; am wi epi cs ‘
Goopwin, Derek Sexual dimorphism in Pigeons
HARRISON, C. J. O. Some Taxonomic Characteristics of the genus Lagonosticta Signal plumage and phylogenic relationship in some Doves
HARRISON, Dr. James M. Accidental Maiming of a Black-throated Diver The flightless J ay—what i is the explanation?
HARRISON, Dr. James M. and Harrison, Dr. Jeffery G. On varieties of the Tufted Duck, with an account of an unrecorded type of variation Tuberculosis in a wild Pochard and remarks ¢ on the. recognition of disease by predators side mr: Further remarks on Female Plumages of the Tufted Duck
HARRISON, Dr. Jeffery G. A pe atwe study of the method of skull pneumatisation in certain ir Part I se See HARRISON, Dr. ‘James: M.
HARRISON, Dr. Jeffery G. and OLNEY, Peter Haemorrhage from an Oesophageal Diverticulum causing death in a wild Mallard ae f on ee A fea We a3
120
142
140 45
28 134
78 162
25
40 141
167
43
Viil
- Page HoveEL, H. Some Notes on the ici, At of — Desert behest Kons ne
1888) in Israel ns 75 INGRAM, Capt. Collingwood The Breeding Biology of the Goldeneye _... ee see Se vo 64° IRwin, Michael P. Stuart Aspects of Relationship between Palaearctic and Ethiopian Wagtails ... 61 A new race of the Sunbird Anthreptes collaris from eastern Southern Rhodesia Ns 65, 112 A history of the supposed occurrence of the Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus in Ngamiland , he ve 28 95
See BENSON, C. W.
JOHNSGARD, Paul A. The systematic position of the Ringed Teal apis es ce as Pee
Lona, Rev. R. Charles The Paradise Flycatcher Pere eRS I viridis in the Port Herald District, southern Nyasaland 99
Lona, Rev. R. Charles and BENSON, C. W. The River-Warbler Locustella fluviatilis (Wolf) in Nyasaland _... ee 52
MIDDLEMISssS, E. H. J. See WINTERBOTTOM, Dr. J. M.
Moreau, R. E. Variation in Euplectes capensis via <p Sa Na 4 ree 89
MUKHERJEE, Ajit Kumar A new Race of the ipeselae Dove ep icin ice oes indica eee from
India ... ey : ‘ 6 OLNEY, P. J. S. Duck Food Research . : as rae ce ‘o 4)3 es 33 Lead Roe in Wildfowl: Part I. 44 be Ha ney wes wes a Su 35 Part ie ‘ che the gel uee wae ae 53
See HARRISON, Dr. Jeffery Gi
PARKES, Dr. Kenneth C. Geographic and Seasonal Variation in the Black-collared a aia ce Agapornis swinderniana 5 ea Notes on Philippine Races of Dryocopus javensis ek Notes on some Philippine Tailor-Birds ‘
PITMAN, Capt. Charles R. S. An unusual case of Predation by Aquila verreauxi The Egg of the Somaliland Pigeon, Columba olivae Clarke a A note on the African Jagana Actophilornis africanus (Gmelin) ...
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE SAGE, Bryan L. Herring Gulls in Wales with partially amputated Legs
An unusual foot-deformity in the Heron Ardea cinerea cinerea Linnaeus = Notes on some Pintail x Teal Hybrids ae ne ae
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING
SPECIAL NOTICES
a TS CU ~
Page. Swinton, Dr. W. E. Archaeopter yx 153 Took, J. M. E. A variety of the Lesser Black-backed Gull a La ie wee LBS TRAYLOR, Major Melvin A. Francolinus schlegelii Heuglin in Cameroon sie i ey, ae 86 Genera Corythornis, Ipsidina and Myioceyx nes ma dsl Eapinn, oe _ Tuck, Capt. Gerald D.S.O., R.N. The Royal Naval Bird Watching Society is Ae a aa 17 ULESTRAND, Staffan The Juvenile Plumage of Apalis argentea Moreau 1941 and a Note on the Habitat of the Species x A new subspecies of “iano caroli (Sharpe 1871) ‘from “western Tanganyika Territory 11 Guttera edouradi seth-smithi ‘Neumann 1908 in "western Tanganyika Territory — ah ae Hi a ; 100 Waite, C. M. N. Some Inter relationship in the Larks of the Mirafra lg ioe Broun af 7 The Type Locality of Mirafra Seles tes fet aa ‘ ne 10 A New Lark from Nigeria : Ks “ey a : 11 Notes on some cay ere Part I ; 18 Part I 68 Part Ill ‘ ‘i se ne iy: ian 1S. A note on Acrocephalus boeticatus Vieillot oe a wh on 21 Notes on some African Larks ‘ Loi 22 The Ethiopian and allied forms of Calandrella cinerae (Gmelin) bg 24 A note on Certhilauda curvirostris a et 25 On Cisticola chiniana procera Peters ; ne bet an te 88 The grassland species of the genus Cisticola is i te Se Notes on some Savanna Species of the Genus Cisticola oa) sie CPR ers, Further notes on some species of the Genus Cisticola _... a ME aN bie The Somali forms of Calandrella rufescens ope a +e wit ae A new form of Cisticola textrix Vieillot 146 WINTERBOTTOM, Dr. J. M. and MiIppLenmiss, E. H. J. Notes on the Cape Shoveller .. 154 _ WoopwarD, IAN D. Leg Colour of the Moorhen ... a Dh vy Ws 16 A Male Blackbird with a ‘‘Disfigured’’ Plumage ‘on Mt 31 An analysis of the Material Contents in the Nest of a Robin e AY 32
INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES
___ All generic and specific names are indexed. Only new subspecific names are inciuded : s these are indexed under the generic name and the subspecific name.
_ aberrans, Cisticola 128, 130 abyssinica, Turtur 136 Accipiter nisus 42
— rufiventris 96 — tachiro 119 _ Achaetops pycnopygius 20
: | *
tpl
Acrocephalus boeticatus 21-22 — gracilirostris 19-20 — rufescens 19, 110
Acrocephalus boeticatus hallae subsp. nov. 21
Actophilornis africanus 103-105
acuta, Anas 36, 54, 80-85, 157
acuticaudus, Lamprotornis 117
aethiopicus, Laniarius 116
afer, Francolinus 107
afer, Sphenoeacus 20
affinis, Aythya 54
afra, Nectarinia 96
- afra, Turtur 136
africana, Mirafra 7-9, 22-23, 109
africanoides, Mirafra 10, 102-103, 109
africanus, Actophilornis 103-105
Agapornis swinderniana 3-6
agile, Dicaeum 142-144
aguimp, Motacilla 61-63
Aix 165
Aix sponsa 166
alba, Motacilla 61-63
albescens, Mirafra 23
albicauda, Mirafra 22
albifrons, Amblyospiza 117
albifrons, Henicophaps 137
albipennis, Petrophassa 135-136
albofasciata, Chersomanes 24
albofasciata, Mirafra 24
albonotatus, Euplectes 119
alboterminatus, Tockus 119
Alcedo argentata 144
azurea 144
cristata 144-145
cyanopectus 144
leucogaster 144-145
nais 144-145
pusilla 144
quadribrachys 106-108, 145-146
semitorquata 145-146
thomensis 144-145
alcinus, Machaerhamphus 121
alcinus, Macheirhamphus 121
Alcyone 144
Amazonetta brasiliensis 165
Amblyospiza albifrons 117
americana, Anas 54
americana, Aythya 42, 54
Ammomanes deserti 23
Anas 165-167
Anas acuta 36, 54, 80-85, 157
americana 54
castanea 155
clypeata 54, 85, 154-160
crecca 34, 39, 54-55, 80-85
discors 157
erythrorhynchus 158
falcata 83
formosa 83
leucophrys, 165
penelope 34, 39-42, 54, 85
platyrhynchos 34-36, 38-39, 43- 45, 53-57, 85
smithii 154-160
strepera 40, 54, 157
superciliosa 85
[tsi
. Anas undulata 158
angolensis, Gypohierax 107 angolensis, Mirafra 109 angulata, Gallinula 199 Anomalospiza imberbis 119 anonyma, Cisticola 129 anselli, Cisticola textrix 146 Anthoscopus caroli 11-12, 117 Anthoscopus caroli pallescens subsp. nov. 12 Anthreptes collaris 65-67, 112 Anthreptes collaris patersonae (cor- rected name) 112 Anthreptes collaris patersoni subsp. nov. 65-66, 112 Anthus pelopus 120 — roseatus 120 Apalis argentea 2-3 — moreaui 152 — thoracica 147 Aplopelia 139 Apus barbatus 98-99 Apus barbatus hollidayi subsp. nov. 98-99 Aquila dubia 119 — verreauxi 67 Archaeopteryx lithographica 153-154 — macrura 153 — siemensi 153 Archaeornis 154 articus, Colymbus 78 Ardea cinerea 79 Arenaria interpres 119 argentata, Alcedo 144 argentatus, Larus 79 argentea, Apalis 2-3 aridula, Cisticola 111, 126-127 Artisornis 152 Asio flammeus 42 aterrimus, Scoptelus 172 atricollis, ‘Ortygospiza 118 atrococcineus, Laniarius 116 atrogularis, Orthotomus 76-78 Aviceda cuculoides 107 aymara, Metriopelia 136, 138 ayresii, Cisticola 127-128 AyEnye. affinis 54 americana 42, 54 collaris 141- 142 ferina 40 fuligula 25, 40-42, 140-142 marila 25 novaeseelandiae 27 vallisneria 36 azurea, Alcedo 144
Pal la
baboecala, Bradypterus 18 barakae, Bradypterus 68-69 barbatus, Apus 98-99 barbatus, Pycnonotus 101 barratti, Bradypterus 18, 68-69
bengala, Granatina 118 bennettii, Campethera 105 bernicla, Branta 34 biarmicus, Falco 67 | bicincta, Treron 47, 49 bicolor, Laniarius 116 bicolor, Lonchura 119 bicolor, Spreo 96 boeticatus, Acrocephalus 21-22 bohmi, Muscicapa 119 bonapartei, Gymnobucco 3 brachyura, Camaroptera 147-149 Bradypterus baboecala 18 barakae 18, 68-69 barratti 68-69 camerunensis 19 cinnamomeus 19 graueri 18 lopezi 68-69 mariae 19 victorini 152 Branta bernicla 34
— canadensis 38, 54 brasiliensis, Amazonetta 165 brehmeri, Turtur 136 brevicaudata, Camaroptera 147-149 brevirostris, Schoenicola 19, 119 brunnescens, Cisticola 111, 126-128 Bucephala clangula 64-65
Rees eG alle,
budongensis, Phylloscopus 69 bulliens, Cisticola 129 burra, Mirafra 23 burra, Pseudammomanes 23
cabanisi, Emberiza 119 © caerulescens, Estrilda 28-29 caerulescens, Lagonosticta 119 caesia, Coracina 3 ‘Calandrella cinerea 24-25
— rufescens 132
nov. 24
nov. 132 Callonetta leucophrys 165-167 Calorhamphus fuliginosus 121 ‘Calorhamphus fuliginosus detersus subsp. nov. 121 ‘Camaroptera brachyura 147-149 _— brevicaudata 147-149, 151 — fasciolata 110 — simplex 110 Camaroptera brachyura intercalata subsp. nov. 149 camerunensis, Bradypterus 19 campestris, Uropelia 138 Campethera bennettii 105 - canadensis, Branta 38, 54 cantans, Cisticola 152 Capella’ gallinago 167
Calandrella cinerea daaroodensis subsp.
Calandrella rufescens perconfusa subsp.
xi
capensis, Euplectes 89-92 capensis, Motacilla 62-63 capensis, Oena 46-47, 50, 136 capensis, Pycnonotus 101 capensis, Smithornis 119 capensis, Spatula 154 capistratus, Serinus 119 Caprimulgus natalensis 108 caroli, Anthoscopus 11-13, 117 carruthersi, Cisticola 130 castanea, Anas 155 ceciliae, Metriopelia 138 Certhilauda curvirostris 25
— semitorquata 25 cerviniventris, Eminia 21 cerviniventris, Phyllastrephus 119 Ceyx lecontei 144
— madagascariensis 144-146
— picta 144
— rufidorsum 145 Chalcophaps indica 6-7, 47-48, 135
— stephani 47-48, 135 nae indica salimali subsp. nov.
chalcoptera, Phaps 47-48, 137 chalcospilos, Turtur 136 chalybea, Nectarinia 96 Chamaepelia 139
Charadrius forbesi 119 cherina, Cisticola 125 Chersomanes albofasciata 24 chinensis, Coturnix 119 chiniana, Cisticola 88-89, 129 Chloropeta natalensis 119 chloropus, Gallinula 16 chubbi, Cisticola 130
Ciconia nigra 67
cinerea, Ardea 79
cinerea, Calandrella 24 cinerea, Motacilla 61-63 cinnamomeus, Bradypterus 19 Cisticola aberrans 128, 130 anonyma 129
aridula 111, 126-127 ayresii 127-128 brunnescens 111, 126-128 bulliens 129
cantans 152 carruthersi 130
cherina 125
chiniana 88-89, 129 chubbi 130
dambo 127-128 distincta 128
emini 130
erythrops 152
exilis 125—127
eximia 125-127 galactotes 111-112, 130-131 haesitata 125
hunteri 130
eee el leita |e] Sle
Cisticola juncidis 111, 125-126 cristata, Alcedo 144-145
— fais 128 cruziana, Columbina 138
— lateralis 129 cucullata, Hirundo 115
— natalensis a cuculoides, Aviceda 107
— njombe 128 cuneata, Geopelia 51, 135, 137
— pipiens 111-112, 130-131 curvirostra, Treron 49
— subruficapilla 128 curvirostris, Certhilauda 25
— textrix 111, 126-127, 146-147 cyanopectus, Alcedo 144
— tinniens 130 cyanopsis, Columbina 138
— woosnami 119, 129 Cygnus columbianus 36 Cisticola textrix anselli subsp. nov. 146 — olor 34, 93-94 clangula, Bucephala 64-65 clara, Motacilla 61-63 daaroodensis, Calandrella cinerea 24-25 Claravis godefrida 48, 50, 138 damarensis, Mirafra 25
— mondetoura, 48, 50, 138 dambo, Cisticola 127-128
— pretiosa 47-50, 138 decaocto, Streptopelia 169-171 clypeata, Anas 54, 85, 154-160 delagorguei, Columba 47-48 Colius colius 14-15 deserti, Ammomanes 23 colius, Colius 14-15 detersus, Calorhamphus fuliginosus 121 collaris, Anthreptes 65-67, 112 Dicaeum agile 142-144 : collaris, Aythya 141-142 — modestum 143 Columba 139 — obsoletum 143 Columba delagorguei 47-48 Dicrurus ludwigii 119
— iriditorques 48 discors, Anas 157
— livia 51, 168-171 distinct, Cisticola 128
— oenas 168-171 domesticus, Passer 170-172
— Olivae 88 Drymoica ocularius 16
— palumbus 168-171 Dryoscopus javensis 59-61
— speciosa 48 — martius 59 : columbianus, Cygnus 36 Dryoscopus javensis samarensis subsp. | Columbina buckleyi 138 nov. 60 —
— cruziana 138 dubia, Aquila 119
— cyanopsis 138
— minuta 138 eburnea, Pagophila 74-75
— passerina 136, 138 Ectopistes 138-139
— picui 138 Ectopistes migratorius 47-50
— talpacoti 136, 138 edouardi, Guttera 100, 108 Columbula 139 elegans, Phaps 47-48, 135, 137, 139 Colymbus arcticus 78 Emberiza cabanisi 119 coprotheres, Gyps 67 emini, Cisticola 130 coqui, Francolinus 107 Eminia cerviniventris 21 Coracia pyrrhocorax 170 Erannornis longicauda 3 Coracina caesia 3 Eremomela icteropygialis 110-111 corax, Corvus 170 — scotops 150-151 cornix, Corvus 170 Eremomela scotops extrema subsp. nov. } coronatus, Stephanibyx 13-14 151 coronatus, Vanellus 13-14 Erithacus rubecula 32 corone, Corvus 170 erythropthalma, Netta 27 Corvus corax 170 erythrops, Cisticola 152
— cornix 170 erythrops, Quelea 119
— corone 170 erythropterus, Lanius 106
— frugilegus 170 erythropterus, Pteruthius 106
— monedula 170 Erythropygia leucophrys 119 Corythornis cristata 145-146 erythrorhyncha, Anas 158
— leucogaster 145-146 Estrilda caerulescens 28-29
— madagascariensis 146 — melpoda 28
— picta 146 — perreini 28-29 cristata, Corythornis 145-146 Euplectes albonotatus 119 Cossypha natalensis 119 — capensis 89-92 Coturnix chinensis 119 Euryptila 152
crecca, Anas 34, 39, 54-55, 80-85 exilis, Cisticola 125-127
| eximia, Cisticola 125-127 extrema, Eremomela scotops 151
‘falcata, Anas 83
' Falco biarmicus 67 rupicoloides 107
' fasciolata, Camaroptera 110 ferina, Aythya 40
ferruginea, Lophophaps 135, 137 | flammeus, Asio 42
flava, Motacilla 62-63 flavicans, Prinia 114-115 flavirostra, Limnocorax 104 flaviventris, Motacilla 61, 63 fluviatilis, Locustella 52 forbesi, Charadrius 119 formosa, Anas 83
formosa, Ptilonopus 49 forsteri, Henicophaps 137 Francolinus afer 107
coqui 107
levaillantii 107 schlegelii 86-88 frugilegus, Corvus 170 fuliginosus, Calorhamphus 121 ' fuligula, Aythya 25, 40-42, 140-142 fulvicollis, Treron 49
| fuscus, Larus 108, 119
' galactotes, Cisticola 111-112, 130-131 | Gallicolumba hoedti 47-48 | — jobiensis 47-48, 139 xanthoura 47-48 | gallinago, Capella 167 Gallinula angulata 119 | chloropus 16
Garrulus glandarius 162-164 _ Geopelia cuneata 51, 135, 137, 169-170 humeralis 135 shortridgei 137 striata 135-137 Geophaps scripta 137 smithiae 137 | Geotrygon montana 47 glandarius, Garrulus 162-164 godefrida, Claravis 48, 50, 138 Goura 139-140 -gracilirostris, Acrocephala 19-20 Granatina bengala 118 granatina 31 | granatina, Granatina 31 ' graueri, Bradypterus 18 Griphosaurus 153 ‘griseocephalus, Mesiopicos 119 Guttera edouardi 100, 108 ' Gymnobucco bonapartei 3 _Gymnopelia 139 _Gypohierax angolensis 107 _Gyps coprotheres 64
haesitata, Cisticola 125 hallae, Acrocephalus boeticatus 21-22
rE
Henicophaps albifrons 137
forsteri 137
herberti, Phylloscopus 69
heterolaemus, Orthotomus atrogularis 77-718
Hippolais pallida 21
Hirundo cucullata 115
histrionica, Histriophaps 47-48, 50, 135, 137
perce histrionica 47-48, 50, 135, 137
hoedti, Gallicolumba 47-48 hollidayi, Apus barbatus 98-99 humeralis, Geopelia 135 hunteri, Cisticola 130 Hypargos 29
hypermetra, Mirafra 8-9
icteropygialis, Eremomela 110-111 imberbis, Anomalospiza 119 inca, Scardafella 136 indica, Chalcophaps 6-7, 47-48, 135 infelix, Mirafra curvirostris 25 intercalata, Camaroptera brachyura 149 intermedius, Ploceus 119 interpres, Arenaria 119 iriditorques, Columba 48 Ispidinia madagascariensis 145-146
— picta 144-146 jambu, Ptilonopus 49 jamesoni, Lagonosticta 28-30 javanica, Mirafra 22 javensis, Dryoscopus 59-61 jobiensis, Gallicolumba 47—48, 139 juncidis, Cisticola 111, 125-126
laetus, Phylloscopus 69 Lagonosticta caerulescens 119 jamesoni 28-30 landanae 28-30 larvata 28-31 nigricollis 28-31 nitidula 30
rara 28-30
rubricata 28-30, 119 © rufopicta 28-31 senegala 28—30 vinacea 28-31
lais, Cisticola 128 Lamprotornis acuticaudus 117 landanae, Lagonosticta 28-30 Laniarius aethiopicus 116 atrococcineus 116 bicolor 116
Lanius erythropterus 106 Larus argentatus 79
fuscus 108, 119 larvata, Lagonosticta 28-31 lateralis, Cisticola 129
laurae, Phylloscopus 69
i te lene e |
lecontei, Ceyx 144 lecontei, Myioceyx 145-146 Leptotila 139 leucogaster, Alcedo 144-145 leucogaster, Corythornis 145-146 leucomelas, Lybius 109 leucophrys, Anas 165 leucophrys, Callonetta 165-167 leucophrys, Erythropygia 119 leucopogon, Prinia 150 levaillantii, Francolinus 107 libonyanus, Turdus 97 Limnocorax flavirostris 104 lithographica, Archaeopteryx 153-154 livia, Columba 51, 168-171 Locustella fluviatilis 52 locustella, Ortygospiza 119 Lonchura bicolor 119 longicauda, Erannornis 3 lopezi, Bradypterus 68-69 Lophophaps ferruginea 135, 137 — plumifera 135,137 lophotes, Ocyphaps 137 ludwigii, Dicrurus 119 lugens, Parisoma 149 luteovirens, Ptilonopus 47, 49, 50 Lybius leucomelas 109 Lymnocryptes minimus 170
Machaerhamphus alcinus 121 Macheirhamphus alcinus 121 mackinleyi, Macropygia 47 Macropygia mackinleyi 47 macrura, Archaeopteryx 153 madagascariensis, Ceyx 144 madagascariensis, Corythornis 146 madagascariensis, Ispidinia 145-146 Malaconotus nigrifrons 119
— viridis 119 malopensis, Spiloptera 16 mariae, Bradypterus 19 marila, Aythya 25 martius, Dryoscopus 59 martius, Picus 64 melanophila, Ptilonopus 46-49 melanoptera, Metriopelia 138 Melocichla mentalis 20-21, 119 melpoda, Estrilda 28 mentalis, Melocichla 20-21, 119 mentalis, Sphenoeacus 20-21 merula, Turdus 31 Mesopicos griseocephalus 119 Metriopelia aymara 136, 138
— ceciliae 138
— melanoptera 138
— morenoi 138 migratorius, Ectopistes 47-48, 50 minimus, Limnocryptes 170 minuta, Columbina 138 minuta, Tchagra 116 Mirafra africana 7-9, 22-23, 109
xiv-
Mirafra africanoides 10, 102-103, 109 albescens 23 albicauda 22 angolensis 109 burra 23 curvirostris 25 damarensis 25 hypermetra 8—9 javanica 22 passerina 22 poecilosterna 23 pulpa 22 rufocinnamomea | 1 sabota 23
williamsi 22
bso] * | lesa Sl
Mirafra curvirostris infelix nom. nov. 25
Mirafra rufocinnamomea serlei subsp.
nov. 11 modestum, Dicaeum 143 modestus, Prionochilus 143 monachus, Ptilonopus 49 mondetoura, Claravis 48, 50, 138 monedula, Corvus 170 montana, Geotrygon 47 moreaui, Apalis 152 morenoi, Metriopelia 138 Motacilla alba 61-63
— aguimp 61-63
— capensis 62-63
— clara 61-63
— cinerea 61-63
— flava 62-63
flaviventris 61, 63
Muscicaga boehmi 119 Musophaga rossae 108 Myioceyx lecontei 145-146
nanus, Ptilonopus 49 nais, Alcedo 144-145 natalensis, Caprimulgus 108 natalensis, Chloropeta 119 natalensis, Cisticola 131 natalensis, Cossypha 119 Nectarinia afra 96
— chalybea 96
— olivacea 119
— violacea 96 Netta erythrophthalma 27
— peposaca 27
— rufina 27 Nettapus 165-166 nigra, Ciconia 67 nigricans, Pycnonotus 101 nigricollis, Lagonosticta 28-31 nigrifrons, Malaconotus 119 nisus, Accipiter 42 nitidula, Lagonosticta 30 njombe, Cisticola 128 nuntius, Orthotomus 77
obsoleta, Rhodospiza 75-76
obsoletum, Dicaeum 143
- occidentalis, Pelecanus 167 — ocularius, Drymoica 16
~ Ocyphaps lophotes 137 - Oena capensis 46-47, 50, 136
oenas, Columba 169-171
_ olax, Treron 49
olivacea, Nectarinia 119 olivaceus, Turdus 95-97, 109 olivae, Columba 88
olor, Cygnus 34, 93-94 orientalis, Psalidoprocne 116 Orthotomus atrogularis 76-78 nuntius 77
sericeus 77
Orthotomus atrolugaris oe
subsp. nov. 77-78 Ortygospiza atricollis 118 locustella 119 ostrinus, Pirenestes 118 Oxypelia 139
Pagophila eburnea 74-75
pallescens, Anthoscupos caroli 12 pallida, Hippolais 21
palumbus, Columba 168-171 Parisoma lugens 149
Passer domesticus 170-172 passerina, Columbina 136, 138 passerina, Mirafra 22
patersonae, Anthreptes collaris 112 patersoni, Anthreptes collaris 65—66, 112 pectoralis, Prinia 15-16
Pelicanus occidentalis 167
pelopus, Anthus 120
penelope, Anas 34, 39, 40, 42, 54, 85 peposaca, Netta 27
perconfusa, Calandrella rufescens 132 perousii, Ptilonopus 49
perreini, Estrilda 28-29 Petrophassa albipennis 135-136 rufipennis 135-137
phaeton, Poephila 30 Phalacrocorax 167
Phaps chalcoptera 47-48, 137 elegans 47-48, 135, 137, 139 philippinensis, Thriponax 59 Phyllastrephus cerviniventris 119 Phyllolais 152
Phylloscopus budongensis 69 herberti 69
laetus 69
laurae 69
ruficapilla 69
umbrovirens 69
Pica pica 170
pica, Pica 170
picta, Ceyx 144
picta, Corythornis 146
picta, Ispidinia 145-146
picui, Columbina 138
—
XV
Picus martius 64
pipiens, Cisticola 111-112, 130-131
Pirenestes 31
Pirenestes ostrinus 118
platyrhynchos, Anas 43-45, 53-57, 85
platyura, Schoenicola 19
Ploceus intermedius 119
xanthopterus 117
plumifera, Lophophaps 135, 137
poecilosterna, Mirafra 23
Poephila phaeton 30
pompadora, Treron 49
pretiosa, Claravis 47-48, 50, 138
Prinia flavicans 114-115
leontica 150
leucopogon 150
pectoralis 15-16
subflava 115, 149-150
Prionochilus modestus 143
Psalidoprocne orientalis 116
Pseudammomanes burra 23
Pteruthius erythropterus 106
validirostris 106
Pteruthius validirostris ripleyi subsp. nov. 106
Ptilonopus formosa 49
jambu 49
luteovirens 47, 49, 51
melanospila 46, 49
monachus 49
nanus 49
perousii 49
rivoli 46, 49
solomonensis 49
superbus 49
victor 47, 49-51
pulpa, Mirafra 22
pusilla, Alcedo 144
Pycnonotus barbatus 101
capensis 101
nigricans 101
pycnopygius, Achaetops 20
pyrrhocorax, Coracia 170
34-36, 38-39,
Pall c|s |p el a
quadribrachys, Alcedo 106, 108, 145-146 Quelea erythrops 119
quelea 67-68
quelea, Quelea 67-68
Quelea quelea spoliator subsp. nov. 67—68
rara, Lagonosticta 28-30 Rhodospiza obsoleta 75-76 ripleyi, Pteruthius validirostris 106 rivoli, Ptilonopus 46, 49
roseatus, Anthus 120
rossae, Musophaga 108
rubecula, Erithacus 32
rubricata, Lagonosticta 28-30, 119 rufescens, Acrocephalus 19, 110 rufescens, Calandrella 132
ruficapilla, Phylloscopus 69 “3. Tadorna tadorna 42, 163-164
rufidorsum, Ceyx 145 tadorna, Tadorna 42, 163-164 rufipennis, Petrophassa 135-137 talpacoti, Columbina 136, 138 rufiventris, Accipiter 96 2 Tchagra minuta 116 rufocinnamomea, Mirafra 11 Telephorus zeylonus 121— 124 ; rufopicta, Lagonosticta 28-31 . Telephorus zeylonus thermophilus " rupicoloides, Falco 107 subsp. nov. 123 |
, Terpsiphone viridis 99-100 : echt lohaleohai sade textrix, Cisticola 111, 126-127, 146-147 _ samarensis, Dryoscopus javensis 60 fhoenonbii Telephorus zeylonus 123 Sarki diornis 165 omensis, Alcedo 144-145
thoracica, "Apalis 147 :
Scardafella inca 136
— squammata 135-136, 139 Thriponax philippinensis 59
tinniens, Cisticola 130
Sceptomycter 152 schlegelii, Francolinus 86-88 ak ae 119 Schoenicola brevirostris 19, 119 reron Dicincta 4/, | — platyura 19 curvirostris 49 fulvicollis 49 .
Scoptelus aterrimus 172 ata scotops, Eremomela 150-151 — pompadora 49
scripta, Geophaps 137 : : Seicercus 69 sieboldi 5 49-5 semitorquata, Alcedo 145-146 Turd (Roan OF 0 rq semitorquata, Certhilauda 25 hpeiapyintbes ts : senegalensis, Streptopelia 169-171 Pa ni a ieee! ; sericeus, Orthotomus 77 Turt a ecieas 136. 09 : Serinus capistratus 119 erie “- a senegala, Lagonosticta 28-30 as eh - dae serlei, Mirafra rufocinnamomea 11 he hal soil Xe shortridgei, Geopelia 137 i, sister eis i _ — tympanistra 47-48, 136, 139 sieboldi, Treron 49 turtur.(Sirentopelia Ieee siemensi, Archaeopteryx 154 oe Mt, OR = pally =f) simplex, Camaroptera 110 ympanistra, Turtur 47-48, 136, 139 smithiae, Geophaps 137 ; t smithii, Anas 154-156 | undulata Anas Tee mithornis capensis : :
solomonensis, Ptilonopus 49 Uropelia amines ian Spatula capensis 154 validirostris, Pteruthius 106 speciosa, Columba 48 vallisneria, Aythya 36 Sphenoeacus afer 20 Vanellus coronatus 13-14
— mentalis 20 — vanellus 50 Spiloptera malopensis 16 Vanellus coronatus xerophilus subsp. spoliator, Quelea quelea 67-68 nov. 13 sponsa, Aix 166 vernans, Treron 47, 49-50 Spreo bicolor 96 verreauxi, Aqulia 67 squammata, Scardafella 135-136, 139 victor, Ptilonopus 47, 49-51 stephani, Chalcophaps 47-48, 135 victorini, Bradypterus 152 Stephanibyx coronatus 13 vinacea, Lagonosticta 28-31 strepera, Anas 40, 54 violacea, Nectarinia 96 Streptopelia 50-51, 139 viridis, Malaconotus 119 Streptopelia decaocto 169-171 viridis, Terpsiphone 99-100
— senegalensis 169-171 vulgaris, Sturnus 170
— turtur 169-171 striata, Geopelia 135-137 Sturnus vulgaris 170 subflava, Prinia 115, 149-150
subruficapilla, Cisticola 128 xanthopterus, Ploceus 117 superbus, Ptilonopus 49 xanthoura, Gallicolumba 47-48
superciliosa, Anas 85 xerophilus, Vanellus coronatus 13
hese aphiaea AeRpOrTIS 3-6 Zenaida 138-139 tachiro, Accipiter 119 zeylonus, Telophorus 121-124
williamsi, Mirafra 22 woosnami, Cisticola 119, 129
The Caxton & Holmesdale Press, 24 South Park, Sevenoaks
BULLETIN
OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
Edited by Dr. JEFFERY HARRISON
Volume 80 January No. I. 1960
Pa eee: 1 4 St tes \ 4 iy et |
‘ us
vies ; 3
¥
1960 Vol. 80
BULLETIN OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
aw ASS Volume 80 Number |
D pyRcHASE Published: Ist January, 1960
The five hundred and seventy-seventh meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, S.W.7. on Tuesday, 15th December, 1959, following a dinner at 6.30 p.m.
Chairman: CAPTAIN C. R. S. PITMAN
For the Christmas dinner, the Club entertained the Bird Artists. There was an exceptionally large gathering, forty-one members being present and forty guests. Among the guests were the artists Eric Ennion, Robert Gillmor, J. C. Harrison, D. M. Henry, A. M. Hughes, R. A. Richardson, Keith Shackleton, R. A. Vowles, D. I. M. Wallace, Donald Watson and ‘Maurice Wilson. The Club was also delighted to welcome Dr. R. A. Falla -and Dr. and Mrs. R. Cushman-Murphy as guests. | Dinner was followed by a small exhibition of contemporary paintings \lent for the occasion by club members or brought by the artists. After jthis Captain Pitman handed the Chair over to Peter Scott for the |**business’’ of the evening. The new Chairman introduced the speaker, 'Douglas Grant, of Oliver and Boyd, as one particularly qualified to speak jon ‘‘Colour Reproduction’’. Mr. Grant gave a short history of art jreproduction from the early engravings to the four colour technique, iwhich he illustrated with most interesting slides showing the build-up of |\progressive proofs in the four colours of an embroidery picture of a \lammergeier by Colonel Meinertzhagen, which was also on view. | The discussion which followed this instructive talk was based on some > prepared questions the first of which was ‘‘Do artists consciously employ ja different technique when painting for reproduction’’. Reid-Henry emphatically did not, but he was in the minority. Scott, Ennion and ‘Watson all emphasised the need for introducing more sharpness and contrast, and Wilson thought it was unreasonable to ask more of a iprinter than the technique allows. Grant brought out the point that authors of bird books could help both artists and printers by not grouping birds of too many contrasting colours on a page,—and also in showing more unanimity with their artists on what colour the birds should appear! | This led up to the use of photos for illustration and as an aid to the artists. It was generally agreed that photos were more suitable to flat subjects such as butterflies, but there were varying views on their use- fulness and the ethics of using them extensively. Scott suggested that, in books for identification, it was justifiable to caricature slightly to bring
Vol. 80 2 1960
out diagnostic characters: this introduced the next question—‘‘*Can modern art be combined with accurate representation of nature?’’ Rather surprisingly the general opinion was that it can and that some bird pictures which subordinated accuracy to general composition could still be pleasing and stimulating to an ornithological eye. A firm distinction was drawn here between paintings designed for illustration and those that were not. Shackleton in particular felt that some exaggeration could enhance both the character of the bird and the composition of the picture. Gillmor spoke of the difficulties of breaking with tradition, but, on the whole, a modern tendency to make some break was welcomed.
The mention of tradition opened the final question ‘‘Is the market for bird pictures governed very much by the public’s choice of familiar birds, there being few passerines painted compared to ducks, geese, game birds and waders?’’
The popularity of large birds as subjects was put down to a variety of causes: from the artists’ angle most present found there was more scope and more fun in a big canvas: Wallace suggested that the public in buying bird paintings wanted to bring the open spaces into their room rather than a replica of their gardens: Dr. Murphy thought that the best buyers in America were sportsmen who naturally preferred game birds (another speaker knew of a sportsman who used his paintings of game birds for sighting practice in the off-season). Scott told the sad story of a picture of goldcrests coming in over the sea which failed to find a buyer until he over-painted each goldcrest with a long-tailed duck. It then sold next day. He thought that the art galleries, with some notable exceptions, were slow to break with tradition and in this way dictated, to some extent, to both the artists and the public.
In conclusion Captain Pitman thanked Peter Scott and the other artists for a most entertaining discussion.
Much speculation and amusement was caused by A. M. Hughes’ delightful cartoons of the birds at their dinner, on the menu kindly printed and presented to the Club by Messrs. Oliver and Boyd.
The Juvenile Plumage of Apalis argentea Moreau 1941 and
a Note on the Habitat of the Species.
by Mr. STAFFAN ULFSTRAND Received, 7th September, 1959
The mountain areas on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika are known to: contain.a number of endemic bird subspecies (see Moreau 1943). So far, however, only one endemic species has been described, viz. the Kungwe Apalis, Apalis argentea Moreau 1941.
During Oxford University Tanganyika Expedition 1958, my colleague Mr. Hugh F. Lamprey and myself obtained two specimens of A. argentea in the Kungwe-Mahali mountains and had the opportunity to watch the species on a few occasions.
One of our specimens is in juvenile plumage which does not seem to be previously recorded in this species (Praed & Grant 1955: 419). Hence, it may be of interest to describe it briefly. The juvenile bird was collected on 24th August, 1958, near Ujamba, Kungwe-Mahali mountains, Western
1960 3 Vol. 80
District, Tanganyika Territory. It differs from adult birds chiefly through its very pronounced greenish tinge. Whilst adult birds are pure steel grey on the upperparts, the juvenile has these parts greyish green. This is particularly distinct on the wing-coverts. Also the top of the head is dark olive green. The underparts are light yellowish grey. The tail-feathers are _ similar in shape and colour to those of the adult. The iris. of the adult bird collected by us was recorded as reddish brown, that of the juvenile as brown. _ The adult specimen was collected on exactly the same spot as the juvenile on 23rd August, 1958. The habitat was gallery forest edge at an altitude of approx. 6,800 ft. There was a great deal of bamboo (Arun- _ dinaria) in the forest, and at clearings near the edges some tall dead trees _ were prominent. Both the birds were collected when seeking food in such trees, and all sight observations were made in the same habitat. Other _ birds characteristic of the same habitat were e.g. Gymnobucco bonapartei cinereiceps Sharpe, Erannornis longicauda kivuensis (Grote) and Coracina caesia pura (Sharpe).
Both the collected birds were members of a small family flock (probably the same), containing initially five or six birds. Being very mobile and shy, they were quite difficult to approach and collect, as noted also by Moreau’s (1943: 393) collector. A continuous twittering call was recorded.
References :
Moreau, R. E. 1943. A contribution to the ornithology of the East side of Lake Tanganyika. Ibis 85: 377-412
Praed, C. W. Mackworth & Grant, C. H. B. 1955. Birds of Eastern and North Eastern Africa. African Handb. of Birds, Ser. I, Vol. 2. London.
Geographic and Seasonal Variation in the
Black-collared Lovebird, Agapornis swinderniana
by DR. KENNETH C. PARKES Received 10th August, 1959
As repeatedly emphasized in Moreau’s monograph of the lovebird / genus Agapornis (Ibis, vol. 90, 1948, pp. 206-239), the type species A. | swinderniana is a little-known bird and thus contrasts with the other | members of one of the most popular genera in aviculture. At least two. | subspecies are usually recognised: the nominate A.s.swinderniana (Kuhl) of Liberia (which does not appear to have been collected in the past half century); and 4.s.zenkeri Reichenow, assigned a range extending from | Cameroons to western Uganda. In the Liberian population the black ‘nuchal collar is followed by a second collar of yellow; in all others this © _second collar is red. | Birds from the Ituri Forest (Belgian Congo) were separated as A.s.emini by Neumann (Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 21, 1908, p. 42). This race was accepted by Sclater (Syst. Av. Aethiop., pt. 1, 1924, p. 205) and Peters (Check-list Bds. of World, vol. 3, 1937, p. 255). Most recent authors, including Moreau (op. cit.), have followed Chapin (Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. FAlist., vol. 75, 1939, p. 240) in synonymizing emini with zenkeri. It might be noted here that although Mackworth-Praed and Grant (Bas. of E. and NE. Africa, vol. 1, 1952, pp. 554-555) do not admit emini, they have
Vol. 80 4 1960
omitted this name from their list of ‘“Names in Sclater ... which... have become synonyms in this work.”’
The type locality of A.s.zenkeri Reichenow is Jaunde (= Yaunde or Yaoundé), Cameroons. Carnegie Museum is fortunate enough to possess a fine series of specimens of zenkeri from Edea and Efulen, Cameroons, approximately 90 miles west and 95 miles south-west, respectively, of the type locality. When this series was compared with Chapin’s excellent Belgian Congo series at the American Museum of Natural History, it became apparent that emini is not a synonym of zenkeri, but may be applied to the easternmost populations of the known range of the Black- collared Lovebird. As pointed out by Chapin (op. cit.), the species appears to have an interrupted range, as it has not been reported from the Mayombe or Kasai districts. Bannerman (Bds. Trop. W. Africa, vol. 2, 1931, p. 414) mentioned specimens from the vicinity of Bolobo, on the middle Congo River, collected by Schoudeten. This is rather of an outlying locality for the species, almost midway between the principal known ranges of zenkeri and emini, so the subspecific identity of these Bolobo birds should be investigated.
Differences between zenkeri and emini, which involve both colour and proportions, are not those stressed by the deseriber of emini, which may account for the reluctance of authors to admit the latter race. Neumann believed the upperside of emini to be darker than that of zenkeri; Ituri birds are, if anything, slightly paler above than most Cameroons birds, but the difference is insignificant. Variations in the shade of blue of — the rump and upper tail-coverts are not cor- related with geographic distribution. The only valid colour character in the original description © of emini pertains to the red area behind the © black nuchal collar, which averages decidedly © more extensive in zenkeri. The tendency toward — increased red in the latter race is also noticeable ventrally, with the orange-red wash on the eG breast being both deeper and more extensive in Q\ zenkeri.
The bill of emini is not ‘‘much stronger’’ as claimed by Neumann, but it does average some- what more abruptly downcurved than that of zenkeri (see cut); this character is difficult to evaluate because of variations in preparation.
Bills of technique. oie Agapornis swinderniana. Although there is no size difference between Above, zenkeri and emini, the specimens examined A.s. emini, Gamangui, indicate a pronounced difference in the length Belgian Congo. of the wing-tip, as expressed by the difference, in Below, millimetres, between the longest primary and
A.s. zenkeri, Bitye,
Ganicraonas longest secondary wing quills. The possibility
must be taken into account that this difference may be attributable to variations in preparation technique; however, the
1960 5 Vol. 80
findings are consistent in spite of the fact that both series include the products of several collectors. Wing-tip measurements are as follows:
Bemcera = 28, 32, 33,345, 35.5, 35.5, 35.5, 36, 37, 37,5, 38, 38.
ean = 23, 23,.22.5, 24, 24, 24, 24, 24, 25,-25.5, 25.5, 25.5, 26, 26, 26.57 280
zenkeri 2° : 33.5, 34.5, 35.5.
Saiiied 3.22.5, 23, 23.54) 24, 24,24, 25.5,.28.
Notes made on labels by collectors strongly suggest the interesting possibility that there may be a seasonal change in the soft-part colours of Agapornis swinderniana. The following notes are taken (in some instances, translated) from the labels of adults of all three subspecies and of both sexes combined; nothing on these labels suggests any geographic variation or sexual dimorphism in soft-part colours.
Iris Colour Foot Colour January dark vinaceous (2) yellow-green (2) February Martin’s Yellow (1) oil-green (1) yellow (3) grey (3) May yellow (3) grey (3) June orange-yellow (1) green-grey (1) July yellow (2) greenish grey (3) pale orange yellow (2) greyish green (2) light yellowish brown (2) olivaceous (2) grey brown (1) August red orange yellow (1) greenish grey (1) September orange (1) . October gull grey (4) yellow (4) November gull grey (3) yellow (3)
The listed foot colours are particularly suggestive of a seasonal alter- nation between grey and yellow, passing through greenish intermediate stages. The situation with respect to iris colour is less clear, and attention must be drawn to Chapin’s statement (op. cit.) that the iris of a wounded bird changed from reddish orange to yellow soon after death. Assuming that the irides of all birds labelled ‘‘yellow’’ were, indeed, orange in life, there is still a suggestion of a seasonal change of iris colour.
In addition to the American Museum of Natural History’s specimens, I was able to examine all of the specimens of Agapornis swinderniana belonging to the Chicago Natural History Museum. I am indebted to Drs. D. Amadon and A. L. Rand for these courtesies. Localities from which specimens were examined are listed below. These may be found in Chapin’s gazetteer of African collecting localities (Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., vol. 75B, 1954, pp. 638-738).
A.s.swinderniana Liberia (various localities), 4.
A.s.zenkeri Cameroons: Efulen, 11; Edea, 4; Bitye, 2; Aloum, 1;
Ebolowa, 1.
Vol: 80 6 1960
A.s.emini Belgian Congo: Gamangui, 5; Kita Kita, 3; Avakubi, 2; Baraka, 2; Beni, 2; Bengamisa, 1; ‘“‘Ituri Forest’’, 1. Uganda: Bwamba District, 7.
A New Race of the Emerald Dove
Chalcophaps indica (Linnaeus) from India
by AwIT KUMAR MUKHERJEE Received 21st August, 1959
The emerald dove, Chalcophaps indica (Linn.) is a beautiful bronze- colored bird of humid evergreen forests of the Orient. The genus is represented by a single species.
Baker (1921) recognized two races of Chalcophaps indica, namely, Chalcophaps indica indica (Linn.) which is widely distributed throughout the Indian continent and Burma and Chalcophaps indica robinsoni Baker, confined to Ceylon. Peters (1937) listed a third race, Chalcophaps indica maxima (Hartert), from South Andamans. He remarked (Joc. cit., note): ‘Due to great range of variation in this species and lack of sufficiently long series from all parts of the wide areas it inhabits, | am not sure whether I have recognized too many or not enough races.”’
On examination of a good material of Chalcophaps indica from different parts of India, I am inclined to agree with Peters. I may point out, however, that although individual variation in this species is great, such as in the varying amount of bronze on the back, scapulars and wing coverts, and the vinous red on the breast and abdomen specially in female and young ones, yet in a series they can be resolved into geographical groups on some general characters.
Taking into consideration the size and general coloration of only adult males in fresh winter plumage, I recognize within India, besides the nom- inate race which occupies the major part of India, one more race which occupies the humid zone, with an annual rainfall of 50-100 inches, of — south-western India. Since no name is available for this population, it is here described as
Chalcophaps indica salimalii, new subspecies
Type: B.N.H.S.* Regd. No. 12805; adult male; Jenmalai (ca. 500’), Central Travancore, Kerala; 2nd March 1947; Collector—Salim Ali.
Material examined: Chalcophaps indica: 42 specimens: 22 J, 16 2, 4 unsexed. WESTERN HIMALAYAS: 2 ¢ Simla, 2 g Mussoorie, | g, 1 & Dehrahun; CENTRAL HIMALAYAS: | ¢ Nichlaul; EASTERN HIMALAYAS: 1 3g, 1 9, 2 unsexed, Darjeeling; 2 3, 1 9, 1 unsexed, Sikkim; AssAm: | g, 1 9, Tura, 2 9 Patherughat, | 9 Balcamgiri, | 2 Dibrugarh, 1 2 Naga Hills, 1 g, 1 & Khasi Hills, 2 g, 12 N. Cachar; MADHYA PRADESH: 2 ¢ Kish, Ghorela, 1 2 Rupjhar; EASTERN GHATS: | 3 Orissa, 2 3 Nelliampathy Hills; WESTERN GHATS: | 3 Surat Dangs, | 2 Londa, | 9 Joalbec; KERALA: 2 3, 1 unsexed Trivandrum, 1 3, 2 2 Mynall; | 3 Anjengo; CEYLON: 1 § Higara, 1 2 Udugama, South Province.
Description: Very similar to C.i.robinsoni but larger. The grey median line running from the head to scapulars present in robinsoni, is absent in Kerala birds. Emerald on the upper parts is less pronounced.
* Stands for Bombay Natural History Society.
1960 7 Vol. 80
Compared with the nominate race it is larger and darker, has the abdo- men lighter than the throat and breast and the metallic bronze on the upper parts less pronounced and green prominent.
Measurements (in millimetres) :
Wing Tail Bill from skull Type of C.i.salimalii 1g 152° 5 93 28-5 Other specimens of C.i.salimalii 13 155 100 (Trivandrum Museum coll.) a2d 152-155 93-101 —_ 22 144-146 90 — 5b 1(2) LSS 82 a C.i.robinsoni Wes 136 90 — 1 136 87 it Other specimens of C.i.robinsoni roma re 134 86.5 J 52 134-142 80-93 — C.i.indica 16d 140-155 77-95 — (147.8) (86.1) — (Himalayas and Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, 62 135-151 72-91 a Madhya Pradesh, (143.3) (88.3)
Orissa, Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats)
a Measurements supplied by the British Museum. b Measurements supplied by the American Museum of Natural History. c Ex. Whistler, H. 1944. The avifaunal survey of Ceylon. Spol. Zeyl. 23, 253.
Range: Kerala.
Remarks: Ali (1953) had already recognized the fact that the Travancore birds were not the same as either Ceylonese or Peninsular Indian birds. This new dove is named in honour of Dr. Salim Ali, the veteran orni- thologist who has contributed a great deal of valuable information on the Indian avifauna.
I am grateful to the authorities of the Bombay Natural History Society for the loan of some material for my study; to Shri N. G. Pillai of the Trivandrum Museum, Kerala, also for lending a specimen for my study; to Mr. J. D. Macdonald of the British Museum and Dr. Charles Vaurie of the American Museum of Natural History for supplying me with measurements of emerald doves from their collection.
References :— Ali, S. 1953—The birds of Travancore Cochin, 330.
Baker, E. C. Stuart, 1921—The fauna of British India, Birds, 5, 125. Peters, J. L. 1937—Check-list of birds of the world, 3, 114.
Some Inter relationships in the Larks of the
Mirafra africana Group by Mr. C. M. N. WHITE
Received 29th July, 1959
The southern and central African populations of this lark have been discussed several times in recent years, and the present notes deal mainly with some of the more northern groups.
Vol. 80 8 1960
Relationship between M.africana and M.hypermetra.
M.hypermetra in general may be said to replace M.africana in northern Kenya, the south east Sudan, Ethiopia and Italian Somalia. M.hypermetra and its races are larger birds than most M.africana, but Macdonald in describing M.h.kidepoensis found difficulty in deciding whether to assign his new form to africana or to hypermetra. In the end, despite its resem-. blance in colour to africana tropicalis, he assigned it to hypermetra on account of its size. In fact the two known popluations of kidepoensis differ inter se in this respect. Birds from Maroto and the Nakwai hills in north Uganda with wings 103, 106, 108 mm. are little larger than tropicalis (wing 94-101 mm.), and smaller than Didinga mountain birds (wings 109-113). I find no ground for regarding kidepoensis as anything other than a race of africana, differing from tropicalis in its larger size and more ruddy colour. The unique kathangorensis with similar size and more sandy grey back but rufous crown patch appears as one might expect on geographical grounds to be a perfect link with hypermetra gallarum which is still larger (wing 111-121 mm.), greyer above and with a less marked crown patch. The latter in turn differs from nominate hypermetra only in having a slightly marked crown patch and rufous wing coverts. The sequence of races africana tropicalis, kidepoensis, kathangorensis, gallarum, hypermetra thus replace each other, grading from one to the other and although the extremes are very different, they are linked by intermediate populations.
South of this sequence of races, tropicalis and athi occur in Uganda, Kenya and northern Tanganyika. Transition between the rich tawny tropicalis and the grey or sandy grey athi has not been well discussed before. Birds from Kisumu and Kavirondo are tropicalis. A series from the Loita plains, Loliondo and Embulbul in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) demonstrates the transition to athi; of these the Embulbul bird is nearest to tropicalis but unusually dark; as Hanangs birds agree better with tropicalis I think tropicalis can be used for both Hanang and Embulbul populations. But those of Loliondo and the Loita plains are already much greyer on the back than tropicalis and in this respect agree with athi from which they differ in their well marked rufous caps. In Kenya at the Mau range, Nakuru, Naivasha and Nairobi this rufous cap has disappeared, leaving only a slight trace. I am indebted to Dr. A. L. Rand for details of Kenya material in the Chicago Museum of Natural History which shows a gradual change east and south to the greyest birds of the Athi plains and Kapiti plains which often show no tawny in either crown or wing coverts. M.a.dohertyi is available for the intermediate birds if it is desired to name them but unfortunately dohertyi is less well marked as an intermediate than the Loliondo and Loita birds. I propose here only to use the names athi and tropicalis and draw attention to the fact that these extremes are linked by various populations.
The greyest athi lacking rufous or tawny on crown and wing coverts can only be distinguished in size from Aypermetra. This is well illustrated by two birds from lake Manyara and the Sanya plains in the British Museum which cannot be separated from hypermetra except by size (wings 100- 101 mm.) against 114-124 in hypermetra.
M.hypermetra replaces athi from the Tana river to northern Guasso Nyiro, Isiolo, Marsabit, S. Ethiopia at Mega and Mogadishu in Somalia.
1960 9 Vol. 80
The curious feature is that hypermetra although it occurs at much lower altitudes than athi is such a strikingly larger bird, for the wings of athi measure 97-107 mm. in a long series. This in itself might be regarded as good reason for thinking that two species were involved. On the other hand we have above noted that africana tropicalis goes through a graded series of colour and size changes to link with gallarum which is very clearly conspecific with hypermetra. In addition despite the great size difference, athi and hypermetra are often indistinguishable in colour. If one postulates that populations spread northwards from tropicalis through the sequence of races described above to close the circle in the east by Aypermetra meeting athi again, the succession of changes in colour and size assumes an orderly sequence, although the existence of smaller birds at higher altitudes and larger birds at lower altitudes remains unexplained in terms of Bergmann’s rule. In the British Museum there is an apparent hypermetra from Loliondo collected at a much lower level than the tropicalis-athi intergrades, and presumably in dryer Rift valley country such as hyper- metra might inhabit. This bird with wing 113 mm. is smaller than any other hypermetra males examined. More evidence and material from this area is needed to explain this isolated occurance of a bird resembling hypermetra. On balance it appears that hypermetra and the races associated with it in the past can be regarded as conspecific with africana. But more field work and collecting in areas of transition from hypermetra to athi is needed.
Transition in East African populations of M.africana.
_ Dr. Rand has drawn attention to the difference between the grey athi and red harterti and queried how transition occurs. Two birds in the British Museum from Useri, east of Kilimanjaro and from west of Moshi appear to be intergrades, and rather more like harterti than athi. The transition of tropicalis to athi has already been discussed.
Isolated northern races of M.africana.
Several isolated populations of M.africana occur in Darfur, Cameroons, Nigeria (Jos) and French Guinea. These populations are very similar to each other in various ways. They are all very small in size, wings 89-98 mm., they have small rather curved bills, and are very richly coloured. They appear to form a group of races which stand together and apart from other africana races.
Their characters may be summarised as follows :—
kurrae: cinnamon below including throat; above vinous rufous with heavy black streaking. Darfur. |
stresemanni: very rich dark cinnamon rufous above with rather light black streaking; crown almost unstreaked; darker cinnamon below. N.Cameroons at Ngaundere.
_ bamendae: like stresemanni below, but very heavily marked with black above. Bamenda highlands of Cameroons.
| batesi: nearest to kurrae but upperside a sandy red rather than vinous or pinky grey. Wrongly synonymised with kurrae it seems. Jos plateau, : Nigeria.
henrici: almost as black as bamendae above but crown largely un- |
streaked; below like batesi, i.e. paler than bamendae. French Guinea. _ M.a.malbranti of the French Congo and Kasai in the Belgian Congo links these small populations to the larger central and southern populations
|
Vol. 80 10 1960
of Africa but unlike them is a light coloured bird with little streaking, and intergrades via kabalii into other populations further south. I include it with the more southern races rather than in the group of small isolated — no*tthern races.
The status of M.a.nigrescens Re-examination of the series of nyikae and the bird from Njombe in | southern Tanganyika shows that the latter agrees very closely with nyikae, and not with tropicalis as has been supposed. Mrs. Hall who has examined it with me agrees that the Nyika birds and the Njombe bird cannot be separated. The only other southern Tanganyika record is the unique type of nigrescens from Ukinga which agrees closely with the Nyika birds and shows insignificant differences. I believe that nyikae should be treated as a synonym of nigrescens until at any rate more material from southern Tanganyika is available. \/.a.nigrescens as here understood seems to be a | very isolated form of africana and probably approaching the level of specific distinctness. It exhibits a scalloped rather than streaked pattern above, elongated drop-shaped breast spots, a very long tarsus 36-39 mm. against 28-33 in adjacent races; a very long, straight hind claw; and a very short tail, only 54 per cent of the wing, against 60-66 per cent in other southern, central and eastern races. Subspecies groups within M.africana
On the basis of their characters and the way in which populations intergrade the numerous forms of M.africana can be arranged in several groups.
i. Southern and central races: africana, transvaalensis, grisescens, ghanziensis, pallida, occidentalis, chapini, gomesi, kabalii, and malbranti seem to me to be the most worthy of recognition and all intergrade into each other.
ii. nigrescens of the Nyika-south Tanganyika highlands is very distinct.
iii. the north eastern group: tropicalis, ruwenzoria, kidepoensis, kathangorensis, athi, harterti, hypermetra, gallarum and sharpei form a group most of which pass into each other by transitional forms.
iv. the north western group: kurrae, stresemanni, bamendae, batesi and henrici are apparently isolated from each other but form a group of closely related forms.
I am indebted to Mrs. B. P. Hall for looking at these larks with me in the British Museum, to Dr. A. L. Rand for notes and information on the material in the Chicago Natural History Museum, and to Mr. C. W. - Benson for the help his collector Jali Makawa has given me on various occasions in obtaining additional material.
The Type Locality of Mirafra africanoides Smith
by Mr. C. M. N. WHITE Received 11th June, 1959 Smith in describing this lark in 1836 gave the locality as the **Eastern province of the colony and Latakoo’’. In 1917 Roberts when separating the birds from Windhoek as M.a.harei remarked ‘‘Shelley has assigned the type locality to Hopetown’’. Macdonald in Contribution to the Ornithology of Western South Africa 1957 p. 95 treated this as a restriction
1960 11 Vol. 80
by Roberts of the type locality to Hopetown which is not the case. I have
not traced Shelley’s ‘‘assigning’’ the type locality to Hopetown. Mac- donald proposed to restrict the type locality to Colesburg and, observed that some of Smith’s specimens in the British Museum were dark and heavily streaked. Unfortunately the specimens collected by Smith in the British Museum are not labelled with locality, and they are not a uniform series, since some are markedly paler than others, and could have emanated from further north west than Colesburg. No specimen was designated as the type.
Actually Roberts had already earlier (Ann. Trvl. Mus. xvi. 1935. p. 121) disregarded the locality Hopetown, and formally restricted the type locality to Litakun near Kuruman i.e. Latakoo as mentioned by Smith. In the absence of a designated type this was a perfectly correct restriction of the type locality, and cannot be arbitrarily set aside because Smith may
have collected some specimens between Graaf Reinet and Colesburg. Under these circumstances the type locality should remain as Litakun.
A New Lark from Nigeria by Mr. C. M. N. WHITE
Received 18th August, 1959
Mirafra rufocinnamomea serlei subsp. nov.
Description; compared with the widely ranging West African Mr. buckleyi, this form is darker and richer in colour; the upperside is a deep reddish compared with the predominantly greyer buckleyi, and the under- side is deep tawny ochre compared with the creamy buff of buckleyi. Type: in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). Collected at Enugu, Eastern region, Nigeria on 4th October, 1952 by Dr. W. Serle. B.M., reg. no. 1955. 59.133.
Distribution: the eastern region of Nigeria north to intergrade with buckleyi about the Benue river. Specimens from Lokodja agree well with serlei but others from Yola and Loko are somewhat intermediate.
Notes: buckleyi extends to Lagos and birds from the north of Nigeria are also referable to buckleyi. The new form in its red and deeply coloured plumage bears a slight resemblance to tigrina of the Ubangi-Uelle area but tigrina is lighter above and more vinous pink. I am grateful to Dr. Serle for the gift of specimens of this lark and to Mrs. Hall for examining these larks with me at the British Museum.
A new subspecies of Anthoscopus caroli (Sharpe 1871)
from western Tanganyika Territory
by Mr. S. ULFSTRAND Received 3lst May, 1959
Several subspecies of Anthoscopus caroli (Sharpe 1871) s. lat. occur within a comparatively restricted area in Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, S. Tanganyika Territory and S. Belgian Congo. Sometimes they are divided between two species, viz. A. caroli (Sharpe 1871) and A. ansorgei Hartert 1905. This is the arrangement adopted by Chapin (1954, p. 109).
Vol. 80 12 1960
But to me it appears a better way to follow Praed & Grant (1955, p. 655; see also Grant & Praed 1947-48, p. 74) and consider all the forms con- specific. A. caroli is then apparently the older name.
In the course of Oxford University Tanganyika Expedition 1958 a bird collection was obtained by Mr. Hugh F. Lamprey and myself from the Kungwe-Mahali peninsula on Lake Tanganyika in western Tanganyika ~ Territory. This collection contains two interesting specimens of A. caroli © which have been compared at British Museum (Natural History) with types and/or topotypical material as far as available of the following forms which seem to be relevant :—
1. A. c. caroli (Sharpe 1871): Damaraland. |
2. A.c. sylviella Reichenow 1904: NE. Tanganyika Territory down to Iringa and Rungwe.
3. A. c. ansorgei Hartert 1905: S. Belgian Congo and N. Angola.
4. A.c. robertsi Haagner 1909: E. Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, and N. Portuguese East Africa.
5. A. c. rhodesiae Sclater 1932: Ufipa in SW. Tanganyika Territory, N. Northern Rhodesia, and S. Belgian Congo near Elisabethville.
6. A. c. winterbottomi White 1946: Mwinilunga area in NW. Northern Rhodesia.
Careful comparison shows that the Kungwe-Mahali specimens are clearly different from all the above subspecies. In spite of the meagre material and awaiting a review of the genus, it therefore seems convenient to separate the Kungwe-Mahali birds subspecifically.
Anthoscopus caroli pallescens, n. ssp.
Description: Upperside greenish grey with green wash clearer on rump; forehead pale yellowish grey; whole underside from chin to tail-coverts greyish with a slight yellowish wash and but the very slightest touch of buff on under tail-coverts.
The new subspecies thus differs from sspp. caroli, sylviella, and robertsi in the very nearly complete absence of buff or tawny on the underparts, and from ansorgei, rhodesiae and winterbottomi in the pale green colour on the upperparts.
Type: In the collection of the Zoological Museum, University of Lund, — Sweden. Male, collected on 21st August, 1958, on Kabesi Ridge, east of Mt. Kungwe, Kungwe-Mahali peninsula, E. shore of Lake Tanganyika. Altitude approx. 5,500 ft. Colour of soft parts: bill slate grey, tarsus and feet blackish, iris brown. Measurements of type: wing 57 mm, tail 34 mm, bill from cranial hinge 8 mm.
Another male shot on 6th September, 1958, at Kibwesa, Kungwe- Mahali peninsula, at an altitude of approx. 2,800 ft. perfectly agrees in colour and has measurements: wing 53 mm, tail 34 mm, bill 8 mm. Both — males were in song and in the company of a (presumed) mate when killed. The song was recorded as a high-pitched sibilant trill: ‘‘see-see-see...’’ gradually dying away. |
The habitat of both the specimens and all other individuals recorded was Brachystegia woodland. The species was not uncommon in the high- land type of ‘‘miombo’’ on Kabesi Ridge where the trees were generally in leaf. They usually occurred in mixed bird parties with Hyliota flavigaster barbozae Hartlaub, Eremomela scotops citriniceps (Reichenow), Alseonax adustus fiilleborni (Reichenow) and Salpornis spilonota salvadori (Bocage).
In the lowland, however, where the second specimen was obtained, the species was scarce, for the pair, out of which the male was shot, was the only record within that zone. The general distribution of the new subspecies remains to be worked out. For hospitality and help I am most grateful to Dr. J. Macdonald and Mrs. B. P. Hall of the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). A generous grant from the Royal Physiographical Society of Lund is gratefully acknowledged. | References : Chapin, J. P. 1954. The Birds of the Belgian Congo. Part 4. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist., | vol. 75B. New York. : | Grant, C. H. B. & Mackworth-Praed, C. W. 1947-48. Notes on East African Birds. Bull. | Brit. Orn. Cl. 68: 74-77. -Mackworth-Praed, C. W. & Grant, C. H. B. 1955. Birds of Eastern and North Eastern _ Africa. African Handb. of Birds, Ser. I, vol. 2. London.
E 13 Vol. 80
| A New Race of Crowned Plover
| Vanellus (Stephanibyx) coronatus (Boddaert) from South-West Africa
| by Mr. P. A. CLANCEY
|
Received 23rd July, 1959
_ Study of material of the Crowned Plover Vanellus (Stephanibyx)
_coronaius (Boddaert) recently collected in South-West Africa by members
of the staffs of the Durban and East London Museums (May-June, 1959),
shows that the populations of that territory are composed of distinctly
lighter and greyer coloured birds than those of the Cape Province (topo-
typical of V.(S.)c.coronatus) and the eastern half of southern Africa. Friedmann, Proc. New England Zool. Club, 1928, vol. x, in his revision of the races of this wide-ranging species, recognised three forms: the widely
_dispersed nominate race, and two localized races (V.(S.)c.demissus (Fried-
mann), 1928: Suk-Soda, British Somaliland, and V.(S.)c.suspicax (Fried-
mann), 1928: Sadi Malka, Abyssinia) at the north-eastern end of the
species’ range. The pronounced characters shown by the South-West _ African Crowned Plovers more than fully justify the recognition of these
_ distinct occidental populations as an additional race by name, which may
| be known as
| Vaneilus (Stephanibyx) coronatus xerophilus, subsp. nov.
Type: °, adult. Farm Elizabethhill, near Okahandja, Damaraland, central South-West Africa. Altitude 5100 ft. a.s.l. 13th May, 1959. Durban Museum Expedition. In the collection of the Durban Museum, South Africa.
Diagnosis: Differs abruptly from V.(S.)c.coronatus .(Boddaert), 1783: Cape of Good Hope, i.e., Cape Province, South Africa, of South Africa and the eastern half of the continent north to Kenya and, perhaps, southern Somalia, in the distinctly lighter and greyer upper-parts (slightly — greyer than Vinaceous-Buff as against Buffy Brown (vide Ridgway, Color Standards and Color Nomenclature, 1912, pl. xl). Using the Colour Atlas of C. and J. Villalobos, 1947, the back of newly moulted V.(S.)c.xerophilus gives a reading of 00S—10-3° as against 0—7—2° in the nominate race. On
_ the under-parts paler, this particularly noticeable on the breast, which is quite without the overlay of Buffy Brown present in V.(S.)c.coronatus. The
Vol. 80 14 1960
blackish crown-spot is often reduced in size, thereby exhibiting more white peripherally than in V.(S.)c.coronatus. Similar in size.
Material examined: V.<(S.)c.xerophilus, 12 (May, 1959.) V.GS.)c. coronatus, 29 (Cape Province, Natal, Swaziland, eastern Transvaal, Northern Rhodesia). .
Measurements of the Type: Wing (flattened) 211, culmen (exposed) 28, tarsus 68, tail 94 mm.
Range: Known at present from central and northern South-West Africa, specimens being examined from the following localities: Windhoek, Okahandja, Otjiwarongo. Almost certainly extends north- wards to at least south-western Angola (Mocamedes and Huila).
Remarks: The distinctive pallor of the new race of Crowned Plover was noticed in the field, and it was appreciated long before comparative study was possible that the South-West African populations represented a distinct undescribed race. V.(S.)c.xerophilus shows the normal trend in South-West African bird forms in being paler and greyer than those of the Cape Province and the eastern parts of the sub-continent. It is surprising that it was not discovered and named years ago by the various industrious German systematists of the early part of the present century.
The other race of the Crowned Plover inhabiting desertic regions of Africa, V.(S.)c.demissus, differs in having the upper-parts more reddish sandy in colour when compared with the nominotypical race. It also ranges rather smaller in size (wings 191-197 mm. (after Chapin, Birds of the Belgian Congo, part u, 1939, p. 76)).
I am grateful to Miss M. Courtenay-Latimer, Director of the East London Museum, South Africa, for kindly allowing me to study the specimens of the new form obtained by members of the East London Museum party.
Geographical Variation in the
White-backed Mousebird Colius colius (Linnaeus) by Mr. P. A. CLANCEY
Reichenow, Journal fiir Ornithologie, vol. xlvii, 1899, p.418, separated the populations of Colius colius (Linnaeus) from Damaraland from those
of the Cape Province under the name C.c.damarensis Reichenow, 1899. The recognition of two races of this somewhat restricted species of mouse-
bird has not been followed by most systematic workers, and the species is:
treated as monotypic by Sclater, Systema Avium AEthiopicarum, part 1,
1924, p. 266; Peters Check List of Birds of the World, vol. v, 1945, p. 1463.
McLachlan and Liversidge, Roberts Birds of South Africa, 1957, p. 208, and Macdonald, Contribution to the Ornithology of Western South Africa,
1957, p. 87. Roberts, Birds of South Africa, 1940, p. 159, and Vincent,
Check List of the Birds of South Africa, 1952, p.48, however, recognise C.c.damarensis and give its range as ‘‘Damaraland.’’
Study of the adequate series of recently-taken specimens in the collection of the Durban Museum shows that the populations of Damaraland are not in any distinguishable from those of the north-western and northern Cape Province, Bechuanaland Protectorate and western Transvaal. They do, however, differ from examples from the southern and eastern Cape
il eee
11960 15 Vol. 80
‘and southern Orange Free State in being paler grey over the head and on
‘the under-parts, in having rather less extensive and paler vinaceous-fawn
‘over the lower breast, while the creamy white abdomen and flanks lack
‘the wash of rusty buff present in the southern and south-eastern popu-
ations. These unrecorded ventral colour differences seem to warrant the
‘retention of two named races in our systematic treatment of the species. The populations of the White-backed Mousebird can be arranged in two:
races, the characters and ranges of which are as hereunder detailed :
| (a) Colius colius colius (Linnaeus), 1766: Cape of Good Hope, i.e.,:
‘Cape Province, South Africa.
| Whole head, upper-parts, throat and upper breast about Neutral Gray
(vide Ridgway, Color Standards and Color Nomenclature, 1912, pl. lit);
feathers of chin and upper throat black at base; lower breast about
Light Vinaceous-Fawn (pl. xl), and rest of under-parts (abdomen, flanks,
crissum and under tail-coverts) creamy white with a pronounced
_ overlay of Warm Buff (pl. xv).
| Range: Western and south-western Cape Province, eastwards through.
i\the southern and interior Karoo districts to the eastern Cape, and in the
western half of the Orange Free State. Intergrades with C.c.damarensis in
‘the lower valley of the Vaal, along the course of the central Orange River
(Prieska), in the southern Kenhardt district, and doubtless at other points (b) Colius colius damarensis Reichenow, 1899: Damaraland, South-.
West Africa.
_ Slightly paler Neutral Grey over the head and on the upper-parts than in C.c.colius (about Light Neutral Gray, vide Ridgway, /oc. cit., pl. li). On the under-parts usually showing less blackish on throat; breast band not so broad and rather less vinous tinged (Vinaceous-Buff (pl. xl)), and with the abdomen, flanks, crissum and under tail-coverts creamy white without an overlay of Warm Buff.
Range: Central and southern South-West Africa (Damaraland: and. Great Namaqualand), western and southern Bechuanaland Protectorate,,. western Transvaal, and the northern and north-western (south to Kenhardt, where it meets C.c.colius) Cape Province.
On the Races of Prinia pectoralis (Smith) by Mr. P. A. CLANCEY
Received 10th September, 1959
| Winterbottom, Bull. B.O.C., vol. 77, 9, 1957, pp. 155-156, in his useful revision of the races of the Rufous-eared Prinia recognises two subspecies, Placing Prinia pectoralis hewitti (Roberts), 1932: Aerodrome, Grahams- ‘town, eastern Cape Province, as a synonym of nominate P.pectoralis (Smith), 1829: Bitterfontein, southern Little Namaqualand. The second recognised race, Prinia pectoralis malopensis (Sharpe), 1903: Molopo River, Bechuanaland, occurs to the north of the Orange River and is ‘paler coloured throughout, being much whiter below. The material in the . Durban Museum collection supports Winterbottom’s findings (cf. \Macdonald, Contribution to the Ornithology of South Africa, 1957, pp. 138-139), but an adjustment to the name of the southern Bechuanaland populations appears to be necessary. .
Vol. 80 16 1960
Winterbottom places as a synonym of nominate P.pectoralis the name | Drymoica ocularius Smith, 1843: northern districts of the Cape Province to the Tropic of Capricorn (vide Illustrations of the Zoology of South Africa, Aves, 1843, pl. 76 (and text)). Study of the coloured illustration on pl. 76 | and of the description convinces me that D.ocularius is the correct name for the populations named Spiloptera malopensis by Sharpe. The illustration shows a bird with the under-parts whitish, a narrow black cincture on the } lower throat, and the flanks unstreaked (precisely the differences which ] separate P.p.‘‘malopensis’’ from the greyer breasted and strongly streaked © P.p.pectoralis), while the description is equally diagnostic. Smith makes ~ no mention whatever of a grey wash on the breast nor of streaks on the flanks of his D.ocularius, stating, ‘‘chin and throat white, breast . . .~ posteriorly dirty white tinted with broccoli-brown, which is also the colour” of the belly, thighs and vent.’’ Taking the illustration and the diagnostic | points in the original description together, there can be no doubt that © D.ocularius is the correct name for the form generally recognised under the © name P.p.malopensis by workers. It would seem desirable to fix a definite | type-locality for P.p.ocularia. Smith almost certainly obtained this form © during his journey northwards from Kuruman, and this locality may be cited as the restricted type-locality of P.p.ocularia. Kuruman is also mentioned in connection with this name by Roberts, Annals of the Trans- vaal Museum, vol. 15, 1, 1932, p. 31. The names of the two races of the Rufous-eared Prinia will now stand as follows: |
1. Prinia pectoralis pectoralis (Smith), 1829 (synonym Priniops ocularia hewitti Roberts, 1932). |
2. Prinia pectoralis ocularia (Smith), 1843 (synonym Spiloptera | malopensis Sharpe, 1903). !
A single male in the Durban Museum collected in Damaraland in May, | 1959, with the under-parts pure white, the black bar on the lower throat absent, and the ear-coverts and upper-parts much paler than in P.p.7) ocularia, suggests the existence of a markedly different third race (at | present innominate) in the north-west of the species’ range.
Leg Colour of the Moorhen
by Mr. IAN D. WooDWARD Received 6th September, 1959
On the 6th September, 1959, and subsequently on 7th and 8th September, an adult female Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Linnaeus, was seen by the ~ writer frequenting King’s Langley gravel-pit, Hertfordshire, with bright eanary-yellow legs; the bird, otherwise, was in normal breeding plumage © and possessed five chicks. It seems that this yellow leg tendency in Moor- © hens appears mainly on otherwise normal immature or adult birds (cf. Sage, 1958), but birds with both yellow legs and bills relate more to albino adults (cf. ibid. Brit. Birds, vols. xliii, p. 383; xliiv, p. 140; xlv, p. 39; and xlviii, p. 189). The yellow iminent on the bird under discussion, | covered the legs and toes, and, of interest, the absence of the usual red and | yellow Peli above the tarsal joint was particularly noted.
Reference Sage, B. a (1958): *‘ Variant leg and bill colour of the paca Brit. Birds, li: 158-159.
e- 4 2 em eS ~5 JAN (e
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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 Dr. JEFFERY HARRISON
_ 80 February No. 1960
$f 2
iin
1960 i, Vol. 80
BULLETIN | OF THE | BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
Volume 80 AOnN8 HMOs _ A FER 1980 sy renpeenhrs ,
Published: 3rd February, 1960
PRESENTED
The five hundred and seventy-eighth meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, S.W.7., on Tuesday, 19th January, 1960, pags a dinner at 6.30 p.m. |
Chairman: CAPTAIN C.RiS. ei
Members present, 20; Guests, 8; Guest of the Club, Captain Gerald Tuck, D.S. O., R.N. (Retd.); Total, 29, :
The Royal Naval Bird Watching Society —
“Captain Tuck, Chairman of the Society, gave a talk on its aims and work. Although sailors have always taken an interest in birds, particularly the early navigators, it was not until 1946 that the Society was brought into being, by a small band of naval officers under their first President, Admiral Sir William Tennant. In 1956 the Society was opened to all ranks of the Merchant Navy, which has proved a great success. |
_ Members are now provided with standard Sea Report Sheets, white ae sea birds, pink for land birds. All reports are plotted on charts and are the basis of the ‘‘Sea Passage Bird Lists’’ which are gradually being built up, describing the route and the birds likely to be seen at different times of the year and today a mass of information is being received. A central library for these reports has been established in the Bird Room of the Natural History Museum, South Kensington.
Members have now started ringing birds, using the ; ‘National Institute of Oceanography’’ rings, or in certain cases, the ‘‘F.I.D.S.’’ rings. The Society is also co-operating with the New South Wales Albatross Study Group. Another important object is to build up a photographic record of birds at sea to assist identification and Captain Tuck concluded by showing:
a selection of really excellent slides from their collection, which eae ae idea of the thrills of bird watching at sea.
In the discussion which followed, Admiral.-Sir Charles buniibe! the First Sea Lord and President of the Society, spoke of its value to the Navy in developing powers of observation and’ preventing boredom at sea. Dr. W. RP: Bourne, who is analysing the Sea: Report Sheets, stressed their value and the need for the utmost descriptive accuracy. Mrs. B. P..
Vol. 80 18 1960
Hall hoped that some skinning instruction could be provided for members, so that those birds which die on board could be preserved for study and Dr. J. G. Harrison pointed out that such birds could be brought home in the refrigerators or injected with formo-saline and skinned later. He also mentioned assisted passages for birds and Captain Tuck said that the Society had already obtained a great deal of information about this.
The Chairman then thanked Captain Tuck for giving us a most interest- ing evening. The Society is a small but most unusual one and is worthy of every support.
Notes on some African Warblers PART ONE
by Mr. C. M. N. WHITE
Received 2Ist September, 1959
The present series of notes was compiled during the preparation of a Check List of certain genera of African warblers.
(1) Bradypterus baboecala Vieillot
The variation in this species is rather slight, and insufficient note has been taken of the fact that much of it is clinal. A cline runs from nominate baboecala northwards to Tanganyika; birds from eastern Northern Rhodesia show the small size and darker, browner upperside of moreaui (type locality Amani), and the latter in northern Tanganyika is scarcely different from centralis in colour. Both topotypical moreaui and centralis are dark olive brown above, centralis being slightly less tawny on the flanks, slightly smaller in bill size, and better streaked on the foreneck. It seems likely that moreaui will eventually be found to link via coastal Kenya and the Juba river with Ethiopian birds which are again similar to moreaui but rather lighter above and still weaker in bill. On the western side of central Africa the slightly atypical moreaui likewise grade into the darker msiri, which in its most western localities (Ngamiland and Angola) becomes more blackish. I regard benguellensis as a synonym of msiri.
A final group of races is characterised by its dark rich red upperside; it comprises e/gonensis (darkest), sudanensis and chadensis. The latter two are lighter red than e/gonensis, and seem only to differ in size, the unique chadensis having a wing of 58 mm., and sudanensis wings of 50-54. Here again it is likely that there will be found a continuous range linking these red backed populations; at present it would be convenient to unite sudan- ensis with chadensis.
(2) Bradypterus graueri Neumann.
The differences between graueri and grandis seem no more than sub- specific, and although the unique type of grandis has only 10 feathers, the tail of grandis is somewhat worn, and loss of tail feathers in Bradypterus is common. I regard grandis and graueri as conspecific.
(3) Bradypterus barratti Sharpe.
There is every reason for considering barratti and mariae as conspecific. Three species groups can be recognised viz.
(a) the southern barratti group, comprising godfreyi, major, barratti and priesti.
1960 19 Vol. 80
(b) the eastern mariae group comprising mariae, granti and usabarae. (c) the western camerunensis group comprising camerunensis, boultoni, manengubae.
The type series of camerunensis is rather lighter and warmer than youngi Serle which is more olive brown and notably olive washed on the breast. This led Serle to think that two species might exist on Cameroon mountain. But recently collected boultoni from Angola show that lighter and darker birds exist there also. The lighter colour of camerunensis may also be accentuated by foxing of old skins. I believe that youngi is a syno- nym of camerunensis. Boultoni is very near to camerunensis, only differing in its heavier streaking on the foreneck.
(4) Bradypterus cinnamomeus (Ruppell).
The various populations of this species can also be most easily under- stood by dividing them into three groups.
(a) a northern group of strongly cinnamon and tawny birds. In addition to the very richly coloured bangwaensis, I find that mildbreadi of Ruwenzori is sufficiently brighter red than cinnamomeus to warrant recognition. The brighter and lighter upperside is especially marked on the head top. I cannot distinguish macdonaldi (west Ethiopia) from other cinnamomeus, but cavei of the Imatong mountains is darker and more brownish red above.
(b) an intermediate group of populations comprising rufoflavidus.
(c) a southern group in which cinnamon and rufous is replaced by olive brown. Here I would only recognise nyassae. The supposed darker colour of ufipae is not constant or well marked and although Sumbawanga birds show slightly scaly crown patterns due to darker feather edging, this is not found in the populations of Northern Rhodesia. The latter on the other hand sometimes show a trace of streaking on the foreneck. None of these southern populations seems sufficiently well differentiated to merit recognition of more races than nyassae.
(5) The genus Schoenicola.
After comparing the Indian platyura and African brevirostris I have no doubt that they should be made conspecific, platyura being the earlier name for the species.
(6) Acrocephalus rufescens Sharpe and Bouvier.
The darker eastern and central African populations bear three names— niloticus, foxi, and ansorgei. Of these the supposedly larger foxi of the Kigezi and Kivu highlands is not in fact very well differentiated with wings 80-85 against 72-81 in niloticus. It may average slightly whiter below than
niloticus, but is at best a rather slight highland race. The range of niloticus
has now been extended west in Northern Rhodesia to the Lukanga swamp and western Balovale. The unique type of ansorgei (wing 82 mm.) is very doubtfully separable and the gap between Balovale and Duque de Braganga in north Angola is not very great. Further collecting seems likely to show that ansorgei is the same as niloticus. (7) Acrocephalus gracilirostris Hartlaub. The clinal nature of variation in this species has been insufficiently demonstrated. In south and east Africa gracilirostris and leptorhyncha differ only in the small size of the latter, both being rather light birds with whitish undersides, and tawny flanks and rumps. It is interesting to note
Vol. 80 20 1960
the existance of an isolated population of Jeptorhyncha in the Aussa country of the Hawash valley which may be brighter and more tawny on rump and flanks than other /eptorhyncha. Unfortunately the skins available are rather worn and not very well prepared, so I refrain from naming them.
The large parvus of the Kenya highlands is a darker and richer olive brown than /eptorhyncha above, with much less contrasting tawny on the rump, and the flanks more grey brown, less tawny. Similar coloured but smaller birds occur in north Tanganyika at Mondul, Mbulu, Kome island in lake Victoria, and the Lugufu river on lake Tanganyika. These small birds are much darker than leptorhyncha to which they have been referred, and I cannot distinguish them in colour from parvus. They have wings in males of 67—70 against 70-77 in the Kenya highlands. In southern Ethiopia (lakes Zwai and Margherita) another similar coloured population occurs with wings 67-72 mm. Probably palustris Reichenow (1917, Ndjiri swamp, near Kilimanjaro) could be used for the small birds of north Tanganyika if they are separated, but in view of the intermediate birds of south Ethiopia, I think it better to keep all these dark populations as parvus. Tsanae of lake Tana is very similar, and only slightly differ- entiated in its more extensively and darker greyish underside, and average darker and duskier upperside. Wing 70-75 mm.
I cannot separate the pale greyish olive jacksoni of lake Victoria from nuerensis of the White Nile on colour. Uganda birds are larger, wings 67-71 mm. against 63-67 mm. in Sudan birds, but the variation is com- parable to that in parvus. I do not recognise nuerensis.
(8) The genus Sphenoeacus.
The monotypic Sphenoeacus is characterised especially by its specialised tail with stiffened shaft, and narrow webs. Achaetops pycnopygius is structurally very like Sphenoeacus afer in its streaky plumage, bill structure, wing form and feet, but has a normal tail, of dark colour with ill defined light tip, and rufous flanks. Melocichla mentalis is again structurally very like Achaetops, but lacks the streaky plumage. Its tail is exactly like that of Achaetops, and it has similar rufous flanks. The habits of these three monotypic genera of warblers are in general very similar. I believe that relationships would be better expressed by placing all three species con- cerned in the genus Sphenoeacus.
(9) Sphenoeacus mentalis (Fraser)
The difficulty in defining any races in this warbler has been noted before (e.g. by Chapin and Benson). The series in the British Museum is now very large, and shows that in West Africa and the Belgian Congo, there is very great individual variation ranging from redder to browner and more dusky or greyish backed birds, with flanks extensively and deeply rufous or with little and pale tawny there. This led Schouteden to place all the Belgian Congo birds under nominate mentalis.
I find that birds from the north eastern Belgian Congo, south Sudan, west Ethiopia, Uganda and west Tanganyika are fairly constantly of the dark type, and those from Angola, the Katanga and Northern Rhodesia mostly of the rather warm reddish brown type. Birds from central Kenya are more greyish brown, and those of the Chyulu hills are again very dark. I can see no difference to separate so called amauroura and granviki.
1960 21 Vol. 80
Although these more constant variations in the east and south might be thought enough to justify the recognition of amauroura and grandis they fall within the much more unstable range of variation of West African and Belgian Congo birds.
I consider that in addition to mentalis, the only, definable races are orientalis (very pale and sandy brown above) and /uangwae (very pale and greyish above). I have examined orientalis from Pangani river, Usambara, Pugu hills, Kilosa, Njombe, Mocuba and Melsetter. A bird from Mahenge in Tanganyika is however dark. South Nyasaland birds show a trend towards orientalis, but I consider fall better under mentalis.
(10) AHippolais pallida laeneni Niethammer.
Prior to the recent description of /aeneni, the birds of this species breeding from Air and Zinder to Maidugari and lake Chad were assigned to reiseri, breeding in the oases of south Algeria. Vaurie (Bds. Pal. Fauna. 1959) states that topotypical reiseri is paler and more sandy above than the Egyptian pallida, and males have wings of 64-69 mm. I find six males from Maidugari and Chad have wings of 60-66 mm., and | find some difficulty in separating them in colour from Egyptian breeding birds (wing of males 63-67 mm.). They may average a little paler but the differ- ence is very slight. Birds breeding at Khartoum were erroneously identified by Captain Grant as elaeica. They are in fact inseparable from Chad birds. 8 females from the same range have wings 58-62 mm. It seems inappropriate to assign these birds to reiseri if the latter is really more sandy than pallida, and as large as Vaurie states. Unfortunately the British Museum possesses no topotypical reiseri. On the material which I have seen /aeneni seems very close to pallida; all that can be said for it is
that it averages a little smaller and paler.
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(11) Eminia cerviniventris (Sharpe). Chapin (bds. Belg. Congo. ii) has drawn attention to the possibility
- that this bird is in fact very closely related to Bathmocercus rufus. He had
not seen cerviniventris. Examination of the series in the British Museum
shows that cerviniventris is in fact the upper Guinea representative of
B. rufus. Cerviniventris differs in wholly black crown, olive brown (not rufous) upperside, and cinnamon (not grey) flanks and belly. No females of cerviniventris were available to show whether the same sexual dimor- phism is present here as in B.rufus, but a juvenile agrees well with the juvenile of B.rufus.
A note on Acrocephalus boeticatus Vieillot by Mr. C. M. N. WHITE
Received 21st September, 1959
Examination of this reed warbler has revealed several points of interest. Birds from the Cape Province to Transvaal and Natal, and those usually separated as suahelicus Crote from Mafia, Pemba, Zanzibar and the coast of Tanganyika are inseparable on colour, and about the same in size. Nominate boeticatus has wings 58-62 mm. and suahelicus 56-60 mm. | conclude that suahelicus cannot be maintained as a distinct form. Birds from South West Africa are however separable. For these 1 propose :—
Acrocephalus boeticatus hallae—subsp. nov.
Vol. 80 22 1960
Description: paler and greyer, less warm tawny olive above than nominate boeticatus; whiter below with reduced tawny on the sides. Size the same as in boeticatus.
Type: in the British Museum (Nat. Hist.) Male, Brandberg, South West Africa. Collected on 11th April, 1950 by the B. M. South West Africa Expedition. Registered number B.M.1950.50.564.
Range: South West Africa.
All the other material from Southern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Northern Rhodesia and Angola north to the Sudan and lake Chad differs in smaller size (wing 52-57 mm.), and darker and richer red rump, and represents cinnamomeus Reichenow; the only exception is the unique type of nyong Bannerman, which differs in its very rich red upperside and flanks and still appears a valid form. I am grateful to Mrs. B. P. Hall for examining these warblers with me.
Notes on some African Larks by Mr. C. M. N. WHITE
Received 21st September, 1959
These notes are part of a series compiled during preparation of a Check List of African larks.
(1) Mirafra pulpa Friedmann.
The unique type of this lark from the Sagan river, south Ethiopia was compared to M. javanica passerina. It was said to be redder above than M. j. marginata, the bill larger and matching that of passerina. The wing was given as 84 mmm., the tail as 60.5 mm. Recent authors have placed it as a synonym of M. j. marginata without seeing the type. I have seen about 50 marginata none of which is reddish above; moreover they have wings in males of 74-81 mm., and tails of 48-52 mm. The measurements of pulpa agree much betier with those of M. williamsi in which the wing is 84-86 mm., tail 53-58 mm. So too do the reddish colour and bill, larger than marginata, resembling that of passerina. Friedmann compared williamsi with pulpa, and tound it deeper rufescent and less heavily streaked above, which he thought might be due to age. Since it is not possible to obtain the type of pulpa on loan, one can only go on the available data of it, and I fail to see how pu/lpa can be regarded as identical with marginata. It appears to be identical with williamsi and an earlier name for it.
(2) Mirafra albicauda Reichenow.
Examination of all the populations shows several micro-subspecies. Kenya birds are rather brownish above, Rukwa birds paler and more grey, birds from Uganda and the southern Sudan blacker, and those of lake Chad rather pale, faintly streaked and large billed. Unless several slight races are named it is preferable to synonymise rukwensis, and recognise no subspecies.
(3) Mirafra africana Smith.
Clancey has proposed to recognise rostrata (Hartlaub) (1863, Natal) as redder above than nominate africana, but paler than transvaalensis. The facts as given by him are correct for the Natal birds, but they appear to be
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1960 23 Vol. 80
an intermediate between africana and transvaalensis, and better not separated by name.
(4) Mirafra sabota Smith.
The small billed nominate sabota ranges from Gemsbok pan, Bechuana- land east to Swaziland with comparatively little variation. Two slightly differentiated races have been proposed. Of these the eastern suffusca Clancey (1958 Swaziland) is constantly dark, and has an absolutely longer tail than in nominate sabota, wing tail index 60% against 56.2%. Gemsbok pan birds are constantly pale; over a wide intervening area of south Bechuanaland and Southern Rhodesia birds are more variable, some as dark as suffusca, others almost as pale as sabotoides of Gemsbok Pan. Although the differences do not seem to me well enough marked to justify subdividing nominate sabota into three forms, the slight average differences do exist. Transition from these small sabota to waibeli takes place immediately north of Gemsbok pan at Ghanzi where specimens match birds from Ngamiland and Etoscha pan in their slightly larger bills and colder colour. A cline runs from Gemsbok pan to Ngamiland and Etoscha pan, the Okaukweyo birds being the whitest. I now think it inadvisable to subdivide this series of populations, and would not now recognise either e/friedae or vesey-fitzgeraldi as distinct forms. Of the various populations waibeli is slightly the palest and whitest, elfriedae a little greyer, and vesey-fitzgeraldi a little browner.
(5) Mirafra poecilosterna Reichenow.
Examination of this species shows that several slightly marked popu- lations exist, but that no formal recognition of subspecies is needed. Birds from north eastern Tanganyika are the brownest above and most richly coloured below; those of the Tana river and west to Marsabit are palest, more sandy above and lighter rufous below. Birds from south Ethiopia (Mega) and from the south east Sudan and Lasamis and Loki- taung are darker and greyer above, and darker, more brownish on the breast. A further series of Ethiopian birds from Amar Koschi and lake Stefanie is again pale, as pale as Tana river birds, but averaging colder and greyer above. I have seen a very pale example from north Somalia.
(6) Mirafra burra Bangs.
This species has been located recently in Ammomanes and as a separate genus, Pseudammomanes. It is in fact very close to Mirafra albescens, being merely a large version of the latter with a stouter and larger bill. I
should place it next to a/bescens in the genus Mirafra.
(7) Ammomanes deserti kollmanspergeri Niethammer. _ This form recently described from Ennedi is a valid form, near to _erythrochroa but darker and redder. Birds from Darfur belong to koll-
manspergeri, those of Kordofan to erythrochroa.
: Postscript (to The Limits of the genus Mirafra)
__ Since this paper was completed I have received Verheyen’s ‘‘What is _ Certhilauda?’’ (Ostrich, 1959, 51-52). In the absence of any attempt to _ consider the adaptive significance of anatomical and skeletal characters I | cannot accept them as being of greater cogency in deciding systematic | problems than any of the other criteria generally used. Moreover until
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Vol. 80 24 1960
Dr. Verheyen has examined the anatomy of all the species of Mirafra it is hardly possible to tell that the criteria set up as anatomical features of Mirafra hold for all the species. Osteometric indices upon which Verheyen places considerable weight can hardly be considered in isolation without regard to their adaptive significance. One point of interest which does emerge from Verheyen’s study of anatomical characters is that albo- fasciata exhibits some unique features in its short notarium. Since albo- fasciata is in any case a very aberrant Mirafra, this additional character may justify retaining the monotypic genus Chersomanes for albofasciata.
The Ethiopian and allied forms of Callandrella cinerea (Gmelin)
by Mr. C. M. N. WHITE
Received 21st September, 1959
C. c. erlangeri (Neumann) of Ethiopia is very well differentiated from the more southern forms by the large black patches at the sides of the breast; the upperside is also relatively well invaded with black melanin— the front of the crown is often blackish, the hind crown streaked with black, and the mantle strongly streaked with black on a sandy greyish ground. On the underside the breast and flanks have a pinkish apricot wash well developed. Friedmann separated northern Ethiopian birds as fuertesi, a supposedly darker form. The series in the British Museum which includes 11 er/angeri and 10 fuertesi suggests that northern birds may be on average slightly darker, but that the darker colour is also accentuated by wear. Very fresh fuertesi are not satisfactorily separable from erlangeri. I note therefore a possible trend to darker colour in the north of Ethiopia, but do not recognise fuertesi.
The Eritrean plateau is inhabited by a much lighter form. The upperside is lighter and more sandy, the black streaking above is reduced, the underside is much paler reddish pink on breast and sides, and the black patches at the sides of the breast are suppressed. This form must bear the name of blanfordi, of which asmaraensis is a synonym. Comparison of the type of blanfordi with asmaraensis shows that they agree in the grey axillaries and underwing coverts, pinkish breast and sides and long tail (52-56 mm.). The wing of Eritrean birds is 83-90 mm.; that of the type of blanfordi 86 mm.
Another red capped lark inhabits the plateau of British Somaliland, and for reasons which seem quite irrational, the name b/anfordi has always been applied to it, although the type of b/anfordi came from Eritrea. This Somali form now lacks a name since blanfordi has been shown to be the same as asmaraensis. | therefore propose :—
Calandrella cinerea daaroodensis subsp.nov.
Description: smaller than blanfordi (Shelley), wing 77-84 mm. (against 83-90 mm.), tail 43-49 mm. (against 52-56 mm.). Upper side more greyish sandy, less pinkish; cap paler and less sharply contrasting; under- side white without pale pinkish apricot wash on breast and sides; under wing coverts whitish, not grey. Bill in skins paler, less blackish. C. c. eremica (Reichenow and Peters) of Arabia is darker and greyer above
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1960 25 Vol. 80
than daaroodensis without any sandy tinge, more blackish streaked on the mantle and darker reddish on the crown.
Type: male, Sheikh, British Somaliland. Collected by Sir G. Archer on Ist November, 1917. B.M. Reg. No. 23.8.7.2739. In the British Museum (Natural History).
Distribution: plateau of British Somaliland (Suksodi, Sheikh, Burao and Warsangell).
Notes: | am indebted to Mr. K. Smith for drawing my attention to the anomaly of an Eritrean bird (b/anfordi) being treated as identical with a bird from British Somaliland. The name is taken from the-Daarood, the largest of the Somali clan families.
A note on Certhilauda curvirostris by Mr. C. M. N. WHITE
Received 21st September, 1959
For reasons already given in the “‘Bulletin’’, I have concluded that the genera Certhilauda and Mirafra cannot be kept separate. This affects the names of two forms of C. curvirostris.
(1) C.c. damarensis Sharpe 1904 is preoccupied by Mirafra damarensis Sharpe 1874. Fortunately kaokoensis Bradfield 1944 is available for this race since the slightly darker colour of Kaokoveld birds seems insufficient to make subdivision of the northern populations of South West Africa worthwhile.
(ii) C. c. transvaalensis Roberts (1936. Rustenburg) is preoccupied by Mirafra africana transvaalensis Hartert, 1900. This form of curvirostris seems to me to be separable from semitorquata by its brighter and clearer red upperside with a less olive tinge, and darker buff underside. It occurs from Fourteen Streams over the Transvaal to the Natal uplands, and intergrades rather widely over the Orange Free State with semitorquata. I therefore propose Mirafra curvirostris infelix nom. nov. to replace Certhilauda semitorquata transvaalensis Roberts, 1936, Ann. Trvl. Mus, 18, p. 261. Olifants Lock, Rustenburg, Transvaal.
**On varieties of the Tufted Duck, with an account of
an unrecorded type of variation’’
by Drs. JAMES M. & JEFFERY G. HARRISON Received 30th September, 1959
ficiently rare to warrant placing on record three instances of a very
| Varieties of the Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula Boie, would seem suf- |
unusual type. Previous papers dealing with variations in this species are _worthy of note and, as usual, suggest that these may in fact have phylo- genetic significance. The first of these appeared in 1954 when one of us published a note on the occurrence of a white facial band in a duck of the species which was ‘‘almost as extensive as that of an adult duck Scaup, Aythya marila marila’”?.
i
Vol. 80 26 1960
The second paper appeared in 1955 under the authorship of Mr. Bryan Sage? in which he discusses the relationship of some ducks of the Genus Aythya Bote, affirming the biological principle of autophoric reverse mutation already advanced by us in previous papers and con- firming the close affinity between the various species in this Genus. In
Plate 1 Variant Tufted Duck with darkened underparts
this paper Mr. Sage also refers to the appearance of white feathers in the under-tail coverts.
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1960 Zl Vol. 80
In a paper in 1957 Mr. Eric Gillham? gives an account of the occurrences of both these characters based on a close study of this species in St. James’s Park, London, between late April and early October in the years 1953-56 inclusive. He has established that the condition can occur both in immatures and rather commonly in adult females in their post-nuptial moult. This latter circumstance definitely rules out any suggestion of partial albinism, as has already been stated by Sage. In a further paper, Gillham* describes a number of individuals exhibiting a patchy isabelline mosaic and also partial albinism, but of quite different distribution.
The variety now described and of which we have three examples, is distinctive in that the normal pure white of the belly is strongly flecked with dark chocolate brown feathers and we surmise that were such an individual seen in the field, ‘considerable speculation as to its identity might result! The particular features of these variants would of course, be hidden when the birds are on the water.
The first specimen to come to us was an individual which could not be positively sexed. It was shot at Fordingbridge in Hampshire on 8th September, 1945 and was given to us as a skin by Mr. C. W. Mackworth- Praed (Plate I, right). The second, a first winter female (Plate I, middle) was bred in captivity by Dr. Edmund Gleadow and died in November, 1958. This bird shows the condition in an incipient stage. The third example (Plate I, left) is also a female and its exact age is unknown, but it was thought to have been wild-bred at Sevenoaks, Kent in 1958. It appeared on the Kent Wildfowlers’ Reserve there in 1959 and was caught in the duck trap on 13th August, ringed, photographed and released. This bird was killed by a fox on 4th September, 1959 and was fortunately not too damaged. In the three weeks, there had been considerable advance in the dark flecking. When previously handled, the condition closely resembled the middle bird in the plate. All three birds show a suggestion of a white chin spot, as well as white feathers at the base of the bill, being most pronounced in the right hand bird.
At present we are unable to state whether this mutation occurs in both sexes. The significance of the white frontal band has already been discussed and correlated with another species in the Genus Aythya. The tentaive Suggestion that the tendency towards a darkening of the underparts is a phylogenetic link with some of the other dark-bellied species in this Genus cannot be lightly dismissed. It is to be remembered that in the Tribe Aythyini are included such forms as the Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina (Pallas), the South American and African Pochards, Netta erythrophthalma, the Rosy-bill, Netta peposaca (Vieillot) and the New Zealand Scaup, Aythya novae-seelandiae (Gmelin), all of which are distinguished by having dark underparts.
In conclusion, we would express our grateful thanks to Mr. C. W. Mackworth-Praed and Dr. Edmund Gleadow for the gift of the specimens and to Mr. George Wallis of the Kent Sand and Ballast Company for allowing us to manage his ballast water as a wildfowl reserve, on which the third specimen was found.
References :—
* Harrison, Jeffery G. ‘‘On an unusual Ti ufted guia Sa STEW Bull-"B.O.C.;' Vol. 74, pp. 53-4. 1954. __-
Vol. 80 28 1960
2 Sage, Bryan L. ‘‘Comments on the Relationship of some Ducks in the Genus Aythya Boie’’ Bull. B.O.C. Vol. 75, pp. 53-4. 1955.
5 Gillham, E. H. ‘*Field Notes on the White Feathering at the Base of the Bill and White Under-tail Coverts in the Tufted Duck’’ British Birds, Vol. L, pp. 389-392. 1957.
Gillham, E. H. ‘‘ Variations of plumage colouration in the Pochard Aythya ferina and the Tufted Duck Avthya fuligula’’ Bull. B.O.C., Vol. 79, pp. 87-8. 1959.
4
Some Taxonomic Characteristics of the genus Lagonosticta
by Mr. C. J. O. HARRISON
Received 18th September, 1959
INTRODUCTION.
Within the estrildine waxbills it is comparatively easy to recognise the existence of the genus Lagonosticta, the Fire-finches, but it is difficult to find a series of taxonomic characteristics which are common to all the species which comprise it, and will separate them from those of other genera. I have previously examined the behavioural characteristics of some of these species and have come to the conclusion that the Lavender Finch, caerulescens, is not a member of this genus and has erroneously been placed in it (Harrison 1956).
i an aN JNIN oo NP H i J K b
G Bills of some waxbills viewed from above. (Approx. x2) A. L. senegala B. L. nigricollis C. L. larvata D. L. vinacea E. L. rubricata FP. L. jamesoni G. L. landanae H. L. rara I. L. rufopicta J. E. perreini K. E. caerulescens L. E. eelpoda CHARACTERISTICS
If we remove the Lavender Finches we can begin by saying that Lagon- osticta tend to be squat, ground-feeding waxbills and usually lack the gregarious tendencies of the genus Estrilda. In addition to the general plumage pattern two characteristics which have been used to separate these species are the possession of a slight lateral compression of the bill and the presence of small white dots on the sides. To this I should like to add the possession a distinct coloured eye-rim.
1. Plumage.
If the general plumage pattern of the Fire-finches is examined two different groups are apparent. In the first the species have a mainly red
1960 29 Vol. 80
and brown colouration with a red rump and red-and-black tail. It com- prises senegala, landanae, rara, rufopicta, nitidula, jamesoni, and rubricata. Nitidula is peculiar in that it lacks the red on rump and tail, but it is characterised by a general absence of the red pigment so apparent in the others which is here only present as a vinous patch on the upper breast. There is some sexual dimorphism in all species except rufopicta and nitidula.
In the second group the plumage is grey or vinous-red, with scarlet rump and tail. The cock has a black facial mask. There are three species, vinacea, larvata, and nigricollis.
The difference between these two groups is greater than that between the latter group and the two Lavender Finches, one of which (caerulescens) is grey with scarlet rump, tail-coverts, and tail, while the other (perreini) is similar but has a black tail.
2. Bill Compression. | With the exception of rufopicta the bills of all the Fire-finches possess a distinct lateral compression half-way, or two-thirds of the way, between base and tip. As can be seen from the sketches its distinctness varies according to the length and stoutness of the bill. In the case of rufopicta there is a slight compression towards the tip but the bill is thick, and this might not be recognised as homologous with that of the other species. There is no appreciable narrowing in the case of caerulescens but perreini does possess a bill that narrows near the tip and so this characteristic is only partially useful. It might be argued that perreini links caerulescens with the Fire-finches via rufopicta, the difference being no greater than that already displayed within the genus. With the exception of senegala | the bills of Lagonosticta tend to be longer and more prominent when
compared with the shorter and thicker bills of Elstrida.
3. White Spots.
_ The possession of small white spots on some of the feathers of the _ sides is a characteristic which requires more careful examination. At one _ time it led to the inclusion in Lagonosticta of birds such as the Twinspots | (Hypargos spp.) since these have flanks heavily spotted with white.
| The most conspicuous plumage characteristic of caerulescens and | perreini is patch of colour formed by the red rump and upper and under ' tail-coverts. In the case of caerulescens there is in addition an area of | white spots bordering these coverts along the rear edge of the flanks. | Because of these spots caerulescens was placed in Lagonosticta while perreini was lett in Estrilda, but I am of the opinion that these are not homologous with the white spots of Lagonosticta and must be considered _as part of the conspicuous colouration of the tail region of the former | species. | If the possession of white spots on the plumage is to be used as a characteristic for defining Lagonosticta then the position of such spots must be emphasised.
__ Rubricata and the cock of senegala may be considered as typical in having a small group of white spots at either side of the lower breast just forward of the carpal joint of the closed wing when this is folded against p= bird’s side. In both these species the spots tend to be minute and in |
some cases are only noticeable when a dead specimen is closely examined.
{
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Vol. 80 30 1960
The senegala hen has more numerous spots which are present over much of the breast but tend to be concentrated towards the sides. In nigricollis, larvata, vinacea, and jamesoni areas of small white spots are present as in rubricata, but they tend to be more numerous and to extend onto the forepart of the flanks. In /andanae they tend to be fewer but larger and more conspicuous. In nitidula the spots are spread across the breast, and in rufopicta these take the form of tiny white terminal bars on the feathers of the breast. In rara the spots are absent but there is no doubt about its affinities, since in appearance and behaviour it is very close indeed to rubricata.
We may say then that in Lagonosticta most species possess a group of small white spots, sometimes very inconspicuous, which are centred at the sides of the breast near the carpal joint of the closed wing, but which may extend over the whole breast and foreflanks, or may be present as tiny white terminal bars on the feathers of this area.
The Australian Crimson Finch (Poephila phaeton) fits this description very well, being a red and brown bird with a head superficially similar to that of rufopicta and with a small group of white spots in just the right place. Its precise affinities are still uncertain.
4. Eye-Rim Colouration.
There is one characteristic which is relatively conspicuous in the Fire-finches and absent in most of the other waxbills and that is the possess- ion of a distinctly coloured rim around the eye. This is formed by the eyelids and becomes faded and inconspicuous after death. If it is not recorded at the time that the bird is collected it cannot be discovered from the preserved skin. This fugitive tendency is probably the reason why it has not been adequately recorded. | have found it mentioned so far in only one work—Chapin’s “‘Birds of the Belgium Congo’’—and very few museum skins bear any reference to it. Yet in life it is very con- — spicuous in species such as senegala where that of the cock is bright ~ yellow against red plumage; and in the cock of vinacea where it is pale ~ yellow on black. 4
There are sexual differences of colour in some species, and there appear — to be age differences, those of young birds being darker or different from | those of adults. I have no records as yet to show whether there is any ~ variation due to physiological causes such as the development or recession of the gonads during the breeding cycle. .
I have been able to establish the presence of a coloured eye-rim in every species except nitidula. In the list that follows I have indicated whether the record was based on the examination of a live bird, or from the label of a skin in the British Museum (Natural History) in which case I have quoted the register number, or from published sources.
senegala 3 Bright yellow (live). 2 Silvery-grey (live). rubricata 3 2 almost white (live). pink (Chapin). landanae 3 @ pale rose-madder (1909.8.5.166: 1910.5.6.1402,—3,—5). 3 greenish-grey (1910.5.6.1404). jamesoni _ § pinkish-white (1932.5.10.1355). rara & light pink (live). 2° grey (1923.8.7.2608). Imm. ¢ yellowish-grey ( ees 8.7, 7.2054) yellowish (1923.8.7, cig Ss 3 Q light grey (Chapin). :-
1960 3i Vol. 80
rufopicta & silvery-grey (live). J & light bluish-grey (Chapin). vinacea 3 pale yellow (live). 2 grey (live). nigricollis: 4 bluish-grey (1916.12.1.690) 6 light blue (1916.12.1.689). larvata 3 2 greyish-blue (Chapin). 2 light blue (1916.12.1.729).
This characteristic is not a wholly exclusive one. The Violet eared Waxbill (G. granatina) possesses a coloured eye-rim, as does the Crimson Finch, and the genus Pirenestes may also do so; but taken in conjunction with the other characteristics mentioned it may serve to define more clearly, and to isolate, Lagonosticta.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
I should like to thank the trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) for permission to examine the specimens in the collection, and to refer to these.
References :— Chapin, J. P. (1954) Birds of the Belgium Congo. 4: 517-32. New York. Harrison, C. J. O. (1956) Some fire-finches and their behaviour. Avic. Mag. 62: 128-41.
: | | |
A Male Blackbird with a ‘‘ Disfigured’’ Plumage
by IAN D. WOODWARD Received 6th October, 1959
From about the middle of April, 1958, and subsequently until the beginning of September, an adult 3 Blackbird Turdus merula Linnaeus | with a peculiar plumage ‘‘“disfigurement’’ was noted at Barnard Castle, Co. Durham, almost every day during this period. The ‘‘disfigurement’’
was in the region around the bird’s hind neck and throat (see figure below), giving the bird a shaven appearance. The area containing no feathers was c. + Sin. -lin, in height. I might add, that this ‘‘collar’’ was
in no way similar to the bare patches on the necks of females following _\sexual behaviour.
| | s b
Nas Ms Ns ean ip: ae SO
An Analysis of the “44. 4jg1 OY Material Contents in the Nest of a Robin
by Mr. IAN D. WooDWARD Received, Ist September, 1959
Near the end of March, 1959, I analysed the contents of a Robin’s Erithacus rubecula melophilus Hart., nest which was situated in my garden shed. The following is a précis of the results :—
Leaves—There were 272 complete leaves and 95 fragments of leaves. The longest leaf measured 12.4 cms., the shortest 1.5 cms., average 6.1 cms. Three Birch (Betula pendula) leaves were still intact on the stork.
The variety of leaves included mostly Oak (Quercus Robur) and Ash (Fraxinus excelsior); other varieties consisted of: Silver Birch (B. pubescens), Willow (Salix spp.), Elm (Ul/mus spp.), and Alder (Alnus glutinosa).
Of the flower leaves were : Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris), Celandine (Ranunculus sp.), and, of interest, 12 leaves from gees 2p pe ge Lvshnis flos-cuculi). |
Main bulk of sashes aunt ane Ste main aii of the nest, which would fill an average sized sauce-pan, contained 50% grasses (Gramineae spp., Poaceae spp.) and 40% Mosses (Bryophyta spp.) (dried)—although I found amongst the materials 2 wisps of grass and about a dozen shreds of moss still freshly green—after the nest had been completed for over two weeks.
Woven and moulded into the nest were a number of items worth mentioning (see Table I), including 9 lumps of plaster—these may have dropped from the ceiling and trodden in by the youngsters. veel
Situation of nest—The nest itself was positioned between the top of a post and hanging Bamboo-canes, at a height of 6ft. 8in. from the floor.
TABLE I.—MISCELLANEOUS MATERIALS USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION. OF A ROBIN’S (Erithacus rubecula melophilus Hart.) NEST.
Oty. Material(s) Gen. sp. cms.
1 Barley ear with stem - Hordeum sp. 20.0
2 Barley stems (without ears) Hordeum sp. 6.8 & 11.2 1 Piece of newspaper a 2.0 X¥ 0.9
2 Sycamore pods Acer pseudoplatanus 4.1 & 4.3
2 Lengths nylon cord — 10.0 & 12.0 1 Thorned stem (Gen. sp.?) eM
1 Wood splinter — 3.3
1 Thick Grass root and stem Gramineae spp., Poaceae spp. 8.1
It should be noted that of the varieties of trees referred to, nearly all were in close proximity of the nest habitat; the exceptions being Willow (spp.) and Alder: the nearest of these two varieties known to the writer being ca. 4 mile away. The leaves from the flowers were all obtained from in, or close to the Robin’s territory. The nearest grain field at the time was ca. | mile away, but it is most likely that the Barley (spp.) ears and stems listed were blown towards the nesting vicinity by the: strong: windsi that were iminent during the period of nest building. TION SiSe ae
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Notices
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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 Dr. JEFFERY HARRISON
Volume 80 March No. 3 1960
Ps ¥j
¢- STON
1960 33 Vol. 80
BULLETIN OF THE
BRITISH ORNITHOLO GISTS’ CLUB
2 MAR 1900 Volume 80 av. (7 BBY SD, | ED Number 3 | : S cise | Bs: purRcHAS Published: Ist March, 1960 af /RAL
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The five hundred and seventy-ninth meeting of the Club was held at the Rembrandt Hotel, S.W.7., on Tuesday, 16th February, 1960, following a dinner at 6.30 p.m.
Chairman: CAPTAIN C. R. S. PITMAN
Members present, 18; Guests, 5; Guest of the Club, Mr. Peter Olney; Total, 24.
Duck Food Research by Mr. P. J. S. OLNEY
A Summary of the talk given to the Club on 16th February, 1960
The importance of food as a factor of population significance is obvious in the sense that there is some sort of relationship between population size and density and the quality and quantity of food available and con- sumed. The extent of this relationship can only be determined by the detailed study of a particular species. In this country few such studies have been made and then usually only when the bird concerned is of economic interest.
The literature on the food of British ducks is extensive, but in general suffers from two faults. Either it records only the unusual or conspicuous food or feeding-habit, or, and this is the most common error, it is too vague. To be of any value, identification of foods taken must be as precise as possible. Most textbooks, often because of their inherent need to précis, contain only summarised information, which can be not only worthless, but misleading. There have, however, been a small number of useful studies (Campbell, 1936, 1946, 1946, 1947; Héhn 1948) on various species which indicate the type of results needed.
The means of study will vary with the species concerned, but without doubt the most accurate results are obtained from stomach analyses. This often involves difficulties in the specific identification of food fragments, and since different materials are digested at different rates those foods present are not always in the original proportions consumed. The problems involved in quantitatively assessing the foods taken will vary from species to species, depending on the type and amount of food taken. Hartley (1948) clearly summarises the various methods of assessment and the
Vol. 80 34 1960
inherent problems incurred in each. Only populations numerically large enough to withstand the loss of an adequate sample can be studied in this way. Alternative methods must be used for smaller populations. In ducks and geese this is difficult, for apart from field observations there are few alternative methods available. Regrettably ducks do not have a crop such as pigeon and gallinaceous species do, where food is temporarily held. Faecal examination, though it may not provide the full diet-sheet, can produce useful information as to what is being eaten. Ranwell and Downing’s (1959) use of this method with Brent Geese (Branta bernicla) is an excellent example of its value. They were able to show a distinct seasonal pattern of feeding correlated with the main growth periods of the different food plants. Gillham (1956) has shown similar seasonal feeding behaviour in Mute Swans (Cygnus olor), much of her work being based on field observations. In all food studies, essential supplementary in- formation can often only be produced by continual field observations. A knowledge of how, when and where the food is taken, and to what extent the food supply is depleted are necessary facts which can only be obtained by field work. 4
Since 1957 the Wildfowl Trust has been carrying out a study of the food — and feeding habits of various British duck. This has been made possible by a close liaison with wildfowlers (mainly W.A.G.B.I. members) who have sent in viscera of shot birds. The main experimental area has been in Kent, ~ where a continual sample from some of the Medway islands has been ~ sent in for the last three years. The results of analysing this sample— ~ mainly Mallard (A. p. platyrhynchos), Teal (A. c. crecca) and Wigeon — (A. penelope)—correlated with a botanical survey of the areas involved ~ has shown what sort of food is available and the preferences, if any, of the — birds concerned. The diet of any one species will probably vary from area ~ to area, throughout the year and from year to year. Though this survey is — confined to the shooting season, variations are distinguishable. Samples have been obtained from a wide variety of habitats, and though the largest numbers have been of birds shot over saltmarsh areas, many have come from inland waters. Thus, there are examples from watermeadows, rivers, reservoirs, smaller stretches of water and from a number of flight ponds. These latter are of particular interest as they do show that the birds, though artificially fed on grain, do take considerable amounts of naturally © occurring foods. It is not always possible to consider them as separate populations, as often a bird is shot feeding in one area, and yet is still in the process of digesting a meal taken from a different type of habitat. Thus a Mallard gizzard may be full of saltmarsh plant seeds, whilst the oesophagus is crammed with barley grains, indicating that the bird has been feeding on two entirely different habitats within a short time.
Once the food habits of a particular species are known and the infor- mation on what food is available, then conservation measures can be envisaged. A number of experimental trials have been started on the propagation of plants of known food value and it is hoped that this work will expand as more information becomes available.
References :—
Campbell, J. W. (1936) On the food of some British Birds. Brit. Birds 30 : 209-218.
Campbell, J. W. (1946) The food of the Wigeon and Brent Goose. Brit. Birds 39 : 194-200, 226-232.
1960 35 Vol. 80
Campbell, J. W. (1946) Notes on the food of some British Birds. Brit. Birds 39 : 731-373. Campbell, J. W. (1947) The food of some British wildfowl. Ibis 89 : 429-432. Gillham, M. E. (1956) Feeding habits and seasonal movements of Mute Swans on two South Devon estuaries. Bird Study 3 : 205-212. ; Hartley, P. H. T. (1948) The assessment of the food of birds. Ibis 90 : 361-381. Hohn, E. O. (1948) London Bird Report 12 : 36-38. -Ranwell, D. S. & Downing, B. M. (1959) Brent Goose (Branta bernicla (L.)) winter | feeding pattern and Zostera resources at Scolt Head Island, Norfolk. Animal Behaviour 7 : 42-56.
Mr. Olney went on to mention lead poisoning in wildfowl and the first part of his paper now follows.
Lead Poisoning in Wildfowl by Mr. P. J. S. OLNEY
“PART ONE Summary
The signs and pathology of lead poisoning are fully described, with special reference being made to diagnostic features which could be used in any quantitative assessment.
The amount of lead shot which constitutes a fatal dose is discussed. It is estimated that 60-80% of adult Mallard with one ingested pellet will succumb, if they are feeding on a diet of wild seeds.
The availability of lead shot pellets to wildfowl on a particular body of water is determined by (1) the shooting intensity and number of shot de- posited on the bottom, (2) the nature of the bottom material and (3) the size of the shot pellets involved.
The incidence of ingested pellets can be determined by fluoroscopic examination and examination of viscera material, and will vary with the species and its feeding habits.
Tables showing the incidence of ingested lead shot in four species of dabbling ducks in this country and in comparable species in North America ‘are shown and discussed. There is a marked similarity between Mallard in
| this country and North America carrying ingested lead—6.56% and 6.79% respectively.
The reproductive capacities of poisoned wildfowl do not seem to be seriously affected. |
The variations in mortality rates with different ages and sexes are at- tributed primarily to differences in the quality and quantity of food consumed.
Means of reducing or eliminating losses are discussed, including the use of non-toxic shot, encouraging the growth of natural foods most likely to alleviate the poisoning effects, and more care in the choice of shot range. As yet no satisfactory non-toxic shot has been produced.
Lead poisoning, caused by the actual ingestion of lead pellets, is a significant mortality factor amongst wildfowl in many parts of the United States, and has caused considerable concern to conservationists for many years. Its occurrence in this country has rarely been recorded in wildfowl (Clapham, 1957 and personal comm.) or in any other group (Keymer, 1958 and personal comm.), and no quantitative assessments have been made. The purpose of this paper is to show the nature of the disease, its
Vol. 80 36 1960
implications, and the various methods which can be used in evaluating the losses due to lead poisoning.
That fatal results are caused by birds of many species—ducks, geese, swans, coots, rails, partridge, and pigeons—eating lead pellets, whether as food or grit, has been recognised since the 1870’s (Phillips & Lincoln, 1930). Grinnell (1894, 1901) described the symptoms that appeared ~ following the ingestion of shot by swans, geese and ducks at Currituck Sound on the coast of California, and he also noted three places in Texas where lead poisoning had occurred. Bowles (1908) recorded similar symptoms in a number of Mallard (Anas p. platyrhynchos) and McAtee (1908) in the same year gave an account of lead poisoning in Canvasbacks ~ (Aythya vallisneria). Wetmore (1915, 1919) not only reported lead poison- © ing in Whistling Swans (Cygnus c. columbianus), Mallard and Pintail 7 (Anas a. acuta), but also carried out the first experimental work on lead 4 poisoned ducks, from which he described the signs and postmortem | findings. Since Wetmore’s pioneering work many instances of plumbism © have been observed and recorded (Munro, 1925, Van Tyne 1929, Howard © 1934, Pirnie 1935, Shillinger & Cottam 1937, Jones 1939, Jones 1940, | Roberts 1940, Adler 1942, Mohler 1945, Bellrose 1947, Ayars 1947, Yancey 1953, Wisely & Miers 1956, Bellrose 1959).
In some instances the number of deaths directly attributable to lead poisoning reaches spectacular proportions. Bellrose (1959) cites an out- 7 break in the Claypool Reservoir area near Weiner, Arkansas, where between mid-December 1953 and mid-February 1954, an estimated 16,000 ducks, most of them Mallard, succumbed to lead poisoning. This represents a 6.4 per cent. mortality among the 250,000 duck present. A further example quoted by Bellrose took place at Dalton Cut-Off in Chariton | County, Missouri in 1949, where it was estimated that in a population of | 10,200 duck, again mostly Mallard, 1,000 died from the effects of in- | gesting lead pellets. |
Signs & Pathology
The signs of lead poisoning in wildfowl are recognisable before and~ after death and have been described by a number of people, including } Wetmore 1919, Howard 1934, Shillinger & Cottam 1937, Alder 1944, | Jordan & Bellrose 1951, Coburn, Metzler & Treichler 1951, Elder 1954, | and Wisely and Miers 1956. The following account of signs and patho- | logical conditions is based mainly on their work with a few observations | of my own. The general pathology is similar for wild and captive birds | with ingested lead pellets, induced or freely-taken, and for wild-caught) birds with an administered lead salt solution. Typically there is a definite |) pattern with the development of each symptom being followed by an increase in its severity, usually an illness of short duration, ending 1 in death.
One of the first signs to appear with experimental birds is a marked lethargy with a lessening resistance to being handled and a quick return to a resting position. This has been interpreted as the beginning of muscle paralysis, though it is probably correlated also with a lowered food intake, where consumption falls to a level below minimum nutritional require- ments. At the time of death the body weight may average only 40 per cent. of the original weight, with a reduction in, or total absence of any
1960 a7 Vol. 80
fatty tissues. Bright green droppings (due to excessive bile production) are commonly observed within two days of lead ingestion. Frequent water drinking is usual and a greenish diarrhoea is produced with in some cases a green bile staining of the feathers in the ventral region. By the third and fourth weeks the sternum becomes prominent and there is a characteristic '‘roof-shaped’ positioning of the wings as they are held over the back, with an associated dropping of the chest and high carriage of the tail. In some cases the wings of sick birds are extended downwards in a ‘wing-drop’ '—analagous to the characteristic wrist-drop in human lead poisoning.
| The most striking post-mortem feature is the extreme emaciation with ,a loss or reduction of fat deposits in the body cavity. Particularly notice- able is the reduction of the main flight muscles. Flaccid muscle tissue is a ‘general finding. There is usually a marked flabbiness of the heart muscles, exaggerated by the small amount of impoverished blood and often a watery effusion in the pericardium. There is generally a marked reduction in the size of the liver, which histologically was shown by Coburn, Metzler and Treichler (1951), tobe due in part to necrosis. More than the normal }amount of bile is present in the gali bladder and duodenum, and character- uistically it is bright green. Regurgitation of bile into the gizzard and ‘proventriculus is common, though it is doubtful if this should be taken as ja definite sign of lead poisoning as was done by Anderson (1959). The gall bladder may be enlarged to five times its normal weight. Atrophy of the igizzard muscles is a regular observation. The horny pads of the gizzard may be very stiff, abnormally rough and easily peeled off. Commonly the igizzard is ulcerated and the proventriculus impacted (44 per cent. of the penned Mallard used by Jordan & Belirose 1951). Anaemia is a constant finding with definite changes in the blood. These changes, particularly laffecting the erythrocytes, follow a consistent pattern according to Coburn et al. (1951). In their experimental Mallard, dosed with an aqueous olution of lead nitrate, anisocytosis (inequality in size of erythrocytes) was observed early on, followed by poikilocytosis (irregular shape of erythrocytes). In the majority of cases there was a decrease in the numbers of erythrocytes. The normal average number for Mallard is 3.06 millions per cubic millimetre according to Magarth & Higgins (1934), though it ill vary with the sex and age of the bird. Though reductions in erythrocyte jnumbers of up to 40 per cent. have been noted by Elder (1954), and it has been suggested that the decrease varies with the dosage and could there- fore be used as a measure of toxicity, there does also appear to be a con- | siderable variation between individuals of the same species.
| The characteristic basophilic stippling of the erythrocytes first noted by Bhrlich (1885) and correlated with lead poisoning by Behrend (1899) which is so apparent in mammalian plumbism, is not a consistent finding in avian species. Coburn et al. (1951) state that they had rarely observed stippling in any avian species. However, Johns (1934) in a careful survey pf the blood of wild duck poisoned by lead pellet ingestion, found ex- vensive basophilic stippling. In chronic cases numerous stippled cells degin to appear, coincidental with unmistakable changes in the nucleus. it was suggested that the direct combination of lead with phosphates on he surface of the erythrocytes and the local liberation of a weak acid, as shown by Aub, Reznikoff & Smith (1924) is sufficiently toxic to produce ictual cell death. This has since been disputed by Jandl & Simmond (1957).
Vol. 80 38 1960
Whatever the toxic mechanism is, the stippling produced by a basophilic stain is considered to be characteristic of a dying cell, seen in the sequence of events in the usual maturation of semi-mature cells in the peripheral circulation. The disagreement between the work of Coburn et al. and Johns may possibly be due to differing dosage rates and the difference in acute and chronic cases. More detailed work is needed before stippling of the erythrocytes can be used as a diagnostic character in avain lead poisoning.
It was clearly demonstrated by Jordan & Bellrose (1950) that the toxic effects of ingested shot was due to the lead fraction in the pellet alloy. Abrasion of the pellets in the gizzard results in the circulation of complex lead compounds in the blood stream throughout the body. It seems probable that soluble lead salts are formed in the presence of gastric juices (Cantarow & Trumper 1944). These may form albuminates, peptonates and other more soluble compounds which are readily absorbed and distributed throughout the tissues by the blood stream. Lead compounds may be deposited in varying amounts in the liver, kidneys, bones, nerve and muscle tissues.
Chemical analyses of various organs from lead poisoned birds can be used as diagnostic aids, though the rate of deposition is not directly proportional to the dosage level or to the time of poisoning. Coburn et al. (1951) found that the most significant increases in lead content were in the liver, where the average value for the poisoned birds was forty times that for the normal controls. Likewise, the lead content of skeletal material from poisoned birds was seven times higher than that found in the controls. Adler (1944), from his work with lead poisoned Canada Geese (Branta c. canadensis), has suggested that the liver is the best organ to choose for chemical analysis in aiding diagnosis. By using his approach a more | accurate index of lead poisoning may be had. Malysheff (1951) cited by | Bellrose (1959) made chemical analyses of the bones and liver of wildfowl ~ taken in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia. He found that ~ 52.1 per cent. of the 79 Mallard he examined had ingested lead at one — time or another in their lives, though only about 16 per cent. had actually got lead in their gizzards. Recently, Schéberl (1958) has suggested that either a photometric method, using diphenylthiocarbazone, or a polaro-— graphic method are most suitable for determining the amount of lead in | various tissues. | It seems that the liver is efficient in removing lead from the portal blood — | but is not so effective in removing it from the systemic circulation. It is | possible that lead reaching the liver in the portal system is excreted in the | bile and may subsequently undergo reabsorption: this cycle preventing or | limiting the amounts of lead that reach the systemic circulation (Can- | tarow & Trumper, 1944).
The gross pathologic findings are very similar to those produced by } starvation, as has been well shown by Jordan (1951, 1953). The suggestion } is that death from lead poisoning may be due to, or accelerated by, star- } vation caused by the paralytic inactivity of the gizzard muscles and a low | food intake. Jordan (1951) and Jordan & Bellrose (1951) outlined ex- } periments where they measured the food intake daily of Mallard dosed | with one pellet, and fed exactly that amount to a companion control the
1960 39 Vol. 80
following day. In nearly all pairs, the weight loss curves, symptoms, gross
appearance of viscera and muscles, and mortality were similar, though no
impaction of the proventriculus was shown by the deliberately starved birds. Jordan (1953) showed that in intentionally starved Mallard the loss -of weight in the liver, kidneys and heart averaged 69.4, 26.8 and 36.7 per cent. respectively for males and slightly less for females, with an enlarge- ment of the gall bladder (3 times normal weight) in both sexes.
Fatal Dosage
The amount of lead shot which constitutes a fatal dose varies with the species, the age and sex of the bird, the individual, its general condition, whether it is hand reared or wild, the feeding habits of the species, and often from author to author. In comparing American work on this subject with available British figures, account must be taken of the differences in shot size. Most of the American work on duck has been done with their No. 6 shot (225 pellets per ounce) or No. 5 (170). Fortunately these shot sizes compare favourably with the sizes usually used in duck shooting in Britain: No. 5 (220) and No. 4 (170). Wetmore (1919) found that six No. 6 shot were always fatal with hand reared Mallard. Jordan & Bellrose (1950) found that one No. 6 shot was fatal for six out of 10 wild Mallard fed on a diet composed wholly of natural-growing seeds and for seven out of 10 wild Mallards fed on a diet of mixed grains. As a large proportion of the Mallard in England during the shooting season are feeding on a high percentage seed diet (Olney, unpubl. mat.), Jordan & Bellrose’s work has obvious importance. They concluded that 60-80 per cent. of adult wild Mallard carrying one pellet were likely to succumb, if they depended upon diets of wild seeds. It is apparent from their work (1950, 1951) and that of Elder (1954) that the nature of the diet rather than the dose of ingested lead was the more important variable. The effects of lead poisoning are considerably reduced when various leafy, aquatic plants are introduced into a grain or wild seed diet. Ceratophyllum demersum, _Potamogeton pectinatus, Lemna minor and Lemna trisulca were found to be | particularly beneficial—probably by acting as buffers and lessening the mutual grinding effect between seed and pellet. In this country, probably ‘only the two duckweed species (L. minor and L. trisulca) are taken in ‘appreciable quantities by Mallard, Teal (Anas c. crecca) or Wigeon (Anas penelope) during the winter months.
| Availability
The frequency of occurrence of ingested lead pellets will vary not only with the availability of the pellets, but also with the feeding habits of the different species. Most of the shot fired in the pursuit of wildfowl will in fact fall over water, sink and, depending on the nature of the bottom material, be liable to become ingested by feeding birds. The primary limitation on availability will depend on the shooting intensity and the amount of shot which is deposited on the bottom. It is impossible, and it would certainly be tactless, to estimate accurately the number of cartridges fired for every duck or goose killed. Nevertheless, in certain parts of the country, particularly where most of the shooting is done from behind butts (hides) or over flight ponds, the number of pellets which do not hit a bird, and are deposited in the adjacent mud, must be very high. There will
|
} '
Vol. 80 40 1960
obviously be an increase in susceptibility as the shooting season progresses. The pellet numbers actually available to birds will depend to a large extent on the type of bottom material, and on the size of shot used. This has been shown to be true by Bellrose (1959), using lake beds of different firmness and sinking ceramic pipes in each area with three shot sizes in the top soil of each. By sifting the mud contents a year later, he was able to | show that movement of the pellets depended on the degree of firmness of | the soil and on the size of shot. The smaller the size of shot, the more likely was it to be dislodged and scattered.
The actual depth to which the bird will dabble in the mud will depend on the species involved and on the food available or preferred. Species of | duck differ to some extent in preferred feeding depths, so that the depth © of water above the bottom may also determine the availability of pellets. Dabbling ducks usually feed in waters of less than 15 inches in depth, whilst diving ducks feed at depths of many feet, though Pochard (Aythya ferina) and Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) may and often do feed in shallower water. Other species of duck will rarely sift through bottom muds for food, relying more on leafy aquatic plants (Gadwall, Anas strepera), or actually grazing on various grasses and seaweeds (Wigeon, Olney 1957). That the incidence of ingested lead varies considerably with — the species and its feeding habits is well shown by American figures (Shillinger & Cottam 1937, Cottam 1939, Bellrose 1951, Anderson 1959). It is probable that the pellets are taken by the birds accidentally or deliber-
ately as or with grit, or accidentally with food material. To be continued.
Tuberculosis in a wild Pochard and remarks on the recognition of disease by predators
by Drs. JAMES M. & JEFFERY G. HARRISON Received Ist November, 1959
On 19th August, 1959 Major General C. B. Wainwright and Mr. Roy King found an-eclipse drake Pochard, Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus), on Abberton Reservoir, Essex, swimming weakly and with its neck badly lacerated by some predator, which judging by the tooth marks was most likely to have been a fox or an otter. It was also very wasted and the bird was killed and given to us on the same day.
On examination, apart from being very wasted, the belly was extremely distended. On opening the body, this distension was found to be due to a grossly thickened, yellowish-white thoraco-abdominal air-sac, containing about a quarter of a pint of straw coloured fluid. The pericardium was similarly thickened and there was an advanced plastic pericarditis, the whole heart looking as if it was covered with soft butter. Lying behind the air-sac, the liver was enlarged and studded with many small, hard, whitish nodules, while other nodules were present on the visceral surfaces of the gall-bladder and intestines, which were matted together by adhesions. One nodule had eroded the eighth right rib. Many of these features can be seen in the picture of the specimen after dissection.
A direct film from a liver nodule showed that numerous pleomorphic acid-alcohol fast bacilli were present. Histologically, a section of the liver
Vol. 80 4] 1960
stained with haematoxylin and eosin presented a picture of miliary tuberculosis with multiple caseous areas largely destroying the central area of each liver lobule, with small round-celled infiltration and giant cell systems surrounding the caseation, as a prominent feature, leaving only a narrow zone of liver cells.
Internal organs of the Pochard after removal
Top left—heart, with part of pericardium removed. Top right—thickened air-sac with anterior part removed. Lower—viscera with scattered tuberculous nodules.
A slide stained by the Zeihl-Neelsen technique showed many acid- alcohol fast bacilli in the affected parts. From a study of these slides it is
1960 42 Vol. 80
apparent that as a blood-bourne infection, the disease reaches the central artery of each lobule and that caseation develops from this point peripher- ally, ultimately destroying the whole lobule. A culture was set up on Finlayson’s medium and growth of a typical avian strain appeared in three weeks. Unfortunately owing to a technical error on our part, Dr. A. McDiarmid, of the Agricultural Research Station at Compton, was subsequently unable to type the strain.
Discussion. This is the first confirmed case in a wild Pochard and only the fourth confirmed case in a wild duck in Britain. These others were a Wigeon, Anas penelope Linnaeus, from Orkney!, a Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus), from Kent?, and a Wigeon from Abberton?, while a further Wigeon from the same place was almost certainly tuberculous, but the culture was lost. General Wainwright, in recording the second Wigeon states that he believes tuberculosis will be found to be not un- common in wildfowl in the wild state and the occurrence of yet another case from Abberton lends support to his views. In America, Quartrup and Shillinger* have recorded the disease in two American Redheads, Aythya americana (Vieillot).
The pathological features presented by this Pochard are rather unusual in the marked involovement of the air-sacs and pericardium, with great distension by fluid. The route of infection would appear to have been by the alimentary tract, which is the most usual in birds. Skeletal tuberculosis is rare and the involvement of a rib by direct spread was similar to a case recorded in a Sparrow-Hawk, Accipiter nisus (Linnaeus)?.
We have now examined fifteen cases of tuberculosis in wild birds and of these, three had been found with gross lacerations and tooth marks, undoubtedly caused by some mammal predator. The first of these was a Short-eared Owl, Asio flammens (Pontoppidan), from Cambridgeshire®, the second was the Kentish Shelduck and this Pochard is the third. The predator had made no attempt to eat any part of the owl; the Shelduck had had its head torn off and the Pochard had been badly wounded, but left alive. It would seem that these birds in their weakened state fall an easy prey, but that the predator is able in some way to detect that the victim is unpleasant and discards it. We have noticed that there is a faint but distinctive smell from such birds and we think that scent is the most likely way in which the predator is protected from eating something which might prove dangerous to it.
We are most grateful to Mr. J. Heather, Dr. K. Randall and Dr. A. McDiarmid for their help with this case.
References :—
1 XK. Randall and J. G. Harrison. ‘‘A Case of Avian Tuberculosis in a wild Wigeon’’ Bull. B.O.C., Vol. 76, pp. 42-46. 1956.
2 J. G. Harrison. ‘‘ Avian Tuberculosis in a wild Shelduck in association with an Excep- tional Parasitic Burden’’ Bull. B.O.C., Vol. 77, pp. 149-50. 1957.
C. B. Wainwright. ‘‘ Tuberculosis in a Wigeon’’ Bull. B.O.C., Vol. 79, p. 151. 1959. E. R. Quartrup and J. E. Shillinger. ‘‘A Review of 3,000 wild bird autopsies on Western Lake areas’’ Journal Amer. Vet. Ass., Vol. 99, pp. 382-387. 1941. 5 J. ™M. Harrison. ‘‘ Tuberculosis in a wild Sparrow-Hawk’’ Journal of Path. and Bact. Vol. LX, pp. 583-586. 1949. 6 J. G. Harrison. ‘‘ An unusual case of Tuberculosis in a Wild Bird’’ The Ibis, Vol. 85, pp. 516-7. 1943.
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1960 43 Vol. 80
Haemorrhage from an Oesophageal Diverticulum causing death in a wild Mallard
by Dr. JEFFERY G. HARRISON AND MR, PETER OLNEY Received 19th October, 1959
On 25th August, 1959, a freshly dead immature drake Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos Linnaeus was found on the Kent Sand and Ballast Water wildfowl reserve at Sevenoaks. It was in good condition, but had free blood in its mouth. Post mortem examination showed that there was rather over an ounce of free blood in the oesophagus and on dissection an oesophageal diverticulum was found at the level of the bifurcation of the trachea. The diverticulum was full of food, being about the size of a walnut and had become firmly adherent to the root of the lung by inflammatory adhesions. There was a marked apex to the diver- ticulum in the area of attachment and there is no doubt that it was a traction diverticulum, being slowly enlarged with each movement of respiration as the adhesions tugged on the apex.
When the food contents of the diverticulum were removed for analysis, an ulcerated area of the lining was immediately apparent, in which a blood vessel had become eroded, resulting in a fatal haemorrhage.
DIVERTICULUM CONTENTS
Species Number Volume % age of Volume
PLANT MATERIAL
Lolium multiflorum Lam. seeds 371 1.3 ml. 59, (Italian Ryegrass) Lolium perenne L. seeds 57 0.3 ml 13.6%
(Perennial Ryegrass)
Bromus sterilis L. seeds 10 0.2 ml 017, (Barren Brome Grass)
Holcus lanatus L seeds 12 0.1 ml 46% (Yorkshire Fog)
Juncus inflexus L. capsule & seeds 22 trace (Hard Rush)
Equisetum arvense L Stem and sheath trace (Common Horsetail)
ANIMAL MATERIAL
Hydropsychidae \arvae 3 0.3 ml 13.6% (Caddis-fly)
GIZZARD CONTENTS PLANT MATERIAL
Polygonum amphibium L seeds c.90 0.4 ml 80% (Amphibious Bistort)
Rumex conglomeratus Murr. — seeds c.43 0.1 ml 20% (Clustered Dock)
Vol. 80
44
re) oO = = : z= m fo | 5) m 72)
1960:
The contents of the diverticulum were completely different from those of the giz- zard, indicating that the bird had been feed- ing in two. separate habitats, and that once the diverticulum was. full any further food ingested would pass. normally into the giz- zard. The state of the seeds in the gizzard would suggest that this. meal had been taken only a short time be- fore, the Birdssucs cumbed. It is in the food contents of the diverticulum that the clue to the fatal haemorrhage is found. The spikelets of both the Lolium species are hard and sharply pointed, as are the narrower and longer seeds of Bromus sterilis. As the diverticulum and its contents are moved with each res- piration, the con- sequent friction could easily result in these seeds causing the ulcer- ation and haemorrh- age. In this case the seeds of the Bromus and Lolium species must have been the direct cause-of the bird’s death.
Oesophagus after removal, showing Diverticulum
_ partly opened and full of
food.
1960 45 Vol. 80
It is interesting to note that this is the first time that the spikelets of either Lolium species have been found in any bird sent in to the Wild- fowl Trust for food examination. Seeds of Lolium perenne L. have been found in duck gizzards before but not still as part of the spikelet. This particular Mallard could scarcely have taken a more unfortunate meal.
We are most grateful to Dr. C. E. Hubbard for help in identifying the grass seeds.
Bromus sterilis seed. Nat. size. Lolium multiflorum spikelet x 3.
Sexual dimorphism in Pigeons
by Mr. DEREK GOODWIN Received 17th October, 1959
The evolutionary and taxonomic significance of sexual dimorphism in birds has recently been the subject of an important paper by Sibley (1954). He remarks on the ‘‘reduction or absence of sexual dimorphism in monogamous species in which the males participate in brood care’’ owing to sexual selection being less intense and the effects of predation on either sex equally important in these species. It is certainly true that in nearly all cases where the male is much larger than the female or is adorned with modified feathers that reduce the efficiency of flight (except for display purposes) the hen alone incubates and rears the young. But in the matter of coloration there are some species with extreme sexual dimorphism in which both sexes share in brood care. This might seem incompatible with the opinion that marked sexual differences must have been brought about by sexual selection and/or the effects of predation on the female being more serious. I think, however, that detailed field studies of such species would show that one or both of these factors are involved and that such birds do not, in fact, constitute exceptions to the rule.
In this connection it is interesting to consider a large group like the Columbidae, comprising numerous genera and species, and among which there are varying degrees of sexual dimorphism. In all species of pigeons that have been observed, both sexes incubate and brood for about the same number of daylight hours and both feed the young. This is true even In such very sexually dimorphic species as, for example, the Masked Dove
EXAMPLES OF SEXUAL DIMORPHISM
from top MASKED DOVE QOena capensis ¢ has red. bill, black mask bordered pale grey and grey head; 2 has these areas brownish. Both sexes have signal markings on wings and rump.
CHARMING FRUIT DOVE Ptilinopus revoli bellus g has magenta cap, and belly patch, white and yellow breast patch, obscure blue spots on wing coverts.
BLACK-NAPED FRUIT DOVE P. melanospila ¢ has silver head, yellow throat, black nape,
golden ventral regions and red under tail-coverts. 2 is entirely green except for red under tail-coverts.
1960 47 Vol. 80 Oena capensis (McLachlan and Liversidge 1956), the Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius (Schorger 1955) and the Blue Ground Dove Claravis pretiosa (Skutch 1959). It is highly unlikely that there are any
pigeons which are not monogamous and in which the male does not take an equal part in parental behaviour.
In a few species of pigeons the sexes are alike in colour, in many the females are a little duller than the males, but scarcely merit being described as sexually dimorphic. Generally their greys are a little browner and less bluish than those of males, their browns less reddish and more olivaceous; iridescent display plumage on their necks or wings less brilliant and less sharply defined, and their red, pink or yellow orbital skin less bright. In others differences between the sexes are more emphatic and some show striking and ovbious colour differences. In the accompanying tables I have listed all the species that show very striking sexual differences in colour. The division between species included and those rejected is, of necessity, based on rather arbitrary and subjective criteria. I have not, for example, included those species of Zreron and Ptilinopus in which the under tail coverts are differently coloured but equally conspicuous in both sexes unless they show other marked differences of colour elsewhere.
As will be seen the main trends in the sexually dimorphic species are as follows: Firstly, conspicuous markings or patches of colour on the head, neck or breast of the male are absent or obsolescent in the female. This is so in several species of Ptilinopus, in Treron vernans and T. bicincta, in Columba delagorguei, in Gallicolumba jobiensis, G. hoedti and G. xanthoura, in Ectopistes migratorius, 11 Oena capensis, Tutur tympanistria, Histriophaps histrionica, Phaps elegans and P. chalcoptera, Chalcophaps stephani and some forms of C. indica. Secondly, there may be large areas of plumage quite differently coloured in the two sexes. This is the case in Ptilinopus victor and P. luteovirens, whose males are, respectively, brilliant orange and golden-green and females dark green; in several TJreron species in which the males have the wing coverts and mantle dark purple, these areas being green like the rest of the plumage in the females; in Geotrygon montana in which the male is purplish-chestnut and the female olive-brown and in the three species of C/aravis in which the males are blue-grey and the females brown. These two types of sexual dimorphism may be combined, as in Ectopistes migratorius where the male had a blue- grey head and upperparts and rufous-orange breast, these areas being brownish-grey and pale drab in the female. And in Gallicolumba hoedti where the male has a grey head, white breast and purple shoulders while the female is entirely brown. A different form of sexual dimorphism is found in some of the Cuckoo-doves, Macropygia, such as M. mackinleyi, where the male has a plain brown and the female a barred brown plumage,
_ but neither sex is in any way brilliant or conspicuous.
Thus most sexually dimorphic pigeons differ in colour of head, neck
_ or breast. These are parts of the body that are presented in all ‘‘close- range’’ hostile or sexual displays. The head itself is the focal point of all
_ attacks and of most sexual advances (see Goodwin 1956 and 1956a).
| The use made of the bright patch on the lower breast or belly in many
| species of Ptilinopus appears to be unknown but a possible function may
| be inferred from the behaviour of other species. In many (probably in all)
|
1960
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Vol. 80 50 1960
species of Columba and Streptopelia, if, when the pair are together at the nest-site, either male or female shows a tendency to attack its mate the latter will react by lowering its head and pushing it under the aggressor’s body. In this hiding of the head, which normally inhibits further attack, the head is pushed under the partner’s body in the area that is marked with a bright patch in so many Prtilnopus species. It seems likely that in these fruit doves such aggression, and the need to inhibit it between paired or pairing birds, may be of more importance and hence have resulted in the evolution of a signal marking on the lower breast or belly. Brightly coloured under tail-coverts are also probably part of the display plumage used at ‘‘close range’’. They are certainly so used by Treron vernans which exhibits them by raising and lowering its tail while crouched on a potential nest site. The function of this, like that of the homologous display of the Lapwing Vanellus vanellus, is to attract the mate to the nest site.
Since such sexual dimorphism has evolved it must, presumably, confer some selective advantage in spite of monogamy and shared parental duties. Too little has been recorded of the ecology and behaviour of the species concerned to do more than suggest possible reasons why a much more marked degree of sexual dimorphism than is usual in pigeons might be of use to them. I feel that speculation is permissable in order to stimulate further interest and possible lines of study to any readers who are in a position to observe the species concerned. At least three of such forms; the Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius, the Masked Dove Oena capensis and the Flock Pigeon Histriophaps histrionica are nomadic or migratory in habits (Schorger 1955, Mackworth Praed and Grant 1952, Cayley 1931). In species in which a great many individuals invade and breed in a limited area that temporarily supplies an abundance of food there might well be more intense selection for any characters that would aid speedy and efficient pair formation than would otherwise obtain. An increased degree of sexual dimorphism and appropriately correlated responses to it would be one such character.
I think it possible, however, that, in some cases, predation might also have been instrumental in bringing about sexual dimorphism. Although in species where the male’s bright markings are confined to his face and underparts it is unlikely that he would be much more conspicuous to a sight-hunting predator than would the female, at any rate when he is crouching in alarm on the nest, the case is very different in such forms as Claravis (all species) and Ptilinopus victor. Here it is impossible that both sexes should be equally inconspicuous or otherwise in any one environment and it is fairly certain that, in fact, the male must be much more easily seen than his mate. Now, if some predator that hunts by sight and attacks, say, Claravis pretiosa, when it is feeding, tends to hunt mostly during the middle hours of the day or, which is I think more likely, some nest- predator, who finds the nests of Claravis by spotting the sitting parent, is more active in the early morning and evening; either of these situations would result in greater selective pressure for concealing colouration on females than on males.
In view of what has been said of the importance of the head and the extent to which it and regions adjacent to it exhibit sexual dimorphism
i
1960 51 Vol. 80
it may seem anomalous that there are a few species in which, although large areas of the plumage differ in colour in the two sexes, their heads are alike. The most extreme examples of this are Prtilinopus victor and P. luteovirens, where the orange or golden-green males and the dark green females both have heads of almost the same shade of olive-yellow. Large areas of plumage differently coloured in the two sexes would, however, function to permit sexual recognition at a distance just as differently marked heads or breasts would serve the same purpose at close quarters. There would, obviously, be less likelihood of selection for the two different forms of sexual dimorphism in a single species.
A pigeon hiding head under mate’s body in response to aggression from the mate. This behaviour is shown by many species of Co/umba & Streptopelia and by Geogelin Cureatu; probably in other genera also.
As will be seen from the table, even in species in which there is con- siderable sexual dimorphism, signal markings on the wings and iridescent areas on the neck are, if present at all, found in both sexes. The explanation of this is, probably, that such markings are either not exhibited in threaten- ing displays but only in such as are purely attractive or appeasing in function (as the wing-lifting display with which Columba livia exhibits its
_ black wing bars) or, if they are exhibited in displays which have some
hostile content (such as the bowing display does in many species) the *“behavioural dimorphism’’ is such that the female does not give these displays in sexual situations but only in hostile encounters with other females. In this connection it must be emphasised that pigeons in which the sexes are similar show sexual differences in voice and behaviour when in breeding condition. It would be of interest to know whether such differences tend to be greater or less in the strongly sexually dimorphic species.
Whether sexual dimorphism in pigeons has come about mainly by the males developing bright plumage or conspicuous markings or the females losing them, is impossible to say. I think, however, that the latter process has probably played a greater part. Certainly this seems more likely because such sexually dimorphic forms are in a minority, and because of
Vol. 80 52 1960
the greater apparent ease with which bright colours and complex colour- patterns are lost or obscured than acquired in pigeons. (Cain 1954, Goodwin 1959.)
References :—
Cain, A. J. (1954) Subdivisions of the genus Pfilinopus. Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Zool., 2. No. 8.
Cayley, N. W. (1931) What bird is that? p. 89 Sydney.
Goodwin, D. (1956) The significance of some behaviour patterns in pigeons. Bird Study 3: 25-37 (1956a) Observations on the voice and some displays of certain pigeons. Avicult. Mag. 62: 17-33 and 62-70 (1959) The taxonomy of the genus Columba. Bull. Brit. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Zoology, Vol. 6 No. 1.
erase eB) C. W. and Grant, C. H. B. (1952) African Handbook of birds, Ser. 1, vol. 1, p. 478.
Schorger, A. W. (1955) The Passenger Pigeon Madison, U.S.A.
Sibley, C. (1957) The evolutionary and taxonomic significance of sexual dimorphism and hybridization in birds. Condor, 59: 166-191. ~
Skutch, A. F. (1959) Life history of the Blue Ground Dove. Condor 62: 2: 65-74.
The River-Warbler Locustella fluviatilis (Wolf) in Nyasaland
by THE Rev. R. CHARLES LONG AND MR. C. W. BENSON Received 12th October, 1959
The African collector employed by one of us (R. C. L.), Mr. Suzi Dai, obtained a male specimen of Locustella fluviatilis on 30th January, 1959 on Mwanambere Hill, some ten miles west-south-west of Port Herald, southern Nyasaland, at 2,800 feet above sea-level, in short grass in Brachystegia woodland. The specimen has been submitted to the British Museum, and Mr. J. D. Macdonald has kindly confirmed the identi- fication. It will be presented to the National Museum, Bulawayo.
This is certainly the first record of this species from Nyasaland. McLachlan & Liversidge, ‘Bds. S. Afr.’, 1957, p. 317, give a very few records from the South African region, while Mackworth Praed & Grant “‘Bds. E. & N.E.Afr.’ 2, 1955. p. 362, record it merely as a rare visitor to Kenya Colony. Chapin, ‘Bds. Belg. Congo’ 3, 1953, p. 463, gives no records from that area at all.
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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 Dr. JEFFERY HARRISON
Volume 80 April No. 4 1960
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1960 53 Vol. 80 BULLETIN OF THE | BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ CLUB
Volume 80 Number 4 PYRCHASEP Published: Ist April, 1960
4 ppR 1960
The five hundred and eightieth meeting of the Club will be held jointly with the B.O.U. on 30th March, 1960.
Lead Poisoning in Wildfowl by Mr. P. J. S. OLNEY
PART Two
Frequency
_ The incidence of lead shot can be determined either by actually examin- ing the dead bird (usually as a by-product of a food investigation) or by fluoroscoping live-trapped or dead birds. But the absence of lead shot is not a sure indication that the bird is not suffering or has not suffered from the effects of lead poisoning. Jordan (Bellrose 1959) found in controlled experiments with captive Mallard that 21 per cent. of 119 birds dosed with a single No. 6 pellet had no pellets in their gizzard at the time of death. Of 1153 Mallard picked up either dead or dying from lead poisoning Between 1938 and 1955 in six American states, 132 (11.4 per cent.) had no lead pellets in their gizzards (Bellrose 1959).
The actual time which a pellet has been in the gizzard can often be roughly ascertained by the amount of abrasion and erosion that has taken place over the surface. By using an aspirator (Nord, 1941) to recover pellets from a live duck which has been dosed with shot, it is possible to observe the effects of the digestive processes and grit movements. Signs of erosion are evident within 12 hours. The ridges and craters commonly formed on the pellets when discharged are smoothed, the surface is pitted and in places a silvery grey cast appears.
Bellrose (1959) provides a comprehensive table showing the incidence of lead shot found in gizzards of various Anatidae in America during the autumn and early winter months of 1938-1953. Parts of this are reproduced below in order to show species comparable to those found in this country.
Vol. 80 54 1960 —
TABLE 1. INCIDENCE OF LEAD SHOT IN N. AMERICAN SPECIES 1938-53. — (after Bellrose, 1959, p. 260) |
No. of Species gizzards 1 pellet Over 1 Total examined pellet No We oO A No %
Mallard Anas p. platyrhynchos 17,066 | 757 | 4-44 |. 402 | 2-354 15159) 6-79 Gadwall Anas strepera 1,141 14 | 1-23 7 | 0-61 21 1°84 © Baldpate » Anas americana 1,577 42 | 2:66 8 | 0-51 50) |, (sea Pintail
Anas a. acuta 4.530 | 241 | 5-32) ‘Lol | 335 402 8-87
Green-winged Teal
Anas crecca carolinensis 2212 23 | 1:01 8 | 0-35 3] 1-36 Shoveler
Anas clypeata 1,439 Suni -82 4 | 0-28 23 1-60 Redhead
Aythya americana 597 56 | 9-38 | 25 | 4-19 81.| 13-57 Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis 886 6/1) 7°36.| 491) Sass 116 | 13-09 Canada Goose
Branta c. canadensis = | 4 | 0-78 0 0 4} 0-78
Since 1957 the Wildfowl Trust has been examining viscera and their food contents. The table below summarises the numbers and species which were found to contain lead pellets.
TABLE 2. INCIDENCE OF LEAD SHOT IN BRITISH SPECIES 1957-59.
No. of Species gizzards 1 pellet Over 1 Total examined
Mallard Anas p. platyrhynchos 244 Wigeon Anas penelope 288 Teal | Anas c. crecca oA if | Shoveler Anas clypeata 14
Though only three species have so far been found to contain pellets, thi
1960 55 Vol. 80
is probably due to the smallness of the available sample. Mallard, though
they may do considerable feeding in grainfields at certain times of the year, spend much time feeding in marshes and open stretches of water, often heavily shot over. Their habit of deep-puddling into the bottom soil in ‘pursuit of seeds probably brings them into contact with deposited lead ‘shot more frequently than any other dabbling species. The proportion of gizzards from Mallard which contain pellets is remarkably similar for British and American birds—6.56% and 6.79% respectively. It is sig- nificant that of 277 Teal viscera examined in this country none contained lead shot, although overall their diet is similar to the Mallard. Field observations suggest that Teal only dabble in the top one or two inches of mud in search of food, and they may therefore be missing the critical depths where lead pellets are lodged. All of the sixteen Mallard found to contain pellets had been feeding inland or in a slightly brackish habitat, and none of the birds shot whilst feeding on saltmarsh species contained any pellets.
A large sample of diving ducks is needed before any figures comparable to American species are available. Possibly in certain areas diving ducks are particularly vulnerable to lead ingestion—at least the American
figures indicate that is so.
A small number of birds sent in for post-mortem examination have been found to be suffering from lead poisoning. The most startling case
‘being a first-year drake Mallard, hand-reared though not pinioned, which had 41 pellets in the gizzard, and not surprisingly showed the typical lead poisoning syndrome signs. In this case, it was thought that in the pit where the ducks were kept, there may have been some old cartridges from
;
'which the covering had rotted and exposed the lethal pellets.
Fertility and Fecundity _ Apart from direct losses, some concern has heen engendered by evidence ‘in other animals that their reproductive capacities are impaired by lead : poisoning (Cole & Bachhuber 1914—rabbit and fowl; Aub ef al. 1926— an). Shillinger & Cottam (1937), Cheatum & Benson (1945) and Elder (1953) have voiced concern over possible sterility as an after effect of lead poisoning in wildfowl. However, Cheatum & Benson (1945) concluded ‘that no significant loss of fertility resulted from the ingestion of lead shot . in male Mallard. In a series of experiments by Elder (1954) to test the ‘€ffects of lead poisoning on fertility and fecundity in Mallards, he ad- ‘ministered 18 No. 6 shot to his experimental birds. Though he managed ‘to show that fecundity was reduced, and fertility, embryonic success and hatchability were not, his results are somewhat nullified by his use of such a large dosage level. Rarely will 18 pellets be ingested by a duck, and seldom will significant numbers recover from the resultant severe poison- ing.
Movement and Mortality Rates
Field experiments conducted by Bellrose (1959) in oe years 1949-5] showed that birds dosed with lead shot had (1) a greater vulnerability to being shot, (2) a lower ability to migrate and (3) higher over-all mortality ‘rates in the first year after being ringed and released. Wild Mallard that
Vol. 80 56 3 1960
were dosed with one No. 6 shot each and then released were 1.5 times as — vulnerable to shooting as were undosed controls; those dosed with two
No. 6 pellets were 1.9 times as vulnerable and those dosed with four No. 6 — pellets were 2.1 times as vulnerable. In the dosed Mallard the effects of the — ingested shot did not appear to affect their behaviour until 5 days, when the proportion of ring returns became higher than for undosed birds. The — period of affliction appeared to persist for about 15 days or slightly — longer until the ringing returns reverted to more similar figures for both — dosed and undosed birds. It is suggested that either the duck is shot or — dies of lead poisoning in the second or third week following ingestion, or they begin to recover by the early part of the fourth week. The weakness ~ and fatigue symptoms so apparent as part of the lead poisoning syndrome, ~ are likely to reduce their movements. That it has a pronounced effect on © their local movements has been shown experimentally by Jordan & © Bellrose (1951) and Bellrose (1951, 1959). The more ingested lead pellets — there are per bird, the greater is the reduction in the movements of those ~ birds. :
The variations in mortality rates with different sexes and ages were — attributed primarily to differences in the quality and quantity of food ~ consumed. It is known that the food intake of juvenile Mallard exceeds — that of the adults, and it has been shown experimentally (Jordan & Bellrose 1951) that the juvenile Mallard mortality rate from lead poisoning ~ is less than the adult rate. The female mortality was higher than com-_ parable male mortality in all months apart from the spring months when ~ the female is known to eat more than the drake. At all other seasons the” female is thought to eat less than the male (Jordan & Bellrose 1951). Lower air temperatures which are known to increase food consumption may well have an effect on the mortality numbers. |
Reduction of losses
In an effort to eliminate the losses due to lead poisoning among wild- fowl various non-toxic shot alloys have been advocated and tested. Jordan & Bellrose (1950) reviewed previous work and tested a number of possible alloys. Several metals regarded as being non-toxic were con- sidered as substitutes for lead. The availability, physical and chemical properties, price, and ballistic performance were factors which had to be taken into consideration. Green & Dowdall (1936) suggested that a lead- magnesium alloy shot would not cause lead poisoning. They suggested that the magnesium would be hydrolysed by water which would produce irregular cracks across the surface and the final disintegration of the pellet. Unfortunately their findings were not substantiated by Jordan & Bellrose’s careful experiments. Three other lead-alloy shots tested, lead- phosphorus, lead-calcium and a copper-alloy coated lead shot, were not less toxic than the usual lead-alloy shot used. Attempts to coat lead shot with a nylon plastic in order to lessen the abrasion effects were unsuccessful (Bellrose 1959). However an iron-alloy was found to be non-toxic when dosed to penned wild Mallard, but it has the disadvantage of not being so |) effective a shot as a lead shot when fired at maximum ranges, because of |} its lower density (Bellrose 1953). Ignoring their availability and price, there are many metals which could probably make good or even better |} shot pellets than the lead-alloy now used. The physical properties of gold
1960 =i Vol. 80
would suggest a good example—though its use as a shot would probably
be confined to a favoured few.
As the effects of lead poisoning can be greatly minimised by the form of
food consumed, one of the means of alleviating losses would be to en-
_ courage the growth of suitable leafy, aquatic plants. Though often freely given, corn is the least beneficial in reducing the poisoning effects.
It would probably be impertinent to suggest that less pellets would be available for ingestion if wildfowlers were more careful in their selection of shot ranges. Nevertheless, more careful shooting would undoubtedly reduce the chances of lead pellets being obtainable by feeding birds.
There are no records in this country comparable to the spectacular local outbreaks of lead poisoning recorded in the United States. It is probably more in the dispersed, day to day mortality that our losses occur. Such mortality can occur constantly, and generally will pass unnoticed, particularly if there is cover available for the sick birds to hide until death or predators overtakes them.
Bellrose (1959) has estimated that approximately one-fourth of the wild Mallards in North America in any year ingest lead shot, and that in the Mississippi Flyway approximately 4 per cent. of the Mallards die as the direct result of lead poisoning, with an additional 1 per cent. afflicted with lead poisoning being shot. For all wildfowl species in North America the annual loss due to lead poisoning is estimated to be between two and three per cent. of the population. These figures can only suggest what may be the extent of the problem in this country, and until we have more information no accurate assessment can be made. At the present time losses due to lead poisoning are probably small, but their possibility should certainly be taken into account in the dynamics of any wildfowl population.
Acknowledgements
It would be churlish of me to finish this paper without fully acknow- _ledging the use of all the references mentioned in the text. I am, as must be so apparent, particularly indebted to the various papers of Bellrose & Jordan.
I am also most grateful to Miss P. Clapham and I. F. Keymer for a number of personal communications, and to all those wildfowlers who have sent in viscera for food investigation—this paper is a by-product of. of that work which is financed by the Nature Conservancy.
I would also like to thank H. Boyd and J. G. Harrison for reading and -Criticising this paper.
References:
_ Adler, F. E. W. (1942) The problem of lead poisoning in waterfowl. Wisconsin Con-
servation Bulletin 7(9) Sept. 5-7.
Adler, F. E. W. (1944) Chemical analyses of organs from lead-poisoned Canada Geese.
Journ. Wildl. Mgt. 8: 83-85.
| Anderson, H. G. (1959) Food habits of Migratory Ducks in Illinois. Illinois Nat. Hist. Survey Bull. Vol. 27, Article 4. 344 pp.
| Aub, D. C., Reznikoff, P. & Smith, D. E. (1924) Lead Studies IT. The Effects of lead on Red Blood cells. J. Exper. Med. 40 : 151.
Aub, J. C., Fairhall, L. T., Minot, A. S. & Reznikoff, P. (1926) Lead poisoning. Balti-
more.
Ayars, J. S. (1947) Lead on the loose. Sports Field 118 (6) : 24—5, 92-4.
Behrend, (1899) Discussion on litten, veber endoglobuldire einschlusse rother blutk6r- porchen, Deutsche med. Wchnschr. 25, Vereins—Beilage 42 : 254.
|
Vol. 80 58 1960
Bellrose, F. C. (1947) Ducks and Lead. III. Cons. 12(1) :
Bellrose, F. C. (1951) Effects of ingested lead shot upon i populations. N. Am. Wildlife. Conf. Trans. 16).7/125—33,
Bellrose, F. C. (1953) A preliminary evaluation of cripple losses in waterfowl. N. Am. Wildlife Conf. Trans. 18 : 337-60.
Bellrose, F. C. (1959) Lead Poisoning as a Mortality Factor in Waterfowl a Illinois Nat. Hist. Survey Bull. Vol. 27, Article 3. 288 pp.
Bowles, J. H. (1908) Lead poisoning in ducks. Auk 25G) ; chee rd
Cantarow, M. & Trumper, M. (1944) Lead Poisoning. Baltimore.
Cheatum, E. L. & Benson, D. (1945) Effects of lead poisoning on reproduction in Mallard drakes. Journ. Wildl. Mgt. 9(1) : 26-9.
Clapham, P. A. (1957) Helminth Parasites in some wild birds. Bird Study 4(1) : 193-196.
Coburn, D. R., Metzler, D. W. & Treichler, R. (1951) A study of absorption and retention of lead in wild waterfowl in relation to clinical evidence in lead poisoning. Journ. Wildl. Mgt. 15(2) : 186-192.
Cole, L. J. & Bachhuber, L. J. (1914) The effect of lead on the germ cells of the male wha and fowl as indicated by their progeny. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. & Med. 12 : 4-29.
Cottam, C. (1939) Food habits of North American Diving Ducks. U.S. Dept. Ag. Tech. Bull. No. 643. 137 pp.
Ehrlich, P. (1885) Zur physiologie und pathologie der blutscheihen. Charite-Ann. 10 : 136
Elder, W. H. (1954) The Effect of Lead Poisoning on the Fertility and Fecundity of — Domestic Mallard Ducks. Journ. Wildl. Mgt. 18(3) : 315-323. }
Green, R. G. & Dowdell, R. L. (1936) The prevention of lead poisoning in waterfowl by the use of disintegrable lead shot. N. Am. Wildlife Conf. Proc. 1 : 486-9.
Grinnell, G. B. (1894) Lead poisoning. Forest & Stream 42(6) : 117-8.
Grinnell, G. B. (1901) American duck shooting. New York.
Howard, W. J. (1934) Lead poisoning in Branta canadensis canadensis. Auk 51(4) :
~o°513=514.
Jandl, J. H. & Simmons, R. L. (1957) Brit. J. Haemat. 3 : 19. E
Johns, F. M. (1934) A study of punctate stippling as found in the lead poisoning of — wild ducks. Journ. Lab. & Clin. Med. 19 : 514.
Jones, J. C. (1939) On the occurrence of lead shot in stomachs of North American ~ Gruiformes. Journ. Wildl. Mgt. 3 : 353-357.
Jones, J. C. (1940) Food habits of the American Coot with notes on distribution. U.S. Dept. Int. Biol. Surv. Wildlife Res. Bull. 2. 52 pp. :
Jordan, J. S. (14951) See Discussion—Bellrose (1951) p. 134.
Jordan, J. S. (1953) Effects of starvation on wild Mallards. Journ. Wildl. Met. 17(3) : 304-311. :
Jordan, J. S. & Bellrose, F. C. (1950) Shot alloys and lead poisoning in waterfowl. N. Am. Wildl. Conf. Trans. 15 : 155-170.
Jordan, J. S. & Bellrose, F. C. (1951) Lead poisoning in wild waterfowl. Hligvis Nat. Hist. Surv. Div. Biol. Notes 26. 27 pp.
Keymer, I. F. (1958) A survey and review of the causes of mortality in British birds and the significance of wild birds as disseminators of disease. Vet. Record 70 : 713-720.
McAtee, W. L. (1908) Lead poisoning in ducks. Auk 25(4) : 472.
Magarth, T. B. & Higgins, G. M. (1934) The blood of the normal duck. Folia Haematol. ae 200.
Malysheff, A. (1951) Lead poisoning of ducks in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia: a chemical study. Master’s thesis, Univ. of Br. Columbia. Quoted by Bellrose 1959 : p. 281.
Mohler, L. (1945) Lead poisoning of geese near Lincoln. Nebr. Bird Rev. 13(2) : 49-50.
Munro, J. A. (1925) Lead poisoning in Trumpeter Swans. Can. Field Nat. 39(7) : 160-2.
Nord, W. H. (1941) Technique for removing lead from gizzards of living waterfowl. Journ. Wildl. Mgt. 5(2) : 175-179.
Olney, P. J. S. (1957) Food and feeding habits of wildfowl. Wildfowl Trust Ninth Annual Report : 47-51. ‘
Phillips, J. C. & Lincoln, F. C. (1930) American Waterfowl. Boston and New York.
Pirnie, M. D. (1935) Michigan waterfowl management. Michigan Dept. of Conservation. Lansing. .
Roberts, M. E. (1940) Lead poisoning in Mallards. lowa Bird Life 10 : 30. ;
Schéberl, A. (1958) Moderne Methoden fiir den Nachweis von Bleivergiftungen. Disa teirarztl. Wschr. 65 : 235-239.
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Shillinger, J. E. & Cottam, C. (1937) The importance of lead poisoning in waterfowl. N. Am. Wildl. Conf. Trans. 2 : 398-403.
Van Tyne, J. (1929) The Greater Scaup affected by lead poisoning. Auk 46(1) : 103-4.
Wetmore, A. (1915) Mortality among waterfowl around Great Salt Lake, Utah. Bull: U.S. Dept. Agric., No. 217.
Wetmore, A. (1918) Lead poisoning in waterfowl. Bull. U.S. Dept. Agric. No. 193. 12 pp.
Wisely, B. & Miers, K. H. (1956) Lead poisoning in New Zealand Waterfowl. N.Z. Dept. Int. Affairs, Wildlife Pub. 41. 11 pp.
Yancey, R. K. (1953) Lead poisoning on Catahoula Lake. Louisiana. Cons. 5(5) : 2-5.
Notes on Philippine Races of Dryocopus javensis
by DR. KENNETH C. PARKES Received 23rd November, 1959
~ In connection with my studies of birds of the Philippines, I have had occasion to review the races from that archipelago of the widely-distributed Asian woodpecker Dryocopus javensis. There appears to be no completely satisfactory English name for this species. Most books I have consulted call it ‘“Great Black Woodpecker’’, but this name can lead to confusion with D. martius. Delacour and Mayr (1946) use the name ‘‘White-bellied Black Woodpecker’’, which is unsuitable for the species as a whole as long as the black-bellied hodgei of the Andaman Islands is considered conspecific with javensis (Peters, 1948).
The present study is based primarily on the collections of the American Museum of Natural History, supplemented by certain additional material from the Chicago Natural History Museum, U.S. National Museum, and University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. I am indebted to Drs. D. Amadon, A. L. Rand, H. Friedmann, and R. W. Storer, for the use of their material.
In comparing /argitti of Palawan with philippinensis of Negros, etc., Delacour and Mayr (1946) credit the former with a ‘“‘bigger bill’’. This character does not hold up in series, nor is there anything to Hachisuka’s
(1930) character of ‘‘more developed scarlet crest’’ of hargitti. Two characters given by Hachisuka (1934) do separate these races; namely, the richer reds in both sexes and broader moustachial stripe in males of Philippinensis. In addition, the sides of the face and the throat are more heavily streaked with white and the white dorsal patch more extensive in hargitti than in philippinensis. Hachisuka (1934) mentions occasional **ted tips’’ to chin, throat and nape feathers of philippinensis. A distinct fed area is present on the throats of two out of three adult males from Negros, but is absent in a single adult male from Masbate; this variation is not mentioned by Delacour and Mayr.
The original description of Thriponax philippinensis Steere (1890) men- tioned the islands of Guimaras and Masbate, and both of these islands are cited as type locality by Peters (1948). Hachisuka, (1934), however, lists a specimen from Masbate in the British Museum as the type, and _ Masbate may thus be considered the restricted type locality of philip- _pinensis. A male from Masbate in the American Museum is notable for _the great restriction of its white dorsal patch; when all feathers are in place and not disarranged, this patch is almost completely concealed. However, the amount of dorsal white is subject to great individual as well as Beorraphic variation in this species. McGregor (1909) describes Masbate
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specimens as having a ‘‘wide band of light buff across the lower back’’, and this description fits a pair of Masbate specimens in the U. S. National Museum. Leyte, Samar, and Bohol birds are supposed to belong to the black-rumped group of this species, but some individuals from these islands have the bases of the rump feathers white.
Incidentally, as Dr. Rand has pointed out to me (in Jitt.), the buff colour of the rump and underparts in this species is due largely to staining, newly-grown feathers being nearly pure white.
The distinguishing character given by Delacour and Mayr (1946) to. separate mindorensis from philippinensis, ‘‘much more white on the throat and sides of the head’’, is valid only on the average, and a female from Mindoro in the American Museum could not be distinguished from Dhilippinensis on this basis alone. However, the more slender bill ascribed — to mindorensis by Hachisuka (1930) is a valid character. Although in the latter paper Hachisuka deprecated bill colour as a subspecific criterion in | this species, he later (1934), and I think rightly, admitted that the entirely black bill of mindorensis contrasted with the pale lower mandible of philippinensis. This character had been pointed out long before by Stresemann (1913).
Delacour and Mayr’s description of multilunatus of Mindanao and Basilan as having ‘‘very little white on the back’’ is misleading. In only a single Basilan specimen examined is any white at all visible; in most specimens these feathers are not even white at the base. The whitish buff borders of the breast feathers, mentioned by Delacour and Mayr, disappear with wear; this would account for the statement by Stresemann (1913) that multilunatus has such pale markings ‘‘in der Regel—nicht immer’’. There is no difference between Mindanao and Basilan specimens.
All descriptions I have seen of the race su/uénsis differentiate it from multilunatus solely on the basis of its smaller size. However, all of the eight adult specimens of suluénsis examined (5 American Museum, 3 Carnegie Museum) have a concealed white rump patch formed by the bases of the feathers, and have scarcely any pale edges to the black breast feathers, even in fresh plumage.
The race pectoralis is currently assigned a range including the islands of Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Panaon. I have seen no specimens from the latter island, but comparison of a series of Samar and Bohol birds with a single one from Leyte, and examination of a coloured figure of the types of pectoralis from the latter island (Hargitt, 1890) indicate that two subspecies are involved. The unnamed race may be known as:
Dryocopus javensis samarensis, subsp. nov.
Type: adult 3, American Museum of Natural History no. 648725, Matuginao, Samar, Philippine Islands; collected 18th April, 1957, by D. S. Rabor (collector’s no. 14909).
Diagnosis: similar to D. j. pectoralis of Leyte, but black markings o chest much more extensive, with narrower pale edges; black streaking o throat much heavier; lores black, not whitish; auriculars with more black, less white and red feathers. None of the specimens of samarensis examine has any red in the throat; the single Leyte male in the American Museu has a well-marked red patch in the centre of the throat, but this is un doubtedly subject to individual variation as in the race philippinensis, and— such a patch is apparently absent in the types of pectoralis (Hargitt, 1890))_
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Range: specimens of samarensis have been examined from Samar (9), Calicoan (1), and Bohol (5). Although Leyte lies between Samar and Bohol, there is no difference between birds from the latter two islands, and both are clearly distinct from Leyte birds. The small island of Panaon ‘is barely separated from Leyte, and is probably inhabited by true pectoralis.
References :— Delacour, J., and Mayr, E. (1946). Birds of the Philippines: pp. 150-151. (New York). Hachisuka, M. (1930). ‘‘Contributions to the Birds of the Philippines, No. II, Part VI.’’ Suppl. Publ. No. 14, Ornith. Soc. Japan: pp. 180-182. Hachisuka, M. (1934). The Birds of the Philippine Islands, 2: pp. 249-254. (London). Hargitt, E. (1890). Catalogue of the Picariae .. .’’ etc. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., 18: pp. 497-506, pl. 13. McGregor, R. (1909). A Manual of Philippine Birds: pp. 405-409. (Manila). Peters, J. (1948). Check-list of Birds of the World, 6: pp. 152-154 (Cambridge, Mass.). Steere, J. (1890). A List of the Birds and Mammals Collected by the Steere Expedition to the Philippines: p. 8. (Ann Arbor, Mich.). Stresemann, E. (1913). ‘‘Die Formen von Thriponax javensis (Horsf.).’’ Novit. Zool., 20: pp. 316-321.
Aspects of Relationship between Palaearctic and Ethiopian Wagitails
by Mr. MICHAEL P. STUART IRWIN Received 14th December, 1959 |
The relationship of two of the three species of Ethiopian Wagtails as geographical representatives of widespread Palaearctic forms has been realised for a considerable period. Motacilla aguimp was first associated with Motacilla alba by Kleinschmidt (1933: 1-3) and the two groups have subsequently been treated as conspecific by Hartert and Steinbacher (1933: 151); Meinertzhagen (1951: 450); Dementiev and Gladkov (1954: 597); Vaurie (1959: 87); and Voous (1959: 36). Likewise the African Motacilla clara and the Malagasy Motacilla flaviventris have been similarly associated with M. cinerea; again the first step in this direction was taken by Kleinschmidt (1931: 1-10) and followed by Hartert and Steinbacher (loc. cit: 148); Meinertzhagen (/oc. cit. 450); Dementiev and Gladkov (loc. cit.); and Voous (Joy. cit: 36), (though this last author does not Specifically mention M. flaviventris).
Generally, these ideas have not been very widely accepted, nor formally | incorporated in the leading faunal works published over the period under review. Nevertheless the relationships would appear to be very real, but the degree of individual divergence involved, requires independent ‘treatment in each case. M. aguimp is undoubtedly best allied to M. alba as the similarities are great. With the M. cinerea—clara—flaviventris ‘group, the degree of differentiation reached is such that it emphasises | specific distinctness, on a morphological basis, but ecologically cinerea | and clara remain true to their very similar habitat preferences and are | extremely alike in behaviour, (Moreau 1949: 183-191); though flaviventris, the only Malagasy form, occupies a wider ecological niche, (Rand 1936: | 475); but this is not unexpected as it has no competitors in its island home.
The relative differences however, in the species must in part reflect the | period of time that has passed since the original colonisations were made. | Yet a third example within the genus has generally gone unrecognised,
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in the instance of the rather cryptic, but none the less obvious relationship of the populations of Motacilla capensis in South, Central and East Africa to the Holarctic Motacilla flava complex. None of the more recent © reviews or discussions such as Smith (1950: 100-113); Grant and Mack-. worth-Praed (1952 : 255-270); Meinertzhagen (1954: 145-149); Williamson (1955: 382-403); Mayr (1956: 115-119); Vaurie (1957: 1-8); or Vaurie 7 (1959: 75) have suggested that the M. flava complex had any tropical representatives outside of the Palaearctic region; though Kleinschmidt (1931: 1-6) seems to have implied this possibility, yet all the evidence ~ points to M. capensis being of Palaearctic derivation. ' Superficially the brightly coloured and diverse M. flava complex seem quite distinct from the rather drab M. capensis and its races, so much so that their relationship is further masked psycologically by the retention of the genus Budytes of Cuvier, which is still rather widely used in standard works to accommodate the yellow flava Wagtails. This complicated group” of forms are all predominantly yellow to a greater or lesser degree and always have yellow underparts; but basically there are many similarities. The morphological plasticity and apparent genetical instability within the | flava complex is great, as is refiected by the problems raised in their classification. It is not therefore, unnatural, that this diversity should have to be further broadened to include an isolated group of tropical forms. M. capensis as a basically modified tropical off-shoot of the flava complex, has, as with M. clara, undergone a general reduction in yellow pigmentation, but has by no means lost it entirely. It also retains, wit increased emphasis in the adult state, (though the degree of this varies racially), the black chest circlet present in all juveniles of flava races. The yellow pigmentation persisting in the capensis section is most marked in fresh-plumaged birds, but tends to fade as wear proceeds. Winterbottom (1959: 96-98), in his revision of M. capensis, stresses that the amount | of yellow in the underparts is an exceedingly variable character, and from a series of 131 specimens examined was able to pick out thirteen that were especially yellow below. The pattern of white in the outer rectrices, present to a greater or lesser degree in ali members of the genus and generally diagnostic, is closely similar in the flava and capensis groups. In the former the inner webs of the two outermost pairs of tail” feathers are generally dusky along their margins for about one half to two thirds of their length and in the former, dusky equally along about four fifths of their length. In both, the dusky border broadens and joins the rachis towards the feather bases. As with the MM. cinerea—clara and M. alba—aguimp groups, (aliowill g for local ecological considerations and interspecific competition), there . is a very close correlation in the habitat choice between the Palaearctic: and Ethiopian representatives. The habitat of M. capensis is rather restricted, but apparently wider in the southern-most part of its range in the western Cape Province, where interspecific competition disappe as no other Motacilla species is of regular occurrence, (McLachlan i Liversidge, 1957: 368-370). | Capensis requires chiefly areas of short grass or exposed mud igen to water, open edges of swamp etc. and has locally, (as has the M. alba— — aguimp sroup), become adapted to the vicinity of human habitations ¢ lawns. Its habitat preference is, therefore, largely the African equivalen nt
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of the water meadow, marsh and streambank type of niche occupied by
_ flava in Europe and Asia.
The question may then logically be asked, that if the three endemic
_ African Wagtails, (and the Malagasy M. flaviventris) are geologically
speaking of relatively recent derivation and the probable outcome of Pleistocene colonisations, were the ecological niches that are now occupied vacant at the time of their arrival, or did the gradual infiltration of breeding populations of Palaearctic