abstracts: ornithology 413 



the distinctness of the recently described Passerella iliaca hrevicauda 

 Mailhard, has revealed the existence of three undescribed subspecies. 

 These are Passerella iliaca mariposae from Chinquapin, Yosemite Park, 

 California; Passerella iliaca fulva from Sugar Hill, Warner Mountains, 

 Modoc County, California ; and Passerella iliaca canescens from Wyman 

 Creek, east slope of White Mountains, Inyo County, California. 



Harry C. Oberholser. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — Washington region. (December 1917, and Janu- 

 ary 1918.] Harry C. Oberholser. Bird Lore 20: 164-165. 

 1918. 

 Notwithstanding one of the severest winters in local annals, there 

 were few of the more northern winter birds about Washington during 

 December 191 7, and January 191 8. Many of the smaller birds were 

 very irregularly distributed and some of them not as numerous as usual. 

 Hawks of various species were uncommonly numerous close to the city 

 limits. A considerable increase was also noted in Colinus virginianus 

 and Sturnus vulgaris, both of which were seen in considerable 

 flocks. A single Plectrophenax nivalis noted on December 19, 191 7, 

 and a single Lanius borealis on December 28, are the most notable oc- 

 currences. Ducks of various species frequented the Potomac through- 

 out the season in much greater numbers than usual. H. C. O. 



ORNITHOLOGY. — Two new genera and eight new birds from Celebes. 

 J. H. Riley. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 31: 155-159. Decem- 

 ber 30, 1918. 

 The zoological explorations of Mr. H. C. Raven in the island of Cel- 

 ebes, principally in the northern and middle portions, have resulted in 

 the gathering of a large collection of mammals and birds. In the pre- 

 liminary identification of the birds, six new species and two subspecies 

 have been discovered, two of the distinct species belonging to new 

 genera. These two new genera are Coracornis, a shrike-like bird allied 

 to Pachycephala Vigors and Horsfield, of which the type is Coracornis 

 raveni; and Celebesia, an interesting flycatcher allied to Malindangia 

 Mearns, the type of which is the new species Celebesia abbotti. The 

 other new species are Rhamphococcyx centralis, Lophozosterops striaticeps, 

 Catapenera abditiva and Cryptolopha nesophila. The two new sub- 

 species are an interesting new form of edible swiftlet, Collocalia vestita 

 aenigma, and Caprimulgus affinis propinquus. Harry C. OberholseR. 



