( 10- ) 



Pitta mackloti oblita subsp. nov. 



This new form resembles Pitta mackloti kuehni, but the hitter has the blue 

 jngnlar patch more extended laterally, a much more reddish and brighter hindneck, 

 and is smaller (wings lOU — 105 mm., mostly about 103 mm.)- Type : S A279, 

 Avera, 23. ii. 1903, in the Tring Museum. 



In Orn. Monatsber. 1912. pp. 102, 127, Dr. Finsch has described as a new 

 species a "Pitta Habenickti" apparently from a single specimen obtained near 

 Potsdamhafen in Kaiser Wilhelmslaud. As far as we can gather from the 

 descriptions this supposed new species differs essentially from P. mackloti only in 

 the bright fiery red of the hindneck. The amount of blue on the crown and the 

 width of the black pectoral line are so variable in this species, that these characters 

 are irrelevant in one single specimen. We consider it very risky, not to say rash, 

 to describe as a new species a Pitta of which only one skin is at hand ; and we have 

 seen such variation in the colour of the hindneck in P. mackloti mackloti that we 

 fear that the supposed Pitta habenichti is only an aberration of P. m. mackloti. 

 Dr. Finsch has not explained whether true mackloti wa? found in the same place, 

 and whether he had a good series of the latter for comparison, or only a few 

 examples. 



66. Petrochelidon nigricans (Vieillot). 



Himnlo nigricans Vieillot, iVoHi'. Diet, d Hist. Nat. xiv. p. 532 (1817 : New Holland'). 



6 t? ? ; Kumusi River, June— July 1907 (Nos. 3192, 3193, 3229, 3230, 3286, 

 3288.) 



07. Megalurus macrurus macrurus Salvad. 



Cf. Nov. Zool. 1903. p. 225. 



3 (?(?, 2 ¥ ? ad.; Kumusi River, June— July 1007. (Nos. 3163, 3281, 3282, 

 3300, 3347.) 



" Iris light brown, feet light horn, bill brown horn." 



68. Cisticola exilis Vig. & Horsf. 

 Cf. Nov. Zool. 1903. p. 225. 



6 cJ ? ad.; Kumusi River, June, Jaly, September 1907. (Nos. 3188, 3274, 3284, 

 3390, 3302, 3456.) 



69. Eupetes geislerorum Mey. 

 Cf. Nov. Zool. 1903. p. 230. 



3 (?c?, 2 ? ? ad.; Kumusi River, June, July, August 1907. (Nos. 3184, 3276, 

 3295, 3321, 3400.) 



" Iris brown, bill and feet black." 



We have also received a pair from Cape Nelson. 



There is some slight variation in the series before us. In two male specimens 

 the head is of a deeper olive-brown, or rather less olive, more brownish. One 

 female is almost uniform chestnut above, the others having the head and nape more 

 olive-brown, while the lower back and rump are chestnut. A young male from 

 CoUingwood Bay (A. S. Meek collection. No. 2531), and another from Cape Nelson 

 (A. S. Meek, No. 3460), show that the young males are coloured like the adult 

 females ; those specimens are in moult, one showing some of the blue feathers 

 appearing on the back, the other some remains of the chestnut and brown plumage. 



