TYPE SPECIMENS OF BIRDS 41 



that but one form was represented among them, all four would have to be 

 considered cotypes. 



In 1884, showing that heiishawi must be synonymized with striatulus, 

 Ridgway (Auk 1: 252) stated: "^. atricapillus striatulus included both the 

 dark western race . . . and also a special plumage of true A. atricapillus; 

 but . . . three of the four specimens described, and therefore virtually the 

 types, are of the dark western race." 



The type locality was first restricted to Fort Steilacoom in the A.O.U. 

 "Checklist of North American Birds," (ed. 3, rev., p. 156, 1910), perhaps 

 because that place was the one first named by Ridgway. But whether before 

 or after this action, Richmond at some time selected No. 8508, the only 

 Steilacoom bird and the only adult mentioned, as the type and so labeled it. 

 In 1940, Tavemer (Condor 42: 157-160) asserted that three of the four 

 (including No. 8508) are actually atricapillus. This would leave only No. 

 11790 from Camp Semiahmoo as true striatulus, and it alone could be the 

 type. 



If, however, the first restriction of type locality must hold, the claims of 

 No. 11790 (not 11740) are vitiated, and No. 8508 continues to be the type. 

 This is the more desirable treatment from Taverner's own point of view, 

 since if No. 11790 becomes the type and is admitted to "agree quite well" 

 with laingi, Taverner's new name can only be a synonym of striatulus. 



Because of the taxonomic complications of this case, it is essential that 

 some one example be made a lectotype, by which the validity of striatulus 

 and laingi must stand or fall, and I now follow Friedmann (ms.) and 

 Aldrich (ms.) in so designating No. 8508, the specimen originally set aside 

 by Richmond. 



Astur sparsimfasciatus acelelus Oberholser 

 Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 28: 829, July 8, 1905. 

 =Accipiter tachiro sparsimfasciatus (Reichenow). See Friedmann and 

 Loveridge, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 81:47, 1937; Peters, Checklist of 

 birds of the world 1: 209, 1931. 

 117876. Taveta, Teita District, Kenya Colony. July 7, 1888. Col- 

 lected by William L. Abbott. 

 Astur obsoletus Richmond 



Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 25: 306, September 17, 1902. 

 =Accipiter butleri obsoletus (Richmond) . See Peters, Checklist of birds 



of the world 1:212, 1931. 

 178448. Adult female. Katchall Island, Nicobar Islands, Bay of Bengal 

 northwest of Sumatra. February 18, 1901. Collected by William L. 

 Abbott. 

 Aster [sic] rufitorques Peale 



U.S. Exploring Expedition 8 (Mamm. and Om.) : 68, "pi. Xix," 1848. 

 =Accipiter fasciatus rufitorques (Peale). See Peters, Checklist of birds 

 of the world 1:216, 1931. 



