182 BULLETIN 15 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Madagascan adults have tarsi 102 to 119 millimeters in length, while 

 mainland specimens measure 108 to 135 millimeters. Of 11 adults 

 j'rom Madagascar all but 2 have tarsi as long as some African birds, 

 Avhile of 17 mainland specimens, 7 have tarsi as short as the largest 

 Madagascan individuals. The maximal limits of the two are very 

 different. It is true that the latter birds average smaller, but the 

 difference is not very well defined. It must be admitted, however, 

 that not a few races of North American birds are based on just such 

 vague, general differences. 



Even if the Madagascan bird should be separated, the name used 

 by Bangs, Hypsihates Jmnantopus 'niiTwr^ is not applicable. Sclater -^ 

 has shown that this name (not Hysibates as quoted by Sclater) dates 

 from 1860 -* and is preoccupied by Hiinantopus minor Brehm,^^ 

 which is a direct synonym of Charadrius kiviantojius Linnaeus. 



Lest it seem from the above that the question of the Madagascar 

 stilts is definitely settled, it should be mentioned that the sexing of 

 the available material from that island is none too reliable, and 

 the adult males from the mainland of Africa, Europe, and eastern 

 Asia are definitely larger than the Madagascan birds. 



Both specimens collected have the crown and occiput blackish 

 gray, and the hind neck light grayish. 



A single bird was seen, but not collected, on March 18 at Lake 

 Abaya. 



Heuglin ^^ records this bird as breeding on Lake Tsana, Ethiopia, 

 as well as in Nubia, Sennar, and eastern Kordofan. 



Family OEDICNEMIDAE 



OEDICNEMUS SENEGALENSIS ASSIMILIS Badeker 



Ocdionemus assimilis Badekek, Joiini. f. Oinith., vol. 1, 1853, Extra-Heft, 

 1854, p. 117 : Eastern Sudan. 



/SpeczTnens collected: 



Male adult, Sadi Malka, Ethiopia, December 21, 1911. 

 Female adult, Sadi Malka, Ethiopia, January 28, 1912. 

 One unsexed, Sadi Malka, Ethiopia, January 29, 1912. 

 Male adult, female adult, Hawash River, Ethiopia, February 11, 

 1912. 

 Female adult, Hawash River, Ethiopia, March 3, 1912. 

 Female adult. Lake Abaya, Ethiopia, March 19, 1912. 

 Male adult, Sagon River, Ethiopia, June 4, 1912. 



2»Bull. Brit. Orn. CI., vol. 42, 1922, p. 73 [not 43 as In footnote, Syst. Avium Etliiop., 

 1924, p. 128]. 



■* Hartlaub, Journ. f. Ornith., 18G0, p. 170. 



"»Isia, 1843, p. 727: Hungary. 



-•» Orn. Nordost Afr., vol. 22, 1873, p. 1177. 



