494 BULLETIN 15 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



JYNX RUFICOLLIS AEQUATORIALIS Ruppell 



Jyno! acquatorialis Ruppell, Mus. Senck., vol. 3, p. 121, 1842: Southern 

 Ethiopia. 



Specimens collected: 



Two males, two females, Arussi Plateau, Ethiopia, February 24, 

 1912. 



Grant ^^ has reviewed the systematics of this wryneck and the ma- 

 terial examined by me fully corroborates and upholds his conclusions. 

 Sclater ^° differs in considering pulchricollis Hartlaub a distinct 

 species. This, of course, is a matter of opinion rather than one of 

 fact, but if we accept tlior'beckei as a race of mficolUs (as Sclater 

 does) then it follows that the same treatment must be accorded to 

 pulchricollis. Therefore I follow Grant in recognizing five races of 

 the red-breasted wryneck, as follows : 



1. /. 7\ ruflcolUs. — From South Africa to the mouth of the Congo 

 on tlie west and the Transvaal-Mozambique frontier on the east. 

 Sclater *^ writes that most of the evidence points to the fact that this 

 oird is migratoiy, " * * * spending the winter from May to 

 October in South Africa, and the other part of the year in central 

 Africa, though Mr. Millar is rather of opinion that it is found near 

 Durban all the year round." To this I may add that in central Natal 

 (Karkloof district) the species is definitely known to nest, and I have 

 collected a 3'oung bird in a very advanced stage of the postnatal molt 

 at Claridge, Natal, on October 29. In that region, however, it is a 

 migrant according to several competent local observers (i. e., it is a 

 " summer resident," leaving in midsummer as it begins nesting in 

 late winter — August). Grant ^^ writes that the British Museum pos- 

 sesses specimens taken in April, May, June, August, November, and 

 December, " * * * which does not altogether point to this race 

 only wintering in South Africa." 



2. /. r. cosensi. — Southern Kenya Colony from Simba to the 

 Elgeyu escarpment and Mount Elgon. Similar to the nominate 

 form, but larger, wings 94 to 101 millimeters as against 90 to 95 

 millimeters. 



3. /. r. aeqnatorialis. — Southern Ethiopia. Similar in size to 

 ruficollis but differs in having the reddish pectoral area much more 

 extensive caudally, the color continuing down the sides and flanks 

 to the under tail coverts. 



4. /. r. pulcliricullis. — Upper Nile east of the Bahr el Jebel. 

 Differs from all the above in having the red restricted to the breast, 



s»Ibis, 1915, pp. 471-473. 



"Syst. Avium Ethiop., 1924, p. 304. 



"■ Birds S. Afr., vol. 3, 1903, p. 143. 



