30 Mr. H. Seebohm's Contributions 



(7) The form of the tail-feathers is different in the two 

 species, these being much broader and more obtusely rounded 

 at the tips in /. pulchricollis. (8) In /. pectoralis all the 

 greater quills have very distinct and regular rufous spots or 

 bars on their inner webs ; in /. pulchricollis these spots are 

 confined to the first quill ; in the others the inner web is of 

 a nearly uniform light rufous on its basal half, the bars being 

 almost obsolete. (9) /. pulchricollis is altogether the larger 

 bird. 



There is no difference in the colour of the sexes of this 

 species. 



Dr. Emin Bey discovered this interesting bird in one of 

 his excursions east of the Bar-el-Djebel. " All round Babira/' 

 he writes, '^ there is much cultivated ground, interspersed 

 with groups of trees and fine park-like scenery. Here it 

 was that this Wryneck, a pair of which I send, was observed 

 early in the morning searching for ants. The birds are rather 

 clumsy in their movements, awkwardly hopping about. They 

 fly short distances only, the flight being undulatory. The 

 note of the male is a repeated dii-i, which is answered by the 

 female. They keep much on the ground. In rising they 

 utter a sharp zick. Rare." 



IV. — Further Contributions to the Ornithology of Japan. 

 By Henry Seebohm. 



I AM indebted to Capt. Blakiston for an opportunity of ex- 

 amining a case of birds from Japan containing some examples 

 of very great interest. The order in which the species are 

 placed in the subjoined notes upon this collection is that 

 adopted by Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer in their article on 

 the birds of Japan (Ibis, 1878, p. 209). 



Brachyrhampus marmoratus. 



A skin sent (No. 1269), labelled "(^, Hakodadi, May,'' 

 appears to belong to this species. Its short tarsus, much 

 shorter than the middle toe, and blackish plumage, marbled 



