On the Species of Pernis inhabiting Japan. 275 



nor goes in flocks ; the native sliikarrie can never kill a lot 

 at one shot^ nor net a large number. The sahib can never 

 get many shots in one day, nor is his prize when gained so 

 valuable to him as the other Ducks, which are so much more 

 numerous and so much better to eat. It does not associate 

 much with other Ducks, but keeps rather to itself, and seldom 

 is seen flying to the feeding-ground before sunset, but stays 

 all day in the pools, where it lives till disturbed. But if a 

 person residing in Purneah, Bhangulpore, or Maldah, chooses 

 to make the bird an object of special pursuit he should have 

 no difficulty in procuring as many as would be necessary. 



XXXII. — On the Species of the Genus Pernis inhabiting 

 Japan. By J. H. Gurney. 



In 'The Ibis ' for 1880, pp. 196, 197, I noticed the discre- 

 pancy in the views of various ornithologists as to whether 

 the species of Pernis which OQCurs, though very rarely, in 

 Japan is P. apivorus or P. ptilorhynchus. 



On the 4th September, 1882, a specimen of a Pernis was 

 obtained by Mr. P. L. Jouy at Chiusenji, about 90 miles 

 north of Yokohama, at an elevation of 4375 feet above the 

 level of the sea. 



This specimen, which was ascertained by the collector to 

 be a male, was added to the United States National Museum, 

 and was recorded by Mr. Ridgway in the ' Proceedings ' of 

 that Institution for 1883, p. 311, under the name of Pernis 

 ptilorhynchus ; it has subsequently been referred to by Mr. 

 Blakiston in his 'Amended List of the Birds of Japan,"* 

 p. 67, as " Pernis apivorus ? " 



Mr. Ridgway, who informs me that he feels '' undecided 

 as to which species it really is,^^ has been so good as to send 

 me a description of this specimen, which I here transcribe : — 



" Above, superficially, nearly uniform dark brown, with a 

 purplish gloss ; the feathers white at the base. Entire side 

 of head, including forehead and malar region, uniform ash- 

 grey. Occipital and nuchal feathers abruptly white at base 



