60 Messrs. P. L. Sclater and E. C. Taylor's 



Two specimens of this form are in Mr. GoulcVs collection, 

 no others being known to exist. The characters these ex- 

 amples present are not sntficiently satisfactory to entitle 

 them to an independent specific rank withont giving rise 

 to great doubts regarding the propriety of snch au acknow- 

 ledgment. Mr. Gonld^ iti his woi'k, compares them with 

 L. ca'Uyena; but their affinity is doubtless with L. w'dsoni, 

 of which species they are pi'obably a dark variety. As we 

 become better acquainted with the Trochilidaj^ we find that 

 no family of birds presents a larger number of individuals 

 that vary more or less^ in the colour of their plumage, from 

 the typical style of the species to which they belong; and 

 whenever one of these is encountered, greater service is ren- 

 dered to the science of ornithology by waiting for further in- 

 formation regarding it, than by describing it as distinct. 

 Had such a policy been followed, one of the most fruitful 

 sources from which have come so many useless sjaionyms 

 would have been dried up long ago, and Trochilidists would 

 have been spared much unnecessary labour. In the mean- 

 while, until Ave have further evidence that will substantiate 

 its claims to a distinctive rank, L. purpurea cannot but hold 

 a very doubtful position among the species of this group. 



VIII. — Ornithological Notes from Constantinople. 

 By P. L. Sclater and E. C. Taylor. 



During a few days spent in Constantinople in the months of 

 September and October last, with our attention principally 

 directed to other objects, we could not hope to be able to do 

 much for our favourite science. We are nevertheless disposed 

 to think that some of the notes made during our recent visit 

 to that great eastern city may be of some little interest to our 

 brother ornithologists. 



First, as regards birds observed by ourselves on '' field and 

 flood ^' we may say a few words. Coming down the Danube 

 we had occasion to remark that the Crane {Grus cinei'ea) is, 

 as yet, by no means extinct in Eastern Euro])C, as we saw 



