On the Birds of Estancia Sta. Elena. 213 



MeRULA ALBICEPS. 



Fresh examples shot in the middle of November are much 

 handsomer birds than those obtained by Swinhoe in the 

 middle of March, and appear to be more mature. Instead of 

 the upper parts below the neck being dark brown they are 

 jet-black, and the black meets across the upper breast below 

 the white throat. In the fully adult female the rump, upper 

 tail-coverts, and tail are dark slate-grey. 



Pitta nympha. 



Mr. Hoist obtained a female with half-developed eggs in 

 the ovary on the 10th of May. Swinhoe obtained the type 

 of Pitta oreas on the 16th of May. Mr. Hoist remarks that 

 it is found sparingly on the smaller mountains of South-west 

 Formosa. Swinhoe obtained it from the mountains both of 

 North and South Formosa. Mr. Hoist remarks that upon 

 dissecting it he found that it had been feeding upon beetles 

 and small shells. Bill dark grey, paler towards the tip. 

 Legs and feet greyish white. Irides dark brown, pupil blue. 

 Pitta bertcB, from Northern Borneo, appears to me to be the 

 same species. 



Bill dark grey, paler at the tip ; legs and feet greyish white, 

 slightly brownish; orbital ring black; irides dark brown. 



ScOPS HAMBROECKI. 



This is a very interesting example, inasmuch as the type 

 procured by Swinhoe in North Formosa nearly thirty years 

 ago has hitherto been the only example known, and, being 

 in the Norwich Museum, is not conveniently situated for 

 students in London. It is a small bird (wing 5*6 inches 

 long), with a very conspicuous narrow white collar round the 

 hind neck. 



XVII. — Field-Notes on the Birds of the Estancia Sta. Elena, 

 Argentine Republic^. By A. H. Holland. With Remarks 



by P. L. SCLATER. 



[Mr. Holland sends us the following field-notes, chiefly 

 relating to species recently noticed at his estancia in the 



* For previous paper see 'The Ibis," 1893, p. 483. 



