282 Mr. C. II. B. Grant on a Collection of 



In naming tlie four specimens in tliis collection belonging 

 to the genus Irrisor I have taken the opportunity of laying 

 out the fine series in the National collection, and in the 

 follow ing revision I give the results of a very careful examin- 

 ation of all the names and all the species and subspecies. 



Several ornithologists have from time to time revised the 

 group according to the material before them, notably 

 Mr. Ogilvie-Grant in the Bull. B. O. C. vol. xii. 1901, p. 36, 

 in the ' Ibis' for 1902, p. 432 and 1905, p. 209, and Prof. Neu- 

 mann in the Journ. fiir Orn. 1905, p. 194 ; but the principal 

 facts have been overlooked, that is, that the name " viridis " 

 is synonymous with " erythror'ynchos '^ and that " sene- 

 ffalensis'^ is based on the immature plumage of a red-billed 

 form. 



This group, like many others that show constant variation 

 "within certain geographical areas, compels the worker to do 

 one of two things, either to lump most of the forms under 

 one name, which course is obviously incorrect, or to recognise 

 these constant variations and admit several geographical 

 forms. 



In working this group I have tried to limit the number 

 of these forms, but they work out easily into three 

 subgroups, i. e. : 



1. Bill red, wings and tail spotted. 



2. Bill red, wings and tail not spotted. 



3. Bill black, wings and tail spotted. 

 Counting the species and subspecies, no less than twelve 

 forms are recognisable, eleven of which are quite well 

 defined. 



It is with the young and immature specimens that 

 difficulty is experienced, but even these, when the eye has 

 grasped the differences between the adults, can be picked out 

 and put into their proper place. 



The groups and forms I recognise ai-e as follows : — 



(1) Bill red in adults, wings and tail spotted. 

 Irrisor erythrorhynchus erythrorhynchus. 

 Upupa eryihrorynchos Lath. Ind. Orn. i. 1790, p. 280 : 

 Africa. 



