1 91 8.] Recently published Ornitholoyical Works. 163 



Tliere are also a number of other remarks and rectifications 

 of taxonomic interest as well as the field-notes. 



Roberts on South African Birds. 



[Ornithological Notes, By Austin Eoberts, Ann. Transvaal Mus. 

 V. 1917, pp. 24G-2G2. 



Descriptions of a new species and genus of Flycatcher from East 

 Africa and two new subspecies of Guinea-Fowls from South Africa. 

 Id. ibid. vi. 1917, pp. 1-3.] 



The first portion of the first paper quoted is occupied with 

 a somewhat severe criticism of Mr. Claude Grant's action 

 in a recent paper pu])lislied in our pages (Ibis, 1915) on 

 Captain Cosens's East African collection, in vvliich some 

 of Mr. Roberts's proposed new forms are discredited. 

 Mr. Roberts recognizes four Scops Owls in South Africa — 

 one from Cape Colony, one from the Orange Free State and 

 north-sast Cape Colony, one from the Transvaal, and one 

 from Portuguese East Africa. Mr. Grant believes that 

 there is only one form which varies so much individually 

 that no constant character can be found warranting the 

 recognition of separate races. A final decision on this 

 question can only be made, of course, by careful comparison 

 of a large amount of material, and even that examined by 

 Mr. Roberts himself hardly seems sufficient in the case of 

 such a notoriously difficult group as the Scops Owls. Other 

 differences of opinion exist between Mr. Roberts and 

 Mr. Grant in regard to Lophoceros nasutus maraisi and 

 subspecies of Irrisor and Rhlaopomastas recently described 

 by the former writer, Mr. Claude Grant is now on service 

 in East Africa, but later on when he comes back to England 

 he may perhaps be able to defend his position in these 

 matte IS. 



In a second note Mr. Roberts informs us that Vinogo 

 calva and Francolinus hartlaubi have recently been obtained 

 by Lieut. Finch-Davies at Otavi in the north of the South- 

 west African Protectorate. These species, though previously 

 recorded from southern Angola, have not hitherto been 

 noticed within South African limits. 



M 2 



