42 Mr. J. H. Gurney on additional Species of Birds 



The question whether the Red-footed Hobby of India belongs 

 to the present species, or to its western congener, Erythropits 

 vespertinus, is one which, in the absence of Indian specimens, I 

 am unable to decide, and to which I would beg the attention of 

 ornithologists resident in that country*. (Cf. Ibis, 1866, p. 119.) 



With regard to the distribution of E. amurensis in South 

 Africa, I may add that Mr. Andersson informs me that he has 

 obtained one example in Damara Land, where, however, E. ves- 

 pertinus is the common species and is, indeed, so numerous that, 

 in a letter dated February 16, 1866, Mr. Andersson writes to 

 me that it " appears during the wet season in incredible num- 

 bers ; they then come, not by thousands, but literally by tens of 

 thousands." 



Of the specific distinction between E. amurensis and E. ves- 

 pertinus I cannot entertain the slightest doubt. The adult male 

 of the former difi'ers from that of the latter in having the under 

 wing-coverts of a pure white, instead of a slaty black, as well 

 as in the slightly darker colouring of its upper parts. The 

 female of E. amurensis differs from the female of the other 

 species in the absence of rufous colouring on the head, neck, 

 and under parts, except the thighs and under tail-coverts, which 

 are rufous in it as in the female of E. vespertinus, and also ex- 

 cepting a very slight rufous tinge on the sides of the neck and 

 throat and on the under wing-coverts, near the carpal joint. 

 The plumage of all the under parts in the female of E. amurensis, 

 excepting that of the throat (which is pure white), the thighs, 

 and the under tail-coverts, is strongly marked with ovate and 

 sagittate spots of dark slaty black on a white ground, which 

 markings assume a transverse form on the under wing-coverts 

 and lower flank- feathers, and produce a general appearance of the 

 under parts considerably resembling the front view of the adult 

 common Hobby [Hypotriorchis subbuteo). 



The characteristic peculiarities of this species will be apparent 

 on reference to the accompanying plate, from a drawing by Mr. 

 Wolf, of an adult male and female from Natal, and of a nestling 



* Since tlie above was written, Mr. G. R. Gray has been good enougb to 

 tell me of a specimen in the British Museum, brought from Nepal, which 

 I agree with him in considering an immature female of £!. anmrensis. 



