280 APPENDIX I 



Porphyrio (Porphyrio, sp. ?) Three, supposed to be P. caruleus, 

 received on approval from Jamrach. Said by him to have been pro- 

 cured from Sicily, through a dealer at Marseilles. 



I cannot believe that these birds belong to that species, on account 

 of their small size and the very dark plumage of their backs, and I 

 was inclined to look upon them as the Australian black-backed 

 porphyrio (P. melanotus), but on the following day Jamrach sent 

 down one of the latter species for comparison. This bird is con- 

 siderably larger than the three others, and the shape of frontal shield 

 differs much from theirs, so that at present I am much puzzled about 

 species of latter. 



April 22nd. Chilian pintail (Dafila spinicauda) sits on eggs in 

 sunk fence of pinetum. This nest is almost in the same spot as last 

 year, and the bird on the nest was almost entirely hidden in a mass 

 of dead leaves, with only her head and small portion of neck exposed,, 

 and very difficult to see. 



April zyd. Australian native companion (Grus australasiand), 

 one of four in pinetum, has lately developed the unamiable habit 

 of driving away all the other cranes from their feeding boxes, though 

 not apparently hungry himself. 



April 2^th. Senegal pies (Cryptorhina afro). One of two of this 

 species received last year, with brilliant coral red beak, has changed 

 the colour of that instrument to black, like that of its male, or 

 companion. 



April 2$th. Lesser kestrels (Falco cenchris). Four, apparently 

 adults, received from Jamrach. 



Chinese laughing thrush (Leucodioptron canoruni) received on 

 approval from, and returned to, Jamrach. 



April 2%th. Hooded crane (Grus monachus), in pinetum, broke 

 a leg. 



April 2gth. Sardinian starling $ (Sturnus unicolor) has paired 

 with the only common starling in the same compartment of aviary, 

 and sits alternately with her on eggs in a box. 



May ist. For the first time heard the call note of double- 



