Collection of Birds from Lankoran. 429 



These intermediate forms have been called A. pallasii. 

 There can be little doubt that the three forms are merely 

 local races of one species. 



ARDEA COMATA. 



Nine Squacco Herons add a species to the list of Persian 

 birds enumerated by Blanford, and confirm the statements of 

 Pallas that this species is found on the Caspian. There can 

 be little doubt that this was the species seen by Filippi in 

 countless numbers, and not the Buff-backed Heron, as he 

 supposed. So far as I can ascertain, the latter bird (A. bubal- 

 cm) is only a very rare and accidental straggler beyond Africa, 

 Spain, and Palestine. 



PORPHYRIO POLIOCEPHALUS. 



Ten examples of the Indian Purple Gallinule, with green 

 wings and blue-green throat and breast, contrasting with the 

 purple of the rest of the plumage, are very interesting. It 

 seems probable that P. c&ruleus is confined to South Europe 

 and North Africa west of the Adriatic, being replaced in 

 North-east Africa by P. smaragdonotus, with purple wings 

 and a green back, and in Asia by P '. poliocephalus , but being 

 unrepresented in East Europe*. 



CHARADRIUS ASIATICUS. 



Two examples confirm the correctness of the locality given 

 by Pallas for the Caspian Plover. 



TOTANUS FUSCUS. 



An example of the Spotted Redshank confirms the state- 

 ment of Pallas that this species winters on the southern 

 shores of the Caspian. 



CYGNUS OLOR. 



One example of the Mute Swan adds a species to the list 

 of Persian birds. 



ERISMATURA LEUCOCEPHALA. 



Thirty-six examples of the White-headed Duck entitles 

 this species to be added to the Persian list. 



* See remarks on this subject by Mr. Sclater, 'Ibis/ 1879, p. 196. 

 SER. V. VOL. II. 2 I 



