On Birds from the West Indies. 555 



XLII. — On a Collection of Birds made during the Cruise of 

 the ' Valhalla; R.Y.S., in the West Indies (1903-4). By 

 M. J. Nicoll, M.B.O.U. 



(Plate XL) 



Last autumn the Earl of Crawford kindly invited me to 

 accompany him again as Naturalist during his winter-cruise ; 

 and on December 18th, 1903,, we sailed from Cowes for 

 Madeira, en route for the West Indies. The only birds seen 

 in the " Bay " were Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla). It is 

 curious that out of the numbers of these Gulls observed 

 a very small percentage only were in immature plumage. 

 Last year (1902), in November, I saw numbers of Great 

 Shearwaters {Puffinus gravis) about the Bay j but this year 

 there were none at all. On December 24th we anchored at 

 Funchal, Madeira. We obtained permission from the 

 Governor to collect birds, and the next day we went up into 

 the high fir-woods. I obtained specimens of the following 

 species, all of which I shot at an altitude of above 2000 feet : — 



Sylvia conspicillata. 

 Erithacus rubecula. 

 Resulus maderensis. 



Motacilla melanope. 

 Anthus bertkeloti. 

 Frintnlla maderensis. 



The Madeiran Robin resembles our bird in plumage, 

 habits, and song. I cannot see the slightest character by 

 which it could be separated, even as a subspecies, from our 

 English Bobin. I shot one example by the roadside, close 

 to the Belmonte Hotel. I saw others at an altitude of 

 4000 feet and close to Funchal. 



At an altitude of 4000 feet I found Anthus bertkeloti 

 abundant in a clearing. In spite of what has been stated 

 to the contrary, I saw several soaring and singing, like our 

 Meadow- and Tree-Pipits. 



Examples of Berthelot's Pipit from Madeira and Tenerife 

 are browner than those from Gran Canaria. 



The native Chaffinch is common in the island, especially 

 at an altitude of 2000 feet, near the Hotel. I also saw one in 

 Funchal. I was much struck with its note, which, instead 



