280 Count T. Salvadori ou Ruticilla nigra. 



We now know that M. badiiis is the only species that does 

 its own sitting and hatching, and that M. rafo-axiUaris is its 

 chief aggressor, and as we also know thatM. rufo-awillaris is 

 parasitical on three other species, those eggs which agree 

 should belong to one and the same species. 



The text-figures (above, p. 278) shew better than any de- 

 scription the differences between the eggs of these two birds, 

 though they can be also separated by the colour, the eggs of 

 M. badins being nearly always greyer than those of M. riifo- 

 (urUlarls. 



The four species on which M. rxifu-axillaris is parasitical 

 are : — Miii/ns modulator, Ayelaus thilius, Pseudoleistes vires- 

 cens, and MoloUirus badius. 



XIII. — Note on the Ruticilla nigra of Giglioli. 

 By T. Salvadori, M.D., H.M.B.O.U. 



In the ' Bulletin ' of the British Ornithologists' Club for 

 1903, xiii. p. 79, there appeared for the first time the 

 description by Prof. Giglioli of a supposed new species of 

 Redstart from Sardinia, under the name Ruticilla nigra. 



Strange to say, the female was described as precisely 

 similar to the male, for it is well known that females of the 

 genus Ruticilla are constantly diflerent from the males. 



The type male specimen had been entrusted to the Hon. 

 Vv'. Rothschild, together with the descri[)tion, to exhibit to 

 a Meeting of the British Ornithologists' Club. Mr. Roth- 

 schild said he was inclined to think that the supposed new 

 species might possibly be based on mehinistic examples, 

 remarking, however, that the alleged similarity of the 

 female was rather against his theory. On the other hand, 

 Dr. Hartert, on the same occasion, said he had not the 

 slightest doubt that the species was nothing but a melanistic 

 variety ; he stated, besides, that he felt sure that the sitp- 

 posed female had been incorrectly sexed. 



Later, in the October number of 'The Ibis^ for the 



