584 jNIr. D. A. Bannermaii on the 



NuMENius PH/EOPUs. Whimbvel. 



a. S- Las Palmas. 12tli June '11. 



Iris dark hazel; bill — upper mandible dark liorn-coloured, 

 lower mandible lighter ; feet dark slate-coloured. 



Total length in the flesh 17'6 inches ; expanse of wings 

 32 inches. 



I have seen these birds occasionally' on the reef in Confital 

 Bay, whence they occasionally wander over the isthmus to 

 the Las Palmas shore. In the south of the island single 

 examples were often noticed on tlie rocky parts of the coast. 

 I observed a pair of these birds on the rocks near the Santa 

 Catalina Castle on tlie 1st of June, 1912. They were very 

 tame and allowed me to approach them within twenty-five 

 yards. 



QEdicnemus (edicnemus. Thick-knee. 



(Edioiemns ORcUcnemus oedicnemus llartert^ Nov. Zool. 

 1901, p. 331 ; Thanner, Orn. Jahrb. xxi. p. 98 (1910). 



CEdicnemus vedicnemas Insularmn Sassi, Orn. Jahrb. 1908, 

 p. 32. 



a. c? . Plateau above Las Palmas. loth March ^11. 



b. ^ . „ „ 12th Feb. '12. 



c. (^ . Plain above the Charco, Maspalomas. 23rd Feb. 

 '12. 



Iris bright clear amber, pupil dark ; bill — basal half 

 yellow, extremity black ; feet dull sulphur-yellow. 



Sassi's description of the Canary Island Thick-knee, which 

 lie calls Oedicnemus <edicnem.us insularum, does not apply to 

 the three examples which I obtained in Gran Canaria. I 

 liave compared my specimens with typical CEdicnemus 

 oedicnemus and with examples from Tenerife, from both of 

 which it differs strikingly in being mucli whiter beneath, and, 

 in consequence, the markings of the breast are more clearly 

 defined. The throat is likewise as white as the belly ; the 

 upper parts are darker and not so reddish sand-coloured ; 

 moreover, the dark shaft-streaks to the feathers of the crown 

 Avhich give to the head such a streaked appearance are 

 heavier. In size the bird from Gran (Janaria is smaller, as 



