542 • Mr. D, A, Bannermau on the [Ibis, 



There are two E-edbreasts : Erithacus ruhecula superbus in 

 Gran Canaria and Tenerife, E. r. microrhynchus in Palma, 

 Gomera, and Hierro. 



Two Short-toed Larks : Calandrella minor rufescens con- 

 fined to Tenerife, C. m. polatzeki found in Gran Canaria in 

 the western group but also living in Fuerteventura and 

 Lanzarote in the eastern group; though according to some 

 authorities the Gran Canariau Lark is intermediate between 

 the two forms and has been named by Sassi C. m. distinda. 



In the eastern group we find a similar case in the 

 two Chats, Suxicola dacotics dacotia confined to Fuerte- 

 ventura, *S. d. murielce occurring only on AUegranza and 

 Montana Clara, two of the outer islets. 



Several birds are found in one island only without rejjre- 

 sentative races. The Sand-Grouse [Pterocles orientalis) 

 is confined to Fuerteventura; the Chough {Pyrrhocorax 

 pyrrhocorax) to Pal ma. 



These are not by any means the only cases of curious 

 distribution whicii we might instance ; the apparent absence 

 of the Egyptian Vulture, Kite^ and Partridge from Palma 

 are all difficult of explanation, but there must be a reason 

 for the anomaly if only we could find it. These birds 

 all swarm in the adjoining islands. F'ood may account for 

 the absence of the Partridge, but not for the other birds 

 named. 



Even more remarkable is the apparent absence of any 

 Woodpecker from the pine forests of Palma, Gomera, 

 and Hierro, although the genus is represented by distinct 

 subspecies of the Great Spotted Woodpecker in both 

 Tenerife and Gran Canaria. From the pines of Tenerife 

 we practically gaze down upon the island of Gomera ! but 

 the Woodpeckers have never spread beyond their own 

 domain. 



Undoubtedly the distribution of many Canariau land forms 

 depends to a very large extent on the physical characteristics 

 of each island. We should naturalh^ not expect to find 

 Chaffiu.che"i in the desert eastern islands wliere trees are 



