412 Mr. S. A. Buturlin on Birds 



as Turgai birds), but the chestnut spots of the feathering of 

 the upper side are almost lacking, just as in P. arenicola. 

 Further, P. canescens differs from both the above-named 

 forms in the much greyer (not so dirty-brownish) colouring 

 of the upper parts, and especially of the lower back, rump, 

 and upper tail-coverts, and in the light shaft-stripes on the 

 nape and shoulders being whiter and broader. Of course 

 this form is only a geographical subspecies of the Common 

 Partridge. The bird is sedentary in Transcaucasia, nesting 

 up to an altitude of 6000 feet. The wings of my specimens 

 are 154-162 mm. long. 



57. Cypselus opus L. 



The Kutais specimen is not paler than my Ssimbirsk birds, 

 but the light spot on the throat is whiter and larger ; I 

 cannot, however, say whether this difference is local or 

 purely individual. 



60. Gecinus viridis saundersi Taczan. 



As regards the female from Kutais, I can see no difference 

 in colour from Livonian and Ssimbirsk birds, but it is 

 smaller, with a slenderer bill (as are all recorded Caucasian 

 specimens). 



Dimensions in millim. for several females are : — 



G. viridis. G. saundersi. 



Wing 170-173 from Middle Russia. 160 from Kutais. 



Tail 98-100 „ 94 



Oilmen 43-44 „ 40-5 „ 



Depth of bill at the 



gonys 8-8-2 „ 7-8 „ 



61. Dendrocopus major tenuirostris, n. subsp. 



1 have compared three specimens * from Transcaucasia 

 (Kutais, " N. 82," ? , and another without a number, 31 Jan. 

 1904; Akhalzikh, " N. 250," $, 11 Dec, 1904) with a score 

 of Ssimbirsk specimens and several others from Esthonia, 

 Livonia, Germany, and Rumania. The colouring of my birds 

 shews no approach to D. poelzami Bogd. : the under parts are 

 somewhat paler than in German specimens (as was long ago 



* Two more specimens have since been received. 



