674 CAPT. G. E. SHELLEY ON BIRDS [Nov. 18, 



it will be seen that we absolutely know nothing of the avifauna of 

 the Great Comoro." 



It is most interesting, therefore, to have received a collection from 

 Grand Comoro, and once more to couple Dr. Kirk's name with the 

 ornithology of this group of islands, which he was one of the first 

 to explore scientifically, an account of his former investigations 

 having been published by Dr. Sclater (Ibis, 1864, p. 292). 



In order to render this short communication as serviceable as 

 possible, I have followed Mr. E. Newton's arrangement (P. Z. S. 

 1877, p. 295), and prefixed a dagger (t) to those species which are 

 here recorded for the first time from a new locality, and a star (*) 

 to the species new to this group of islands. 



*1. Circus macroscelis, E. Newton. 



Circus macroscelis, Sharpe, P. Z. S. 1875, p. 71. 



Circus macroscelus, Hartl. Yog. Madag. p. 38 (1877). 



ICircus maillardi, E. Newton, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 302. 



A single specimen from Grand Comoro agrees perfectly with the 

 description of the type of C. macroscelis, as given by Mr. R. B. 

 Sharpe (/. c), in the measurements of the tarsus and in the number 

 of bands on the tail. The specimen unfortunately not having been 

 sexed, I am unable to say for certain whether this is the female of 

 C. maillardi or not ; but I incline to Mr. Sharpe's opinion that it is 

 only the hen of that bird. 



t2. Asttjr pusilltjs (Gurney). 



Scelospizias pusillus, Hartl. Vog. Madag. p. 31. 

 Accipiter pusillus, E. Newton, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 296. 

 Two immature specimens, Grand Comoro. 

 Adult male and female and an immature bird, Anjuan. 

 d ad. Total length 9' 7 inches, wing 5 - 6, tail 4*8, tarsus 1*95. 

 $ ad. „ 11-5 „ 64, „ 5-3, „ 2-05. 



t3. Milvus jegyptius (Gm.). 



Milvus regyptius, Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 320 (1874) ; Hartl. Vog. 

 Madag. p. 27 ; E. Newton, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 296. 

 One adult specimen, Grand Comoro. 



t4. Strix flam me a, Linn. 



Strix flammea, Sharpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 291 (1875) ; Hartl. Vog. 

 Madag. p. 52. 



Aluco flammea, E. Newton, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 296. 



One specimen, Grand Comoro. 



t5. Coracopsis comorensis, Peters. 



Coracopsis comorensis, Hartl. Vog. Madag. p. 230 ; E. Newton, 

 P.Z. S. 1877, p. 296. 



Four specimens, Grand Comoro, and seven from Anjuan. 



