BANGS : BIRDS FROM THE LIU KIU ISLANDS. 261 



Demiegretta ringeri Stejn. 



One fine adult female, taken in Ishigaki, March 25. This skin agrees with 

 Stejneger's description, and the northern reef heron is a valid form, differing, 

 as pointed out by Stejneger, from the southern reef heron in its gray head and 

 occipital crest. It is, however, not recognized by Sharpe in the Catalogue of 

 Birds in the British Museum. 



Nannocnus eurythmus (Swinh.). 



Two adults from Ishigaki, $ taken March 25, 9 June 10. [Nests built in 

 reeds about two feet from the ground, containing six eggs each, were found 

 from May 19 to July 3.] 



Pyrrherodias manillensis (Meten). 



Six specimens, all from Ishigaki, adult $ June 20, adult 9 ^*y 20, and four 

 nestlings June 1. [Eggs were taken from April 22 to May 19. The nests 

 were placed on oak and other trees, at from 20 to 30 feet from the ground, and 

 usually contained four eggs each.] 



This heron was first recorded from the Yayeyama Islands by Stejneger in 

 1891, who doubtfully referred i it to Ardea purpurea Linn., but pointed out 

 differences from that species. At that time the relationship of the two mem- 

 bers of this genus, purpurea and manillensis, was not understood. The Ishigaki 

 specimens appear to be typical P. manillerisis, though I have had but few 

 skins for comparison. 



Turnix taigoor (Sykes). 



Four specimens from Ishigaki, adult S taken April 25 (wing 77), adult 9 

 April 25 (wing 84), and two chicks taken April 12. [Eggs, four in a clutch, 

 were taken from March 17 to July 3.] This is the Turnix hlakistoni (Swinh.) 

 of Stejneger (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1886, Vol. IX, p. 635). Dr. Stejneger 

 now agrees with me in the identity of these two forms. 



Sphenocercus medioximus,- sp. nov. 



Type. — Mus. Comp. Zoo!., No. 37,349. 



Two adults from Ishigaki, $ taken March 9, 9 March 7. Specimens were 

 secured on this island from February 2 to June 5. [Nests containing two eggs 

 each were found on trees at from six to ten feet from the ground, between 

 April 25 and June 2.] 



1 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., 1891, Vol. XIV. p. 493. 

 * Medioximus, middlemost, holding a middle place. 



