356 Mr. D. A. Bannerman on an Ornithological 



the year * and undoubtedly breed in the winter months [cf. 

 Polatzek, Orn. Jahrb. 1908, p. 166, form «, which he calls 

 U. e. fuerteventurcB) . These resident birds are reinforced by 

 large numbers from the African mainland in the spring. 

 Polatzek has himself seen migrants arriving on the 

 29th March, but considers them to be a distinct race which, 

 however, he does not name. These migrants I consider 

 were U. e. epojjs, which in my opinion arrive in March and 

 April, while the majority leave the islands in the autumn. 

 A few remain through the winter, and owing to the mild 

 climate on the low-lying eastern islands and on the coast of 

 the mountainous western islands, breed in February and 

 March. 



Hoopoes were met with in every part of Puerteventura 

 and Lanzarote which we visited. They are almost the 

 commonest birds to be seen, alike on the stony plains, in 

 the villages, amougst cactus plantations, in the tamarisk 

 valleys, in the hills, or on the coast. 



In Graciosa, only one bird was seen, as also in AUegranza ; 

 both these were very wild — in this respect unlike those 

 generally met with on the large islands, which showed no 

 sign of fear. 



We did not find any Hoopoes on Montana Clara. 



A nest, which was found on May the 15th at Antigua 

 (Fuerteventura), contained five half-fledged young, between 

 the largest and smallest of which an enormous difference in 

 size existed. We kept them alive for some time and found 

 that they throve well on roasted gofio, and later on butter- 

 flies and caterpillars, which they ate greedily. I regret that 

 they died one by one about a week after their return to 

 Gran Canaria ; they had meanwhile become exceedingly 

 tame. This family is now in the British Museum. 



A series was obtained from Fuerteventura and Lanzarote. 



Bill dark horn ; iris dark hazel; feet greyish brown. 



* Von Thanner considers tliat the majority of winter- breeding birds 

 leave the islands after nesting is finished. Polatzet, on the contrary, 

 thought that this winter-breeding bird was resident, at any rate in the 

 eastern group. 



