94



Dr. A. G. Butler,



The birds were reported as ‘ good eating,’ that was the

final judgment that ‘ overcame ’ and completed the doom of the

birds. Each year, from the middle to the end of March, a

number of Swans are washed over the Falls. In 1906, sixteen ;

1907, six ; and in this tragedy, 1908, one hundred and fifty-two.



THE SOFT PARTS OF THE BLUE-NAPED COLY.


By Dr. A. G. Butler.


Of the various species of Colies or Mouse-birds the follow¬

ing have hitherto been imported as cage birds: C. slriatus, C.

7 iigricollis, C. leucotis , C. castanonotus , C. colius , C. erythromelon ,

and C. macrurus.


When reading up the different published accounts respect¬

ing the wild life of the last-mentioned :— C. macrurus, I was

struck by the many dissimilar descriptions of the colouring of

the soft parts; and it has made me wonder whether, as in the

case of the little Passerine Dove, these differences may not have

local significance and indicate the first steps towards the sub¬

division of this species or, in other words, represent what are

now regarded as subspecies.


I think it would be interesting, if one could secure a good

series of specimens from different parts of its range, to see

whether there was not some other local difference either in the

shades of the plumage, the size of the blue spots on the nape, or

the various measurements, which would support this view.


Aviculturists at home are not in a position to settle this

point; for I believe the Blue-naped Coly has hitherto only reached

the Zoological Gardens of Amsterdam and Copenhagen (unless

Mr. A. L. Butler has sent home living examples recently), but

curators in Museums might, with a little trouble, secure good

series from the various collectors in Northern and Western Africa

and so settle an interesting question.


The description of the soft parts of C. macrurus in the British

Museum “ Catalogue of Birds ” is that given by Von Heuglin,

who appears to have secured his specimens at Khartoum; it

runs: “Feet rosy crimson, the soles bluish yellow; iris and

orbital ring crimson.”



