182 



4 



in having the frontal feathers tipped more broadly with black than any we have yet seen; only one little 

 spot appears on a single feather in the Koomaylee bird. Moreover the inner web of the outer rectrix is 

 white at the base in the female from Rairo, this colour being more extended here than we have hitherto 

 noticed. Total length 9"5-10o inches, culmen F8-2-2, wing 5 - 5-5 - 7, tail 3 - 9-4 - 4, tarsus - 8. As the 

 Common Hoopoe of Europe winters in N.-E. Africa, there is a little difficulty in distinguishing the migrants 

 from the resident birds. Those we have been measuring, doubtless from their dates, belong to the latter class; 

 and we have therefore no hesitation in saying that the Hoopoe which breeds in this locality is the same as the 

 European bird. 



W. Africa. The Hoopoe is found in Senegambia, but does not seem to extend further to the south, 

 though Governor Ussher tells us that one came on board ship while he was sailing between the Gambia and 

 Sierra Leone, which was doubtless U. epops : in Fantee he has not yet met with it. Sharpe's private collec- 

 tion of African birds contains an example from the river Gambia, which agrees with European birds very well, 

 but has not the white spot on the first primary. We suspect that the Common Hoopoe finds its way to 

 Senegambia in the winter. Total length 10 inches, culmen 23, wing 5 - 4, tail 4T, tarsus 0'8. Drs. Finsch 

 and Hartlaub mention a bird from Gaboon as exhibiting some differences. These ornithologists state that it 

 is like U. epops, but the mantle is rusty cinnabar, like the rest of the head and neck, without any brownish 

 shade, the crest being paler just before the black tip of the feather, but not white ; the first secondary is plain 

 white up to the apical third, the others white on the basal half of both webs, black at the end with two white 

 cross bars. From this description the Hoopoe of Gaboon would certainly seem to be quite a distinct species, 

 intermediate between U. epops and U. decorata ; but as the white markings on the wings in the genus JJpupa 

 vary extremely, it will be well to wait the arrival of a good series of specimens before describing it as 

 distinct. 



In South-Western and Southern Africa another species occurs, viz. U. decorata of Hartlaub, discovered by 

 Mr. J. J. Monteiro in the former country. We are by no means certain that this species is-distinct, the differences 

 being given by Drs. Finsch and Hartlaub as follows, viz. : — Like U. africana, but having the secondaries not plain 

 white to the apical third, but with two black cross bars, which are smaller than the white spaces between, the 

 black apical portion with a divided narrow white bar on the middle of the shaft ; the underparts from the 

 breast whitish, with pale blackish longitudinal stripes on the sides of the belly. By the kindness of Mr. 

 Monteiro we have been enabled to examine the type specimen, and we can certify to the correct enunciation of 

 the characters of the species as above detailed. 



South-western and Southern Africa. By South-western Africa we mean Benguela and Damaraland ; and 

 here we have U. decorata, and also U. africana (minor auct.) . The last-named bird would appear to be very 

 distinct from the northern species, as it is always distinguishable by its smaller size, deep rufous colouring, and 

 especially by the absence of the white bar on the wing. These characters separate it from all the Hoopoes, 

 excepting U. decorata ; and we shrewdly suspect that the last-named species is only the female of U. minor. In 

 Sharpe's collection are specimens of both birds from Damaraland and Eland's Post, S. Africa, the latter collected 

 by Mr. T. Atmore, and labelled by him male and female, U. minor being the male, and U. decorata the female. 



South-eastern Africa. A specimen in Canon Tristram's collection, obtained by Mr. Ayres in Natal, 

 would seem at first sight to constitute an entirely distinct species from U. africana, possessing like this bird 

 no white bar on the wing ; it nevertheless differs in the following characters, viz. in having the sides of the 

 face and mantle greyish, and in having the breast and under wing-coverts dull vinous colour. The secondaries 

 are externally barred with black and white as in U. decorata. Having a very good series of South-African 

 Hoopoes now before us, however, we find these same differences, only developed in a slightly less degree, in the 

 specimens from Eland's post and Otjimbinque, in Damaraland, which, in the preceding paragraph, we referred 

 to U. decorata ; and we suspect that, different as all these birds appear at first sight, they will be ultimately 

 found to belong to only one species. 



Madagascar. We have not seen a specimen from this island; but it is recognized as distinct by all 



