138 
than in an European Hoopoe, and as this darker shade is produced by 
an increase of the melanine pigment, a different colour is produced, 
because in the same degree as the darkness of the plumage is increased 
the red tinge disappears more and more. On the inter scapulium of this 
race the reddish shade (which is found more or less pronounced in a 
common Hoopoe) is completely obscured and these part have assumed 
a neutral rather dark greyish brovvn hue, which gradually shades into the 
rufescent brown of the upper neck which, however, also is more darkened 
by melanistic pigment than the neck of the common Hoopoe. The colour 
of the head is about the same as in the typical race (perhaps a little 
more rieh), but on the fore-neck and breast there is again an increase of 
dark pigment which, although it does not obscure the vinous rufous, 
makes these parts somewhat darker than in the majority af typical 
specimens. This colour ceases rather abruptly on a level with the anterior 
margin of the outer white band across the greater coverts of the folded 
wing and gives place to the white of the abdomen, which has the usual 
dark stripes. The light colour of the abdomen is practically pure white, 
not pale buff or buffish white as in the European Hoopoe, in which also 
the light abdominal colouration does not extend so far forward and 
gradually shades into the vinous rufous of the breast. The axillaries have not 
the pure pale vinous rufous shade as in the typical race but are mo re dusky. 
The representatives of this race are thus easily recogninized as well 
when seen from above as from beneath. With regard to the size there 
does not appear to be any difference worth speaking of between this 
Eastern Hoopoe and European specimens. The length of the wing is 
in two specimens 151 mm, and in the third (n : o 100) 141 mm. The 
length of culmen is in n : o 99 fully 60 mm, in the two others 51 mm. 
Leider bin ich augenblicklich nicht in der Lage, weitere Einzelheiten 
zu bringen. Ich werde aber Gelegenheit finden, an dieser Stelle weitere 
Beobachtungen mitzuteilen. 
Additional remark: Since the above already was printed I have had the opportunity 
of procuring a skin of a Hoopoe from Japan. This specimen which was shot at Hiuga, 
Kiushiu 7. IV. 1905, is certainly not a representative of Upupa epops saturaia as it is much 
paler than the latter race. The Japanese specimen is even paler and less vinous below 
than European specimens and resembles in this respect a specimen from Tian Shan. The 
interscapulium is more dusky, that is, its colouration shades more into grey than in European 
specimens, although it is by far not so dark as in U. epops saturata. According to a 
communication from Mr. Owston it is quite uncertain whether the Hoopoe ever breeds in 
Japan. (In Ugawa ’s “Handlist of the Birds of Japan”, Annot. Zool. Japon. Vol. VI Part. V 
Tokyo 1908 “ Upupa epops Linn.” is recorded for „Hokkaido, Ise, Kiu-shiu, Nagoya”.) It 
is well known that these birds often stray away far from their regulär haunt9. It has 
repeatedly happened that straying Hoopoes have been shot in the northern parts of Sweden 
and even on Spitzbergen. It is thus possible or probable that Hoopoes now and then may 
cross over to Japan from the opposite continent, and these straying individuals may than 
have originated sometimes from another. In such a may it may be explained why Japanese 
specimens of Hoopoe in the Tring museum are as dark as the Mongolean race, but the one 
mentioned above is not. 
