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Annals of the Transvaal Museum 
in addition to these differences, the typical Pterocles, which would include 
our P. gutturalis, is very much larger (wing length well over 200 mm.), 
P. hicinctus is intermediate in size (wing about 175 to 185 mm.) and Ptero- 
clurus smallest (wing about 165 mm.), or of about the same size as the very 
distinct Calopterocles variegatus. In colour characters the three are equally 
distinct, and all in all I see no reason why Pterocles hicinctus Temminck 
should not have equal status with Pterocles and Pteroclurus as a distinct 
genus, for which I give the name of Nyctiperdix, making that species 
the genotype, characterised as stated above. 
On the eve of sending this review for publication, a number of the 
Bulletin of the British Ornithological Club has come to hand (Vol. xlii. 
No. CCLXVI.) in which Sclater has made several important amendments in 
the classification of the Pteroclidae. He finds that Pteroclurus is a synonym 
of Pterocles, and places Pterocles of authors in a new genus, Eremialector , 
type Tetrao orientalis L. My conclusions arrived at above therefore remain 
in substance. He has also pointed out, at the instance of Mr T. Iredale, 
that Tetrao variegatus Burchell is preoccupied and this species is therefore 
re-named Pterocles {Er emia lector) hurchelli, which is therefore the genotype 
of Calopterocles I have named above. 
Treronidae 
Vinago calva Temm. has been collected by Lieut. C. G. Finch-Davies 
at Otavifontein, and W. L. Sclater has recorded V. wakefieldi from the 
lower Zambesi valley {Ibis, 1912, p. 28). These species represent the typical 
Vinago, characterised by having the hard apex much shorter than the 
soft base of the bill, as distinguished from Phalacrotreron Bp., type P.. 
delalandei, in which the hard apex is about equal to the soft base. Having 
regard to the way in which pigeons have been classified in the past, it seems 
advisable to recognise this generic name, especially having regard to mem- 
bers of the two genera often occurring in the same localities from the east 
to the west of Africa. In the Transvaal Museum collection there are speci- 
mens agreeing very well with Reichenow’s description of Vinago = Phala- 
crotreron schalowi damarensis, and this subspecies should therefore receive 
a place in our list. On the east a smaller, brighter yellow, form of Phala- 
crotreron delalandei has been named orientalis by Gunning and myself {Ann. 
Transvaal Mus. iii. 112, 1911) and there are therefore two species, on the 
east and west respectively (each again with two subspecies) of Phalacro- 
treron and two species, also on the east and west, of Vinago, occurring within 
our limits. 
COLUMBIDAE 
Neither of our two pigeons should be retained in the genus Columha. 
Blanford {Fauna of British India, iv. 32, 1898) places '‘Columha” arqua- 
trix Temm. in the genus Dendrotreron, genotype D. hodgsoni] but having 
regard to the difference in the colour of the “soft parts” and the nesting 
habits of the two species, it seems advisable to retain our species in the 
genus Stictoenas Reichenbach, of which it is the genotype. “Columha” 
phaeonota G. R. Gray, differs in having the lores as well as the ocular area 
unfeathered, the tarsus quite nude, shorter claws and the feathers of the 
neck bifurcate, and there is no reason why it should not be placed in the 
genus Dialiptila Salvad., genotype D. guinea. 
