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Show 716 MR. SHARPE ON BIRDS FROM THE RIVER CONGO. [Nov. 4, 45. CHALCOPELIA AFRA (L.); Finsch u. Hartl. Vog. Ostafr. p. 554. Mr. Wakefield sends one specimen of this Dove, previously procured at Mombas by Von der Decken. 46. (ENA CAPENSIS (L.); Finsch u. Hartl. Vog. Ostafr. p. 557. Of universal occurrence along the entire east coast of Africa. 8. On a Collection of Birds from the River Congo. By R. B O W D L E R S H A R P E , F.L.S., F.Z.S., & c , Senior Assistant, Zoological Department, British Museum. [Received September 9, 1873.] Captain Sperling, who procured the new Goatsucker described by me (anted,, p. 626), presented me at the same time with a small collection of carbolized birds, which I have had made into skins and added to the Museum. We know so little of the ornithology of the Congo district that it seems desirable to place this collection on record in the interests of geographical science. The only information that I am aware of on the ornithology of the river Congo is that given in the appendix to Tuckey's ' Voyage'* ; and as at that time the describer had not the advantage of Dr. Hartlaub's excellent ' Ornithologie Westafrika's,' it cannot be wondered at that the birds are not very satisfactorily determined ; nor do all the specimens now exist (if, indeed, they ever did) in the Museum galleries. The nomenclature adopted is that of my ' Catalogue,' unless otherwise stated. MACRODIPTERYX SPERLINGI, Sharpe, antea, p. 626. CAPRIMULGUS RUFIGENIS, Sm. ; Sharpe, Cat. p. 1. One specimen, apparently belonging to this species. MEROPS PUSILLUS (Miill.) ; Sharpe, Cat. p. 4. " Shot at Kabinda in August."-R. M. S. EURYSTOMUS AFER (Lath.) ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1871, p. 274. One specimen. Known from Gaboon and from Angola; so that its occurrence on the Congo is not surprising. HALCYON CHELICUTENSIS (Stanl.) ; Sharpe, Cat. p. 8. Two specimens. HALCYON SENEGALENSIS (L.) ; Sharpe, Cat. p. 8. " Kabinda, August."-R. M. S. DENDROPICUS CARDINALIS (Gm.); Sharpe, Cat. p. 18. A pair of birds, male and female. * Tuckey, Capt. J. K. 'Narrative of an Expedition to Explore the River Zaire, usually called the Congo, in South Africa in 1816' (4to, 1818). |