Alfred Russel Wallace : Alfred Wallace : A. R. Wallace :
Russel Wallace : Alfred Russell Wallace (sic)
Corrections of, and Additions to, the Catalogue
of the Raptorial Birds of the Malay Archipelago*
(S142: 1868)
Editor Charles H. Smith's Note: A systematics note printed in the April 1868 issue of Ibis.
Original pagination indicated within double brackets. To link directly to this page, connect
with: http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/wallace/S142.htm
[[p. 215]] I am indebted to Mr. J. H. Gurney for calling my attention to an important omission
and error in the above-mentioned list. I have placed under Spizaetus cirrhatus, as a synonym,
Nisaetus alboniger, Blyth, quite overlooking the plate in Part 15 of Mr. Gould's 'Birds of Asia,'
from specimens in the Norwich Museum which show it to be a distinct species. I also describe
and figure as new Spizaetus nanus, which may probably be the young of S. alboniger, although
it presents several curious differences. Mr. Gurney kindly sent for the two specimens from
Norwich to compare with my bird. The brown individual (figured by Mr. Gould on the same plate)
is undoubtedly the same as mine; but they both differ from S. alboniger in the smaller feet (the
inner, middle, and hind toes and claws being especially shorter and slenderer), and in the larger
amount of feathering of the middle toe. We then proceeded to the British Museum and found two
specimens said to be from Borneo:--one closely agreeing with S. alboniger; the other
corresponding in the foot-characters with my S. nanus, but approximating somewhat in size and
plumage to S. alboniger. This latter bird is the one named S. borneonensis in Mr. G. R. Gray's
List of Accipitres, but not described. I cannot, therefore, decide whether the three smaller and
brown-plumaged specimens (S. nanus) are identical with the two larger black-and-white birds,
which are decidedly S. alboniger; and Mr. Gurney agrees with me that the case is still a doubtful
one.
The following corrections require to be made to my catalogue.
[[p. 216]] P. 7. After Accipiter rhodogaster, add
Accipiter stevensoni, Gurney, Ibis, 1863, p. 447, pl. xi.
Hab. China, Singapore, Java.
I had overlooked this, from its being headed "Description of a new Hawk from China."
P. 13. Spizaetus cirrhatus, omit "Nisaetus alboniger, Blyth" &c. from among the
synonyms.
P. 14. After Spizaetus kieneri, add
Spizaetus philippensis, Gurney, in Gould's 'Birds of Asia,' pt. 15.
Hab. Philippine Islands.
Spizaetus alboniger (Blyth), Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1845, vol. xiv. p. 173; Gould, 'Birds of
Asia,' pt. 15, pl.
Hab. Malacca, Borneo.
P. 14. After Spizaetus nanus, add:--
On comparing this with specimens in the Norwich and British Museums, I think it may be the
immature state of S. alboniger, although it differs so remarkably from that species.
I am informed that there are several species from the Philippine Islands in the Norwich
Museum not included in my list, which only professes to give published species in addition to those
in my own collection. It is much to be wished that some competent ornithologist would draw up a
list of the birds of the Philippine Islands from an examination of the specimens in the principal
European and American museums.
Note Appearing in the Original Work
*Suprà, pp. 1-27.
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