ISSN:0019-1019    

DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1960.tb08415.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1960

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY1The area considered here is that part of South Africa south of the Orange River and west of the eastern borders of Mossel Bay, Oudtshoorn, Prince Albert, Beaufort West, Victoria West, Richmond, De Aar and Philipstown.2It is considered to fall into three avifaunal divisions, winter‐rainfall area, temperate forest, and karoo.3The affinities of the first and last of these are with the Southwest Arid zone; that of the second, which exists only ii isolated patches surrounded by winter‐rainfall vegetation, with the East Coast.4No valid grounds exist for sub‐dividing the karoo into smaller areas.5Examples arc given of changes of range in recent

ISSN:0019-1019    

DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1960.tb08416.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1960

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY1Observations on the breeding behaviour of Rooks were made between 1943 and 1955. The gonads of a series of Rooks from the same area and during the same period were examined (Marshall&Coombs 1957). The autumn sexual resurgence is comparable to early spring in both gonad condition and behaviour.2Display postures are described. A slow wing‐raising component, common to several postures, is very rare and perhaps absent when the testes are refractory. It might have a sexual significance.3Rooks use song posts, but song is not used in the establishment or defence of territory.4Copulation occurs most frequently between birds that are not paired to each other. It is usually interfered with, and in more than 90% of the incidents observed the female was incubating. Resemblances between the incubating position and the female soliciting posture may lead to this.5The territory is a small area round each nest: neighbouring territories may overlap. Rooks who are active in pilfering a neighbour's nest for building material, may establish some territorial dominance over it.6Nest sites are selected by both sexes and in both spring and autumn. Either sex can build a nest. Normally the male does most of the stick structure, and the female more of the cup and lining.7During incubation the female is fed on the nest by the male, and after the young have hatched for as long as he can provide food for her as well as the young. Droppings are removed by both parents, partly as a response to fouling of the nest.8Development of the gonads and of the behaviour of juveniles is described. A few birds reach breeding condition at one year old, the majority a year later. Expectation of life at one year old is probably four years.9Some data are given on the relationship with other Corvidae in the area and with some other specie

ISSN:0019-1019    

DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1960.tb08417.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1960

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY1The geographical features, in particular the western escarpment, and the climate and vegetation of western Angola combine to divide the area into three avifaunal zones.2An unusual relationship exists between some related forms of different zones. This is illustrated by two groups of examples in which the characters of the forms are summarised, their distribution is shown on maps, and an attempt is made to interpret in evolutionary terms the picture presented.3Endemic or near‐endemic forms of the Escarpment Zone are listed with some notes on their affinities with other species.4The botanical history of the area is discussed in relation to the conclusions reached on the evolution of the birds.5The Escarpment Zone of Angola has been of considerable importance in the evolution of species in western Africa, south of the Equato

ISSN:0019-1019    

DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1960.tb08418.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1960

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

SUMMARY1Apart fromAmblyospizaandNeospiza, the Ploceinae fall naturally into two groups, A consisting of thePloceusspp. of Sclater (1930), together with hisMalimbus, Nelicurvius, NotiospizaandAnaplectes, and Group B consisting ofQuelea, Foudia(exceptsakalava)andEuplectesin the broad sense of Delacour&Edmond‐Blanc (1933), together withBrachycope. Anomalospizais included purely for lack of alternative.2Past classifications of the Group A birds are tabulated and discussed. Their disagreements, on affinities, on the use of super‐specific categories and on order, are very great.3The Group A plumages are described and discussed. The prevalence of dull (“nondescript”) female dress, of dull non‐breeding dress in the male and of polygamy is correlated with the dryness and seasonal variation of the habitat; consequently the type of dress is not a character of taxonomic value.4The Group A nests, unlike those of Group B, have an unequalled complication of protective devices in construction and in siting; but on the present information about them their characters cannot be utilized for taxonomic purposes.5The eggs of the Group A species (unlike those of Group B) show exceptionally high individual variation, which suggests that in their variously protected nests they are not subject to severe selection. Clutch‐sizes are discussed.6The beaks of the Group A birds do not fall so readily into categories that they could be used for taxonomic purposes. All the species with the most slender beaks are primarily insectivorous.7Size and proportions are discussed. The tail /wing ratio is in some cases consistent between species that on other grounds are regarded as very closely allied, and in other cases it is not.8The wing‐formula is discussed with special reference to the reduction of the outermost primary. Proportions of this feather do not seem to be correlated with habitat and they vary markedly between some birds that are very closely allied. But the extent of the reduction is to some extent characteristic of groups within the Ploceinae–in nearly allPloceusandMalimbusspp. to 22–39% of wing‐length, inEuplectesspecies to 10–20%, inFoudiaspp. to 21–26%, inQueleaspp. to 12%.9The Group B Ploceinae are in some respects less varied than the Group A and the great development of tails in some species has, as stressed by Delacour&Edmond‐Blanc (1933), been given too much taxonomic weight.10Group B eggs, in comparatively vulnerable nests, show no such individual variation as Group A eggs, but are of two distinct types that may have taxonomic correlations.11General topics are discussed: the much greater wealth of Ploceinae in East Africa than in the rest of that continent; the extent to which the Ploceinae have invaded islands; the overlap of species that areprima faciein competition; peculiarities of specific distribution; and intraspecific variation with particular reference to Bcrgmann's and Gloger's rules.12In a group like the Ploceinae classification should be in large genera, with informal species‐groups. Further, within the genus it is as a rule impossible to arrange most of the species in order of supposed “primitiveness” with any conviction. Similarly, no linear order of the Ploceinae can be devised that is not misleading. Both the genera and the species within each genus can more conveniently and less tendentiously be arranged alphabetically. In the order that follows, it should be borne in mind that the affinity ofPloceustoMalimbusand ofFoudiatoEuplectesis especially close. Among the species, the same numeral is suffixed to those which are regarded as belo

ISSN:0019-1019    

DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1960.tb08419.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1960

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0019-1019    

DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1960.tb08421.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1960

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0019-1019    

DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1960.tb08422.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1960

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0019-1019    

DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1960.tb08424.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1960

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0019-1019    

DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1960.tb08425.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1960

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0019-1019    

DOI:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1960.tb08426.x

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1960

数据来源: WILEY