'&r 
[Bull.Brit.Orti.ai98} 105(2)] 68 
Weights of some Cuban birds 
by Storrs L. Olson 
Received 2 October 1984 
Specimen weights are recognized as one important measure of the size of a bird 
and may also frequently prove to be of systematic value in distinguishing 
between different populations, particularly of polytypic forms on islands. For 
example, data on weights from various populations of the West Indian tanager 
Spindalis corroborate plumage differences that suggest these birds are best 
divided into 3 species rather than one (Steadman et ai. 1980). In the Cayman 
Islands, 2 populations of Vireo crassirostris currently considered to belong to 
the same subspecies were shown to differ significantly in weight (Olson et 
at. 1981), these differences subsequently being corroborated by other 
measurements (Olson & Barlow, in prep.). 
The present paper continues previous studies of West Indian bird weights 
(Olson & Angle 1977; Steadman et al. 1980; Olson et at. 1981; Schreiber & 
Schreiber 1984), and results from 2 collecting trips to Cuba. Although many 
Cuban species are not represented in Table 1, it has not been possible to 
resume investigations on Cuba to augment the collections and additional 
weight data will probably be long in coming, especially for the rarer species. 
Table 1. Weights (gm) of Cuban birds. 
Falco sparverius sparverioides o* 97, 100, 103; 9 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 104, 120 
Jacana s. spinosa cr 83, 90, 91, 91, 94, 98; 9 140, 149 
Capelia galtinago delicate 9 94 
Zenaida macroura subsp c 104, 115 
Zenaida a. asiatica C 162 
Saurothem m. merlini cr 145 
Crotophaga ani a 101 
Glaucidium s. siju cr 47 
Otus (' 'Gymnoglaux'') 1. lawrencu 9 80 
Chloroitilbon r. ricordii cr 3.3; 9 2.6 
Todus multicolor 9? 5.8 
Melanerpes s. supercilmris cr 111; 9 89 
Tyrannus d. dominicensis cr 49 
Tyrannus c. caudifascwtus 9 38, 39 
Myiarchus s. sagrae 9 18.5 
Contopus c. caribaeas 9 11.5, 13 
Corvus mskus cr 347, 365, 385; 9 330, 365, 366 
Turdusplumbeus schistaceus <y 83; 9 69 
Turdus plttmbeus rubripes cr 67.5, 74; 9 65, 66 
Polioptih lembeyei Q"4.5, 4.6; 9? 4.5; sex? 4.5, 4.6 
Vireo g. gundlachi 9 13 
Vireo g. orientalis cr 12.5, 13; 9 13.3 
Mniotilta varia 9 7.5 
Teretistris fernandinae cr 9; sex? 9 
Terethtris fornsi 9 10 
Quhcalis nigergundlacbii cr 92, 93; 9 64, 68, 69 
Dives atrovioiaceus cr 85, 86, 89, 90, 90; 9 73 
Agelaiusphoeniceus assimilis a 46, 49, 50, 50, 51, 51, 51, 52, 52, 54; 9 36, 37, 38, 38, 39, 
39, 39, 40, 42, 42, 43 
Agelaius h. humeralis a 37; 9 27, 28, 30, 32 
Sturnella magna hippocrepis cr 87, 91, 92; 9 62, 68, 72, 72, 75 
Tiaris o. olivacea cr 7, 7.6, 8; 9 7, 10 
Melopyrrba n. nigra 9 13 
Torreortiis i. inexpectata cr 28; 9 25; sex? 24 
Torreomis i. sigmani a 26, 27, 28.5, 29; 9 27.3, 28 
67 [Butt.Brit.Orn.a.1985 105(2)] 
population of the widespread Asian babbler Malacocincla (Trichastomaj 
abbotti (for generic assignment to Malacocincla see Ripley & Beehler in press). 
The only other records for the Indian region are from Eastern Nepal and from 
the Khasi Hills, more than 1000 km to the north. 
We have found several plumage characteristics that distinguish this isolated 
babbler from its nearest related forms to the north. We suggest this south- 
eastern form be named: 
Malacocincla abbotti krishnarajui subsp. nov. 
Holotype. Adult female collected 15 October 1983 by Bruce Beehler at 
Pedevalasa, Chintapalli Teluk, Vizag District, Andhra Pradesh, at c. 1000 m 
(17?50'N, 82?20'E), USNM #585181. 
Diagnosis. The new population differs from the nominate abbotti from Nepal 
and northeastern India as follows:? (1) upper surface of tail and rump deeper 
brown; (2) crown, back, wings more olive; (3) vent feathering richer rufescent; 
(4) pale grey of throat extends further onto the breast; and (5) lower breast and 
belly are slightly paler washed with buff-tan. A comparison of measurements of 
wing, tail, culmen and tarsus show no significant differences between 
southeastern and northeastern populations. 
Measurements and soft parts. Wing (chord) 70.5 mm, tail 44 mm, culmen 
(from skull) 20.5 mm, tarsus 28 mm, weight 25.5 g. Iris medium brown; legs 
dusky flesh. 
Distribution and ecology. First mist-netted by K. S. R. Krishna Raju at 
Rhagavendra Nagar in 1981. The species is now known from 4 localities in 
the ghats: Pedevalasa, Rhagavendra Nagar, Lankapakalu and Wangasara, all of 
which support at least some remnant patches of moist deciduous or semi- 
evergreen forest. As elsewhere in its range in India (Ali & Ripley 1971), the 
species appears to prefer wooded ravines and thickly vegetated gulleys, and was 
usually netted close to the ground. 
Specimens examined. Visakhapatnam Ghats: 1 or, 3 99 (USNM); Eastern 
Nepal (Kosi R.) 1 9 (USNM); Khasi Hills: 2 o-o- (AMNH); Thailand: 5 o-o- 
(USNM). 
Remarks. This new form is named to honour K. S. R. Krishna Raju of the 
Andhra Pradesh Natural History Society, for his efforts to promote the survey 
and conservation of the natural resources of the Eastern Ghats. 
References: 
Ali, S. & Ripley, S. D. 1971. Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan. Vol. 6. Oxford 
University Press. 
Ripley, S. D. & Beehler, B. M. in press. A revision of the babbler genus Trichastoma and its 
allies. 
Whistler, H. & Kinnear, N. 1930. The Vernay Scientific Survey of the Eastern Ghats./ Bomb. 
Nat. Hist. Soc. 34: 386-403. 
?    1932. The Vernay Scientific Survey of the Eastern Ghats (Ornithological Section). 
]. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. 35: 505-524. 
Address: Drs S. Dillon Ripley and 8. M. Beehler, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. 
20560, USA. 
? British Ornithologists' Club 1985 
69 [Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 1985 105(2)] 
Specimens were collected in 2 very different parts of the island. The first 
series was obtained from 24 to 30 October 1979, mainly near the village of 
Santo Tomas, a classic collecting locality at the edge of the Zapata Swamp in 
what is now Matanzas Province, with additional specimens from the resort of 
Playa Larga at the head of the infamous Bahia de Cochinos. The second series 
was taken from 2 to 5 November 1980 in the extremely arid southeastern part 
of the island, mainly near the town of Baitiquiri and east along the coast to 
Imias, in what is now the province of Guantanamo (formerly part of Oriente 
Province). 
All specimens were weighed with Pesola spring balances, on the day of 
capture, never more than 8 hours subsequent to their having been collected. 
The sequence and nomenclature in general follows that of Garrido & Garcia 
(1975). The specimen of Tyrannus dominicensis, taken 3 km east of San 
Antonio del Sur on 3 November 1980, represents a late date for this migratory 
species. The smallest male of Agelaius phoeniceus (46 gm) was captured by 
hand in apparently ill health; despite this, it weighed more than the largest 
female. The specimens of Quiscalis niger are assumed to be referable to the 
subspecies gundlacbii on the basis of Garrido's (1973) analysis of the 
distribution of the Cuban forms of this species. 
Acknowledgements: My trips to Cuba were part of joint expeditions in conjunction with the 
Institute de Zoologia, Academia de Ciencias de Cuba, whose members were of invaluable 
assistance: Orlando H. Garrido, Nicasio Vina, Fernando Gonzalez, Hiram Gonzalez and Noel 
Gonzalez, the last named having aided greatly in the preparation of specimens. I would also like 
to thank my colleagues James Lynch and Eugene Morton of the Smithsonian for their aid on 
these ventures, and David W. Steadman for his comments on the manuscript. 
References: 
Garrido, O H. 1973. Anfibios, reptiles y avesdeCayo Real (Cayosde San Felipe), Cuba. Poeyana 
119: 1-50. 
Garrido, O. H. & Garcia, Montana F. Catalogo des las Aves de Cuba. Academia de Ciencias de 
Cuba: Habana. 
Olson, Storrs L. & Angle, J. P. 1977. Weights of some Puerto Rican birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 
97: 105-107. 
Olson, S. L., James, H. F. & Meister, C. A. 1981. Winter field notes and specimen weights of 
Cayman Island birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 101: 339-346. 
Schreiber, R. W. & Schreiber, E. A. Mensural and moult data for some birds of Martinique, 
French West Indies. Bull Brit. Orn. Cl. 104: 62-68. 
Steadman, D. W., Olson, S. L, Barber, J. C, Meister, C. A. & Melville, M. E. 1980. Weights of 
some West Indian Birds. Bull. Brit. Orn. Cl. 100: 155-158. 
Address: Storrs L. Olson, Dept of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, 
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA. 
? British Ornithologists' Club 1985 
A recent record of the endangered St Lucia Wren 
Troglodytes aedon mesoleucus 
by Gary R. Graves 
Received 28 September 1984 
The St Lucia Wren Troglodytes aedon mesoleucus is listed as critically 
endangered and possibly extinct by the ICBP Red Data Book (1981) and Bond 
(1978). Although formerly more widespread on St Lucia, the wren has been 
restricted since the 1930's to the region between Le Marquis and Grand Anse