NOTES ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF SOME AUSTRALIAN CUCUJOIDEA (COLEOPTERA)

Abstract
Pantocryptus Arrow is transferred from Erotylidae to Nitidulidae and synonymised with Cychramptodes Reitter; P. laticollis Arrow is synonymised with C. murrayi Reitter. Tasmosalpingus Lea is transferred from Pythidae to Phloeostichidae and Myrabolia Reitter from Sylvanidae to Phloeostichidae. Cnecosa Pascoe is transferred from Cryptophagidae to Erotylidae and the genera of Australian Erotylidae are discussed. Hedista tricolor Weise is synonymised with Tritoma australiae Lea. The following new combinations are proposed in Erotylidae: Hedista australiae (Lea) ( Tritoma ); Aulacochilus tetrasticta (Lea) ( Episcaphula Crotch); Encaustes hercules (Lea) ( Episcaphula ); Cnecosa insueta (Crotch) ( Thallis Erichson); C. hoplostetha (Lea) ( Thallis ); C. melancholica (Lea) ( Thallis ); and C. venustula (Blackburn) ( Thallis ). Encaustes Lacordaire is recorded for the first time from Australia, Hoplepiscapha Lea is transferred from Languriidae to Erotylidae.     

THE BIRDS OF BLYTHSWOOD AND SOME NOTES ON BIRDS OF THE DISTRICT

Wintle, C. C. &; Taylor, P. B. 1993. Sequential polyandry, behaviour and moult in captive Striped Crakes Aenigmatolimnas marginalis. Ostrich 64:115-122.

Captive Striped Crakes showed sequential polyandry, the female laying for a second male when the clutch of her first mate was about to hatch. Where aviary space permitted each male set up a breeding territory and each female defended a larger area encompassing the territories of one or two males. Non-territorial subordinate males and females did not breed. The female initiated breeding by attracting the male and soliciting copulation, and the male incubated the eggs and cared for the young. Incubation took 17–18 days, the chicks left the nest at 4–5 days of age and were fully grown and capable of flight at 46–53 days. Breeding occurred from September to March and males normally reared two broods per season. Territoriality was evident only during the breeding season. Juvenile plumage was a duller version of the sexually dimorphic adult plumage; post-juvenile moult bean at 13–15 weeks and was complete at 21 weeks. Remex moult was simultaneous and a complete moult regular1 occurred twice a year in adults, in December and April (males) and September and March/April (females).     

NOTES ON THE BREEDING BEHAVIOUR OF THE PARADISE FLYCATCHER (TERPSIPHONE VIRIDIS PLUMBEICEPS)

Milewski, A. V. 1978. Diet of Serinus species in the southwestern Cape, with special reference to the Protea Seedeater. Ostrich 49:174-184.

The diet of the Protea Seedeater Serinus leucopterus was assessed by opportunistic observation of feeding occasions throughout the distribution of the bird. The Protea Seedeater feeds mainly on seed of a wide range of plant species. It takes the large seed of Proteo more frequently than it does any other food item. The diet of the Protea Seedeater consists essentially of food items and types similar to those taken by six sympatric and partly sympatric congeners, which are also mainly dating. However, its diet differs quantitatively, each species taking different food types, such as achenes and seed kernels, with different frequency.     

NEST BUILDING AND NESTING BEHAVIOUR OF THE SOCIABLE WEAVER PHILETAIRUS SOCIUS

The behaviour of the Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius was studied briefly in South Africa in 1969, and more extensively in aviaries in southern California for over three years (1972-75). The species was bred successfully in captivity, apparently for the first time. Building of the compound nest in nature is reviewed in the light of preceding accounts, both by ourselves and by others. The optimal preference for nest materials was experimentally determined. Male and female appear identical and there seems to have been no previous detailed account of the behaviour of Sociable Weavers based on distinctively colour-ringed individuals of known sex. Among the sex differences in behaviour are the amount and nature of building, dominance, malespecific song, and sex differences in relative share of incubation and in the care of nestlings and fledglings. In addition, we describe in detail for the first time certain rarely observed behavioural acts including precopulatory courtship and copulation. Allopreening and water bathing are very rare in this species, and the birds do not take dust baths.     

SOME NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF THE KAOKOVELD

Whitfield, A. K. &; Blaber, S. J. M. 1978. Feeding ecology of piscivorous birds at Lake St Lucia, Part 1: Diving birds. Ostrich 49:185-198.

The diets of three species of diving piscivorous birds at Lake St Lucia, Natal, South Africa during 1975 and 1976 are described and related to availability and abundance of different prey species. Mugilidae and Clarias gariepinus were the chief prey of the Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer, while Johnius belengcrii and Sarotherodon mossambicus were, respectively, the main food items of Caspian Terns Hydroprogne tschegruva, and Pied Kingfishers Ceryle rudis. The methods of prey capture used by the three species of birds are described.

Predation on particular species of fish was related primarily to their swimming depth, abundance, size and distribution in littoral areas. Fishing habits, densities and foraging periodicity of the birds are discussed with regard to physical parameters such as thermals, wind speeds and water turbidity. The timing of breeding seasons at Lake St Lucia is related to fish densities, lake levels, turbidity of the water and air temperatures.     

NOTES ON THE BIOLOGY OF SOME AUSTRALIAN STICK INSECTS (PHASMATODEA)

i
Specimens of the Phasmatodea, Eurycnema goliath (Gray), Podacanthus typhon Gray and Tropidoderus childrenii (Gray), were reared in the insectary and observations on longevity and fecundity were made. Facultative thelytokous parthenogenesis may exist in the last two species.