Szekessy Vilmos (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 56. (Budapest 1964)

Horváth, L., Keve, A. ; Marián, M.: The systematic relegation and migratory conditions of the skylark (Alauda arvensis L.) in Hungary and Carpathian Basin

species, and the assumption of authors, in whose view the entire population of the Carpathian Basin is to be relegated to the southern subspecies, was also right. Our opinion deviates insofar from the earlier one that we were successful in comparing the Balkanian and Italian skylarks, and thus separate the two populations. PORTENKO (1954) suggested that, instead of the name A. a. cantarella Bp., 1850, the name A. a. coelipeta PALL., 1827 be used. We cannot concur with this view, since PALLAS failed to designate the terra typica and referred to the whole of Russia and Siberia. HARTERT (1905) also believes that PALLAS did not want to describe a new subspecies so much than find a more appropriate or euphonious name. Also our present investigation proves that the use of this latter name should be avoided, not only because it might refer to different subspecies, but for the added complication that the colouration of the skylarks around Moscow agrees with the lightest variation of the Swedish population. The name A. a. lunala BREHM, 1842 (,,

Südungarn,,) has priority claims, yet HARTERT (1905) remarks that the ,.

Beschreibung passt auf die südliche Form". We have endeavoured to discover the typespecimen of this taxon in vain, since it was IOSLVAURIE, J. D. MACDONALD, and KLEINSCMIDT have very kindly informed us that it cannot be found either in New York, or Bonn, or London, or Wittenberg. Our inquiries directed to Prof. SVEN HÖRSTADIUS (Upsala) were also negative in results, the same as put to CHARLOTTE RIEMER (Wittenberg-Lutherstadt), Dr. G. DIESELHORST (Munich), and G. MAUERSBERGER (Berlin). Thanks are due for their cordial efforts.

—We deem it therefore necessary that the neotype of the subspecies be designated. Its data are: "Bácsszentgvörgy, 4 July, 1961, leg. Ing. J. GYŐRY, Coll. Inst. Orn., Budapest Nr. D. 343/440. " We have specimens from the following localities in Hungary: Kunmadaras (23 specimens), Apaj (17), Lake Fehér near Szeged (22), Csákvár (6), Bácsszentgyörgy (20), Budapest—

Árpádföld (11), Sóskút (10), Ürbő (16), Dinnyés (7), Balaton le He— Rádpuszta (5), Csornád (14), Üjpest (12), Űrkút (4), Dunakeszi (13), Nagyiván (24), Bocsa (19), Ohat (25), Fülöpszállás (18), Nógrádszakái (1), Kelecsény (2), Ócsa (15), Pusztaszer (21), Diósjenő (3), Tatárszentgyörgy (15), Pettend (8), Adony (4); from Yugoslavia: Vukovar, Apatin, Temeskubin; from Slovakia: Ungszenna (Senné),. Kisdobra (Dobra), Vysna Hutka, Nagyszombat (Trnava), Liszkófalu (Lisková) ; from Transylvania: Csíkrákos, Abafája, Fogaras, Szelestye. The temporary distribution of the Hungarian material is as follows: January (none), February (5 spec), March (36), April (11), May (8), June (14), July (12),. August (none), September (1), October (1), November (3), December (2). These latter show (except for faulty specimens; birds collected during their molting period in August will soon deteriorate) that our skylarks begin migration yet in September, to be replaced by northern susbspecies in the middle of winter; but they again arrive in March. Two banding data also substantiate this statement: one of our home birds was recaptured near Padua on 10 Oct., 1913 (600 km), the other at Jesi (Ancona) on 10 Nov., 1931 (650 km). The darker phases occur also further to the south, e. g. a female from Vukovar, 15 May, 1913. Young specimens also tend to darkening, for instance a specimen from Csíkrákos, 27 August, 1959 (male), whose tail feathers were still moiling. We should like to emphasize that specimens considered as lunata invariably showed, in large series, a uniform hue, even though the capture data spread over the whole year. There were never any change in shade that might have been considered as a lighter summer discoloration. The Ukrainian and east Balkanian specimens belong to A. a. lunata; in winter, also A. a. arvensis appears in these areas. As pointed out above, the northern boundary of its range lies partly in north Ukraina, partly in the High Tatra. The Alps in the west and Dalmatia in the Balkans seems to be an intermediate territory between lunata and cantarella. High mountains have no oecological influence on: colour.