Measurements and weights of the surviving endemic birds of the Mascarenes and their eggs

Details of weights and measurements are brought together in this chapter to facilitate comparisons and for easy reference. The data are given in Table 1, the text being in effect a commentary on the table; some species do not require further comment. The location of the museum specimens used in this study is given in Table 3. Conventions in text tables are the same as in Table 1. Mauritius Kestrel Falco punctatus In Table 1 weights of captive Kestrels are from birds in good body condition with empty crops weighed by CGJ prior to feeding. These weights are similar to the few records from wild birds. Temple's (1978c) weights (male: 178 g; 2 females: 221 g, 240 g) were of wild-caught adults weighed later in captivity (Temple in lift , to CGJ); these weights are well above the weight range we have, but two overweight young females have reached 252 and 253 g in captivity. Egg weights from wild birds are a clutch weighed after 8 days of incubation; details of calculated weights in relation to egg shell thinning are given in Chapter 5. Ecological correlates of linear measurements and comparisons with other species are given in Chapter 5. The measurements given in Table 1 are as found, and include museum specimens with worn wings and/or tail, but in the majority of 50 skins the extent of wear ranges only from 1 to 4 mm, only 7 approaching the 20 mm reported by Temple (see Chapter 5). Only 23 of the 50 museum specimens were gonadally sexed; the others have not been used in the table.