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NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAL.
Vou, XXX, 1922.
NOVITATES ZOOLOGICAE.
A Journal of Zoology
IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRING MUSEUM.
EDITED BY
LORD ROTHSCHILD, F.R.S., Px.D.,
Dr. ERNST HARTERT, anv Dr. K. JORDAN.
Vou. XXIX., 1922.
(WITH NINE PLATES.)
IssuED AT THE ZoonocicAL Museum, TRING.
PRINTED BY HAZELL, WATSON & VINEY, Lp., LONDON AND AYLESBURY,
1922.
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CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXIX. (1922)
AVES
PAGES 1. Notes on the Birds of East Africa. V. G. L. VAN SoMEREN . : : 1—246
2. Types of Birds in the Tring Museum.—B. Types in the General Collection. Contd. E.Hartert . 7 - 5 , : : 3 . 3865—412 3. On the Emerald and Golden Cuckoos of Africa. D. A. BANNERMAN . . 413—420
LEPIDOPTERA
1. On an organ peculiar to the Females of some Genera of Ludiinae, a sub- family of Saturnidae. K. JoRDAN . c “i 5 2 : . 247—248 2. A Monograph of the Saturnian subfamily Ludiinae. K. JoRDAN . . 249—326 3. New and Little-known Geometridae. L. B. Prout. : c : . 327—363 INDEX . 5 ° + . : e 5 . . . 421—448
LIST OF PLATES IN VOLUME XXIX.
I. Photographs of Sarothrura. V.G. L. van Someren.
I1.—VI. Photographs from Life. V.G. L. van Someren.
VII. Map. V.G. L. van Someren.
Lep. Plates Land Il. Ludiinae. Photographed by W. Bell.
vii
KH Fournal of Zoology.
EDITED BY
LORD ROTHSCHILD, F.R.S., Pu.D., Dr. ERNST HARTERT, AND Dr. kK, JORDAN.
Vote XW.
No. 5 os
Paces 1—363. Prates I—VIT.
{ssunp May 18rn, 1922, av run Zootoarcar, Museum, ‘Trine.
PRINTED BY HAZELL, WATSON & VINEY, Lp, 1ONDON AND AYLESBURY.
1922,
Vou. XXIX,
_ NOVITATTES AOOLOGIOAR.
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CONTENTS 0. : NOT “
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“NOTES ON. THE ‘BIRDS, Or BAST AFRICA wv. ah. van Someren
ON AN ORGAN PECULIAR 10. THE : Teta nateater e FEMALES OF SOME GENERA OF LUDE INAE, A, eUEE EN OF SATURNIIDAE . Dr. Karl Jordan
Muga cls MONOGRAPH OF THE SATURNIAN th e's | SUBFAMILY LUDIINAE Baas sie Nea ns | Dr. K Karl Jordan
4 ‘NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN GHOMETRIDAB L. B. Pro ie Lis
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Novi Aras ZOOLOGICA.
Vol. XXIX. APRIL 1922. No. I.
NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF EAST AFRICA. By V. G. L. VAN SOMEREN. (Plates I to VII.)
INTRODUCTORY NOTES.
HOUGH our knowledge of East African birds has been greatly advanced during recent years by the reports on the collections made by Sir Frederick Jackson and others, yet these reports are based on collections which have been made more or less indiscriminately, in localities which have no direct relationship one to the other, so that a general idea of the distribution could hardly be gained. Further, insufficient material for comparative purposes has rendered it impossible to judge with any accuracy the relationship of the Uganda and East African Avifauna with that of other colonies in Africa.
The recent paper by Claude Grant, Ibis, 1915, was the first real attempt to review the birds of East Africa and Uganda (as represented by the Cozens-Lowe collection) in relation to the birds of other parts of Africa. Unfortunately, the collection was somewhat limited and the work has been left unfinished !
Sclater and Praed, Jbis, 1918-1919, have contributed much to the elucidation of the ornithological problems of the Sudan.
’ Until the collections become absolutely representative of the whole of Africa, no comprehensive paper can be written showing the distribution of any species or subspecies all over Africa, We must therefore depend on published reports, and it is in the hopes of being able to throw fresh light on the ornithology of East Africa and Uganda that I have written the following pages, based chiefly on my present collection.
Students of African ornithology may at first sight be surprised that I have recognised so many species and subspecies, and have also in nearly all cases upheld the races created by the late Dr. Mearns (when reporting on the Roosevelt collections, etc.). When these reports first appeared I was sceptical about the possibility of so many new forms, because I accepted as a working basis the works on Jackson’s and other collections as correct and representative of the country. I must now admit, however, that since I have studied the ornithology of East Africa and Uganda from the point of view of the field-worker and collector, and from a geographical and topographical point of view, I have had to modify my preconceived ideas considerably.
Considering the position of these countries, it is not surprising to find
1
> Novirates Zootocicar XXIX. 1922.
that their avifauna is of a very varied and complex nature, therefore during the last eight years I have endeavoured to carry out an ornithological survey of the two countries from the coast up the great lake and westward to Uganda and the Congo border. Owing to the war I was compelled to limit my sphere of operations somewhat, but what I have accomplished has brought to light certain facts of great interest. East Africa has been surveyed more thoroughly than Uganda, and in the main I took as the line of investigation the country on either side of the Uganda Railway from Mombasa to Kisumu, and penetrating as far as possible on either side.
A large amount of material was got together, and the study of this reveals the fact that there are certain more or less defined zoogeographical zones or areas worthy of recognition.
I have endeavoured to illustrate these zones by means of the appended chart, showing a vertical and horizontal section of the Uganda Railway.
The whole of the Western Provinces of Uganda and the central area can be looked upon as West African in character, somewhat modified in type. When we consider the northern territory we find Sudan and South Ethiopian forms represented, and in the eastern districts a mixed avifauna showing South Ethiopian and East African elements.
It should be noted here, however, that birds which may be taken to be typically western in type, find their way into the Elgon area, North Kavirondo, and the Mau Hill, extending more or less southward to what was the old political boundary between Uganda and East Africa.
At this point I should like to draw attention to the extraordinary distribution of certain species which are found on the Elgon-Nandi ranges, and which, although not occurring in Uganda and south of Lake Victoria, yet appear again in the Ruwenzori-Kivu area, in some cases exhibiting no change, in others showing a marked intensification of colour so as to be reckoned as geographical forms. As examples of this we have Sylvietta leucophrys, Trochocercus mgromitratus, Chlorophoneus dohertyi, and Campothera taeniolaema.
In the case of East Africa we have to consider Ethiopian, Somali, and South African influences ; but in practically all instances the birds exhibit modifications in plumage justifying the recognition of races.
From this point we naturally come to the consideration of the effect of the climatic and topographical influences on the bird-life of the countries.
The zones or areas, as indicated by the chart, carry in them certain species and forms which are more or less confined to these areas, but it must be understood that these areas are still provisional to a certain extent.
That various factors—such as climate, altitude, etc.—had influence on the evolution of races and species has been long recognised, but insufficient regard has been paid to these points in connection with the birds of Hast Africa and Uganda. Thus, when they are considered, it is not surprising to find that we must recognise more races and species than hitherto.
The various zoogeographical zones or areas are most marked when we study the distribution of the Larks and the Cisticolae.
What I call the ‘‘ thorn-bush zone ”’ extends throughout the eastern half of East Africa north into eastern Uganda, and encircles on the east the high plain and Alpine zones. But even in this ‘‘ thorn-bush zone ”’ races of the same form are found, produced no doubt by local conditions.
Novitates Zootogicar XXIX, 1922. 3
In addition to my own material, I have been able to make use of a fine collection belonging to A. Blayney Percival, a small collection from the Nairobi Museum, and a collection made by Mr. Allen Turner for Colonel Meinertzhagen, and now mostly in Tring. I have also had specimens of Cisticola, which were lent to me by J. Pemberton Cook. For comparative purposes I have had the privilege of using the magnificent material in the Tring Museum, and also more or less that in the British Museum. I wish to express my thanks to Lord Rothschild and Dr. Hartert, to the staff of the Tring Museum, especially Mr. Arthur Goodson, and the staff of the Bird-room in the British Museum, for these privileges and much kind help.
The arrangement follows more or less that of Reichenow’s Végel Afrikas, but has been modified in certain instances.
The localities have been grouped according to their political divisions.
My collection, on which this work is founded, contained 15,000 skins of about 1,300 species and subspecies. Included are over ninety European and several Asiatic migrants and winter visitors. Several of the European visitors belong to West European forms; as, for example, the British Yellow Wagtail and the Greenland (and Iceland) Wheatear (Tring, February 1920).
[This important contribution to African Ornithology was first sent to the Editors of the Ibis for publication, but was not accepted on account of its bulk and unfinished state. It was written without regard to the present high prices of printing, and, owing to an unfortunate attack of influenza, or something like it, during the latter part of Dr. van Someren’s stay in England, the manuscript was indeed not fit for printing, as it was rather hurriedly completed, and the type-written text, evidently not being corrected, was full of slips and wrong spellings of names. I have therefore undertaken the tedious work of cutting out unnecessary lengths and repetitions, filling in and correcting quotations and names, etc., etc. That I have eliminated all errors can, however, hardly be hoped for. That I had to do this was natural, for unexpected work always falls to those who are busiest, but I am glad to have been able to help that van Someren’s work could be published. It must be added that 6,490 specimens of the 15,000 on which this treatise is based are now in the Tring Museum, including nearly all the types. The rest has, for the time being, been taken back to Nairobi by Dr. van Someren.
This work has been written in the Tring Museum, where Dr, van Someren worked over half a year, but some weeks were also spent over it in the British Museum.
Though residents in East Africa still distinguish between ‘‘ British East” and “ German East,” and will probably long continue to do so, the new official titles of these two countries, ‘‘ Kenya (or Kenia) Colony” for British East Africa, and ‘Tanganyika Territory” for German East Africa, are generally used in Dr. van Someren’s article-—Ernst HArteErt.]
1. Struthio camelus massaicus Neum. East African Ostrich.
Young birds were brought to me at Naivasha in January 1919, and eggs were found in the Longonot District in November.
4 Novirares ZoonocicaAE XXIX. 1922,
2. Struthio camelus molybdophanes Rchw. Somali Ostrich.
Adults and half-grown young were seen in the open country beyond Archer’s Post. (Struthio ?
A “pigmy Ostrich” has been reported from south of Lake Rudolf, but no specimens have been procured.)
3. Podiceps ruficollis capensis Licht. African Little Grebe.
The amount of white on the wings of adult birds is very variable and not so distinctly distributed as in the European species. In all my adult African specimens, including breeding birds, the underside is pure white, lacking the black mottling so characteristic in northern species.
On practically all lakes and larger swampy, slow-flowing rivers this bird is common and comparatively tame. They are usually seen in couples or small associations.
I am not satisfied that these birds have a non-breeding plumage. I have shot them on a lake at 9,000 feet.
Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha, B.E.A. 495 9Qad., 2 juv., 29. viii.
4. Podiceps nigricollis Brehm. Black-necked Grebe.
Eggs: Clutch of two.
These birds, although resident and breeding in East Africa, appear not to be separable from European ones, though my specimens are not so black. They are, however, worn. Furthermore, they apparently have no winter or non- breeding plumage. They nest twice a year!
Lake Nakuru, B.E.A. 2 ¢ 2 Qad., 2 juv., all 29. vili.1918.
5. Colymbus cristatus infuscatus Salvad. African Crested Grebe.
Clutches of three or four eggs, and young in October 1918.
This is a good subspecies. It is resident and breeds on the larger lakes of Uganda and East Africa. There is no winter or non-breeding plumage so far as I can make out. Several pairs nested together in a small area of reeds on Lake Nakuru, and it was here that I was able to observe them going through similar antics to those ably described by E. Selous, in connection with the Euro- pean bird, in Wild Life, and elsewhere. Even when the eggs are well incubated, fresh material is added to the nest—mostly by the male bird. The parent birds are most assiduous in their care for the eggs and young.
Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha, B.E.A. 3 $29, 1 pull., 20.x. and December.
6. Larus fuscus Linn. Lesser Black-backed Gull.
A few adults and young remain throughout the summer, but the majority are young or birds in their second plumage. Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha.
7, Larus hemprichi Bruch. Hemprich’s Gull.
This species is found along the coast, but not very common, Mombasa and Manda Island, 2 9.
Novirates Zoonocicar XXIX, 1922.
oo
8. Larus cirrhocephalus Vieill. Grey-headed Gull.
Common on the larger sheets of water. The occurrence of L. ridibundus in East Africa is doubtful, the recorded birds probably being young of L. cirrho- cephalus.
Lakes Victoria, Nakuru, Naivasha. 3 4, 1 juv.
9. Sterna media Horsf. Lesser Yellow-billed Tern. 1 g Manda Island, 29. iii.
10. Sterna bergii Licht. Yellow-billed Tern.
Fair numbers seen along the coast. Manda Island, March.
11. Hydrochelidon leucoptera Meisn. White-winged Black Tern.
The two August birds are adults, assuming winter plumage. The May birds are young and show no attempt at assuming summer dress, Adult males in winter plumage have grey tails—as in females. Many birds remain on the lakes throughout the year and do not migrate north.
Lakes Nakuru, Naivasha, and Rudolf. 5 g 5 9, January, May, August, December.
12. Hydrochelidon leucopareia leucopareia Temm. Whiskered Tern.
Not very common. Lake Naivasha. November.
13. Gelochelidon nilotica Horsf. Gull-billed Tern.
A winter visitor to the large lakes and coast. Lamu and Manda Island. 2 ¢9, April.
14, Pelecanus rufescens Gm. African Pelican.
A pair frequented the south end of Lake Naivasha for about a week in October 1918, but eventually disappeared,
15. Pelecanus onocrotalus Linn. Common Pelican.
g 12.ii.1917, in perfect full plumage, Lake Naivasha.
16, Phalacrocorax africanus Gm. Lesser African Cormorant.
Jinja, in Uganda, Lake Naivasha and Kisumu. 4 ¢ 1 2, May, August, December.
17. Phalacrocorax carbo lugubris Riipp. East African Cormorant.
The area of bare skin of the throat is more extensive than in P. carbo curbo and P. carbo lucidus. 39, 25.viii. Kisumu.
6 Novitatrs ZoonocicaE XXIX. 1922.
18. Nyroca erythrophthalma Wied. African Pochard. (= capensis Less., nee Gm., brunnea Eyt.)
Great variation exists in this species. Full-plumaged birds are found in April and November.
39. In full plumage, April and November. ¢ juv., half plumage, May, October, December. @ juv., half plumage, February, August, October. There appears to be no eclipse plumage !
Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha, Eldoret. 22 specimens.
19. Anas sparsa Eyton. Black River Duck.
This species is found on the smaller lakes and rivers. Although adult, my male has no white ring on the neck. Aberdare Mts. 4, 10. viii.17.
20, Anas undulata Dubois. Yellow-billed Duck.
Moulting in November, breeding in February and May. Down of two colours, dark and long, pale and short, is present in females in February and May. Nakuru Lake, Naivasha and Kimiriri River, Elgon. 6 3 4 9. 8
21. Anas capensis Gm. African Pink-billed Teal.
The female, although an October bird, had swollen ovaries and a heavy crop of dark down. The female is more uniform on the lower surface than the male. Nakuru Lake. 2 g 9, October, November.
22. Anas punctata Burch. Hottentot Teal.
The down in the female and of those in the Tring Museum is greyish ashy, while that of males is dark brownish black.
Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha. 4 ¢ 1 9, February, October, November.
23. Dafila acuta Linn. European Pintail Duck.
The April male is in full breeding dress. This date is the latest on which I have seen this species. The January bird is in half breeding dress. Lake Naivasha.
24. Nyroca fuligula Linn. European Tufted Duck.
This I believe is the first record of this bird so far south. It was shot by Mr. Allen Turner on the Yala River Swamp, Kavirondo, 21.xi.1913.
25. Querquedula querquedula Linn. European Garganey.
A regular winter visitor. In 1919 most birds had left by April 16th. Lake Naivasha. 3 g 29, March, May, Ocvober.
Novrrates ZoonocicaE XXIX. 1922. a
26. Poecilonetta erythrorhyncha Gm. African Pintail. The November female is in heavy body moult. Dark and pale down is
present on the breast. Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru. November, December.
27. Spatula clypeata Linn. European Shoveller.
The most extraordinary plumages are met with in Shovellers shot in East Africa. The April 15th male is in full plumage. I have never come across an adult male in full plumage before the end of March. Why this should be, is difficult to explain, unless it is that all the birds which winter with us are birds of the year or previous year. One young male has the feathers of the back barred.
Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha. January, April, November, December (3 juv.).
28. Thalassornis leuconotus Eyt. White-rumped Diving Duck.
A male bird shot on February 16th is uniform on the breast, and moulting heavily. The male of October 18th had very large testes, while a female shot on April 15th had an egg in the oviduct. A common bird, keeping to the Lily patches, and very disinclined to take wing.
Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru. February, April, October, December.
29. Erismatura maccoa Smith. .Red Diving Duck.
A female shot in October has moulted all its wing-feathers and is in heavy moult on the body. The other two are in full clean dress. This is not a common species in East Africa.
Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru. 2 ¢ 49, October, December.
30. Dendrocygna viduata Linn. White-faced Whistling Duck.
A common species. Naivasha and Lake Magadi. 2 519, 15.iv.1919.
31. Dendrocygna fulva Gm. Fulvous Whistling Duck.
Appears to prefer shallow swamps and flooded areas rather than open sheets of deep water. Kisumu swamp. 4d, 20. iii. 1918.
32. Chenalopex aegyptiacus Linn. Egyptian Goose.
An October male is young, just able to fly. It was seen amongst a flock of at least fifty, all of the same age. There were only three adult birds with them. Naivasha and Kisumu.
33. Sarkidiornis melanotus africanus Hartl. Knob-billed Goose.
Lakes Naivasha and Nakuru. 3 4 19.
Novirates Zoonocicar XXIX. 1922.
34. Plectropterus gambensis Linn. Spur-winged Goose.
My male has the entire head and neck and the whole breast black or green- black.
Kisumu and Lake Nakuru and Naivasha. 1439, June, November.
35. Balearica regulorum gibbericeps Rchw. East African Crowned Crane.
Very common. Seen either in pairs or flocks, usually in the vicinity of water. Kisumu. 1 juv., 17.i.1916.
36. Threskiornis aethiopica Lath. Sacred Ibis.
Very common on the larger sheets of water, but occasionally frequenting the smaller streams and swamps. A small flock of six haunted the swamp by the Nairobi River for nearly a month. The February specimen is young, still retaining part of the spotted plumage, and has the neck and head feathered, Full-plumaged breeding males develop long straw-coloured plumes on the flanks.
Kisumu, Naivasha, Nairobi. ¢ juv. 16.ii., g June, ¢ April.
37. Plegadis falcinellus Linn. European Glossy Ibis.
The May bird is in perfect full dress. Fairly common. Naivasha Lake and Kisumu. 2 g May, December, 2 December.
38. Oreoibis akleyorum Chapman. Kenia Ibis.
Described from Kenia and Aberdare Mountains. Anadult male was obtained by W. Noel van Someren on the slopes of Mt. Kenia, 6,500 feet, 18.i.1921.
39. Hagedashia hagedash nilotica Neum. Northern Great Glossy Ibis.
I have provisionally recognised this race, though I fail to appreciate the differences between these birds and East African specimens. however, very limited, 2 J 1 2 only.
Masindi and Entebbe in Uganda.
My material is,
40. Hagedashia hagedash erlangeri Neum. East African Great Glossy Ibis. Lake Jipe and Naivasha.
41. Platalea leucorodia leucorodia Linn. European Spoonbill.
A male belonging to the European species, having black legs and the feather- ing of the crown extending down between the eyes in a point; shot Lake Naivasha, 15.11.1918. Large numbers winter on the larger lakes.
42. Platalea alba Scop. African Spoonbill.
A female was shot off its nest April 10th, containing two eggs. Not particu- larly common, though more were seen on Lake Nakuru than elsewhere. Kisumu, Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha.
Novrrates Zootocicar XXIX. 1922. 9
43. Ardea cinerea cinerea Linn. European Grey Heron.
Migrants are found during the winter months, but the bird is not resident in East Africa,
44. Ardea melanocephala Vig. Black Crowned Grey Heron.
A common species on the lakes and larger rivers and swamps. Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha.
45, Ardea goliath Cretzschm. Giant Heron.
Not very common. Lake Naivasha. dg, April 1916.
46. Ardea gularis Bosc.
Has been recorded from Zanzibar and Witu (Jackson).
47, Ardea purpurea purpurea Linn. Purple Heron.
Very common, A resident and breeding species. Kisumu and Lake Naivasha.
48, Melanophoyx ardesiaca Wagl. Black Heron.
Common on the coast of Tanganyika Territory. A few extending to the Pangani region. Dar-es-Salaam (Loveridge leg.).
49, Mesophoyx intermedius brachyrhynchus Brehm. Short-billed White Heron. Quite common on Lake Victoria and the larger lakes, but also found on the smaller swamps. Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru. 50. Egretta alba Linn. European White Heron.
Winter visitor. Not resident, so far as my observations go.
51. Bubulcus ibis Linn. Cattle Egret.
Very common, Sometimes found miles from water.
52. Eeretta garzetta Linn. Egret.
A common species found from the coast throughout East Africa and Uganda in suitable localities.
53. Ardeola ralloides Scop. Buff-backed Heron.
Very common along the shores of the larger lakes, Naivasha and others.
10 Novitates Zoonocicar XXIX. 1922.
54, Ardeola idae Hartl. Striped-backed Heron.
It is remarkable to find this species so far inland as Nairobi. The only two specimens I have seen and shot were along the banks of small streams, not by lakes. It is a rare bird.
Nairobi and Kijabe, 10.vii.1915, 20.x.1916.
55. Butorides atricapilla Afz. Green-backed Heron.
Very common.
56. Erythrocnus rufiventris Sund. Chestnut Heron.
Not very common. Is found along the shores of Lake Victoria. Entebbe. 18.xi.1917.
57. Ardetta sturmi Wagl. Little Blue Heron.
Not by any means common. It occurs along swamps, by little streams, and also along lake sides. Nairobi River, Lake Victoria, Kisumu. 2 ¢ collected, May, November.
58. Ardetta minuta payesi Hartl. Little Black-backed Heron.
Kisumu in British East Africa, Sezibwa and 8, Ankole in Uganda, January, August, September.
59. Tigrisoma leucolaema Rchw.
This bird was described from Ukerewe Island on Lake Victoria. I have no specimens.
(Botaurus stellaris L. Bittern.
I have no records of the occurrence of the Bittern in East Africa or Uganda.)
60. Nycticorax nycticorax Linn. Night Heron.
Occurs in East Africa on migration, and is said to be resident also.
61. Scopus umbretta bannermani C. Grant. East African Hammerkopp.
A pair was caught on the nest at Kisumu, 17.vi.1915, Common on swampy ground and small collections of water.
62. Balaeniceps rex Gould. Shoebilled Stork.
Ts fairly common on Lake Kioga in Uganda, nesting in the sudd on that lake.
63. Ciconia ciconia Linn. White Stork.
Very common; large flocks spend the winter months on the plains of Kavirondo and Ukamba, A bird which had been ringed in Hungary was shot at Eldoret in Uasingishu district.
Novitatres ZooLnocican XXIX. 1922. 11
64. Ciconia nigra Linn. Black Stork.
A large flock was seen in the Kisumu district in December 1917.
65. Abdimia abdimi Licht. Purple Stork. Common in the Nile district of Uganda.
66. Dissoura episcopus microscelis Gray. White-headed Stork.
Has been recorded from several localities in Uganda and Kast Africa: Lamu Kipini, Naivasha, and Masindi.
67. Mycteria senegalensis Shaw. Saddle-billed Stork.
Occurs on the lakes and larger rivers, but is not common.
68. Leptoptilus crumeniferus Less. Marabou Stork.
Common in suitable localities.
69. Anastomus lamelligerus Temm. Open-billed Ibis.
Very common in the Kavirondo district. Kisumu.
70. Tantalus ibis Linn. Wood Ibis.
Commoner in the Nile district, Uganda, and Lake Albert than in East Africa but occurs on the Tana and Juba Rivers and is common on Lake Rudolf.
71. Phoenicopterus roseus Pall. Greater Flamingo.
Very common on Lakes Rudolf and Baringo, also occurs on Naivasha and Nakuru.
72. Phoenicopterus minor Geofir. Lesser Flamingo.
A common species on Lakes Rudolf, Baringo, Nakuru, Naivasha, and Magadi, and the lakes in West Uganda. Breed on Nakuru in large numbers. Young obtained in October and November. 20.x.1916, adults.
73. Glareola pratincola fiilleborni Neum. East African Pratincole.
Few in second plumage, 15.i.1917, adults January and May.
With a series of G. p. filleborni and G. p. limbata laid out side by side, it is obvious that they are distinct. It is, however, difficult to define their exact dis- tribution. From the specimens before me it would appear that in East Africa and Uganda, @. p. fiilleborni occurs along the coast and inland to Victoria Nyanza and Lake Rudolf, It is possible that G. p. limbata extends into North Uganda, but I have no specimens from this locality. G. p. fiilleborni, besides being darker on the breast, back, and under wing coverts than @. p. limbaia, lacks the indication. of a collar on the hind neck. The amount of ochraceous on the under surface appears to vary with age, the younger birds being pure white on the lower breast
i2 Novitates Zoorocicar XXIX. 1922.
and abdomen, It is important that the breeding range of the two subspecies should be ascertained and information as to migratory movements—if any— collected. Wings, 183-204 mm.
N. of Mombasa to Lamu, Lakes Victoria and Rudolf.
(Glareola pratincola pratincola. European Pratincole.
Does not occur in East Africa or Uganda—although reported, These specimens should refer to the previous subspecies !)
74. Glareola nordmanni Fisch. Black-winged Pratincole.
Seth-Smith collected this form in North Uganda, at Gondokoro, in 1916, and remarks that they appeared in large numbers between April 14th and 18th, and then left. Wings, 193-202 mm.
75. Glareola ocularis Verr. Madagascar Pratincole.
This species has been reported from the coast of East Africa: Lamu, September 11th, Jackson coll.
76. Glareola nuchalis Gray. White-ringed Pratincole.
% Glareola emini Shell, It seems to me very doubtful whether G. nuchalis and G. emini are distinct. Entebbe and Jinga in Uganda, 2 3, 1.viii.17 and 7.v.18.
77. Cursorius somalensis Shelley. Somali Grey-naped Courser.
3, 18.ii1.1918. Turkwell River, H. J. A. Turner leg., Meinertzhagen coll.
This specimen appears to me not to differ from birds collected in Somaliland.
The occurrence of this species in Turkana and south-west Lake Rudolf district extends its range considerably. Wings, 125-134 mm.
78. Cursorius temmincki Sw. Temminck’s Courser.
Claude Grant, Jbis, 1915, draws attention to the three specimens collected by the Cozens-Lowe Expedition in Uganda and East Africa, and remarks that they are rather darker on the back than West or South African birds. This is also the case in my five specimens. In addition, my specimens seem to have the black abdominal patch larger in extent—more longitudinal and reaching almost to the vent. However, this may be due to preparation, Transvaal birds are palest.
There is considerable variation on the under-surface, some specimens lacking the ashy-olive tinge on the breast. These birds are found from sea-level to well over 8,500 feet. Wings, 118-125 mm.
Coast of East Africa, Lamu inland to Taveta, Simba, Nakuru, and Eldoret in B.E.A., South Ankole in Uganda. 4 $29, January, May, August, September.
Novirates ZooLocicar XXIX, 1922. 13
79. Rhinoptilus chalcopterus obscurus Neum. Southern Purple-winged Courser.
Apparently a good subspecies. Two full-plumaged males, Nairobi, 3.v.1917 and 26.v.1919.
80. Rhinoptilus africanus gracilis Fisch. and Rchw. Little Two-banded Courser.
Frequents the open, rocky plains and dry bush country. Not very common. Taveta, Magadi, Loita. 3 919, 5.viii.; 12, 23.xii.
81. Rhinoptilus africanus hartingi Sharpe. Lesser Two-banded Courser.
This form occurs in the Juba district of British East Africa.
82. Rhinoptilus cinctus cinctus Heugl. Three-banded Courser.
At first glance it would appear that Somaliland specimens are paler on the upperside, but these can be matched with birds from East Africa. Suk Country, Turkana, and Kerio River. 4 $19, 6.iv.1917;1 Q, 4.1.1918.
83. Squatarola helvetica Linn. Grey Plover.
Specimens shot during the same month represent various degrees of moult. Thus we find that a male procured in March is almost in full nuptial dress, while others obtained in April show as yet very little signs of change from winter to summer.
Lamu and Manda Islands, Coast of mainland. ¢ 9, March and April.
84, Charadrius geoffroyi Wagl. Heavy-billed Dotterel.
Five birds, with the exception of two males collected in April, are in winter dress. The moult apparently extends over a lengthened period, some birds taking longer than others. A male taken 17.iv.1916 is still in full winter plumage. So far as I know, this species has not been taken on the inland waters of East Africa or Uganda.
Coast of East Africa, especially Lamu and district. March, April, January.
85. Charadrius asiaticus Pall, Caspian Plover.
This is perhaps the most common wader found inland, frequently miles from water. On open veldt and newly ploughed land they occur in flocks, but in my experience seldom stay long in one place.
Coast lands, Nairobi, Kisumu, Naivasha, Eldoret. 3 3, January, September.
86. Charadrius mongolus atrifrons Wagl. Black-fronted Sand Dotterel.
Specimens collected in March are almost in full breeding plumage. They occur commonly along the coast and occasionally inland on the larger lakes, Wings, 120-127 mm.
Lake Victoria, coast land Mombasa, Lamu. 5 $9, January, March.
(Charadrius mongolus mongolus does not migrate to East Africa.)
14 Novitates ZooLocicar XXIX. 1922.
87. Charadrius marginatus Vicill. Pale-backed Sand Plover. 2 C. pallidus Strick.
Rather paler than birds from Angola, but one or two worn specimens from that country agree in coloration. Madagascar birds, however, are paler, like the East African specimens ; a series should be compared. Wings, 100-103 mm.
Lamu and mainland coast [Jubaland, A. B. Percival coll.]. ¢9, April, December, in fresh plumage.
88. Charadrius varius varius Vieill. African Sand Plover.
This species is found in East Africa along the coast and inland, frequenting the lake shores and banks or rivers and streams where there are open beaches and banks. It is, however, more a bird of the lakes than the Three-collared Plover. Full-plumaged adults vary considerably from worn specimens, the difference being particularly noticeable on the breast.
Lamu, Manda, Nairobi, Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha. 8 ¢ 3 2, February, April, May, June.
89. Charadrius venustus Fisch. and Rchw. Massai Sand Plover.
To the original description should be added the following: In adult males there is an indication of a narrow black band separating the white of the throat from the pale chestnut breast band. In clean, freshly moulted males the chestnut of the posterior part of the superciliary stripe is extended back to the nape, forming a collar. The young bird has the feathers of the mantle and wing-coverts tipped with pale greyish. It lacks the black-and-brown frontal bands, and on the breast has an incomplete band of an ashy brown.
This Plover is apparently confined to the Soda Lakes of East Africa and very rare in collections. The plumage of newly moulted birds is soon bleached by the action of the soda in the water.
Magadi Lake. 3 g, 29, 1 juv. (20.xi.1917) obtained.
90, 91. Charadrius hiaticula hiaticula Linn. and Charadrius hiaticula tundrae Lowe. Ringed Plover.
In a series of fifteen East African specimens pale and dark birds are repre- sented, and as both the typical and eastern forms are migrants to Africa south of the equator, both subspecies might occur. It is noticeable that November to January birds are paler than February to April specimens, and some of the latter are as pale as the typical form.
Wings: 3 122, 123, 124, 126, 127, 128, 129; 9118, 121, 126, 127, 118 mm,
Nairobi, Nakuru Lake, Naivasha Lake, Mombasa. 5 3, 2 9.
92. Charadrius dubius curonicus Gmel. Little Ringed Plover.
The localities from which my specimens were taken extend its winter range. February birds are still in first plumage,
Victoria Nyanza, Kisumu, and Lake Rudolf (S.W.). 3 g 2 9, February, March,
Novirates ZoorocicaAE XXIX, 1922. 15
93. Charadrius tricollaris Vieill. Three-collared Ringed Plover.
Eggs: Clutches three and two taken 17.ix.1918.
A young bird, 16.x.17, is heavily spotted on the back, the feathers being margined and barred with pale buff; remains of down are present on the hind neck and on the tips of the rectrices. Very common on lakes and suitable streams.
Nairobi, Simba, and Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha. 3 g, 29, ljuv., the last T6rxs TON.
94. Stephanibyx melanopterus minor Zedlitz. Large Grey-breasted Plover.
This form appears to be separable, but certain North-East African birds are not any larger than East African examples.
East African : wings, 215-218; North-east African: 218-230 mm.
The nestlings in down have the forehead buff with a few black spots, head and upper surface of body mixed black and buff, neck with a decided white collar, chin, sides of head and lower surface of body white, sides of head and body washed buff. Tips of bill brownish. They resemble very closely the young of our common Lapwing. Frequents the plains rather than water-side.
Nairobi, Nakuru, and Naivasha, 2 g 3 9, May and October. Nestlings, 16.v.1918.
95. Stephanibyx lugubris Less. (= S. inornatus Swains.). Lesser Grey-breasted Plover.
Claude Grant, Jbis, 1915, points out that the correct name for this bird is S. lugubris, not inornatus.—Birds from the coast districts of East Africa have rather narrower black bands separating the grey breast from the white abdomen. In some cases the black is entirely absent. Wing, 160-184 mm.
Lamu and Nambeziwa, Uganda. 2 3, 8.v.1916, 14.x.1917.
96. Stephanibyx coronatus Bodd. Crowned Lapwing.
East African specimens do not appear to differ from South African birds. Wings, 193-198 mm. Young in the first barred plumage show more indication of the ultimate plumage than do others of this group. The specimen taken 12. viii.1915 has still a large amount of down. It is pale sandy buff on the upperside and breast, faintly barred with blackish. A dark band separates the buff of the breast from the white of the rest of the underside, Central pair of tail-feathers uniform black, the remainder tipped white—all retain the down at the tip. The cap is indicated by a whitish centre mixed with buff and margined with black. The soft parts of the bill and the legs are yellowish pink.
M’buyuni Plains, Simba, Nairobi. 3 3, 1 9, 1 juv.
97. Hemiparra crassirostris Hartl. Thick-billed Plover. Masindi, Uganda. 49 in full, fresh plumage, 15.xi.1918.
(Hemiparra leucoptera Rchw. White-winged Thick-billed Plover.
Is said to occur in Uganda, but I do not think it does.)
16 NoviratEs Zoonogicare XXIX, 1922,
98. Hoplopterus spinosus L. Egyptian Spur-winged Plover.
Fully adult birds were taken at Lake Rudolf, January and December. Kobua River, Lake Rudolf, and Moroto.
99. Hoplopierus armatus Burch. Saddle-backed Plover. (H. speciosus is synonym.) Very common along the shores of Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha. Naivasha and Nakuru. 2 3, June, October.
100. Sarciophorous tectus Bodd. Crested Wattled Plover.
From the series (21 skins) with which I have compared my few birds it would appear that those from North-east Africa and Abyssinia are paler on the upperside than birds from the Senegal, the type locality of S. tectus. The East African (inland) and Uganda birds resemble the Senegal ones. It must, however, be noticed that our North-east African birds are clean and hardly worn, while the Senegal ones before me appear stained with earthy material.
A comparative table of wing-measurements gives the following :
North-east Africa, eight specimens, 190-198 mm.
Senegal, nine specimens, 185-195 mm.
Uganda, East Africa, four specimens, 180-187 mm.
Near Mt. Moroto, Turkwell River, Kerio River. Specimens collected in
January, October, November,
101. Sarciophorus tectus latifrons Rchw. White-fronted Wattled Plover.
Reichenow has separated the birds from the east coast near the Juba River under the above name, giving as their differentiating characters the wide frontal band, the paler plumage, and smaller size : wings, 175mm. In the Tring Museum there is a specimen from the type locality which bears out these characters except in size: wing, 183 mm, Zedlitz upholds this subspecies and quotes several examples, and includes birds from the Ukamba district of British East Africa. Claude Grant, Ibis, 1915, doubts the validity of this form, but is in error when he compares eastern and western birds.
102. Sarciophorus superciliosus Rchw. Chestnut-banded Wattled Plover.
Of this rare plover I collected three adult males in full plumage and with the olive-bronze feathers of the back margined with rusty. The adult female has the lower edge of the chestnut breast-band margined with black. Reichenow appears to have used an immature bird for his original description. ‘Two young birds, shot 22.viii.1917, near Kisumu (where these birds breed), differ consider- ably from the adults, being paler on the upper side and having paler upper breasts and necks ; the breast-band is only slightly indicated with a few brownish feathers. The rufous on the forehead is wider than in adults and extends back as a superciliary stripe to almost the nape. The crown is ashy greyish, not black as in adults. The wattles are present, but not well developed,
Kisumu, 3 ¢ 2 9, August and December.
Novirates ZooLocicar XXIX, 1922. 17
103. Lobivanellus senegalus lateralis A. Sm. Black-billed Wattle Plover.
Claude Grant, Ibis, 1915, recording a bird from Gondokoro as L. senegalus, states that it “‘ has not yet assumed the black on the abdomen,” and thinks it to be immature. If the bird is L. senegalus senegalus it never would develop the black abdomen! All the specimens that I have taken in Uganda have black abdomens and are L. senegalus lateralis! Neumann, however, in O.M., 1914, p. 8, includes Uganda in his distribution of L. senegalus senegalus. It may occur there, but I doubt it.
L, senegalus major Neum., N.E. Africa, is a much larger bird, and a recognis- able race.
Masindi, Singo, 2 g, April, December.
104. Burhinus oedicnemus oedicnemus Linn. European Stone Plover.
Appears to be a regular winter visitor to East Africa. I have records of its occurrence during five years. They are, however, not common. Kyambu and Naivasha Lake. Taken in January and October.
105, Burhinus senegalensis Swains. Senegal Stone Curlew.
My birds undoubtedly belong to the Senegal race. Whether or not the Eastern bird differs, I am unable to decide from the material available. W. Lake Rudolf, Kobua, and Meuressi. ¢ 2, February, March.
106. Burhinus vermiculatus Cab. African Stone Curlew.
Occurred in fair numbers on the coast at Lamu and on the mainland at M’Koi. Is very common in Uganda.
Lamu. 29, April.
107. Burhinus capensis capensis Licht. Cape Spotted Stone Curlew.
My specimens agree with typical birds and not with B. capensis affinis. They are resident and breed in Hast Africa, Several pairs nested on the stony ground of the Athi plains.
Nairobi River. June, October.
108. Burhinus capensis affinis Riipp. Somali Spotted Stone Curlew. Zedlitz (Journ. f. Orn., 1914) states that this form extends to the Victoria Nyanza. This requires verification. Birds from Baringo and Lake Rudolf may belong to this race. (Cf. Hartert, Nov. Zoon, 1921, p. 88.)
109. Dromas ardeola Payk. Crab Plover.
Common on the coast in suitable places, A very immature bird was taken at, Manda Island on 6.iv.1916.
Mombasa, Lamu, Manda Island,
2
18 Novirates ZooLocicaE XXIX, 1922.
110. Recurvirostra avosetta Linn. Avocet. Resident on Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha. The specimen collected was taken at Njoro about twenty miles north of Nakuru, not in the vicinity of water, on May 17th, 1917.
111. Himantopus himantopus Linn. Black-winged Stilt.
Resident on’ Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha.
112. Numenius arquatus arquatus Linn. Common Curlew.
Many birds remain on the coast throughout the summer, The bill of the largest female measures 180 mm., and of the smallest male 127 (measured straight). Occurs also on inland waters.
Mombasa, Manda Island. April.
113. Numenius phaeopus phaeopus Linn. Whimbrel.
Fair numbers winter along the lakes and coast. Manda, Lake Nakuru. February, April, August.
114. Terekia cinerea Giild. Terek Sandpiper.
In full breeding plumage in March, at Lamu.
115. Machetes pugnax Linn. Ruff.
An August bird is still in summer plumage and has not commenced to moult ; it shows little sign of wear, while the young taken with it is in first immature
plumage. Nakuru Lake, Nairobi. Taken also in October.
116. Tringa nebularia Gunn. Green Shank.
March and April birds are in full nuptial dress. Common on inland waters and in flocks along the coast. Eldoret, Nakuru, Naivasha, Lamu and Manda Island.
117. Tringa totanus Linn. Red-shank.
Has been noted at Zanzibar and Mombasa, but I have not obtained specimens.
118. Tringa stagnatilis Bechst. Marsh Sandpiper.
The male of 17.iii. 1917 is to all intents in full breeding dress, while the May birds are showing very little signs of change. In my opinion, these latter are probably young of the previous summer and quite a number of these do not leave their winter quarters in the summer. An August bird has so worn the pale edges of the mantle feathers as to appear almost black in the interscapular region, and yet shows little indication of a moult. My October and December birds are young of the previous summer and are becoming light grey on the upperside.
Obtained at Nakuru and Naivasha Lakes, Eldoret, Kisumu, and Nairobi River,
Novirates ZooLocicaE XXIX. 1922. : 19
119. Tringa ochropus Linn. Green Sandpiper.
Specimens shot in January, February, September, October, and December are in various plumages, but none approaching the full nuptial dress. A few remain throughout the summer.
Entebbe and Magani in Uganda, Nairobi, Kisumu, Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha.
120. Tringa glareola Linn. Wood Sandpiper.
Odd birds remain in East Africa during the spring and summer. Kisumu, Nakuru, Naivasha, Nairobi, and Lake Jipe, in East Africa ; Budu and §. Aukole in Uganda. February, March, October, December.
121. Tringa hypoleucos Linn. Common Sandpiper.
Some birds remain throughout the year in suitable localities. Kisumu, Nakuru, Naivasha, Nairobi, Simba, Tsavo, Lamu, and Manda Island,
122. Crocethia alba Pall. Sanderling.
An October bird is a young one in first plumage, while April birds are in half summer dress, though one April male is still in winter garb.
Found on coast and inland waters.
Nakuru, Mombasa, and Lamu. April, October, January.
123. Calidris canutus Linn. Knot.
Recorded from Zanzibar. I have not collected specimens.
124, Arenaria interpres L. Turnstone.
Occurs along the coast during winter, and is occasionally found on the larger lakes. Jubaland coast. g 2, December.
125. Calidris alpina Linn. Dunlin.
Has been recorded from the coast and inland waters, but I have seen no specimens.
126. Calidris ferruginea Briinn. Curlew Sandpiper.
The birds collected between April and May vary from specimens in new summer dress to others still in full winter and showing no indication of moult. August and October birds are young of the same year.
Kisumu, Nakuru, Naivasha, Lamu, and Manda Island. 4 3, 29, 2 juv., col- lected April, May, August, October, December.
127. Calidris minuta minuta Leisl. Little Stint.
The assumption of the breeding dress is not limited to any given period ; thus among the May birds we have some not yet started to moult and others in nuptial plumage. As with other “ migratory waders,” I am convinced that here
20 Novitates Zoonoagicar XXIX. 1922.
also the late moulting birds are young of the previous summer, and of these many would not leave their winter haunts. I have been unable to collect birds in June and July, because I have not been in favourable districts during these months. On my return to Africa I hope to rectify this omission.
Coast of East Africa, Mombasa, Lamu, Nairobi River, N’gong Ditch, Naivasha, Nakuru, and Kisumu. 10 ¢ 11 9, shot in February, May, August, September, October, and December.
128, Gallinago media Lath. Great Snipe.
As a rule the Great Snipe leave Kisumu area on May 28th, but in the spring of 1917 they were still in evidence as late as June 15th. It was an exceptionally wet period, and floods were common. My heaviest bird weighed 8} oz. ; it was covered with a thick layer of fat. Numbers remain in East Africa during the winter. Cf. next species.
Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Kisumu. 2 ¢ 3 9, collected in April, May, December.
129. Gallinago gallinago gallinago Linn. Common Snipe.
A few Common Snipe remain throughout the winter in suitable localities, but the majority which are shot are those passing south or north on migration, Cf. previous species.
Nairobi, Nakuru, Naivasha. May, October, December.
130. Gallinago gallinago nigripennis Bp. African Snipe.
I have found this species breeding at altitudes from 3,400 to 9,000 feet. Nairobi River, Lakes Narasha, Naivasha, and Nakuru. 3 ¢ 29, shot Septem- ber and December.
131. Limnocryptes minima Briinn. (gallinula auct.). Jack Snipe.
The occurrence of the Jack Snipe in East Africa extends its known winter range very considerably. I have only met with it twice, and shot two males 23.x.1918, 20.xii.1916. It is not a common visitor, and whether it is a regular migrant to these parts has yet to be ascertained.
Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha.
132. Rostratula benghalensis Linn. Painted Snipe.
Breeds regularly in suitable places in East Africa. Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu. April, May.
133. Phyllopezus africanus Gm. African Jacana. Mombasa (mainland), Kisumu. January, May, September.
134, Microparra capensis Smith. Pigmy Jacana.
On two occasions I saw what I took to be this species on Victoria Nyanza. The identification is probably correct, as the bird had been obtained by Sir F. Jackson on Naivasha Lake,
Novirares Zootocicar XXIX. 1922. Pal
135. Rallus coerulescens Gm. African Long-billed Rail.
Two males and others from East Africa are rather paler than birds from South Africa, and have the throats whitish, not grey like the rest of the underside.
They are adult birds, and possibly a northern form.
Nairobi, Simba.
136. Grex crex Linn. Land Rail.
The majority of those seen are birds on their way south and north. I have specimens from Nairobi, Kisumu, Kyamba,and Simba,shot in April and December.
137. Crecopsis egregia Pet. African Water Rail.
It is rather remarkable that so few specimens of this bird are obtained, and it was only by accident that my two specimens were procured while snipe shooting in May.
Kisumu Swamp.
138. Limnocorax niger Gm. Black Rail.
The nestling in down (10. xii. 1917) is oily green-black on the upperside, dull sooty-black below. Legs brownish horn, Upper mandible pink with a black band midway, lower black with pink tip. In first feathered plumage the bird is dull black, paler, more brownish underneath, becoming whitish on the belly. Bill black-brown with indication of pink.
Nairobi, Fort Hall, Kisumu, and Jinja in Uganda.
139. Porzana porzana Linn. European Spotted Crake.
Two specimens obtained in February and April are both adult, yet are ex- amples of extremes in plumage. The female bird, evidently in full breeding dress, is very heavily speckled all over, including the secondary and tertiary coverts, The male, on the other hand, is without spots from chin to the vent, the abdomen being almost uniform creamy. The wing coverts have very few spots. There is a large series of this bird in the Tring Museum, yet not one exactly like my male bird.
Londiani and Nairobi.
140. Porzana pusilla obscura Neum. African Little Spotted Crake.
A 9, 14.i.1918, is an interesting specimen, being a bird changing from the first or juvenile plumage to the adult. The grey which is appearing on the head and throat is paler than in southern birds. I suspect that the northern birds are
distinct. Collected by my friend J. P. Cook on Lake Naivasha.
141, Sarothrura rufa elizabethae van Someren, Van Someren’s Pigmy Rail. (PI. I.). Bull. B.O. Club, xi. p. 20, 1919.
The bird recorded under the name of S. 7, bonapartet (Ibis, 1916) was identified for me by Ogilvie-Grant. 1 have now procured three males and an adult female,
22 Novirates Zootoaicak XXIX. 1922,
I drew attention to the fact that my single specimen from Kyetume, Uganda, did not have a white or pale throat, as S. bonapartei has, according to the original description ; but the whole of the head, neck, and chest were uniform bright chestnut. Now, with the additional material, it is evident that young males have pale throats and paler chestnut foreparts than adults. The type of S. bonapartei comes from Gabun, far removed from the locality where I procured my specimen and in view of the fact that these Rails are very local—two distinct species occurring in close proximity—it would not be unreasonable to suggest that the Kakamega and Kyetume birds are not typical S. rufa bonapartei. There are in the Tring Museum two males and two females from Angola, collected by Ansorge, which are not true S. rufa, nor yet are they S. rufa bonapartei as they—the females—have uniform black tails, not spotted. These females differ consider- ably from my female, though the males are scarcely separable. I consider these to be a new subspecies of S. rufa.
The birds are not S. r. bonapartei, specimens of which I have examined, for that bird has the chestnut of the head and forepart of the body pale, more orange- chestnut. I accordingly have named the Uganda and Kavirondo birds S. rufa elizabethae. (Bull. B.O.C., November 1919.)
Uganda to North Kavirondo and Nandi.
S. rufa ansorgei van Someren, Bull. B.O. Club, November 1919, inhabits Angola. :
The 9 from Kisumu cannot be S. Jugens, as the description of that bird does not fit and S. Jugens is larger, having a wing of 83 mm. as compared with 78 mm. of my bird. It differs from 9 of S. rufa rufa of Cape Colony by being blacker on the upper surface, the buff markings are coarser, the tail is closely spotted and barred. The males differ from S. rufa rufa 3 in being rather more whitish on the underside and the bill is slightly smaller. The males have wings of 75-80 mm,
In the three Kavirondo males it is at once noted that the youngest bird is less spotted and streaked on the wings than adults, further that the tail is practically uniform, one or so spots being present. In the second, not quite mature bird the abdomen is white and the throat paler than the breast, but this isnotsointheold male. In the British Museum is an adult male shot at Kampala by Seth Smith.
Kyetume, Kisumu, Kakamegoes.
142. Sarothrura somereni Bannerman, Bannerman’s Pigmy Rail. (PI. 1.). Bull. B.O, Club, xl. p. 8, 1919.
I do not think this bird can be S. béhmi Rehw., type locality Likulwe River ; for although agreeing superficially with the description, my birds differ in such characters as the markings and measurements (Reichenow compares S. béhmi with S. rufa amd S, bonapartei). The white markings on the wings are not small, but very large white streaks, The outer web of the first primary is pure white. My birds have wings of 84-87 mm. as compared to 80 mm. in S, béhmi ; tails of 30-32 mm. instead of 40.
Further, Kisumu and Nairobi are far removed from Likulwe, and these birds are very local.
Since the above was written a female bird, procured by Dr. Hind at Machakos, undoubtedly belonging to this species, and totally different from any
Novirates Zoonocicar XXIX. 1922. 23
known female, has been described by Bannerman in Bull. B.O. Club, November 1919, as the type of a new species to which my male birds belong. Kisumu and Nairobi, East Africa. 3 g, May 1916.
143. Sarothrura pulchra centralis Neum. Uganda Pigmy Rail.
I wish to draw attention to the variation in the spotting and barring of the tail feathers of this bird.
Lugalambo, Bugoma, Mabira ; Kakamegoes, Nandi.
144, Sarothrura elegans reichenowi Sharpe. Reichenow’s Pigmy Rail.
The specimen referred to by me in Jbis, 1916, remains the only one obtained by me or my collectors. It is apparently very rare. I consider this a good race of S. elegans.
Kyetume, Uganda. ¢ 20.ii.1912.
145. Porphyrio madagascariensis Lath. African Purple Swamp Hen.
Dr. Hartert has shown, Noy. Zoou, xxiv. 1917, that the continental bird does not differ from that from Madagascar, consequently the name above must be applied to all.
These birds were breeding in October 1918 on Naivasha Lake.
146, Porphyrio alleni. Thomps. Little Purple Swamp Hen.
A nest with eggs and young was observed at Naivasha Lake, in October 1918. Not very common and rather retiring in habits.
147. Gallinula chloropus brachyptera Brehm. African Water Hen.
The name above must be applied to the African form of G. chloropus in pre- ference to G. c. meridionalis. (Vide Hartert, Nov. Zoo. xxiv. 1917.) A Decem- ber bird is in moult and is just beginning to renew the wing feathers.
Simba and Lake Naivasha. *
148, Gallinula angulata Anders. Lesser African Water Hen.
Extremely shy and difficult to procure. I obtained the eggs of this bird in June 1917, and adult 3 gin April and May, on the Nairobi River.
149, Fulica cristata Gm. African Coof.
The young collected in December is a bird of October hatching. These birds nested on Lake Naivasha. Naivasha and Nakuru Lakes,
150. Podica petersi Hartl. Peter’s Finfoot.
A pair were seen on a small lake just north of Mombasa, but I was unable to procure them with my small-bore gun.
24 Noviratrs Zoonocicar XXIX, 1922.
151. Podica senegalensis ? subsp. East African Finfoot.
On several occasions a small Finfoot was observed on the Thika and Ruiru Rivers.
152. Turnix nana Sund. Dark-backed Button Quail.
Reichenow does not include Uganda in the distribution of this species, It is possible that Uganda birds will prove to be a subspecies, but insufficient material exists at present on which to form an opinion.
Kyetume, Uganda. , 12.iv.1914.
153. Ortyxelus meiffreni Vieill.
Has been taken on the Turkwell River, but is a very rare bird.
154, Turnix sylvaticus alleni Mearns. East African Button Quail.
Of the various characters mentioned by Mearns, the more intense rusty colour on the breast and its extent are the only ones which can be accepted. Even these are variable and can be matched by South African lepurana. Owing to lack of South African material I am unable to come to any definite conclusion as to the validity of this subspecies. Mearns gives the wing measurement of his type as 70mm. My specimens measure gg 75, 92 80-83.
Simba, Samburu, and Kisumu. 2 $3 9, January, May, July.
155. Pterocles gutturalis saturatior Hart. Eastern Yellow-throated Sand Grouse.
An excellent subspecies. Fairly common in suitable localities. Simba and Kyambu. 2 3, collected 18. viii. 1918.
156. Pterocles decoratus decoratus Cab. Bridled Sand Grouse.
Two birds from the Suk Country do not differ from those found in the Taru district. Common.
Kimiriri River, South Elgon, Suk Hills, Taveta, M’buyuni, and Simba. 8 ¢ 39, January to December.
157. Pterocles senegalensis olivascens Hart. Massai Pin-tailed Sand Grouse.
These specimens agree perfectly with the type of P. senegalensis olivascens (type locality Simba). They are very much darker than birds from Somaliland and Egypt. This is what one would expect. However, C. Grant (Ibis, 1915) identifies his birds from thirty miles north of Baringo as ‘“‘ P. exustus ellioti,” which he believes is the older name for Hartert’s P. exustus somalicus. Hartert’s type and co-types were exceptionally small birds, as shown by a good series of additional material from North Somaliland. These resemble the type in being paler, but they agree in size with birds from the Sudan, which are darker than Somaliland ones, though not so dark as birds from Turkana and Simba. Abys- sinian specimens are pale like Somali ones, and thus P. s. ellioti must be used for birds from these two countries. Are the Baringo birds P. s. ellioti, or are they P. s, olivascens and thus similar to my Turkana birds? The locality of sene- galensis is given as Senegal, Nubia, and Abyssinia, This species, however, does
NovitatEes Zootoeicar XXIX, 1922. 95
not occur in Senegal, and as the Abyssinian birds are the pale P. s. ellioti, we accept Nubian ones as typical. Simba (three specimens), Meuressi, Turkwell, South Turkana (two specimens). The range of the forms are then: P. exustus exustus, Nubia (dark birds). P. exustus floweri, Egypt (still darker, not quite so dark as olivascens). P. exustus elliott, Abyssinia, Somaliland (pale birds). P. exustus olivascens, East Africa North to Uganda (darkest form).
158. Numida coronata reichenowi Grant. Reichenow’s Helmeted Guinea Fowl.
Birds from Fort Hall district are rather puzzling. They have the helmet curved and have no papillae at the base of the bill, while birds from the Loita Plains are just the reverse, but also with no nasal tuft, while the Nakuru birds have differently shaped helmets ; this has been called :
Numida ‘‘ ptilorhyncha’’ ansorget Hartert, 1898. Ansorge’s Guinea Fowl, App. Under Af. Sun., 1898 (sbsp. of coronata).
I have placed ptilorhyncha in inverted commas because Hartert, in his original description (from one specimen), among other characters of diagnostic value mentions that the bird possessed ‘‘ caruncles”’ at the base of the bill. I have examined the type and also topo-types, and all certainly agree in having caruncles or bristles. There is one specimen, however, which has no bristles. I think the evidence is in support of the type of NV. ansorgei belonging to the “« ptilorhyncha ” group, and not “ coronata ”’ or “ mitrata.”
The character of the wing is as in NV. ptilorhyncha major Neum., i.e. spotted, not with a decided white bar as in NV. ptilorhyncha ptilorhyncha, Assuming these observations to be correct, in what relation does this bird stand to N. p. rendilis Lonnberg (with syn. N. p. baringoensis C, Grant) ?
N. coronata Rchw. occurs just south of Nakuru and at Naivasha, but do these birds flock together and do they interbreed ? More specimens are required ! N. ansorgei has priority over both N. rendilis and N. baringoensis.
In Tring are specimens from Nakuru and Elmenteita Lake.
159, Numida ptilorhyncha rendilis Lonnberg. Rendile Tufted Guinea Fowl.
(N. p. baringoensis !) The relationship of this Guinea Fowl is still in doubt ! Suk Hills and Baringo.
160. Numida mitrata Pall. Coast Guinea Fowl.
2 N. uhehensis Rchw.
One specimen from Makindo may belong to this species or Reichenow’s subspecies N. m. uhehensis, if that race can be upheld.
Makindo in Tanganyika Territory.
161. Acryllium vulturinum Hardw. Vulture-like Guinea Fowl.
Common in the dry desert scrub, Tsavo, Masongoleni.
26 Novitarrs Zoonoarcar XXIX. 1929.
162. Guttera cristata suahelica Neum. East African Blue Guinea Fowl.
A doubtful form. More material required. N’gong by Nairobi.
163. Guttera cristata seth-smithi Neum, Uganda Blue Guinea Fowl.
The young in first plumage is as follows: The head is ochraceous buff, lined with black—a centre line commences at the base of the bill, passes back over the crown, and at the top of the head widens out to form a large black patch on hind part of the crown and neck ; a narrow black line commences at the nostril and in the region of the lores divides into two—one passing up over the eye, where it breaks up into a mottled superciliary stripe, the other skirting the edges of the bill—passes below the eye to end in a mottled area in the region of the ear. The throat is pale buff. Feathers of the mantle and coverts of wing rusty brown, lined on the outer web with black and margined with ochraecous. The second- aries are greyish, finely speckled with black and tipped with pale buff. Primaries greyish black, tipped with buff. The breast feathers and those of the flanks are blackish, widely edged with rusty and buff. Abdomen greyish. Bill horn brown. Legs brownish.
Mabira Forest, Uganda.
164, Guttera pucherani Hartl. Scrub Black-crested Guinea Fowl.
Lamu and Malindi, Taveta. 2 g 19, January, April, August.
165. Pternistes leucoscepus infuscatus Cab. Orange-throated Francolin.
P.1. keniensis Mearns.
It is quite obvious that this bird varies greatly, and that these variations do not occur according to locality, but are due to age, sex, and the soil. Mearns, in describing the Kenia bird, gives certain characters by which this form can be dis- tinguished from P. l. infuscatus, These may be found in all birds occurring over 6,000 feet on Kenia, but they are also found in birds from the Kyambu district, from Maktau, from Lake Jipe (type locality P. 1. infuscatus) and Taveta, and from the localities as mentioned by Mearns as being inhabited by intergrades—+.e, Saba Saba and Fort Hall. Then he goes on to say that the birds from Wambugu’s are typical P. 1. infuscatus. This is extraordinary, as Wambugu’s lies between the locality of P. 1. keniensis and that of infuscatus. Therefore I doubt that his “‘keniensis ” can be upheld. My thirteen specimens are from the following places: West Kenia, Embu, Fort Hall, Saba Saba, Kyambu, Nairobi, Simba, Wbuyuni, Taveta, and Lake Jipe.
166, Pternistes cranchi Leach. Cranch’s Red-throated Francolin.
The distribution of this and P. béhmi is rather remarkable, if the localities given by Reichenow are correct. Muburoni, east Victoria Nyanza. 3g 1 9.
Novitarrs Zoonoaioarn XXIX,. 1929. oT
167. Pternistes humboldti Peters. Humboldt’s Red-throated Francolin.
? P.h. melanogaster Neum.
There is much variation in birds from one locality, and I cannot with con- fidence state whether these birds are typical or not.
3 3 2, Mombasa, Lamu (mainland).
168. Francolinus squamatus schiitti Cab. Schiitt?’s Scaly Francolin.
3, 4.ix.15; 17 9, 27. vii.1917, 3.ix.1915, South Ankole, Kyetume, Lugalambo, and Elgon.
169. Francolinus squamatus maranensis Mearns. Kilimanjaro Scaly Francolin.
3 3, 17.x.1917; 9, 19.x.1917; juv., 3.v.1915.
The arrangement adopted in Tring of placing F’. schiitti as a subspecies of F. squamatus appears to be correct. Of the various subspecies described by Mearns, the only one which appears good is F. s. maranensis, but even here my specimens do not bear out the characters given by him for this bird. Specimens from the Kilimanjaro district (south-east) do not possess brown tails “ broadly barred with black,” nor have they the outer primaries “ mottled and pencilled with rust brown.”’ The tails of my birds are brown, finely vermiculated and freckled with black, and the outer web of primaries is uniform, The distribution of F. s. maranensis as given by C. Grant (Ibis, 1915) appears to embrace too large an area, or else F, s, maranensis is not a good subspecies. It appears to me, from the series before me (Uganda 8, East Africa 11), that the differences in the series are very slight, and Uganda birds can be matched exactly by East African and vice versa, and these not from localities where the two subspecies might be expected to meet and interbreed! Further, my series does not bear out C. Grant’s remark that the females of the East African birds are uniformly paler on the underside than males, and that Uganda males and females are more alike in this respect. In dividing Francolins into races one should never omit to take into consideration age, moult, and of course sex, and most certainly also character of soil of country inhabited. There is the tendency for old males of the schiitti group to become more uniform on the underside, the central brown patch on the feathers being diminished in size and the submarginal longitudinal white or creamy white line disappearing. Old females follow the same change.
The young in down is as follows: Upper surface bright chestnut, slightly mottled with black on the back, Head with two buff lines commencing at the base of the bill, passing one on either side of the chestnut coronal patch which is outlined in black, form wide superciliary stripes, and continuing down to the nape, join each other. Along the sides of the back, from about the middle, pale lines continue to the tail. There is a short black line posterior to the eye. The under surface is bright sandy, not yellowish, and washed with brownish on the breast and flanks. Thighs mottled sandy and brown. Bill horny yellow, culmen brown. Legs pink. Cf. young of P. infuscatus and hildebrandti.
Kyambu, Fort Hall, Kenia, and Molo,
Although my birds do not conform to the distribution given by Mearns for his races of squamatus, yet it is more than probable that we shall have to adopt certain of the names applied, i.e, keniensis, maranensis, and ? zappeyi. There are
98 Novirates Zoonoaicar XXIX. 1922.
three district races in East Africa: (a) a form inhabiting the plains and scrub from Kilimanjaro east to the cultivated lands of the N. Ukambo and N’gong districts; (b) a race inhabiting the highlands from Kenia, Aberdares, and the Mau Escarpment ; and (c) a marked form, ranging in the Loita district and 8. Kavi- rondo area to Kisii. More material is required to establish these races.
170, Francolinus jacksoni Grant. Jackson’s Francolin.
In perfect plumage in August. Aberdare Mountains.
171. Francolinus icterorhynchus Heugl. Uganda Striped Francolin.
F. i. emini Neum,
F. i, ugandensis Neum.
Some males have chestnut on the flanks, others not. Even with fresh material, I am unable to arrive at a different conclusion from that published in Ibis, 1916. 'Thespecimens available to C. Grant (Ibis, 1915) may have led him to support F’. i. emini as a good subspecies, but my series—and the material in Tring (including typical I’. icterorhynchus)—certainly suggest that the birds from West Uganda are similar to those from East Uganda, as far as Elgon, and that F. 7. emini is nota goodrace. C. Grant does not mention F, 7. ugandensis from Chagwe in Uganda—and this is important, because whereas Francolinus i. emini was described from just west of Lake Albert, I’. ugandensis was described from Chagwe Prov. Ido not know whether Neumana made F. ugandensis a species, and not a subspecies, on account of the fact that emini and ugandensis forms occur to- gether, but they certainly do; and further, from east to west both occur, as also many intermediates. F'. ugandensis is a full-plumaged bird in the dark phase, F'. emini a bird in the light striped plumage. If the two forms were true in extremes of distribution and at their meeting-line intermediates occurred, it would be understandable, but this is not the case with the series before me. I suggest that they are all united.
The material available includes birds from Toro and Masindi, besides the localities mentioned by me in bis, 1916, and Kawala, Kyama Buremezi, and Kyanja in Uganda.
Young in down: Very much like the young of F, schiitti, but paler through- out, especially on the crown and underside.
172. Francolinus hildebrandti hildebrandti Cab. Hildebrandt’s Francolin.
Kibwezi. 4, 4.vii.; 9, 13. viii. 1918. Apparently typical birds, small coveys seen in the bush country.
173. Francolinus hildebrandti altumi Fisch. and Rchw. Naivasha Francolin.
C. Grant (Ibis, 1915) has stated his reasons for retaining the Northern birds as a subspecies, and with his remarks I agree. The young in down are very like those of F. schiiiti, but paler throughout and more mottled in the wings, and yellowish sandy below. There is a distinct black stripe passing right through the eye from lores to ear-coverts.
Naivasha, Nakuru and Escarpment, January, November,
Novirates Zoonoaioan XXIX. 1922. 29
174, Francolinus uluensis O.-Grant. Ulu Francolin. Simba and Saba Saba, Fort Hall.
175, Francolinus streptophorus O.-Grant. Nzoia Francolin.
A very local and rare species. Elgon (South). 2 9, 12.11.1917, collected by Turner.
176. Francolinus gedgei O.-Grant. Gedge’s Francolin.
Although somewhat resembling F. icterorhynchus and occurring in the same locality, this bird is perfectly distinct.
177. Francolinus elgonensis O.-Grant. Elgon Chestnut-bellied Francolin.
The occurrence of this species on Elgon and Kenia at about 10,000 feet is most remarkable, especially as its nearest relations appear to be F. shelleyi and F. crawshayi.
Very local, and apparently rare in collections.
178. Francolinus levaillanti kikuyuensis O.-Grant. Freckle-neck Francolin.
F. 1. mulemae O-Grant.
Ogilvie-Grant, in describing F. kikuyuensis, states that the chin and throat are “rufous white”; and again, in contrasting F. mulemae with FP. kikuyuensis, emphasises the point and says the latter ‘“‘ always has the entire chin and throat suffused with buff.” Now, in comparing my birds I find my three specimens of Francolinus kikuyuensis have the chin and throat pure white, much more so than my three specimens of F, mulemae. The colour of the throat appears to be the main difference between F. kikuyuensis and F. mulemae, but, as I have shown, this character is not reliable, because not constant. To emphasise this point I might mention that of four specimens of Francolinus levaillanti two have bufi throats and two white just tinged with buff.
As regards wing measurements, my Uganda specimens have wings: 2 162, 3 165-166, Eldoret birds, 9 168, g 168-170.
Thus even the difference in size is so very slight that I am inclined to consider F. mulemae and F. kikuyuensis synonymous. Dr. Hartert, who has examined my birds and the type and co-types, agrees with my remarks.
C. Grant has been misled in thinking the type locality of F. kikuyuensis is the Kikuyu district. It came from the Uasingishu. (Vide Jackson, Journal HA. and U. Nat. Hist. Society, vol. i. No. 1).
“FI, kikuyuensis” : Eldoret, Uasingishu, and Burnt Forest.
“ FI. mulemae” : Banda, Mpumu, Entebbe.
Francolinus levaillanti benguellensis Neum.
The type compared with F, mulemae Grant has, as Neumann points out, this difference, that, whereas . mulemae has a distinct rusty collar on the hind neck, this bird has the barred black and white feathers of the lower neck carried up in the form of a narrow line, to the crown. This is the only difference! It may
30 Novirates ZooLocicaE XXIX. 1922.
hold good, but is surely very variable, for if one compares a series of F’. levaillantz, it will be scen that some have the rusty collar interrupted and some have not ! So also in F. 1. kikuywensis, though here the line is blackish when it exists, not barred, and some birds have perfect collars.)
179. Francolinus coqui A. Sm. Coast Golden-headed Francolin.
The range of this species in East Africa requires careful study, as also does the next mentioned.
Mombasa, S. Ankole in Uganda.
It is strange that the Coqui Francolin should have entered into 8.W. Uganda and be, presumably, indistinguishable from the coast bird. It is true that Ankole birds are more rufous on the mantle and rump, but they can be matched with Natal birds. Some typical birds have rufous throats, others have white throats.*
180. Francolinus coqui hubbardi Grant. Hubbard’s Francolin. Nakuru Plains, and Loita. ¢ 9, May.
181. Francolinus sephaena granti Hartl. Grant’s Red-legged Bush Francolin.
I brought home a series of 13 jad., 6 Qad., and 2 juv. from various months, in the hope that I might be able to clear up some of the confusion into which the “ sephaena”’ group of Francolins has fallen. I laid out the series which the Tring Museum possesses into the races which were admitted. It planned out nicely, but when I added my specimens according to localities, the whole arrange- ment was upset. Taking as a basis the papers by Zedlitz, Journ. f. Orn., 1914, and that by C. Grant, Ibis, 1915, and attempting to reconcile their conclusions to the series before me, I am led to vote provisionally in favour of Grant’s results, but I have insufficient material of typical F. s. granti. The three specimens from Dodoma are not identical and can be matched by birds from the Kisumu area, Taking the described races singly I find :
F. s. ochrogaster Hartl.: Birds from West Uganda and the Nile province— Gondokoro, Nimuli—can be matched by birds from Tsavo. It is not a case of being able to pick out one from a particular district and matching it with another from a place far removed, but with the series before me, three or so can be so matched. The North Uganda birds are dark sandy below, but not constantly so, and in size do not differ from Tsavo birds.
F. 8, icteropus—schoanus (= spilogaster, Abyssinia) : Can be kept separate on account of its large size, but in the series of birds from this locality none have indications of a speckled underside.
F. s. dilutescens (Mearns) from Kenia: Are not any larger than birds from Tsavo and Chamgamwe, and resemble them in colour.
F. s. jubaensis Zedlitz: Supposed to extend from Jubaland south to Ukamba and Mombasa, covering an area where birds of marked variations occur and which do not bear out the characters mentioned by Zedlitz for his sub- species. If we omit the Ukamba and Mombasa birds, then we may admit a
* In between S.W. Uganda.and the coast we find an accepted race of F. coqui, that is F. c. hubbardi. It is possible that there is a line of continuous distribution through Tanganyika Territory of which we have no information,
Novirares Zoonocroa® XXIX. 1922. 31
South Somali coast race, but of two old males collected on the Tana River, one has very freckled and lined pale sandy feathers on the underside and the other has this area ochraceous-sandy with a few marks. However, a series of seven males and nine females from Lamu, Manda, and M’koi on the mainland are very pale on the underside, and have narrow chestnut spots on the rib area of the feathers of the breast and abdomen (not as in F'. rovwma = kirki).
This series is extraordinarily uniform, but the two specimens from the Tana appear to upset this form, though the two races probably meet here. The birds from Mombasa and Mazeras cannot be distinguished from birds from Tsavo and Taveta. Size, except in the case of Abyssinian birds, appears in this case to be very variable, and not a reliable character. Odd birds from between Tsavo and Mombasa have large chestnut spots and stripes on the lower breast, but they are not F. rovwma, because they do not possess the characteristic large black spots on the secondaries, but show the close relationship of these species.
F. s. granti: Dodoma, Tanganyika Territory.
F.. s. ochrogaster : Nile Province, Uganda, Mt. Moroto, Meuressi, Turkwell in Uganda, Kisumu.
F. s, dilutescens : Kenia and Embu.
2 F. s. granti: Chamgamwe, Mombasa, Kiu, Tsavo, Taveta, M’buyuni.
F, s. jubaensis : Lamu, Manda, M’koi, and north bank of lower Tana River.
182. Francolinus rovuma Gray. Chestnut-spotted Bush Francolin.
F., kirki Harti.
C. Grant (bis, 1915) states that the older name for this species is rovwma Gray. It must, however, be recalled that the term Zanzibar used to include a large tract of the mainland coast in olden times, and it is quite possible that, although the name ‘‘ kirki”’? was applied to a bird from Zanzibar, it need not necessarily have come from the Jsland of that name. Further, Dr. Aders of Zanzibar assures me that there are no Francolins on Zanzibar Island! Iam not convinced therefore that this change is advisable.
My 4 dg and 3 9 (April, July, November) are all typical ones. They possess the characteristic large black areas on the inner secondaries and coverts and scapulars, besides having bars on the undertail coverts, Young males and some females have arrow-shaped head marks on the latter. Birds from Kitui, M’koi, and Tsavo, though showing chestnut marks on the underside, lack the characters mentioned above.
South Mombasa (mainland, Vanga district), Dar-es-Salaam,
183. Francolinus lathami schubotzi Rchw. Schubotz’ Forest Francolin.
I have nothing fresh to add to my notes on this species (Ibis, 1916), except to record the occurrence in the Bugoma and Budongo Forests east of Lake Albert.
Bugoma, Budongo, Lugalambo, in Uganda (Mabira Forest, 8. Uganda, Belgian Congo). 2 449, January, October.
184, Francolinus nahani Dubois. Nahan’s Forest Francolin.
Here, again, the range of this Francolin is extended, the former records being only Ituri, Belgian Congo, and Mabira Forest in Chagwe. The new localities are Bugoma and Budongo, east of Lake Albert. 2 3, January, December.
32 Novitates ZooLocicAE XXIX, 1922.
185. Ptilopachus fuscus florentiae O.-Grant. Rock Francolin.
A very large specimen was obtained, 28.i.1918, at Mt. Moroto, in Uganda.
186. Coturnix coturnix coturnix Linn. European Quail.
An undoubted specimen of the European Quail was obtained at Kisumu, 22.xii.1915. Dr. Hartert, who has recently made a study of this group, endorses my identification. Wings, 112 mm.
The European Quail is not a common migrant to East Africa, and most of the records for this species refer to C. c. africana, which is a resident bird.
187. Coturnix coturnix africana Temm. African Quail.
C. c. capensis Gray.
This resident form varies to some extent, some males being as pale on the throat as European birds, but they are smaller. Wings, 96 mm. They were breeding in June.
W. Kenia, Kyambu, Embu.
188. Coturnix delegorguei Hartl. Delegorgue’s Black-breasted Quail.
There is a great amount of variation in the females. This appears not to be due to season, but possibly to age. Two breeding females are very heavily spotted on the breast and upper abdomen, while another is apparently assuming male plumage. Others, again, have the breast heavily washed with olive-grey, others are almost uniform brownish.
Buff stripes on the feathers of the underside of males are a sign of immaturity. These birds when kept in captivity are very prolific, one female laying 150 eggs ! During the flighting of these birds over Nairobi, dozens are injured or killed by the telephone-wires.
Kisumu, Nairobi, Nakuru, Ngong, Kimiriri River, Elgon, Suk.
189. Excalfactoria adansoni Verr. Painted Quail.
These birds are resident and breed in East Africa and Uganda, They are not common, I obtained two females at Mawakota, Uganda, and Nyarondo, East Africa,
190. Neotis cafra Licht. Stanley’s Bustard.
Insufficient typical material prevents me from deciding whether or not these birds should be united with the South African form, Fairly common, though not seen in larger numbers than twos or threes.
Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha, Loita. 2 gf 2 9.
191. Otis hartlaubi Heugl. Uganda Little Bustard.
2 O. maculipennis Cab. Occurs in the northern parts of Uganda and East Africa.
Novirates ZooLocicarE XXIX. 1922. 33
192. Otis senegalensis canicollis Rchw.
Fairly numerous in the dry scrub country and the Loita district. Iam not satisfied that somaliensis is a synonym, Tsavo, Simba. 4, June, August.
193. Otis melanogaster Riipp. Black-bellied Bustard.
? O. lovati Grant.
Fairly plentiful in the open grass country of the plains and highlands. I am unable to say whether lovati is separable.
Fort Hall and Kyambu.
194, Otis kori struthiunculus Neum. Northern Kori Bustard.
Not very common, but usually seen in the same localities as Stanley’s Bustard. The type is from 8. Abyssinia.
195. Afrotis gindiana Oust. Yellow-tufted Bustard.
Frequents the dry thorn-bush country from the coast to south Lake Rudolf. Juba River. (A. B. Percival coll.)
196. Treron calva salvadorii Dub. Salvadori’s Large-cered Green Fruit Pigeon.
This form apparently extends from West Tanganyika (the type locality) to Uganda and east to North Kenya Colony, as far south as the Elgeyu escarpment, where apparently it meets with the next subspecies.
Elgon, Burnt Forest, Elgeyu in East Africa, Budongo, Sezibwa, Jinga, and Kagera River in Uganda. 4 $39.
197. Treton calva brevicera Hart. & Goodson. East African Short-cered Green Pigeon.
The principal difference between this and the foregoing subspecies is the small ‘‘ cere”’ or basal portion of the bill. One never meets with a large-cered bird in this form, The other differences mentioned by the authors do not hold good in all cases, and no great reliance can be placed on them. The distribution is German and British East Africa, north to Elgeyu, where it meets 7’. c. salvadorii.
The nestling is dull green above, with bright edges to the feathers. Wings as in adult, but without the purplish patch on ‘‘ shoulder” and of a much duller green. Under-surface covered with greyish down, through which yellow-green feathers are showing, under tail-coverts uniform buff.
Kyambu, Fort Hall, Saba Saba, Embu, Thika, Nairobi, and Kiu.
198. Treron wakefieldi wakefieldi Sharpe. Wakefield’s Green-tailed Green Pigeon.
Four typical birds, with wings of 145-152 mm., March and April. Gunning and Robert’s subspecies, 7’. w. orientalis, from Portuguese Hast Africa is larger.
Mombasa, Lamu, Manda Island,
3
34 NovitaTEs ZooLoGicAE XXIX. 1922.
199. Treron delalandei granti van Someren. Coastal Green-tailed Green Pigeon. Bull. B.O. Club, November 1919.
Darker than birds from Transvaal and Natal, and considerably smaller. Wing, 157-160 mm., as against 178-190 mm, in Natal birds. Mombasa, Dar-es-Salaam.
200. Columba unicincta Cass. Grey Forest Pigeon.
Very uncommon. 1 2 specimen in full plumage, shot on the Sezibwa River,
201. Columba guinea longipennis Rchw. Speckle-necked Rock Pigeon.
The wing measurements of 1 ¢ and 3 9? are 220-232 mm. It is doubtful whether this form can be recognised. Kaimosi, Nyarondo, Elgon, Naivasha, Kisumu.
202. Columba arquatrix Temm. Speckled Forest Pigeon.
2 C. albinucha Sassi.
The whole of my series of 3 g and 5 2 (January, June, September) are hardly so reddish on the back as birds from South Africa (Knysna Forest), and have a distinct greenish sheen on the inner secondaries and coverts, which in southern birds are dull brownish. The size does not differ. Is albinucha a species or a variety ?
Fort Hall, Kyambu, Nairobi, Burnt Forest, Elgon.
203. Turturoena sharpei Salvad. Sharpe’s White-necked Pigeon.
T. harterti Neum.
The history of this species is interesting. The type, a head and neck only, was collected on Mt. Elgon by Sir F. Jackson. It was described as new by Count Salvadori in the Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., xxi. 1893. This was a rash pro- ceeding, but it is an instance where a rash and hasty description, based on wholly inadequate material, has been confirmed. Further, the characters given by Salvadori as warranting the separation are not valid. Compared with 7’. dele- gorguei Hartl., it was stated that the new species had a metallic green lustre on the head and neck, not purplish green-bronze. This, as I shall show, is not constant. In 1894 Lord Rothschild received a complete skin of a T'’wrluroena which he believed to belong to 7’. sharpei, and he described and figured the entire bird in NoviratEs Zoonocicax, 1894. In his determination Lord Rothschild was correct. A second adult was received from Doherty in 1901, from Escarpment, which was like the Nguru specimen. Neumann, however, in 1898 described a bird from Kilimanjaro as 7’. harterti, as his two females did not agree with any known species of T'urtwroena (Journ. f. Orn., 1898, p. 287, pl. 2). In 1916 I sent Dr. Hartert three skins, 1 male and 2 females, from Mt. Elgon. These, coming from the type locality of 7. sharpei, were identified as complete adults of that species. They had black backs, so naturally, as the Kilimanjaro and Escarpment birds had reddish backs, the question arose as to whether the bird figured by Lord Rothschild was really 7’, sharpei, The assumption was that it
Novirates ZoonocicaE XXIX. 1922. 35
was not; the only other name for Kilimanjaro and Escarpment birds was Neumann’s 7’. harterti—though the figure of 7. harterti in Journ. f. Orn., 1898, was misleading, the colouring being much overdone. With the material I brought home with me (fourteen skins) I have been able to show that the Elgon birds do not differ from those of Kilimanjaro and Nguru, and that 7. sharpei, as the oldest name, must be adopted for all of them. On Mt. Elgon we get red-backed and black-backed birds which cannot be distinguished from specimens from Escarpment, Nairobi, or Kyambu, and still further they are identical with birds from Kilimanjaro and Nguru in coloration and size! From the same locality we get males with green and others with purplish bronze heads, some with metallic sheen to the red of the back, some without. Some have velvet black backs, others black with greenish reflections. Similarly, the presence or absence of metallic sheen on the under-surface is variable. The young male is very like the adult female, but the coppery bronze of the head is dulled by the greyish tips to the feathers.
T. delegorquei from Natal appears to be separable only on account of its size. Reichenow gives the wings as 170-190 mm. My specimens, however, have wings 165-182 mm.
Elgon, Nairobi, Kyambu, Thika, Kilimanjaro, Nguru, Escarpment.
(Turturoena incerta Salvad.
A specimen which died in the Zoological Gardens, locality unknown, must surely be a female of 7’. delegorguei, as the description tallies, and the only other bird it could possibly be is 7’. sharpei, a most improbable thing. This bird could hardly have come from Elgon !)
204, Haplopelia larvata larvata Temm. Cinnamon-breasted Forest Dove.
H. 1. kilimensis Neum,
Bannerman, in reviewing the genus Haplopelia (Ibis, 1916) gives the dis- tribution of the typical form as from the Cape to N’guruman and Kenya Colony, including the latter on the evidence of a single skin procured by Mackinder on Mt. Kenya, of which he says, ‘‘It is the only specimen known from north of Nyassaland.” Apparently Bannerman did not consult the Tring collection, where there are three skins, collected by Doherty at Escarpment in 1901, and further he apparently overlooked H. larvata kilimensis Neum. 1898 from Kili- manjaro. Neumann claimed that his was the first example procured north of Nyassaland. In Ibis, 1916, I recorded H. larvata from Nairobi. As it happens, Bannerman’s statements are correct, because with the material before me I cannot separate the typical birds and specimens from East Africa north to Elgon. Therefore I place 7. larvata kilimensis as a synonym of 7’, larvata larvata, The size appears the same, southern specimens having wings of 145-150 and East African 145-152 mm,
Nairobi, Kyambu, Kakamgoes, and W. Elgon. 6 39.
205. Haplopelia simplex jacksoni Sharpe. Uganda Grey-breasted Forest Dove.
A g obtained 11.xii.1918 in Budongo Forest, Uganda, shows traces of the young plumage on the abdomen,
36 Novirates ZooLocicar XXIX. 1922,
206. Tympanistria tympanistria fraseri Bp. Fraser’s White-breasted Dove.
A good subspecies. Young males moult from the barred plumage into adult dress in one moult. Kyambu, Nairobi; Lugalambo, Sezibwa, Kyetume, Budongo. 7 ¢ 2 9.
207. Turtur chalcospilos ? subsp. Emerald-spotted Ground Dove.
I am not satisfied that this group can be separated into as many subspecies as has been done. Even with the large series at Tring it appears difficult. Owing to the lack of specimens from certain type localities, I refrain from identifying my birds with certainty with any given subspecies. The Portuguese East African birds (2 3 9) are interesting, as they are darker on the underside than East African specimens and the wing speculum is not constantly green; in one bird the spots are purply blue, in another half blue, half green, in the other two green !
Going by localities, there would be amongst my birds :
East Africa: J, c. acanthina Oberh.
Lamu and Tana: 7’. c. somalica Erl.
Lumbo Port, E.A.: 7. c. ? subsp. caffra.
Nairobi, Taveta, M’buyuni, Tsavo, Lamu, Mombasa, Dar-es-Salaam, and Lumbo in Portuguese East Africa.
208. Turtur afer sclateri Rothsch. Uganda Blue-spotted Ground Dove,
An excellent pale race. Toro, Masindi, South Ankole, 4 ¢ ad.
209. Oena capensis Linn. Long-tailed Ground Dove.
Oberholser described a subspecies, O. c. anomyna, from East Kilimanjaro, which does not appear to be valid. Some birds have blue, others purple speculum.
M’bayuni, Taveta, Simba, Kisumu, Maungu. 5 ¢ 2 9.
210. Streptopelia senegalensis senegalensis Linn. Speckled-neck Dove.
Zedlitz divided these birds into several races, but variation being considerable, some of the forms cannot be upheld. Kendu Bay, Kisumu, Fort Hall, Nairobi, Tsavo, Maungu. 8 39.
211. Streptopelia capicola tropica Rchw. Uganda White-vented Dove. 212. §.c. electra Mad. East African White-vented Dove.
My series includes birds which I recognise as belonging to two distinct races of S. capicola, I do not agree with C. Grant that S. c. tropica of Reichenow cannot be separated from S. capicola damarensis. One has only to lay out a series of birds from typical localities to recognise that they are separable. With regard to birds from East Africa south of the Kavirondo Plains, [ am not surprised to find a difficulty in placing them with any known race, as they are intermediate, They are greyer, less tinged with vinous on the breast, yet are as dark on the
Noviratrs Zoonocicar XXIX, 1922. 37
upper surface as 7’. capicola tropica. The females are more whitish on the abdomen and not so greyish. In this they resemble S. capicola capicola, and thus are darker than S. capicola damarensis, and would probably be electra of Madarasz.
The distribution of these two forms, as evidenced by the series, is as follows :
S. capicola tropica: Albert Lake, through Uganda to Elgon and Kavirondo south to Muhoroni. Wings, 145-157 mm.
S. capicola electra Madarasz: Lumbwa, south to the Athi Plains, and Simba. Wings, 140-156 mm.
213. Streptopelia capicola somalica Erl. Somali White-bellied Dove.
These are pale birds, paler on the back than S. c. tropica, and cleaner vinous on the breast. The most pronounced feature is the great extent of white on the lower surface, extending well over half the underside. The wings are paler grey than S. ¢. tropica, Wings, 145-157 mm.
The distribution within East Africa is: Plains east of Kilimanjaro—the Taru Desert and South-east Ukamba.
S. capicola somalica : Samburu, Masongoleni, Tsavo, M’buyuni, Taveta, and Mungu to 8S. Somaliland.
214, Streptopelia decipiens permista. White-vented Red-eyed Dove.
A quite distinct subspecies, with whitish belly and almost white under tail-coverts. Kendu Bay, Speke’s Gulf. 2 3g, August.
215. Streptopelia decipiens shelleyi? Grey-vented Red-eyed Dove.
These are the birds to which I referred in my paper in the Jbis, 1916, as not being typical 7’. semitorquatus; but I had then overlooked the ‘‘ decipiens” group. They differ in being darker, especially on the flanks and abdomen, and in having the under tail-coverts much greyer.
Soath Ankole and Karagwe. 2 31 9.
216. Streptopelia reichenowi Erl. Juba Grey Dove.
3, December 1912. This is a very good species ; the whole bar on the wing is very marked when the birds fly. Juba River. (A. B. Percival coll.)
217. Streptopelia semitorquata semitorquata Linn. Grey-vented Dove.
There appears to be little difference between birds of the semitorquatus group from various parts of Africa, except from the coast of South Somaliland, Jubaland, and Tanaland, which I refer to later. These birds enumerated above would be S. s. intermedius Erl., if this subspecies were valid. 7 39.
Nairobi, Thika in East Africa ; Bugoma, Budongo, and Masindi in Uganda,
38 Novrrarrs Zoonoarcar XXIX. 1929.
218. Streptopelia semitorquata minor Erl. Coastal Grey-vented Dove.
This I consider a good subspecies, thus disagreeing with C. Grant (bis, 1915), who unites it with the typical fotm. It is altogether paler, above and below, has paler under wing- and under tail-coverts, also a decided grey rump, in my specimens. The head is not so rosy, but more pale grey.
W’koi, Lamu, and Kismayu.
219. Streptopelia lugens funebrea van Someren. Black Turtle Dove. Bull. B.O. Club, xl. p. 21, 1919.
Very much like S. lugens lugens, but smaller and altogether darker. The pinkish buff on the throat and lower breast not so extensive, the grey of the crop and abdomen darker. The under tail-coverts and under wing-coverts much darker. Wings, 170-180; in S. lugens lugens 185-192 mm.
Nairobi, Elgon, Burnt Forest, Elgeyu, and Kyambu, south to Kilimanjaro.
220. Streptopelia lugens subsp. nov. ?
In South Ethiopia is found an intermediate race which is not so pale as S. lugens lugens, but not so dark as the subspecies described above, though of about the same size. Wings, 170-185 mm. I have not named this, as I have not ascertained the range, which, however, appears to be South Ethiopia to Turkana and north Lake Rudolf.
221. Serpentarius serpentarius orientalis Verr. Secretary Bird.
Frequently seen on the plains round Nakuru.
222. Serpentarius serpentarius gambiensis Ogilby. Northern Secretary Bird.
This form probably occurs on the western plains of Uganda. It appears, however, doubtful whether the supposed races can really be upheld.
223. Necrosyrtes monachus Temm. Common Brown Vulture.
This is the commonest vulture in East Africa, and particularly plentiful in the Naivasha and Nairobi districts. Nairobi and Kisumu.
224, Neophron percnopterus Linn. Egyptian Vulture.
Occasionally one or two would visit the slaughter-houses at Kisumu, but were invariably driven off by N. monachus.
225. Lophogyps occipitalis Burch. White-necked Vulture.
[ shot a specimen of this bird in September 1918, on the open plains beyond Lake Narasha at 8,900 feet, on the Eldoret Road.
Noyirates Zooroaroar XXIX. 1922. 39
226. Pseudogyps africanus Salvad. Lesser African Vulture.
So much variation exists in the plumage of these birds that it appears doubtful if there are as many forms as have been described. N. of Marich Pass, Suk. ) 12.vi.1917.
227. Polyboroides typicus Smith. Bare-faced Whistling Hawk.
One bird is a dark specimen with the barring of the lower surface indistinct. Nairobi and Kimiriri River, Elgon. 2 gad.
228. Circus macrourus Gm. Grey Harrier.
A common migrant ; most of the birds seen are in immature dress. Dar-es-Salaam, Uasingishu, Kyambu, and Nairobi.
229. Circus aeruginosus Linn. Marsh Harrier.
Not so common as the above. Nakuru Lake. 9, 17.xii.1917.
230. Circus ranivorus Daud. African Harrier.
Not at all common in East Africa and Uganda. Entebbe, Uganda. gy 19.xi.1917.
231. Melierax canorus metabates Heugl. Northern Chanting Hawk.
I have a very dark specimen, but the vermiculations on the secondaries are present. Some individuals of this form, however, have uniform wings. Kerio River, Turkana, Uganda. dg ad., 6.vi.1917.
232. Melierax poliopterus Cab. White-rumped Chanting Hawk.
Dr, Hartert, in Vogel Pal. Fauna, places this bird as a subspecies of M. canorus, but to me it ought to be kept distinct because apparently M. poliopterus and M. metabates are found in the same countries. The young bird taken in February is exactly like that captured in March, and both belong to M. polio- pterus. The general scheme of coloration is similar in young of M. metabates and M. poliopterus, but the latter is much darker, while the upper and under tail- coverts are marked differently, M. poliopterus having cordate markings.
Tsavo and Mt. Moroto, Turkana in Uganda.
233. Melierax gabar Daud. White-rumped Sparrow Hawk.
(M. niger is synonym.)
There is no doubt that I. niger is nothing but the melanistic form of M. gabar. Not only have I seen a black bird mated to a normally coloured one, but in the Nairobi Museum is a specimen which is parti-coloured. A common species. The young vary greatly, some having brown or blackish markings on the under- side, others bright reddish brown. A male was shot in the act of removing young weavers from their nest.
Fort Hall and Kyambu, Nairobi, Burnt Forest, Kimiriri River near Elgon, Meuressi, Turkwell River in Uganda.
40 Novitatrs Zootoaroar XXIX. 1922.
234. Kaupifalco monogrammicus Temm. Lesser Chanting Hawk.
Nairobi, Fort Hall, Kyambu, and Kimiriri River near Elgon.
235. Astur melanoleucus Daud. Black and White Goshawk. Elgon. gd ad., 3.i.1916.
236. Astur tachiro tachiro Daud. Barred Goshawk.
A. t. acelatus Oberhols.
Oberholser has described a form of Astur tachiro from Taveta, which he named A, ¢. acelatus (Proc. U.S. Mus., 1905). I fail to recognise this subspecies, especially as the type is the only known specimen. If valid, my bird would have to belong to this form.
Taveta, 8.E. Kilimanjaro. 9, 15.iii.1919.
237. Astur tachiro nyanzae Neum, Uganda Barred Goshawk.
Apparently intermediate between A. tachiro tachiro and A. tachiro unduli- venter. The young birds shot in June and July are all about the same age and
show no signs of assuming the adult plumage. Some are heavily spotted, others not.
Entebbe, Nairobi, Kyambu, Fort Hall.
238. P Astur tachiro tenebrosus Lonnb. Black Goshawk.
A @ agrees exactly with Lonnberg’s description of his new subspecies. I doubt if it is a good form and consider it a melanistic variety of Astur tachiro nyanzae Neum.
Forest West Kenia, 6,000 feet. A. B. Percival coll.
239. Accipiter badius sphenurus Riipp. Pale-breasted Sparrow Hawk.
Young birds, which are moulting into adult plumage, were shot January and March, One male is in almost complete breeding dress. Tsavo, Lugalambo, and Turkwell River, Uganda.
240. ? Accipiter badius riggenbachi Neum. Rufous-breasted Sparrow Hawk.
A bird with very distinct heavy rufous barring—not fine and pale as in all the specimens in the Tring Museum and thirty others. The only specimen with which it agrees is the female of A. riggenbachi from Senegal. Now, the strange thing is, that in order to accept a dark barred bird as distinct from the pale, in a country where both occur, Neumann had to make A. riggenbachi a species, not subspecies of A. badius! Since I also have taken a dark bird, where pale ones occur, it seems to me that A. riggenbachi is not a species nor even a distinct sub- species, but merely a dark form of A. badius sphenurus (type and cotypes examined). The fact that the type of A. riggenbachi has a uniform breast counts for nothing, as some A. badius sphenurus have also practically uniform. breasts. Either A. riggenbachi is a good species, and it extends to east of Kilimanjaro, or else it is a synonym of A... sphenurus. Dr. Hartert takes this latter view.
19, 4.iii.1919. Taveta, S.E. Kilimanjaro.
NoviratEes Zootoaicar XXIX. 1929, 41
241. Accipiter minullus tropicalis Rchw. Little Sparrow Hawk.
A female, although a breeding bird, has not yet completed her moult into adult plumage. Fort Hall, Kyambu, Nairobi. 9, March, September, December.
242. Accipiter ovampensis Gurney. Barred Sparrow Hawk.
The occurrence of this species in East Africa greatly extends its known range. My specimen is rather more distinctly and widely barred than birds from Gambaga, and is rather larger, having wings of 230, as compared to 220 mm. Nairobi. 1 9, 9.iii.1917.
243. Accipiter rufiventris A. Sm. Brown-breasted Sparrow Hawk.
Not a common species. My female is rather dark. Nairobi and Kijabe. 3, 14.ix.1917; 9, 20.v.1916.
244, Circaetus cinereus Vicill. Brown Harrier Eagle.
A single male was seen and procured at Mombasa, March 1917.
245, Circaetus pectoralis Smith. White-breasted Harrier Eagle.
A fully adult 9 was shot at Nairobi, 27.iii.1917. Not common in British ~ East Africa,
246. Spizaetus coronatus Daud. Martial Hawk Eagle. Nairobi and Kabete. 9, 5.ii.; juv. in moult, 25.iii. 1917.
247. Hieraaetus ayresi Gurney. Spotted Hawk Eagle.
% H. lucani Sharpe & Bouv.
An adult 3, Nairobi, 14.vii.1918. Lieut. Davies has written an interesting note in the /bis, 1919, regarding this bird ; but without examining the material on which he bases his remarks, one cannot form a personal opinion on the matter. I do not consider that my specimen has a long tail for its size.
248. Hieraaetus wahlbergi Sund. Wahlberg’s Brown Eagle.
Two adult specimens in fresh plumage, March 1917, on the Kabua River, Rudolf.
249, Lophoaetus occipitalis Daud. Crested Hawk Eagle.
Nairobi River. 9, 30.x.1916, in breeding condition, though not in full adult plumage.
250, Aquila rapax rapax Temm. Tawny Eagle. Very common round Nairobi. It is a great carrion eater, feeding freely amongst kites, though keeping these at a respectful distance. It is also plentiful at Naivasha,
49 Novitates ZootoaicaE XXIX. 1922.
251. Helotarsus ecaudatus Daud. Bateleur Eagle. Eldoret, Uasin Gishu.
252. Buteo buteo vulpinus Gloger. Rufous Buzzard.
(B. desertorum, anceps, rufiventer /) Eldoret, and Yala River, Kavirondo.
253. Buteo oreophilus Hart. and Neum. Mountain Buzzard.
This Mountain Buzzard is not very common. An adult 2 was shot off her nest, which contained two eggs, on Mt. Elgon, 7,000 feet, 27.iii.1916. The eggs are chalky white with pale indistinct blotches. My brother Noél shot a 2 6,000 feet high on Kilimanjaro, in August.
254, Buteo augur Riipp. Red-tailed Buzzard.
3g, 2.v.1917; 9, 30.xii.1916; both in the black plumage. The female is not jet black, but brown-black. Nairobi and Elgon, 6,000 feet.
255, Machaerhamphus anderssoni Gurney. Bat Hawk.
A pair was seen every night for some time just at sunset, when the bats started to come out. Within an hour they had fed and disappeared. They catch and devour a bat in mid-air.
Kisumu, Nairobi.
256. Butastur rufipennis Sund. Red-winged Hawk.
1 3 2, all in different phases of plumage. The presence of this species so far south as central Tanganyika Territory extends the distribution as given in Reichenow’s Vogel Afrikas.
Singo in Uganda, Morogoro in Tanganyika Territory.
257. Milvus migrans parasitus Daud. Southern Kite. Nairobi, Naivasha, and Mt. Moroto in Uganda.
258. Milvus migrans migrans Bodd. European Black Kite.
Numbers visit East Africa during the winter, but are merely birds of passage, not remaining longer than a week in any one place.
259. Elanus coeruleus Desf. Black-winged Kite. Elgon and Sezibwa River in Uganda; Kyambu in East Africa, A nestling, 16. viii. 1916. 260. Pernis apivorus Linn. European Honey Buzzard.
An April bird is in fresh full plumage, while autumn ones are much worn and have a paler appearance, especially about the head. Yala River, Kavirondo, and Nairobi.
Noviratrs Zootocicar XXIX, 1922. 43
261. Baza verreauxi Laf. Cuckoo Falcon.
2 B. emini.
My male has barred under wing-coverts, the female uniform. I doubt if B. emini is a valid species, as my series (ten specimens) does not support it.
Soronko River, Elgon, and Kadama Bukedi, in Uganda.
262. Falco peregrinus minor Schleg. Lesser Peregrine Falcon.
An adult in rather worn plumage, and a young bird. Samburu, 8.xi., 23. vii. 1918.
263. Falco biarmicus abyssinicus Neum. Abyssinian Red-headed Falcon.
The adult males no doubt belong to this form, while the two young birds may possibly belong to the typical F. biarmicus biarmicus, having been shot in German East Africa.
Turkwell River, Uganda ; and Morogoro. )
264. Falco ruficollis Swains. Red-necked Falcon.
The adult is a bird of the pale-breasted variety with few bars on the under- side, while the young bird has no indication of arufous neck-patch. Not common.
Turkana, Uganda. dad., 3.iii. ; Qjuv., 7.iii.1918.
265. Faleo subbuteo subbuteo Linn. European Hobby.
Two specimens shot by Blayney Percival in the Northern Guaso N’yiro are interesting. One is a young in the first plumage, the other is an adult, but has only a trace of rufous on the thighs and under tail-coverts.
Jinga in Uganda, and Voi in East Africa.
266. Falco cuvieri cuvieri Smith. Cuvier’s Brown-breasted Hobby.
The male has the tail uniform grey, the female barred on both webs. The latter is adult, showing no pale edges to the feathers of the mantle. In some adult
specimens the breast is very pale rufous, Elgon, Nairobi. dy 6. viii. 1916; 9, 30.vii.1919.
267. Falco fasciinucha Neum. Taru Brown-breasted Falcon.
Sjuv., 5.iii.1918, Voi Station. This species was previously only known from the type which was procured in the Teita Country. It is very like F. cwviert, but more robust—the legs more powerful. This feature, along with the pale greyish rump, which is spotted and barred, and the barred grey tail with terminal white bars, distinguish this species at a glance from F. cwviert. Except for its much stronger feet one might easily mistake the bird for a young FP’. cuviert.
This specimen is now in the Tring Museum, It was exchanged by Colonel Meinertzhagen from Mr. Blayney Percival, who shot it at Voi Station.
dt
Novitarrs Zoonoarcar XXIX. 1922.
268. Faleo tinnunculus tinnunculus L. Common Kestrel.
7 g and 5 Q, collected in January, March, April, May, and September to December, belong to the European species. They are in various stages of plumage,
from young of the year to fully mature adults in full plumage. The dates are of interest.
Masindi, Bukedi, in Uganda; Kisumu, Kakrur, Naivasha, Fort Hall, Kyambu, Tsavo, and Lake Jipe.
269. Falco tinnunculus carlo Hart. and Neum. Brown Kestrel.
3, 1l.v.1918. Fort Hall. This bird, being very heavily marked and dark, probably belongs to this race.
270. Falco rupicoloides arthuri Gurney. Lesser Barred Kestrel.
A single specimen collected in Turkana, 17.iv.1918, belongs to this race.
It is a rare bird. It was collected by the East Africa Natural History Society’s collector, and is now in the Tring Museum. Meuressi, Turkwell River, Uganda.
271. Falco naumanni Fleisch. Lesser Kestrel. Kisumu and Kyambu.
272. Poliohierax semitorquatus semitorquatus Smith. Red-backed Falconet.
There are certainly two distinct forms of the African Falconet—the southern or typical, extending from South Africa to as far north as the Athi Plains (wings:
g 120-124, 9 125 mm.), and a northern race from Abyssinia to Baringo, which is paler and smaller.
Simba, Taveta, and Tsavo,
273. Poliohierax semitorquatus homopterus Oberhols. Northern Falconet.
A 3, shot 1.vi., and a 9, 3.vi.1917, belong to the pale race, the oldest name for which appears to be P. homopterus. Wings: ¢ 110-115, 9120 mm. Turkwell and Kobua Rivers, Lake Rudolf.
274. Bubo lacteus Temm. Milky Eagle Owl. Jinja in Uganda, Lake Naivasha.
275. Bubo capensis capensis Daud. Cape Eagle Owl.
I cannot see any difference between my East African bird and specimens from Natal or Transvaal. Itis fairly common in parts of Tanganyika Territory. Surely Oberholser re-described B. capensis when he named the Natal bird
B. m. amerimus (not americanus, as stated by C. Grant, 2bis, 1915). Lake Jipe.
Novirates Zoonocicar XXIX. 1922. 45
276. Bubo africanus africanus Temm. Lesser Grey Eagle Owl.
B. maculosus auct. Nairobi and Nakuru.
277. Bubo africanus cinerascens Guér. Brownish Eagle Owl.
Apparently this northern bird extends into the Suk Country and Nile pro- vince of Uganda. Kerio River and 8. Turkana. 3, 10. viii. 1916.
278. Asio capensis capensis A. Sm. Tawny Grass Owl.
Found in the swamps and grass country. Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha.
279. Otus leucotis Temm. White-faced Scops Owl.
Owing to insufficient material I cannot be quite sure as to whether these are typical O. leucotis leucotis (Senegal), or whether they belong to the Somali form which has been named 0, I. nigrovertex by Erlanger.
C. Grant placed his Moroto birds as O. 1. lewcotis (vide Ibis, 1915).
Meuressi, Turkwell and Moroto, Turkana, Uganda.
280, Otus scops ugandae Neum. Uganda Little Owl.
Budongo Forest, Soronko River, and Buremezi, Uganda.
281, Syrnium woodfordi subsp. Brown Forest Owl.
In my series of twelve specimens there is every gradation from a bright golden brown to deep black brown. Thus my specimens can be matched with birds in the Tring Museum which have been placed as S. w. nuchale, bohndorfi, suahelicum, and nigricantius.
The golden brown bird has no signs of vermiculations on the feathers of the back.
The young also differ : one is greyish buff, while the other two are sandy buff. Then, again, there is a young bird which has assumed adult plumage, but there still remain some downy feathers and down about its neck at the back and on the thighs. This bird is very dark brown. Two birds moulting from nestling plum- age into second dress exhibit interesting differences, one having large broad spear- shaped spots on the crown, the other small white irregular bars. The series in Tring appears to indicate three distinct birds in Africa : (1) S. woodfordi woodfordi, South Africa ; (2) S. woodfordi suahelicum, ashy brown, vermiculated on the back, with narrow barred feathers on the underside ; and (3) a dark chestnut brown race found in Gabun and Angola.
These birds are very fond of insects, beetles, and moths,
Budongo Forest, Lake Albert, Kyetume, Lugalambo, and Elgon in Uganda ; Aberdare Mountains, Kyambu, and Nairobi in Hast Africa,
46 NoviratEes ZooLoGicaE XXIX, 1922.
282. Glaucidium perlatum subsp. Pearl-spotted Owl.
The Tring Museum possesses a fine series of this bird, and when these are laid out according to localities, it is apparent that there are certainly two if not three distinct forms. The typical birds (Senegal) are generally more rufous above and below, while the eastern birds are more greyish on the mantle; variation in the amount of spotting occurs in both forms, but the general tone is quite marked.
East African specimens are intermediate.
My specimens show extremes: birds with uniform heads and backs— another with uniform head and spotted back, others spotted on head and back, and one barred on the head and spotted on the mantle !
Tsavo, Kitui, Simba in Hast Africa ; Kerio and Kimiriri Rivers, Elgon, and 8. Ankole in Uganda,
283. Tyto capensis A. Sm. Black-backed Barn Owl.
A dis uniform black-brown on the back and less heavily spotted on the under- side than Cape birds. It is possible that with more material it will be shown that the northern birds belong to a recognisable race.
3, Fort Hall, 13. viii. 1916.
284, Tyto alba affinis Blyth. Cape Barn Owl.
T. maculata auct. Kyambu and Nairobi. Nestlings, 2.ix.1917.
285. Psittacus erythacus Linn. Grey Parrot. A male shot in December appears to be an old bird. It has an extra large bill, and is considerably darker than two others. The tips of all the feathers of the breast, abdomen, and rump are shot with bluish purple. The sexes differ
greatly in size. Nyarondo in N. Kavirondo ; Jinja and Budongo Forest in Uganda.
286, Poicephalus gulielmi massaicus Fisch and Rchw. Red-fronted Green Parrot. Young birds are bright green like females, but have dark, horny grey-brown bills. This is a very noisy species, and is very partial to the Juniper Forest of
the higher altitudes. Burnt Forest, Elgeyu Forest, Aberdare Mountains.
287. Poicephalus fuscicapillus Des Murs. Golden-breasted Parrot.
My collectors tell me that these birds do considerable damage to young growing coconuts, but personally I have not witnessed this destruction, The birds are certainly seen among the palms, but mostly on the highest fronds,
Changamwe.
288, Poicephalus rufiventris simplex Rchw. Salmon-bellied Parrot.
It has been shown that the birds from south of Abyssinia are separable from the northern‘or typical, and the name ‘‘ Simplex,”’ which Reichenow applied to a female bird collected in Tanganyika Territory, has rightly been re-established,
Novirates Zoonocicar XXIX, 1922. 47
With my series and the birds in Tring Museum it is obvious that there are three, perhaps four distinet forms :—
P. rufiventris rufiventris, Abyssinia and Blue Nile.—Dark above, ramp greenish yellow tinged blue. Bill small,
P. rufiventris ? subsp. (intermediate), South Ethiopia.—Not so dark above, bill small, ramp bluer. Wings, 140-155 mm,
P. rufiventris pallidus, subsp. nov., North Somaliland.—Much paler, bill small, rump brighter blue, sides of abdomen blue, Wings, 145-155 mm.
P. rufiventris simplex, Tanganyika Territory, Kenya Colony.—Larger, darker than N. Somaliland birds, much heavier beaks, rump green, tinged with blue. Wings, 150-163 mm,
I have P. ruf. simplex from Tsavo, Taveta, Maungu, Masongoleni, Simba, Kitui, and River N’zinin Ukamba. 13 3 8.
289. Poicephalus meyeri matschiei Neum, East African Blue-rumped Parrot.
i
This form occurs in the southern portion of the Seyedi Province, and is said to occur in Mombasa area.
Kongwa, Tanganyika Territory. ¢, 26.iv. 1917, collected by Loveridge.
290. Poicephalus meyeri subsp. nov. 2? Kenia Yellow-shouldered Parrot.
A 3 shot on Kenia, 7,000 feet, in February, comes from a locality where specimens of P. meyeri do not appear to have been collected. It is an extremely dark bird—darker than P. m. saturatus or P. m. neavei. It has dark yellow shoulders and a yellow band on the crown, The rump is yellow green, bluer at base.
291. Poicephalus meyeri saturatus Sharpe. Uganda Yellow-shouldered Parrot.
P. m. nyansae Neum. ;
In 1916, when reporting on a collection from Uganda, I admitted three forms of P. meyeri to Uganda and East Africa. I did this because at the time I had insufficient material to test the validity of the several races named, With additional material 1am compelled to unite P. m. nyansae of Neumann with P, m. saturatus of Sharpe.
Masindi and Mubendi in Uganda,
292. Poicephalus meyeri virescens Rchw. East African Yellow-shouldered Parrot.
I am not satisfied that the East African birds are the same as Uganda ones— they are not so dark, more greenish (not the greenish tinge of immaturity). The rump is rather bluer than in West Uganda birds, Should more material show the East African birds to be the same as Uganda specimens, then P. m, virescens becomes a synonym of P. m. saturatus.
Soronko River, Nyarondo in Kakamega, and Fort Ternan,
48 NoviratEes ZooLoGicaE XXIX. 1922.
293. Agapornis pullarius pullarius Linn. Red-faced Love-bird. 294, A. p. ugandae Neum.
In the Tring Museum seven western birds have dark blue rumps, much darker than birds from South Abyssinia ; two males from Masindi in Uganda are also dark, East African and Uganda (Central and East) birds cannot be separated from Ethiopian specimens. The Masindi birds must be called A. pullarius and the rest A. p. ugandae.
Masindi, Lugalambo, Entebbe, Jinja in Uganda, and Nyarondo in E, Africa.
295, Agapornis personatus Rchw. Yellow-breasted Love-bird.
This species comes over to the east of Mt. Kilimanjaro, where it was seen ly me at Taveta. Kongwa, Tanganyika Territory. 3, 2.iv.1917, collected by Loveridge.
296. Palaeornis krameri Scop. Long-tailed Ring-necked Parrot.
Palaeornis docilis auct. A pair were seen between Masindi and the Budongo Forest.
297. Corythaeola cristata yalensis Mearns. Eastern Giant Plantain Eater.
In order to test the validity of this subspecies I procured 5 ¢ and 1 9 from the type locality. Comparing these with Gabun and other West African birds (Sierra Leone excepted), they certainly show less blue and a more greenish tinge on the upper surface. They are also paler about the cheeks and throat. The Sierra Leone birds are coloured similarly to the Eastern ones, but are smaller. The Eastern birds are the largest ; the difference, however, can only be appreciated with a series.
Mabira and Kyetume in Uganda, Yala River and Kakamega in East Africa.
298. Musophaga rossae Gould. Ross’s Red-crested Plantain Eater.
I have compared Uganda and Western birds and can find no difference. Some Uganda specimens are certainly bluer, but these are newly feathered birds ; others which are purplish show new feathers coming in, which are blue. The coloration of the tail feathers varies with age and exposure. I have, however, noticed that North Kavirondo and Nandi birds have less greenish tinge to the feathers of the underside,
East Elgon and Kakamega,
299. Turacus hartlaubi Fisch. and Rehw. Hartlaub’s Blue-crested Plantain Eater.
Mearns has separated this bird into several subspecies. He gives as the distribution for the typical bird, Kilimanjaro, South-east Africa north to Sotik Forests, for “ Z’. 1. medius’’ Machakos north of the Uganda Railway, Kenia to Uganda.
This distribution appears to me peculiar, particularly the northern limits of each supposed race, The Sotik Forest is continuous with the Mau Forest which crosses the railway and merges into the forest of the Ravine and Elgeyu Escarp-
Novitates Zoonroaicar XXIX, 1922. 49
ment. Now, according to Mearns at the Sotik end of the Forest is to be found the typical bird and at the Elgeyu end the subspecies medius.—With birds before me from Kilimanjaro (type locality of 7. hartlaubi hartlaubi) north to Elgon, it appears that the typical bird extends to Mau, Ravine, Elgeyu, and Elgon ; while in the Machakos, Kenia, Nairobi, and Escarpment districts there may possibly be a recognisable subspecies which would have to bear the name of 7’. h. medius.
T. h. crissalis from Mt. Wbololo cannot be upheld; the coloration of the abdomen and vent varies greatly in birds from one locality.
300. 7. h. coeruleus from Mt. Uraguess may possibly be separable, because the avifauna from that district is most remarkable.
301. T. hartlaubi medius examined from Machakos, Kyambu, Nairobi, Escarpment.
Turacus hartlaubi hartlaubi from Molo, Elgeyu, Burnt Forest, Elgon.
302. Turacus leucolophus Hartl. White-headed Plantain Eater.
Plentiful in suitable localities. Bugoma, Budongo, Elgon, Buremezi in Uganda ; Marich, Suk, Kitosh, and Nyarondo in East Africa.
303. Turacus emini Rchw. Emin’s Green Plantain Eater.
T. ugandae Rehw.
It seems to me impossible that there should be two distinct species of green Plantain Eaters in the Lake Albert district. My birds (6 ¢ 3 9) areall identical, and they were collected from West to East Uganda and in North Kavirondo. There is a certain amount of variation, but this is due to weathering of the plumage. One specimen shot in Kavirondo has a red feather in its tail.
Budongo Forest, Bugoma Forest, Lugalambo, Mabira in Uganda, South Elgon, and Kakamega.
304, Gymnoschizorhis personatus centralis Neum. Uganda Pink-breasted Plantain Eater.
My series (3 f 2 9) rather supports Neumann’s statement that the Uganda birds are darker than the Tanganyika Territory birds, and for the present I shall recognise his subspecies. If these birds are not separable, then my specimens would be G@. p. leopoldi Shell.
Kendu Bay, Kano, and Kibos.
305. Chizaerhis africana zonura Riipp. Hackle-neck Plantain Eater.
Young birds in first plumage (14.iii.1916) are more uniform grey-brown, lacking the striping on the breast and the elongated neck feathers. Jinja, Masindi, and Elgon in Uganda.
306. Corythaixoides (Chizaerhis) leucogaster Riipp. White-bellied Plantain Eater.
Females have greenish bills. My specimens are rather smaller than northern ones (Abyssinia), having wings of 205-220, as against 215-230 mm. ; otherwise there appears to be no difference.
Kacheliba, Suk, Simba, M’buyuni, and Tsayo, 3 ¢ 29.
oa
50 Novirates ZoonogicaE XXIX, 1922,
307. Centropus monachus monachus Riipp. Great Blue-headed Coucal.
The distribution in North Kenya Colony appears to be east of the Elgeyu Escarpment, West of this range is found the smaller race. The hen sits after laying the first egg, thus eggs do not hatch at the same time.
Fort Hall and Kyambu.
308. Centropus monachus fischeri Rchw. Fischer’s Dark-headed Coucal.
Fort Ternan in East Africa, Kewala in Uganda,
309. Centropus senegalensis flecki Rchw.
Eight specimens, Lumbo (Nairobi Museum Coll.). I have reason to believe that this species occurs in the south of the Seyedi Province. A bird of the ‘‘ senegalensis”? type is reported from Zanzibar (Kirk).
310. Centropus superciliosus intermedius subsp. nov. van Someren. East African Hackle-necked Coucal.
These are all adult birds. I obtained a large series of this bird, because I was certain that with sufficient material one would be able to recognise a distinct race. I am satisfied that in point of size as well as colour, these birds can be separated from the northern typical bird from S. Arabia, Colour alone (much darker above than C. superciliosus superciliosus) justifies this. The extreme form from Angola has been separated by C. GrantasC.s. loandae. This is a larger bird than the intermediate race. The East African and Uganda specimens have wings of 140-155 mm. The specimen of this Coucal from Sokotra in the Tring Museum does not agree with the characters as given by C, Grant for C. s. sokotrae !
Mombasa, Changamwe, Lamu, Tsavo, Samburu, Nairobi, Kisumu, also Jinja in Uganda. Type 3, Mombasa, 12.iv.1919.
311. Centropus grilli Hartl. Red-winged Black Coucal.
3, 11.v.1917. Kitosh district.
312. Ceuthmochares aereus ? subsp. nov. Green Yellow-billed Coucal.
Specimens from the coast of British to Portuguese East Africa are much paler than South African examples, and may possibly belong to a distinct form. Doherty procured this bird at Escarpment, Lowe in Uganda (Naikwa Hills).
Changamwe, near Mombasa.
313. Ceuthmochares aereus intermedius Sharpe. Grey Yellow-billed Coucal.
The distribution in East Africa and Uganda of this race and the above requires careful study. I have seen specimens of this form from Kenia, and myself have collected it in Mubendi, Budongo, Bugoma, Mubango, Lugalambo, Kyetume in Uganda, Elgon, Fort Ternanin East Africa. If they occur together, they cannot both be races of the same form. 6 399, nestling, 20. xi.
Novitares Zoonocicar XXIX. 1922. 51
314. Coccystes cafer Licht. Green-backed Crested Cuckoo.
In a Kyambu specimen the striping of the breast reaches to the abdomen, giving the bird a dark appearance. Jinja in Uganda and Kyambu in East Africa.
315. Coccystes jacobinus Bodd. Blue-backed Crested Cuckoo. Lamu, Manda, Tsavo, and Kisumu. 34929.
316. Coccystes glandarius Linn. Great Spotted Cuckoo.
December birds were very fat, pointing rather to the fact that they were migrants from the north. May birds were in breeding condition, while the young shot 9.v.1917 still has a soft bill. These lay regularly in Hast Africa, so I do not think that Sclater is correct when he suggests that South African birds come up to Uganda after the breeding season (during South African winter), nor do I believe in the theory of double breeding of European birds! (C. Grant, Ibis, 1915, p. 416), There is doubtless a resident bird in Hast Africa, but whether or not it is the same as the Kuropean bird remains to be proved.
Kano, Jinja, and Suk Hills.
317. Cuculus canorus canorus Linn, European Cuckoo.
3, Nairobi, 28.1.1918. This bird has a small black bill and is probably a migrant from Europe.
318. Cuculus canorus gularis Steph. Yellow-billed Grey Cuckoo.
Larger than C. canorus canorus, and base of the upper mandible and almost the whole of the lower cadmium-yellow. Kimiriri River, Elgon, and Gomba in Uganda.
319. Cuculus clamosus clamosus Lath. Black Cuckoo.
See notes under next species, Kitui in Ukamba, 20.x.1918,
320. Cuculus jacksoni Sharpe. Jackson’s Black Cuckoo.
I have examined a large series of this bird and of the preceding, and from the specimens one is led to suggest that C. jacksoni is a species occurring side by side with C. clamosus, or that C. jacksoni is a subspecies of C, clamosus and limited to Uganda, where the adult gets a red throat.
The young in intermediate plumage would appear to be indistinguishable, yet the adults are! Black birds such as one gets in Natal occur in Uganda, 5. Ethiopia, and East Africa (Doherty coll. Escarpment), Bannerman is working at these Cuckoos, so I will not discuss them further.*
Namasagali, Elgon, Soronko, and Mubendi in Uganda.
* Bannerman’s notes have since appeared in bis, 1921, pp. 93-5.—E, H,
52 Novirates Zoonocroar XXIX. 1922.
321. Cuculus gabonensis mabirae van Someren. Mabira Red-throated Cuckoo. Bull. B.O. Club, 1915.
This is another bird which apparently occurs side by side with C. jacksoni. I omitted to state in Jbis, 1916, that, besides having rusty-buff cheeks, the pre- orbital spots are buff and the crown of the head is tinged greyish, not blue-black as in C. gabonensis or C. jacksont.
The young in second plumage are somewhat like young of C. solitarius, but differ in having the back blue-black, not grey. They differ from young of C. jacksoni in the tails, which are barred, not uniform or with white shaft spots as in C. jacksoni. The nesting plumage is not known.
Bugoma, Budongo, in Uganda.
322. Cuculus solitarius Steph. Red-throated Grey-backed Cuckoo.
The young of this bird and C. jacksoni or C. clamosus are quite different, and cannot possibly be confused.
Mubendi, Entebbe, Kyetume and Kobua, Rudolf ; Mawakota and Bumasolo in Uganda; Kyambu, Nairobi, and Nyarondo in East Africa. February, March, May, October; young in May and July ; thirteen specimens.
323. Cercococcyx mechowi wellsi Bannerman. Long-tailed Barred Cuckoo. Bull. B.O. Club, November 1919.
This bird does not appear to extend to Elgon district, its eastern limits, so far as is known, being west of Jinja. What is the relationship to C. olivinus of Sassi? (Cf. Lbis, 1921, p. 96.)
Kyetume, Uganda.
324. Chrysococcyx auratus auratus Gm. Yellow-bellied Emerald Cuckoo.
C. cupreus Shaw.
C. smaragdineus (authors).
Both Bannerman and Grant agree that there are two distinct species, one with white, barred, and one with uniform yellow under tail-coverts, which in the case of young birds are barred, but not as in the first.
My series along with the specimens in Tring show that birds which are resi- dent and breeding in British East Africa possess these characters. Thus if Banner- man and Grant were correct, we should have a species and a subspecies inhabiting and breeding in the same districts! Bannerman next goes on to show that the South African bird always has white, barred, but never yellow, under tail-coverts, and states that this is a bird breeding in the south and migrating north during the southern winter. This is accepted by C. Grant. I have, however, stated that this type of bird breeds in Uganda and East Africa. The two forms are named C. auratus auratus Gm, (= C. smaragdineus and C. cwpreus Shaw), type locality Gambia, and C., auratus intermedius Hartl., type locality Gaboon. In the Tring Museum there is a large series of Gaboon specimens—some with barred white, some with wniform under tail-coverts. The type of C. intermedius was not a South African bird! thus C. intermedius Hartl. is a synonym of C. auratus. The South African birds differ from northern specimens in the way Bannerman mentioned
Novirates ZoorocicaE XXIX. 1922. 53
on p. 245 of Ibis, 1912, i.e. they are smaller, they have white under tail-coverts which are barred, and the tail is shorter and not so graduated as in C. auratus. The South African birds, then, require a name. On investigation we find the name “* splendidus”? Gray. Vide Gray, G.B., 1847. This was based on a West-coast bird. It was next used by Sharpe in his Catalogue, 1871, the reference he gives being Gray, 1847, mentioned above; but he states the locality as South Africa, which is wrong, Gray’s ‘‘ splendidus”? being a West-coast bird, thus the name cannot be used. I name the South African bird—
Chrysococcyx auratus sharpei subsp. nov. (type in the Tring Museum).
Besides the differences mentioned by Bannerman as referring to males, we find the female of the southern bird differs from the northern bird in being more finely barred on the underside and lacks the clear green barring.
C.a. sharpei : Mawakota, West Elgon, and Soronko River, in Uganda,
C. a. auratus ; Nairobi, Kyambu, and Kisumu in British East Africa.
325. Chrysococcyx klassi Steph. White-breasted Emerald Cuckoo.
In June 1919 I was surprised to find a young Klass’s Cuckoo being fed by a pair of Otyphantes reichenowi and apparently thriving. How did the Cuckoo deposit its egg in the Weaver’s nest ? My previous experience has been that this Cuckoo victimises “‘ insect-eating ’’ birds, not one given largely to a grain and seed diet.
South Ankole, Elgon, and Entebbe in Uganda; Kisumu, Nairobi, Kyambu, W’buyuni, Sagala, and Maungu in East Africa. Sixteen specimens.
326. Chrysococcyx caprius Bodd. White-breasted Golden Cuckoo.
C. cwpreus auct.
Very common and very noisy. I witnessed the presence of seven adult birds in a small patch of scrub not more than a quarter of an acre in extent.
Bugoma, Kyetume, Nmbango, Junja, Soronko, Elgon, in Uganda; Kisumu, Kendu Bay, Kibos, Nairobi, and Tsavo in East Africa.
327, Indicator indicator Gmel. Black-throated Honey Guide. Nmbendi and Elgon in Uganda ; Nakuru, Fort Hall, and Tsavo in Kast Africa.
328. Indicator variegatus variegatus Linn. Speckled Honey Guide.
Some of these birds are heavily speckled on the breast, some have almost uniform undersides,
Mubendi, Budongo, and Moroto in Uganda; Burnt Forest, Naivasha, and Nairobi in East Africa,
329. Indicator minor teitensis Neum. Lesser Honey Guide.
(i) 3949: Heads green; green backs; underside grey-olive, green tinged. Wings: 3 86-91, 9 83-85 mm. Changamwe, Taveta, Kitui, Kyambu.
54 Novirates Zootocican XXIX, 1922. (ii) 9g 19: Heads green; green backs; underside grey-olive, green tinged. Wings: ¢ 91-98, 2 83-89 mm.
Fort Ternan, Aberdares, Kakamegoes, Kobua, Rudolf, and Mt. Moroto, Uganda.
(iii) 1 g 3 9: Heads brown-grey, as in diademata ; backs more golden ; under- side paler less tinged olive. Wings: gf 86, 2 838-85 mm. Kobua River and Mt. Moroto.
This is a most interesting series which has caused me much bother. As teitensis and minor are supposed to be separable on size only, it would appear that no great reliance can be placed on this character.
A series of typical minor gives the following wing-measurements: g 92-94, @ 88-89 mm.; South Abyssinian birds, gf 93-97, 2 87 mm.; North Abyssinia— Erithrea, Jf 90, 2 85 mm,
Indicator lovati Og.-Grant agrees with these Erithrean birds, while the South Abyssinian birds are indistinguishable from those from the Aberdare Mountains.
330. Indicator exilis P pygmaeus Rchw. Uganda Little Olive Honey Guide.
3, 2.i1.1919; 9, 7.v.1914, 4. viii. 17.
My two new specimens agree with the bird collected in 1914, and are not typical ewilis but nearer to pygmaeus. More material will probably show this to be a good race. These birds are clearly striped on the back.
Lugalambo, and Mabira Forests in Uganda.
331. Indicator exilis ? narokensis Jacks. Little Grey-bellied Honey Guide. (? I. ansorget Alex. *) 1 § 2 Qagree with the descriptions of ansorgei and narokensis. They are pale
greyish below and have the mantle greyish green with practically no stripes. Mt. Moroto, and Soronko River, Elgon, Uganda.
332. Prodotiscus regulus Sund. Slender-billed Brown Honey Guide. g, 30.vi.1918; 9, 27. vii.1918, 21.xi.1916.
These birds agree very well with South African birds. They have wings of 73-75 mm.
Nairobi, Campi-ya-bibi, Samburu, in the Scrub country.
333. Prodotiscus insignis ? reichenowi Mad. Slender-billed Grey-bellied Olive- backed Honey Guide.
5 $29. The identification of these birds must remain uncertain until the type of reichenowi can be examined, They are quite distinct from emini. More of a forest-loving bird than the preceding.
Nairobi and Kyambu.
334. Prodotiscus insignis emini Shell. Uganda Slender-billed Olive Honey Guide.
3, 15.x.1915; 9, 9.ii.1917. This very marked form appears to be confined
to Uganda, the distribution being from the Nile district to Mt. Elgon and North Kavirondo. It is very rare.
Kakamegoes and Yala River.
or oi
Noyrrates Zootocicar XXIX. 1922.
335, Lybius bidentatus aequatorialis Shell. Uganda White-flanked Red Barbet.
This is an excellent subspecies which apparently extends to the Nandi country. Neumann’s subspecies L. b. aethiops, Omo River and South Abyssinia, is on the whole smaller, but quite a number of the Uganda birds are as small, while the size of the South Ethiopian birds is constantly the same.
South-east Elgon, Kibras, Kibos, and Fort Ternan in East Africa ; Budongo, Bugoma, Kiwala, Kasaka, Kigoma, South Ankole, Masaka, and Entebbe in Uganda.
336. Lybius melanopterus Pet. White-bellied Red-headed Barbet.
A bird of the low altitudes and desert country. Young birds resemble the adults somewhat, but the red on the throat and crown is more restricted, and the spotting on the nape and mantle absent, The brownish area of the breast and in the scapular region is absent, and the white of the underside tinged yellowish. The bill, which is horn-brown, has smooth cutting edges.
Changamwe, Lake Jipe, Taveta, Teita, and Sagala Hills.
337. Lybius leucocephalus De Fil. White-headed Barbet.
Claude Grant, when referring to this bird, Ibis, 1915, endorsed the view of Reichenow, Vog. Afrikas, vol. ii, that L. albicauda of Shelley and L. abbotti Reichw. are merely stages in the plumage of L, senex Reichenow, the last named being the full adult. He further goes on to state that a larger series will show that L. leucocephalus is L. senex in its first dress, and as L. leucocephalus is the oldest name it would have to be adopted for the species. Now, my series of L. leucocephalus and L. senex prove quite conclusively that Reichenow and Grant are in error. Lybius leucocephalus is quite distinct from either L. albicauda or L. senex, as evidenced by the young bird of L. leucocephalus in my series, which to all intents is coloured similarly to the adults.
A point I wish to draw attention to is, that the extent of the white area on the breast varies in individuals—some have the white feathering extending in a point, well on to the abdomen ; in others, it is limited to the breast. The amount of white spotting on the wings differs in individuals. The distribution of this species is from the Ituri Forest and East Congo through Uganda, including the Blue and White Nile to Kavirondo. My series includes birds from Toro, Masindi, Jinja, S. Ankole, Kigezi, in Uganda ; Kitosh and Nyarondo in East Africa.
338. Lybius albicauda senex Rchw. 1887. Black-winged White Barbet.
Here, again, we are dealing with a quite distinet bird—vide remarks preceding species. Itis undoubtedly related to L. albicauda, as evidenced by the indications of dusky mottling on the abdomen and flanks of individual birds, but otherwise it is quite distinct, Three young birds shot with their parents show quite clearly that this bird has nothing to do with L. leucocephalus. The young are coloured like adults, with the exception of the tail, which is suffused with black on the outer edges of the webs. The amount of white spotting on the back and wings varies individually—thus some old males have the white limited to the scapulars, others have the lesser coverts and mantle spotted,
56 Novirates ZooLoGcicaE XXIX, 1922.
I took the eggs in June 1919. The distribution appears to be East Africa from Ukamba north to Lumbwa.
I have procured it in the following places: Kitui, Ukamba, Fort Hall, and Nairobi.
339. Lybius albicauda albicauda Shell. 1881. Black-billed White Barbet.
Differs from the preceding subspecies in having the lower breast and abdomen in both adult and young blackish, the feathers having pale whitish tips. The wing- coverts are more spotted with white. It has been obtained at Taveta and Mombasa in British East Africa,
The distribution is: southern portion of Kenya Colony through Tanganyika Territory to the south-west shores of Lake Victoria,
(L. leucogaster Bocage 1887. Black-tailed White Barbet. Differs from L, albicauda senex in having a black tail and white under wing- coverts,
Angola.)
340. Lybius tridactylus ugandae Berger. Uganda Red-headed Black Barbet. Tam perfectly satisfied that this is a good subspecies of L. tridactylus. Besides having the white and yellow edgings to the wing feathers narrower and less conspicuous, the wings are smaller. Thus a series of ten skins from Uganda varies from 75 to 85 mm. as against 85 to 93 (most 90 mm.) in Z. ¢. tridactylus (Abyssinia). I thus do not agree with C, Grant, bis, 1915, p. 438, nor Sclater, Zbis, 1919. Toro, Soroti, and Jinja in Uganda.
341, Lybius torquatus irroratus Cab. Red-headed Yellow-bellied Barbet.
Two females have the vents decidedly orange. There is a tendency in the East African specimens to show a greater expanse of black on the breast than in specimens from Tanganyika Territory.
Mombasa, Changamwe, Samburu.
342. Tricholaema hirsutum ansorgei Shell. Ansorge’s Green-breasted Barbet. Masaka, Kigezi, Mubango, Mibira, and Lugalambo in Uganda.
343. Tricholaema melanocephala stigmatothorax Cab. Brown-throated Barbet. In the thorn bush and scrub of the Taru Desert this bird is plentiful, breeding
in March and April. Young birds have the same colour scheme as adults, but the coloration is duller.
Tsavo, Bura, M’buyuni, Cami-ya-bibi, and Maungu.
344, Tricholaema lacrymosa lacrymosa Cab. Spotted-flanked Barbet. 345, Tricholaema lacrymosa radcliffei Og.-Grant. Radeliffe’s Spotted-flanked Barbet.
T. 1. ruehae Neum., It is of interest that with my series of sixteen 7’. 1. lacrymosa and five radcliffei, together with that of the Tring Museum, evidence goes to show that
Novitates ZooLocicarE XXIX. 1922. 57
Grant’s subspecies can be upheld, provided the distribution is carefully noted. Birds with pear-shaped spots, 7’. 1. lacrymosa, must be recognised as the eastern form—ranging through East Africa to North Kavirondo, to the eastern province of Uganda and into South Ethiopia, while the western form ranges through North Tanganyika Territory to Lake Victoria, extending to South Kavirondo on the east, on the west through Uganda to, but not including, the eastern province.
T. 1. lacrymosa : Changamwe, Masongoleni, Taveta, Tsavo, Teita, Kitui, Lake Jipe, East Elgon, Sio River, Jinja, Mt. Moroto.
T. 1. radcliffe: : Fort Ternan, Kisumu, Kampala, Entebbe, Kabulamuliro, Toro, Kagera, and Nimule.
346, Tricholaema diademata diademata Heugl. Buff-bellied Barbet.
A series of birds from the White Nile and South Ethiopia have wings of 70-77 mm., while birds from North-east Uganda south to Mt. Kenia, although having the characteristic uniform belly, are considerably larger and have the same measurements as 7’, diademata massaica.
Kyetume—Masindi, Uganda.
347. Tricholaema diademata ? subsp. nov. Large Buff-bellied Barbet.
3 g and 2 9 have wings of 80, 80, 81, 82, 85 mm., and were obtained at Mt. Moroto, Kacheliba, Kerio, and Mt. Kenia. 7,000 feet.
The specimen recorded by C. Grant (Ibis, 1915, p. 441) from the Turkwell River has wings of 82 mm. and would belong to this apparently larger race.
348. Tricholaema diademata massaica Rchw. Massai Buff-bellied Barbet.
This subspecies is much larger than typical 7’. diademata, and heavily spotted on the underside in both adult and young. Some birds, however, are not so heavily spotted as others. Wings, 77-85 mm.
Kisumu, Nakuru, Nairobi, Naivasha, Kendu Bay, Simba, and Tsavo in East Africa.
349. Gymnobucco bonapartei cinereiceps Sharpe. Elgon Tufted Barbet.
These birds, which are typical G. 6. cinereiceps, have long straw-coloured tufts and distinctly greyish heads and necks. The ear-coverts are greyish. They have wings of 96-104 mm., and range from Elgon south to Nandi and possibly Sotik. They are the extreme contrast to G. b. bonapartei Hartl.
Elgon, Kakamega, Kitosh, Nyarondo, and Nandi.
350, Gymnobucco bonapartei intermedius subsp. nov.
The Tufted Barbet which occurs in Uganda is separable from the bird of Elgon and North Kavirondo in being smaller and in having the nasal tufts shorter, and chestnut or brownish in colour, and in having the ear-coverts brown. Bill smaller, Tail more washed with green, and mantle and wings more striped. It is thus the connecting link between G. bonapartei and G. bonapartei cinereiceps. Young birds have short, soft, pale straw-coloured tufts, not like Elgon birds. Wings, 87-99 mm.
58 Novitates ZooLnogicaE XXIX. 1922.
Mabira Forest, west to the Mpanga and Ruwenzori and South Ankole. Type d: Mpanga Forest. 20.ix.1916.
Ogilvie-Grant noticed that the bird obtained during the Ruwenzori Ex- pedition differed from the eastern form, but considered the difference due to wearing.
Namwave, Mubaugo, Mabira, Kyetume, Bugoma, Kigezi in South Ankole.
351. Bucconodon olivaceum Shell. Large Olive Barbet.
This species, the type of which came from Rabai, appears to be rare, very few specimens having been collected.
352. Bucconodon leucotis kilimensis Shell. Black-headed Barbet.
This is quite a good subspecies, but occasionally one comes across a bird from Tanganyika Territory which has a blackish rump, asin Natal birds. Young birds are rather blacker than adults, lacking the brown on the sides of the breast and in the scapular region ; the bristle-like feathers are restricted to the forehead. The bases of the upper and lower mandibles are pinkish or whitish.
Taveta, Lake Jipe, Teita.
353. Barbatula duchaillui Cass. Yellow-spotted Barbet. B, ugandae Rehw. With the additional material of 4 g 4 9 to my series of 1914 (11 skins), I
am unable to recognise Reichenow’s subspecies. The spotting on the back is extremely variable. Wings, 75-80 mm.
8. Ankole, Lugalambo, Mubango, Mawakota, Sezibwa in Uganda.
354, Barbatula duchaillui ? subsp. nov.
The specimens from East Africa, although agreeing with the Uganda birds
in coloration, are larger and probably belong to a southern race. Wings: 83, 85, 85 mm.
Kisumu and 8. Kavirondo.
355. Barbatula scolopacea aloysii Salvad. Small Green-spotted Barbet.
Budu, Lugalambo, and Elgon in Uganda.
The distribution of the named races of B. scolopacea requires defining. From the material available it would appear that :
B. scolopacea scolopacea is found in Ashanti, Sierra Leone, and South Nigeria.
B. s. stellata Jard. & Fras.: Fernando Po.
B. s. flavisquamata Verr.: Gaboon.
B. s. consobrina Rehw.: Congo to possibly Angola (Angola birds seem larger).
B. s. aloysii Salvad, : Uganda to Elgon.
356. Barbatula leucolaima nyanzae Neum. (Jowrn. f. Orn. 1907, p. 347). Uganda Little White-eyebrowed Barbet.
Ogilvie-Grant places this subspecies as a synonym of his B. 1. m’fumbiro, but I do not consider this correct. In working over these Little Barbets, I have
Novirates Zooroaican XXIX, 1922. 59
checked Neumann’s reviews of the group in Journ. f. Orn, 1911, and his division of this group appears correct. Budongo, Bugoma, Kyetume, and Entebbe in Uganda.
357. Barbatula subsulphurea ituriensis Neum. (Journ. f. Orn. 1917). Uganda Yellow- breasted Pigmy Barbet.
A good subspecies, being very much more yellowish on the underside than B. subsulphurea subsulphurea, and having the yellow edging to the wing feathers more pronounced, The character given by Neumann—viz. the blue instead of green gloss on the head—is obvious in the type, but does not hold good in the ‘other specimens. The type is a miserable, much-soiled specimen.
Dividing the small Barbets into three species with so many subspecies as Neumann does, allows for the presence of three of these Pigmy Barbets in the same locality, each belonging to distinct species.
Budongo, Mabira, Kyetume, in Uganda.
358. Barbatula bilineata fischeri Rchw. East African Yellow-breasted Barbet. This bird is remarkably like B. leucolaima nyanzae, but paler yellow on the abdomen. It appears to be an uncommon bird. It is possible that the mainland bird may be separable from the birds of Zanzibar—the type locality of this subspecies of the South African B. bilineata. Changamwe and Mombasa. 2 d, April and May.
359. Barbatula bilineata ? subsp. nov. Grey-breasted Pigmy Barbet.
3 dand 3 9 have a distinctly grey throat and breast and the rump is canary- yellow. Wings, 50-56 mm. This form is met with from Ukambani to Nakuru district, but north of this occurs a larger, paler one, which is apparently typical B, jacksoni.
Nairobi, Kyambu, Naivasha.
360. Barbatula bilineata jacksoni Sharpe. Jackson’s Pale-breasted Pigmy Barbet.
This bird (type locality Ravine) is very like the preceding, but much clearer yellowish below, not so grey on the breast, and has the rump rather darker yellow-chrome. It is larger, with wings of 55-59 mm. ‘The distribution, so far as is known, is from Molo north to Kakamegoes and Elgon.
Molo, Elgeyu, Kakamega, Kitosh, Elgon, and Bukedi in Uganda.
361. Viridibucco simplex simplex Rchw. Little Olive Barbet.
This species occurs in the Seyidi Province south of Mombasa, and is rare. Morogoro, Tanganyika Territory.
362, Viridibucco simplex leucomystax Sharpe. White-moustached Olive Barbet.
I have not met with this bird south of Kitui, Ukamba, and in its northern limits not beyond Mt, Elgon.
Mt. Elgon, Bukedi, Uganda ; Elgeyu, Marakwet, Burnt Forest, Aberdare Mts., Nairobi,
60 Novirates Zootocicar XXIX. 1922.
363. Pogoniulus pusillus affinis Rchw. Red-fronted Pigmy Barbet.
The revision of the races of this little Barbet, by C. Grant (Ibis, 1915, p. 443), appears correct, though in certain instances the descriptions he gives are in- adequate. The relationship between this race and the next is very close, for amongst my series there are three adult birds from Kitui and Sagala, Teita, with reddish-orange rumps.
Some birds have the hind margin of the red frontal patch outlined with yellow feathers of a different character to the actual red feathers forming the patch. In my series the wings vary from 47 to 57 mm.
Lamu, Changamwe, Manugu, Kibwezi, Sagala, River N’ziu, Ukambani, Simba, Kendu Bay, Mt. Kenia, Baringo ; and Olgerei, Narossora (A. B. Percival coll.), and Mt. Moroto, Kerio River, in Uganda.
364. Pogoniulus pusillus uropygialis Heugl. Red-rumped Pigmy Barbet.
Type locality Eritrea. It is possible that this race extends to N. Rudolf. It is of interest to note that of sixteen specimens of this race only five have the red rump.
365. Pogoniulus chrysocomus centralis Rchw. Uganda Yellow-fronted Pigmy Barbet.
Although C. Grant limits the range of this race to Uganda, it is not surprising to find it extended into East Africa south-west of the Nandi Escarpment, as do quite a number of Uganda forms. It is possible that the extreme East African birds will prove to be-a further race, as they are rather paler yellow on the under- side than West Uganda specimens and slightly larger. Wings: 62 and 63 mm., as against 57-60 mm,
Nyarondo, Kibos, and Kibigori in East Africa,
366. Trachyphonus erythrocephalus Cab. Large Red-headed Waxy Barbet.
Pale lemon-yellow under tail-coverts are found in decidedly adult birds as well as in young, thus I doubt if it can be reckoned a character of immaturity. One male specimen has a bill 32 mm. long!
Young birds are coloured as in females.
T. e. versicolor Hartl. is probably not a good race.
Masongoleni, Maungu, Tsavo, Kitui, Simba, in East Africa; and Kerio River and Mt. Moroto in Uganda.
367, Trachyphonus d’arnaudi d’arnaudi Des Murs. Uganda Waxy-headed Barbet.
There is a certain amount of variation in these birds which makes it rather difficult to say whether 7’, d. zedlitzi Berger, from Baringo, is really a good form. It is probably only in a series that the characters claimed for this race can be appreciated. I cannot separate my two specimens from Baringo from birds from Moroto or Kerio River, The wing measures 63-76 mm.
C. Grant does not mention thisrace. 7. @arnaudi darnaudi has nouaie to do with 7’. d. usambiro Neum. The forms do not actually meet.
Nile Province, Masindi, Moroto, Kerio, in Uganda; Nyarondo in East Africa.
Novitates ZOOLOGICAE XXIX. 1922.
61
368. Trachyphonus d’arnaudizedlitzi Berger. Baringo Waxy-headed Barbet. Baringo. 4, 5.xii.1917.
369. Trachyphonus d’arnaudi usambiro Neum. East African Waxy-headed Barbet.
This distinct race has nothing to do with T. emini Rchw. C. Grant was quite in error when he described this bird as the female of 7’. emini, and figured it in the /bis, 1915, p. 449. The type of 7’. usambiro was in Tring, but he appears not to have consulted it. He mentions this race when discussing the forms of T. @arnaudi, but did not connect his Loita birds with it. It must be remembered that the male and female of 7. d’a. usambiro are alike, as is also the case with T. emint.
T. da. usambiro can be recognised from the typical race by being larger, and by having a blackish bill, not horn-brown. The black patch on the breast is larger, the head and nape are yellower, and there is an almost complete breast- band of white-spotted black feathers.
The distribution, so far as at present known, is the Tanganyika Territory south of Lake Victoria Nyanza, into Kenya Colony, as far as the Loita Plains and Southern Uaso-n’yiro. Wings, 81-87 mm,
Loita and Usambara.
370. Trachyphonus emini Rchw. Emin’s Black-capped Waxy Barbet.
In size this bird agrees with the preceding, but, as already pointed out, has nothing to do with it. The black crown and large black patch from the chin to the breast, the bright yellow nape and side of face and neck, finely spotted with blackish, and the distinct breast-band of white-spotted black feathers, render
this bird easy of identification, Distribution from Lake Nyassa north to Tanganyika Territory.
371. Trachyphonus bohmi Rchw. Bohm’s Black-capped Waxy Barbet.
I am not satisfied that this bird is really a subspecies of 7’. d’arnaudi. The black cap and the large black spot on the chest indicate separation. The presence of this bird north-west of Kenia is of great interest.
Manugu, Bura, Sagala, Voi, Taveta, Campi-ya-bibi, Simba, N’ziu Ukambani, and West Kenia.
372. Trachylaemus purpuratus elgonensis Sharpe. Yellow-billed Barbet.
The known distribution of this bird is from West Uganda east to Elgon (type locality), and south to the Elgeyu Escarpment ! Mabira, Bumasifa, Elgon, in Uganda; Burnt Forest and Elgeyu in East
Africa. 373. Iynx torquilla torquilla Lin. European Wryneck.
The occurrence of the European Wryneck in Uganda is certain, but so far there is no evidence of its being found in Hast Africa.
62 Novitates ZootoaicaE XXIX. 1922,
374. Iynx ruficollis cosensi C. Grant. East African Wryneck.
This race is recognisable, but there is a lot of variation in the character of the striping on the underside, some birds being very heavily striped, others having only narrow lines and spots. The extent of the brown on the throat, the rusty under tail-coverts, and the larger size separate this bird from I. r. ruficollis of South Africa. A young bird in first plumage has the broad patch on the throat indicated by a rusty wash which does not extend to the chin, the underside more mottled than striped, and the black markings on the back much larger than in adults.
Elgeyu, Burnt Forest, Naivasha, Nairobi, Loita, and Simba in East Africa.
375, Campothera nubica nubica Bodd. Nubian Red-headed Spotted Woodpecker.
In a variable species such as this it is difficult to define races, There are, however, certain characters by which, in large series, one can admit at least three races, These three are, however, not those admitted by C. Grant (bis, 1915, p. 452). I uphold one which Grant suppresses, I recognise as a distinct species a bird which he places as a synonym of C., nubica nubica, and I transfer one of Grant’s subspecies of nubica to a subspecies of this species (C. scriptoricauda).
When a series of birds from Abyssinia, Somaliland, Sudan, Uganda, and East Africa is laid out, it will be noticed that those taken in East Africa from Kavirondo south to Nairobi are dark birds, this being due to the fact that the great majority are spotted on the back, not barred or with spear-shaped spots. The northern birds I place as C. nubica nubica, those of Kast Africa, within certain limits, as C. nubica newmanni Rehw (type locality Naviasha), and those from Somaliland, Jubaland, Tana, south to desert area of Hast Africa as C. nubica pallida Sharpe (type locality Lamu).
Individual birds from the distributions given can be matched by birds from other localities, but in a series the characters of the races can be recognised, or instance, I have a bird taken in the Sudan which exactly matches the pale birds of Lamu, but this is individual.
The characters of the races are as follows :—
C. nubica nubica Bodd (22 skins).—Upper surface olive-yellowish, barred or heavily spotted; cheeks and malar region white barred and streaked with black ; under surface buffy to yellowish or whitish, generally the spotting smallish and
limited to breast and sides. Nubia, Abyssinia, Sudan, Uganda, and British East Africa = south-east
of Elgon to Baringo.
376. C. nubica neumanni Rehw. (25 skins).—Upper surface darker above, more greenish, not so heavily spotted and not frequently barred ; cheeks and malar region darker, more blackish; under surface more heavily spotted, with large spots which extend well on to the abdomen; ground colour whitish
or buff. Kavirondo, south along the high country to Naivasha and Nairobi, and North
Ukambani.
C. nubica pallida Sharpe (14 skins),—Much paler above, more greyish olive, heavily barred with whitish, very pronounced on inner secondaries and
Novirates ZootocicaE XXIX, 1922. 63
scapulars ; cheeks and malar region pale, lighter than in typical bird; underside less spotted than in C. nubica nubica.
Somaliland south to Jubaland and Lamu down to Mombasa and through to dry Taru desert country to East Kilimanjaro and South Ukambani. Where these subspecies meet, intermediate forms occur. Some birds have reddish tips to the feathers of the mantle !
C.n. nubica I have obtained from Masindi, Elgon, Kyetume, Suk, Kerio, Moroto, Turkwell ; newmanni from Kakemega, Fort Ternan, Nakuru, Naivasha, Escarpment, Nairobi, Machakos.
377, Campothera nubica pallida Sharpe. Red-headed Barred Woodpecker.
The characters and distribution of this subspecies are given above. Lamu, Manda, Manugu, Changamwe, T'savo, Voi.
378. Campothera scriptoricauda Rchw. Yellow-billed Woodpecker.
Instead of uniting this bird with C. nubica, I place it as a distinct species. The characters given in the original description hold good in the three specimens before me. They are: more narrowly barred upper surface, tail blackish for 20 mm., breast and sides with small spots, spotting extending to throat and chin, paler cheeks and ear-coverts, and (most important of all) the yellow lower mandible! These are adult breeding birds.
Seeing that the distribution of this species and C. nubica pallida coincide for a large part without the presence of intergrades, they cannot be subspecies of the same typical race.
The range of this species is: Lamu, along the coast to Mombasa and into Tanganyika Territory.
Mombasa and Morogoro.
Of this there is apparently another subspecies in Portuguese East Africa which has been named C. s. albifacies by Gurney and Roberts, the characters being the wide white superciliary stripe extending back to UE nape, throat and chin spotted as in the typical form.
379. Campothera abingoni mombassica Fisch. and Rchw. Stripe-breasted Green Woodpecker.
T have come to the same conclusions as Prof. Neumann (Bull. B.O. Club, 1908), with the exception that I consider the birds from Lake Kivu and Baraka to belong to a distinct smaller race.
Mombasa district north to Lamu and South Somaliland; specimens from Mombasa, Changamwe, Mazeras obtained.
380, Campothera abingoni suahelica Rchw. Pale Stripe-breasted Green Woodpecker.
This race is characterised by having the abdomen and underside not so spotted or streaked as in the typical form, and is thus paler, besides being greener above. Inthe female the white spots to the fore part of the crown are elongated, not round,
The distribution is Tanganyika Territory from Vanga and Kilimanjaro to Mozambique: Lumbo, Portuguese Hast Africa, collected by Loveridge,
64 Novirates ZooLocicar XXIX. 1922.
381. Campothera cailliauti cailliauti Malh. Spotted-breasted Green Woodpecker.
(= C. matherbi.)
My birds are typical, with the exception of those taken in July at Dar-es- Salaam. These two southern birds are heavily spotted on the underside with large spots, whereas the Mombasa and Changamwe ones are all uniformly small spotted. Wings, 93-99mm. The spotting on the back is large (cf. C. c. nyansae).
Mombasa, Seyedi Province north to Malindi and south to Zanzibar, and Dar-es-Salaam.
382. Campothera cailliauti nyansae Neum. Nyansa Spotted-breasted Green Woodpecker.
I am satisfied that this is a good race. In the series of ten skins before me the backs are almost uniform green or only with small ill-defined spots, while on the underside the spotting is heavy and large. These birds are larger than the coastal form, having wings of 95-109 mm.
South of Victoria Nyanza, north-west to Kagua and Kasaka in Uganda, and south-west to Lake Kivu, Tanganyika, and North-east Rhodesia.
383. Campothera cailliauti filleborni Neum. Southern Spotted-breasted Green Woodpecker.
Portuguese East Africa and Nyassaland. Lumbo in Portuguese East Africa. 3, August. Collected by Loveridge.
384, Campothera caroli budongoensis subsp. nov. Uganda Chestnut-cheeked Woodpecker.
Uganda birds are greener on the upper surface than C. caroli caroli, less golden, and have the spotting on the underside pale yellowish, except on the throat and fore neck, where it is whitish. Eighteen skins from Uganda show these characters to be constant. The young are altogether darker than adults, and are very like Gaboon birds.
Belgian Congo, east to Uganda as far east as the Mabira Forest and Elgon ; Budongo, Bugoma, Mawakota, Lugalambo, Mubango, in Uganda. ‘Type, 2 ad., Bugoma Forest, 20.x.1913.
One other subspecies described by Oberholser as C. caroli arizelus from Liberia and Sierra Leone appears a good race, having the underside greener and the spotting bigger and more widely separated.
Another possible race are the birds from South Nigeria and North Kamerun, which have the throat much whiter, caused by the spotting being larger and show a tendency to run together.
385. Campothera nivosa herberti Alex. Lesser Barred-breasted Green Woodpecker.
Rather greener above than type. My series of thirteen agrees perfectly with the two birds I collected in 1913-14 in the Mabira Forest and which were com- pared with the type in the British Museum. This bird is no doubt a subspecies of C. nivosa nivosa from the Gambia ; adult males, which apparently were un- known, are similar to the females, but possess a bright red nape-crest.
Kasala, Budongo, Bugoma, Mibira, Kyetume, Kyanja, in Uganda.
Novirates ZootoaicaE XXIX, 1922. 65
The following races can be recognised :
C. nivosa nivosa Sw.: Head brownish olive ; upper surface brownish golden green, underside brownish olive spotted whitish—Gambia, Sierra Leone, Fanti, and possibly South Nigeria.
C. nivosa poensis Alex.: Very like nivosa nivosa, but more brownish olive above, not so golden, head brownish olive-green, underside darker olive-brown, throat buffy, streaked.—Fernando Po.
C. nivosa efulensis Alex. : Very like nivosa, but head darker, more olive-green, upper surface olive-green, under surface clear olive-green, throat yellowish washed and streaked.—Kamerun and Angola.
C. nivosa herberti Alex.: Head dark green, upper side bright olive-green, under surface bright olive-green, throat whitish, streaked.—Belgian Congo to Uganda, as far as the Mabira Forest.
C. nivosa ? subsp. nov. : Head greyish olive-green, back dull olive-green, no yellow tinge, underside greenish grey spotted and barred. As I have no fully adult birds, I refrain from naming this form.—Elgon, south to Nandi.
386. Campothera taeniolaema taeniolaema Rchw. and Neum. Broad-barred Green Woodpecker.
The type locality is not exactly given in the original description, but merely Mau and Eldoma Ravine. I have eight typical birds, agreeing perfectly. C. hausburgi Sharpe has been suppressed, but the differences between the Ravine birds and those from Kenia is so marked that I am inclined to reinstate the subspecies.
Elgeyu, Ravine, Marakwet, Nandi.
387. Campothera taeniolaema hausburgi Sharpe. Narrow-barred Green Woodpecker.
In comparing my series of 5 ¢ 5 9 with two topotypical skins this race appears quite evident, but intermediates occur where the races must meet. Kenia, Fort Hall, Nairobi, Nakuru, intermediate at Molo.
Characters of races :
C. taeniolaema taeniolaema Rchw. & Neum. Type, Eldoma Ravine.—Dull green above, throat and cheeks white, barred blackish ; underside white, widely barred with green and washed faintly with green.
Mau, Sotik, to Elgeyu and Kakamegoes and Elgon.
C. taeniolaema hausburgi Sharpe. Type locality, Kenia.—Brighter green above with yellow tinge; more finely barred below, especially on the cheeks and throat ; underside washed yellowish.
Mt. Kenia, Fort Hall, east to Nairobi and Aberdare Range, and south to Ukamba.
388. C. taeniolaema barakae van Someren, Type locality, Baraka, North Tanganyika (Bull. B.O. Club, February 1920).—Not so yellowish green above as Ct. hausburgi, but throat and breast more decidedly barred with blackish dark green and darker green on the abdomen, on a yellowish ground, Size generally
5
66 NoviratEs ZootocicaE XXIX. 1922.
smaller. The black cap of female extends far back and the red nape-tuft is correspondingly decreased.
North-west of Tanganyika, Lake Kivu north to the Mpanga Forest in Toro, The specimen obtained by the Ruwenzori Expedition and called taeniolaema by Grant would probably belong to this new subspecies.
389. Mesopicos goertae centralis Rchw.* Uganda Golden-backed Woodpecker.
This subspecies is quite distinct and easily recognisable by its much darker coloration compared with M. goertae goertae, from Senegambia.
Masindi, Toro, Entebbe, Kawala, Moroto, in Uganda; Soronko River, South Elgon, Kerio, and Baringo in East Africa.
390. Mesopicos goertae koenigi Neum.
I do not agree with C, Grant (Ibis, 1915) that this is a synonym of WM. g. centralis, Hight birds from Nubia, Sudan, and west to Njam Njam, are uniformly paler below and above, with the back greyish olive-yellow, and the abdominal patch quite different from M. g. centralis, being more circumscribed, not so diffuse and of a bright red edged with golden.
Out of eighteen skins of MW. g. centralis there is not one approaching the pale Nubian birds. I therefore uphold the subspecies.
Mesopicos goertae abyssinicus Rehw., North Abyssinia, is possibly a northern race of M. g. goeriae, as there is a specimen in Tring which agrees with Reichenow’s description and it is not M. spodocephalus, specimens of which Reichenow un- doubtedly had.
The range, however, assigned to this race is too wide and included that of M. g. koenigi !
391. Mesopicos spodocephalus rhodeogaster Fisch. and Rchw. East African Golden- backed Woodpecker.
This is a good race. It is interesting to note that in part of their range J. g. centralis overlaps M. spodocephalus rhodeogaster without any interbreeding as far as we know (ef. Sclater & Praed, Ibis, 1919).
Fort Hall, Nairobi, Naivasha, Simba, and Kisumu.
392. Mesopicos ruwenzori Sharpe. Ruwenzori Olive-bellied Woodpecker.
Apparently limited to the ‘‘ Central Lake region.”
393. Mesopicos ellioti subsp. ? Uganda Bufi-cheeked Woodpecker.
39, 20.xii.1915, These birds are brighter grass-green above than specimens from the Ituri and Lake Kivu, and have uniform buff cheeks without any greenish wash, this colour extending from the loral spot to the ear-coverts. They have smaller bills but longer wings. Possibly an eastern race.
North Elgon,
* Cf. Nov. Zoo. 1921, p. 103.—[E. H.].
Noviratres Zootocicar XXIX. 1922. 67
394. Mesopicos xantholophus chloroticus van Someren. Uganda Yellow-crowned Olive Woodpecker. Bull. B.O. Club, xli. p. 105, 1921.
Greener above and below than M. x. xantholophus, generally with brighter golden tinge to the rump and less spotted below on the centre of the underside. Wings: 110-122, as against 100-120 mm. of Gaboon and N. Angola birds.
Uganda from Elgon and Nandi west to North Tanganyika (Bugoma, Luga- lambo, Kasala, Mubango, Elgon, Kakamega). Type: ¢ Lugalambo, 5.xi.1915.
395. Thripias namaquus schoensis Riipp. White-faced Black-breasted Woodpecker.
Two races are distinguishable, but it appears that they can only be recognised in series. Thus eight out of ten of my birds agree better with 7’. n. schoensis than 7’. n. intermedius, though they are not absolutely identical.
Kerio River, Soronko River, Suk, and Baringo.
396. Thripias namaquus intermedius C. Grant. White-faced Grey-breasted Woodpecker.
My ten birds agree with Grant’s description of the Ugogo birds and birds from S. Uganda, and thus the range of this race is extended into East Africa.
Nine out of ten have grey and barred undersurface, while two show a tendency to assuming a blackish-olive breast, spotted with white, showing gradation into the schoensis type of plumage. Such birds are found from Nairobi to Nakuru and the Elgeyu Escarpment.
Olgerei, Narorsera (A. B. Percival coll.), Tsavo, Kitui, Kyambu, and Nairobi in East Africa,
397. Dendropicos poecilolaemus Rchw. Uganda Speckled-breasted Little Woodpecker.
D. p. nandensis Neum. (Nandi).
The young birds agree perfectly with Neumann’s description of D. p. nandensis, which becomes a synonym. They are greyish green above on the mantle and wings, and greyish below with blackish spots, thus looking very different from the adults.
Budongo, Bugoma, Entebbe, Busiro, Sezibwa, Lugalambo, Mubango, Kyetume, and Elgon in Uganda,
398. Dendropicos lafresnayi lepidus Rchw. Uganda Streaky-breasted Small Olive-backed Woodpecker.
The young are greyer on the back than adults and more heavily streaked. Some birds are less banded on the back than others and approach D. abyssinicus hartlaubi, but there should be no difficulty in distinguishing these two birds. The records of D, hartlaubi from Uganda undoubtedly refer to D. l. lepidus.
Nairobi, Escarpment, Aberdare Mts., Burnt Forest, Elgeyu, Elgon, Kendu Bay, Fort Ternan, in East Africa ; Budongo, Kigezi, S. Ankole, Bugoma, Bumasifa, Kibengei, Entebbe, in Uganda,
68 Novitates Zootocicar XXIX, 1922
399. Dendropicos abyssinicus hartlaubi Malh. Zanzibar Golden-backed Woodpecker.
(= D. a. zanzibari.)
Has been obtained at Mombasa and along the coast, but does not go far inland. Type locality Zanzibar and adjacent coast of mainland. Records of D. hartlaubi from Uganda are certainly erroneous. They refer, no doubt, to brightly coloured D. lafresnayi, which lack bars to the mantle.
400. Dendropicos fuscescens massaicus Neum. Small Barred-backed Woodpecker.
The reference given by Claude Grant for the type locality of this bird is misleading, as Lake Nguruman is not north of Lake Victoria. My large series of 17 fg and 13 Q is most uniform, with the result that those birds I have referred to other subspecies stand out quite conspicuously when placed alongside this series. The races admitted by Claude Grant are in the main correct, but I differ from him in recognising at least two forms which he unites, one as “ hemprichi” and the other as ‘‘ massaicus.”’
Changamwe, Maungu, Masongoleni, Voi, Taveta, Tsavo, Kerio River, Turkwell River, in East Africa ; Mt. Moroto in Uganda.
401. Dendronicos fuscescens centralis Neum. Golden-barred Little Woodpecker.
3, 3.vii.17; 9, 25.vii.18. These birds differ so markedly from D. f. massaicus that I am compelled to recognise them as distinct. They are more distinct from D. f. fuscescens than ‘‘ massaicus ” is from the typical bird. Above they are more yellow-golden and distinctly barred, the golden colour being present on the wings, especially on the cross bars to the primaries and secondaries. The underside is less heavily streaked and washed with yellow. The females have a brown head lacking the black nape, and the males lack the red tips to the upper tail-coverts. Wings, 90 mm.
Central and South Tanganyika Territory to North Nyassaland and Mozam- bique.
(Morogoro in Tanganyika Territory and Lumbo in Portuguese East Africa.)
402. Dendropicos fuscescens albicans Zedl. Pale-barred Little Woodpecker.
Type locality Juba River. The Lamu and Manda birds are very much paler than D. f. massaicus, that I am prepared to support Zedlitz’s subspecies. Eight specimens from this locality agree, with the exception of one youngish female.
Jubaland south to Lamu and Manda and adjacent portions of mainland.
403. Iyngipicus obsoletus obsoletus Wagl. Western Grey Pigmy Woodpecker.
Two birds from Masindi cannot be distinguished from the Senegal birds either in size or colour. They have wings of 80 and 81, while in Senegal birds they range from 75 to 82 mm.
Masindi to Gondokoro,
Novirates Zootoaicar XXIX,. 1922. 69
404, Iyngipicus obsoletus ingens Hart. East African Grey Pigmy Woodpecker.
T am satisfied that birds taken in Eastern Uganda, north to Moroto, cannot be separated from East African ones, and must all be placed under the name given above. Some birds are dark, some pale, but the proportion of dark and pale birds is equal in northern and southern specimens, Further, the wings of birds taken in North Elgon area are as large or larger than Nairobi birds (typical I. 0. ingens). Young birds are much darker above and below than adults—thus IL am inclined to view Neumann’s J. 0. nigricans from South Ethiopia with doubt, as he based it on insufficient material. J. 0. heuglini is a good race, being paler throughout. The wing measurements of my series of fifteen vary from 84 to 92 mm.
Ukambani north to Elgon and Moroto, Turkanaland.
(Moroto in Uganda ; Kerio, Suk, Soronko River, Kimiriri River, Fort Ternan, Kibos, Kisumu, Escarpment, Nairobi, Fort Hall, Kitui, in Kenya Colony.)
(In reviewing the Colies I have compared birds from type localities, and my results include only those species and races which concern the student of British East African and Uganda ornithology.)
405. Colius striatus affinis Shell. Dar-es-Salaam Coly.
Type locality, Dar-es-Salaam. 5 3,1 9, 1 juv., all from the type locality and all uniformly coloured, showing no variation, The confusion which has arisen over this bird and its near relations must be due to the fact that authors have not compared typical birds. A description of the typical bird is as follows (colours as in Ridgway’s Nomencl. Col.): Top of head, including crest, neck, and mantle, avellaneous brown, the mantle very faintly barred. Cheeks very pale smoke-grey, not sharply separated from the smoke-grey of the throat, which is uniform and a shade darker, while the rest of the throat is but faintly barred, especially where it merges into the avellaneous brown of the chest. The lower breast and abdomen are light buff. Wings and scapulars buffy brown, tinged with a slight olive wash. Rump and upper tail-coverts uniform avellaneous brown. Wings: 86, 89, 89, 89, 91, 91.—Young birds are like adults, but lack all signs of barring and have the back mottled with buff tips to the feathers, and the lesser coverts tipped with rusty. Lower mandible black, base of upper pinkish.
Dar-es-Salaam, Zanzibar and adjacent coast, inland to South Tanganyika Territory and coast of Mozambique.
406. Colius striatus berlepschi Hart.
The nearest to “affinis’”’ inland is C. s. berlepschi Hart., which differs in having the back and wings darker, more tinged with olive-brown, and the under- side darker,
South-west Tanganyika Territory, round north of Lake Nyassa (type locality), and North-east Rhodesia,
70 Noviratrs Zootoaicar XXIX. 1922.
407. Colius striatus mombassicus van Someren. Mombasa Grey-cheeked Coly. Bull. B.O. Club, November 1919.
Type 3, 19.vii.1918, Mombasa, These birds are quite distinct from C. s. affinis, from Dar-es-Salaam, being more greyish on the head, neck, and mantle, the neck and* mantle being distinctly barred, the bars more widely separated than in C. s. affinis. The cheeks are whiter ; the throat is more barred, ina similar way to the mantle. Breast and abdomen darker. Wings and tail more greyish ; rump and upper tail-coverts barred. Wings: 87, 87, 90, 90, 92 mm.
Mombasa, north to Kismayu and possibly South Somaliland, on the coast and inland as far as Voi.
(Mombasa, Changamwe, Samburu, Lamu and Manda and M’koi.)
408. Colius striatus kikuyensis van Someren. East African Black-throated Coly. Bull. B.O. Club, November 1919.
The central Kenya Colony or highland race differs from the coastal form in having the head and neck saccado-umber, mantle slightly darker, faintly barred, lores and base of forehead blackish, cheeks and throat blackish with the feathers tipped greyish, ear-coverts silver-grey. Lower throat and breast buffy brown, barred blackish ; lower part of breast and rest of underside light buff. Wings and tail deep greyish olive ; rump and upper tail-coverts saccado-brown, barred. A large bird, with wings of 100, 100, 101, 101, 102, 103, 104, 107 mm.
South Ukambani to Kavirondo, including the Loita Plains and east to Kenia. Thirteen skins from Nairobi, Ruiru, Fort Hall, Escarpment, Kyambu, Burnt Forest, Nakuru, Naivasha. Type ¢, 14.v.1918, Nairobi.
409. Colius striatus ugandensis van Someren. Uganda White-cheeked Coly. Bull. B.O. Club, November 1919.
Type 3, 28.v.06, Chagwe. Eighteen specimens examined.
Crown and mantle wood-brown to buffy brown, the latter barred; wings and tail not so dark as in C. st. kikuyensis, but greyish olive. Rump and upper tail-coverts brownish olive. Cheeks greyish, ear-coverts white, especially at the posterior border ; throat blackish, tipped whitish. Upper breast ochraceous buff, barred with brownish black. Rest of undersurface ochraecous buff, thus darker brownish than in East African specimens. Wing, 100-99 mm.
Uganda, from Lake Albert and Ruwenzori to Elgon and Turkwell River.
(Ankole in Toro, Chagwe, Kampala, Entebbe, Jinja, Moroto, Kerio.)
The other recognisable races are :
C. striatus striatus Gm: Cape to Knysna district.
C. s. nigricollis: Portuguese Congo and possibly Cameroon.
If Cameroon birds differ, they will be called C. s. nigriscapalis Rehw.
C. s. leucotis Riipp.: North Abyssinia, Eritrea,
CO. s. hilgerti Zedlitz (2 C. s. erlangeri) : South Abyssinia, north South Ethio- pia, Omo district, northern frontier of East Africa, North Somaliland.
C. s. jebelensis Mearns: Nile district, Gondokoro to Niam Niam.
C. s. minor: Natal to Transvaal and South Portuguese East Africa, South Nyassaland.
C. s. cinerascens Neum,: Central Tanganyika Territory to south of Lake Victoria,
Noyrrarrs Zootogicar XXIX, 1922. Zi
410. Colius leucocephalus leucocephalus Reichw. White-headed Coly.
My series of 7 3, 49, 2 juv. of a species rare in collections shows no variation in colour. They were breeding at the time they were collected (August 1918), and eggs and young were taken. The eggs are white, or with a few brown marks and with a matt surface. The young resemble the adults, but the feathers of the mantle are tipped and edged with rusty. The pink on the breast is absent and the barring in the throat not developed. The whole of the lower bill is black. Crest well developed. In adult birds the crest is not pure white, but creamy, tinged with buff and greyish towards the tips of the hind feathers.
The range of the typical bird is the Teita country and south of Kilimanjaro. Possibly the specimens obtained by Zedlitz and Erlanger from South Somaliland are not typical, as those from north of Mt. Kenia differ and have been described as a new race.
Maungu, Masongoleni, and Taveta.
411. Colius leucocephalus turneri van Someren. Grey-naped Coly. Bull, B.O. Club, xl. p. 27, 1919.
This race differs in having the neck and mantle more clearly barred, more greyish, and the wings, back, and rump deeper grey. The vinous pink is more restricted in area, being confined to the upper breast and sides, while the lower breast and abdomen are ochraceous buff. The throat is slightly darker. The cheeks are greyish, not brownish as in C. J. leucocephalus, and the crest feathers and those of the forehead are pure white, the former deeply tinged with smoke- grey.
The known range of this bird is the northern Guasso N’yiro. (Archer’s Post, five skins.)
412, 413. Colius macrourus pulcher Neum, East African Blue-naped Coly.
(Type locality, Bura.)
Claude Grant (Ibis, 1915) recognised only two races of Colius macrourus, but there are evidently more, and he can hardly have examined specimens from northern Abyssinia. The birds from Eritrea are Oberholser’s syntactus; they are very pale.
The Bura birds are darkest, having the back deep ashy washed with bluish green, from the crown to the wings. The rump and upper tail-coverts are slightly paler, The undersurface of the wings darker than in U. m. macrourus. The throat not so whitish, more tinged with pinkish, the crest with a greyish tinge. The chest deep vinous pink and the abdomen darker. The nape-patch is shiny squil-blue, that of U. m. macrourus pale sky-blue. U. m. pulcher is a good race ; the wing measurement of my series 86, 87, 87, 89, 90, 90 mm. The birds in the second series, collected during practically the same months but from farther north, i.e. Turkana to Uganda, are paler than typical U. m, pulcher and resemble more the birds from South Ethiopia. They have the throat and breast more pinkish than U. m. macrourus, but not so dark asin U,m. pulcher. The forehead, crest, and nape more brownish than typical race, The underside paler than Cm, pulcher and the upperside less bluish green—paler, and tinged with brownish,
72 Noyiratrs Zooroaican XXIX. 1922.
The nape-patch is sky-blue, not squil-blue as in C. m. pulcher. It appears, therefore, that this race is intermediate between C. m. syntactus and C, m. pulcher ; and as the type localities of these two are so widely separated, they may form another subspecies. Wings, 90-96 mm.
South Abyssinia and North-east Uganda to Lake Rudolf.
Serres I.—Six specimens. Bura, Teita, Sagala, Magadi, Tsavo, M’buyuni, Escarpment and Kisumu, South Kavirondo, Island of Manda, Lamu.
Serres I1.—Twelve specimens. Kimiriri, Suk, Turkwell, Moroto, Rudolf.
Tn the Lake Edward and Kivu district to North Tanganyika we find a dark race which is near C. macrourus pulcher, but differs in having the crown more greyish ; the blue nape-patch breman-blue, not squil-blue ; the wings and mantle tinged more greenish, less bluish, and the throat not differently coloured to the breast, but the whole vinous, washed with grey. Abdomen tinged greyish, not buff. Wings, 88-95 mm. (four specimens).
This race I have named. I am inclined to separate also the birds from Manda and Lamu Islands, as they seem to me much paler than the other races.
414. Colius macrourus griseogularis van Someren. Bull. B.O. Club, November 1919.
With a range from Lakes Albert Edward and Kivu to North Tanganyika.
It is only by having large series that these races can be appreciated. I have endeavoured to compare only birds in similar and unworn stages of plumage. These races, having arisen from a common stock, do occasionally produce “ re- versions ” or, where races meet, supposed ‘‘ hybrids,”
415. Apaloderma narina subsp. ?
I cannot detect any difference between males from East Africa and Uganda and those from the type locality in South Africa, In the females, however, it is quite noticeable that South African birds are brighter rufous on the lores, throat, and breast, and lack the broad grey band on the chest which is present in East African and Uganda birds. In northern birds the brown of the chest is shot with greenish, giving this area a darker appearance. I have not sufficient South African females, but refrain from identifying the northern birds with the southern. Young birds, after passing through the spotted plumage, assume a plumage like that of the female, but differ in having pale terminal spots to the lesser coverts and occasionally on the secondaries. It is not until the third plumage that the red underside is assumed.
Bugoma, Budongo, Butambara, Mawakota, Elgon, in Uganda; Elgeyu, Naivasha, Nairobi, and Kyambu in East Africa.
416. Heterotrogon vittatum vitiatum Shell. Bar-tailed Trogon.
These, birds are not so common as the white-tailed species. The call is much the same, but of a higher pitch. A series of eighteen adult birds. Owing to lack of material I am unable to compare these birds with typical specimens,
Elgon in Uganda ; Elgeyu and Kyambu Forest in East Africa,
Novirates Zootoaicar XXIX. 1922. 73
417. Heterotrogon vittatum minus Chapin.
Is probably the form which inhabits West Uganda, as it occurs in the forests of the Belgian Congo. I have no specimen from this locality for comparison, but do not think that Uganda birds are the same as Hast African examples. The males are darker crimson, and the females darker on the breast; I have, however, insufficient material.
418. Pitta angolensis longipennis Reichw. Uganda Pitta.
This bird must be more plentiful than supposed. I have records of its occurrence in the forests of Bugoma, Budonga-Mabira, in Uganda, and Kyambu in East Africa.
During the dry season this bird was not seen in Bugoma, but appeared again during the rains.
Bugoma Forest, Uganda. dg, 7.vi; 9, 4.vii.1919.
419. Coracias naevia naevia Daud. White-naped Roller. (C. sharpei.)
I have compared my five birds with a large series of Senegal ones, and can find no constant difference. There is a tendency for eastern birds in fresh plumage to have the heads more rufous, without the greenish tips to the feathers of the crown which is present in most fresh Senegal birds. The forehead is more broadly whitish. More East African material is required.
Fort Hall, Kisumu, Nairobi, and Kitui.
420. Coracias garrulus garrulus Linn. European Roller.
Tn full plumage and showing no wear in February and March. A common winter visitor. Tsavo and Nairobi.
421. Coracias caudatus caudatus Linn. Lilac-breasted Long-tailed Roller.
(C. c. suahelicus Neum.) The colour of the rump varies from deep ultramarine to pale blue. Changamwe, Lamu, Kitui, Simba, Kimiriri River, Elgon.
422. Coracias caudatus lorti Shell. Lilac-throated Long-tailed Roller.
Type locality, Somaliland.
I wish to draw attention to the fact that these birds are found in localities where C. c. caudatus occurs, and this not at a period ot migration, in January, March, April, June, and August. The question to be settled is, are these birds stragglers from Somaliland or are they resident, and should they not be reckoned a species ! 4
The rump varies from deep blue to pale blue in birds from the same localities,
Lamu, Mombasa, Tsavo, Simba, Sagala, and Naivasha.
94 Novitates Zoonoaicar XXIX. 1922.
423, Coracias abyssinus abyssinus Bodd. Blue-breasted Long-tailed Roller.
This bird ranges over part of the distribution of C. c. lorti and C. c. caudatus, and is kept as a species. Full-plumaged birds, not worn, in March and April. Kobua River, Turkwell River, Moroto, in Uganda.
424, Eurystomus afer suahelicus Neum. Eastern Yellow-billed Roller. Nairobi, Kitui, and Kyambu.
425, Eurystomus afer rufobucealis Rchw. Brown-cheeked Yellow-billed Roller.
Type locality Lake District in Uganda.
These birds have no purplish violet on the side of the head, and are paler than the other subspecies. Apparently does not occur in East Uganda !
Bugoma, Toro, in Uganda.
426. Eurystomus afer aethiopicus Neum. Black-tailed Yellow-billed Roller.
I have compared my two birds with Neumann’s type and cotypes. They agree perfectly, having the central pair of tail-feathers jet-black. The lateral rump and tail-coverts dull blackish blue, central ones brownish tinged with blackish ; darker on the back than any other race of F. afer.
Moroto and Kisumu.
427. Eurystomus gularis neglectus Neum. Blue-throated Chestnut Roller.
1 3, August, agrees perfectly with birds collected in 1914, The majority of Angolan birds have blue rumps and blue central tail-feathers. Bugoma Forest, Uganda,
428. Bucorvus abyssinicus Bodd. Abyssinian Ground Hornbill.
This species appears to extend as far south as the Turkwell River, but I am not aware that its range actually meets that of the southern species.
429, Bucorvus cafer Schleg. Southern Ground Hornbill.
T had a Q in captivity for almost two years, and previous to my obtaining it, it had been caged for about four months. When it died it was just beginning to assume the red-and-blue coloration of the throat pouch—that is, at practically two and a half years old. The parents of this bird nested in a hole in a cliff side at Naivasha year after year, one young being produced at a time. From my observations it would appear that the young of successive seasons do not leave their parents until they are mature; thus I have frequently noticed that when one finds a small party, there are usually two adult birds and perhaps three
young of various ages, from a young of the year to a young of two to three years old,
Novirates Zoonoaicar XXIX. 1922. 75
430. Bycanistes subcylindricus Scl. White-winged Crested Hornbill. (= subquadratus [2] = alloysii Salvad.) I do not consider B. alloysii to be distinct from typical B. subcylindricus ; the amount of white to the tip of the central tail-feathers varies in individuals. Mabira Forest, Uganda; Yala River, in East Africa.
431. Bycanistes cristatus Riipp. Black-winged Crested Hornbill.
Common in the larger forests, but occasionally wandering to the larger trees on open land near forest country. Nairobi, Kyambu.
432. Bycanistes buccinator Temm. White-breasted Crowned Hornbill.
Sometimes numerous in the thick thorn-bush country of the Taru district. Samburu, Manugu.
433. Lophoceros fasciatus fasciatus Shaw. Ivory-billed Hornbill.
Certain specimens from Uganda and Gaboon show a tendency for the second and third tail-feathers from the outer side to be black for the basal two-thirds, but the majority are typical.
Jinja in Uganda.
434. Lophoceros melanoleucus suahelicus Neum. Red-billed Pied Hornbill.
(? L. m. geloensis Neum.)
The amount of white on the side of the head and nape varies greatly, so that I am inclined to doubt the validity of L. m. geloensis Neum. from South Ethiopia (the supposed differentiating character being the greater amount of white on the head), I have examined the type, a much-damaged bird. L. m. suahelicus is a sound race.
Mubendi, Jinja, in Uganda; Sagala, Kyambu, and Lake Jipe in Kenya Colony ; Morogoro in Tanganyika Territory.
435. Lophoceros hemprichi Ehrb. Abyssinian Red-billed Hornbill. Mt. Moroto in Turkana in Uganda. A head only obtained.
436. Lophoceros pallidirostris neumanni Rechw. Neumann’s Pale-billed Hornbill. One specimen from the type locality. Not common in Hast Africa. Taveta, Morogoro.
437. Lophoceros flavirostris flavirostris Riipp. Yellow-billed Hornbill.
It seems to me that L. f. somalicus is founded on a female of the typical race. Seven adult males from Somaliland show no red on the lower mandible, two females have the basal half and the tip reddish, but this is also found in East African birds. Two birds, differing only in the colour of the lower mandible, otherwise alike, can hardly occupy the same locality.
Bura, Sagala, Tsavo, Manugu.
76 Novirares Zootoarcar XXIX. 1922.
438. Lophoceros deckeni Cab. Von der Decken’s Hornbill.
Quite distinct from the northern species. In referring to the text figure 3, p. 275, of C. Grant’s paper in bis, 1915, I find that an apparent error has been made in the figuring, the males being transposed.
Samburu, Tsavo, M’buyuni.
439. Lophoceros jacksoni O.-Grant. Jackson’s Hornbill.
A good species. One might at first be inclined to treat it as a northern race of L. deckeni, as the only difference other than the curve of the culmen appears
to be that L. jacksoni is spotted on the wing-coverts and L. deckeni not, but I think it best to keep them as species.
Suk, Kerio River, Mt. Moroto, in Uganda.
440. Lophoceros nasutus nasutus Linn. Black-billed Grey Hornbill. All fully adult. Fort Hall and Kendu Bay in East Africa; Kyetume in Uganda.
441, Lophoceros erythrorhynchus erythrorhynchus Temm. Red-billed Hornbill.
It seems that the Abyssinian and N. Somaliland birds should be kept distinct from the Senegal one (on account of the narrower, less, curved bill which these birds possess), as L. e. leucopareus Hempr.
Tsavo, Simba, Nairobi, in East Africa; Kacheliba, Suk, and Turkana.
442. Haleyon chelicuti Stanley. Striped Kingfisher. A very variable common species.
Changamwe, Samburu, Simba, Kisumu, Kimiriri River, in East Africa ; Entebbe, Masindi, Kyanja, and Kawala in Uganda.
443. Halcyon albiventris orientalis Peters. Bufi-breasted Kingfisher.
No birds from the typical locality are available for comparison. Mombasa, Changamwe, Kitui.-
Halcyon leucocephala and subsp.
There is an interesting revision of this group by C. Grant in the Ibis, 1915, pp. 265-7. This has helped considerably to clear up the state of confusion into which these birds had fallen. Before coming to England I endeavoured to collect a large series of these birds from East Africa and Uganda, from the coast up to Lake Albert.
‘As to the name A. semicaeruleus Forsk., C. Grant has shown that this name must be limited to the South Arabian bird, and states that the Uganda and North- east African birds are the same as Senegal specimens, placing them all under the name H, leucocephala. I have, however, examined a series of Senegal birds and find them to be quite distinet from Uganda and East African ones, therefore the name leucocephala cannot be applied to these latter. The next names available are hyacinthinus Rehw. and centralis Neum, The first name must be restricted to birds inhabiting Zanzibar and the adjacent coast and North Mozambique,
Novitates Zootocicar XXIX. 1922. 77
Thus centralis must be used for the Hast African inland race, but cannot be applied to Uganda and South Abyssinian birds, which I name H. 1. ugandae.
A careful study of the description and the figure of swainsoni Smith and a comparison with South African specimens reveals the fact that the bird described is certainly not the form which inhabits South Africa. In the Monograph of the Kingfishers it is stated (on the authority of Verreaux) that the specimen which Sir A. Smith described as coming from the ‘interior of South Africa” was in reality a Senegal specimen which Verreaux had given to Sir A. Smith. Hence the discrepancy between the description and South African specimens. The description fits Senegal birds only. H. swainsoni cannot be used for the pale brown-bellied birds which inhabit South Africa and Angola, and the next name available is pallidiventris Cab., type locality Angola. I find, on laying out my large series along with that of Tring, that these brown-bellied Kingfishers fall naturally into two groups: a dark-bellied and a pale-bellied one, and dark- and pale-bellied birds occur together in a large part of their distribution but remain distinct! I therefore recognise two species, each with several races, and classify them as follows :—
I. Halcyon leucocephala.
Halcyon leucocephala leucocephala Swains: Senegal, east to West Soudan.
H. 1. semicaerulea : South Arabia.
H.1. ugandae: Uganda, South Abyssinia, Somaliland, and Lake Rudolf district.
H., 1. centralis: Hast Africa south of Victoria Nyanza, Northern Tanganyika Territory, and Taru.
H., 1. hyacinthina : Zanzibar and adjacent coast and North Mozambique.
Il. Halcyon pallidiventris.
Halcyon pallidiventris pallidiventris Cab: Angola, Damaraland, to South Africa and Transvaal.
H., p. ogilviei : Nyassaland, Angoniland, to South Tanganyika.
H. p. kivuensis: North Tanganyika, Kivu, Albert Edward, and South Victoria Nyanza.
444. Halcyon leucocephala ugandae subsp. nov. Uganda Brown-bellied Kingfisher.
Uganda birds cannot be united with the Senegal birds, nor with the East African race. They are intermediate between the Senegal form and that of Arabia, H. leucocephala leucocephala and H. 1. semicaerulea. They agree, however, with the birds from South Abyssinia and North Somaliland. They have light blue wings and upper tail-coverts, not tinged with greenish.
Masindi, Entebbe, Jinja, Mabira, Sio River, in Uganda; Kisumu and Kavi- rondo in East Africa. Type Kisumu, collected by Turner for Col. Meinertzhagen, in Tring Museum.
445, Halcyon leucocephala centralis Neum. East African Brown-bellied Kingfisher. With a series of twenty skins it is obvious that one cannot unite these birds with H, 1. leucocephala or with the Uganda race, The coloration of the blue of
78 Novirates ZooLocicar XXIX. 1922.
the wings and tail, etc., is strikingly different and is, with the exception of one or
two birds which are worn, deep blue with a slight violet tinge, quite uniform in the
series. Furthermore, these birds are darker on the head than Senegal birds. Lamu, Mombasa, Changamwe, Manugu, Voi, Sagala, Taveta, Simba, Nakuru.
446, Halcyon pallidiventris ?subsp. nov. Uganda Pale-bellied Violet-winged Kingfisher.
This bird undoubtedly belongs to the smaller, pale-bellied, violet-winged birds of the central lake district, which I have named above. I have now met with it on the east shore of Victoria Nyanza, from where I obtained 2 g, and conclude that it must have wandered out of its true habitat. There can be no doubt, however, as to its correct identification. The birds obtained by the Ruwenzori
Expedition belong to this race. Halcyon pallidiventris ogilviei Grant is a bird with a darker brown belly and
probably belongs to the southern species. Kendu Bay south of Speke’s Gulf and South Ankole in Uganda.
447. Halcyon senegalensis senegalensis Linn. Grey-headed Blue-backed Kingfisher.
Three birds from Bale, Burumezi in Uganda, and Kisumu in East Africa are inseparable from Senegal examples.
448, Halcyon cyanoleuca Vicill. Blue-headed Blue-backed Kingfisher.
I prefer not to treat this bird as a subspecies of H. senegalensis as it appears to occupy so much of the same territory together with the latter. I should imagine that the birds which look like hybrids are merely highly coloured H, senegalensis, for even amongst Senegal birds one finds a few with quite bluish green heads. The black stripe going through the eye in H. cyanoleuca distinguishes such birds from this species.
Sezibwa River, Uganda.
449. Halcyon senegaloides A. Smith. Red-billed Grey-breasted Kingfisher.
Has been obtained at Mombasa,
450. Halcyon malimbicus prenticei Mearns. Black-backed Blue Kingfisher.
Type locality, Sesse Islands. A good race, having the head much less blue than in H. m. malimbicus. Sezibwa River, Uganda,
451. Halcyon badia budongoensis van Someren. Uganda Brown-backed Kingfisher.
Bull. B.O. Club, November 1919.
This bird and three others in the Tring Museum from Uganda and Ituri Forest are much bigger than typical H. badia badia, from Gaboon, They are also paler, the blue of the rump darker, but not so wide. Bill larger. Wings 100-105 mm, as compared to 90-98 in H, badia badia.
West Uganda to Belgian Congo; Budongo and Bugoma Forests in Uganda. Type 2, Budongo, 27. xii. 1918,
Novirares Zoonoaicam XXIX,. 1922. 79
452. Alcedo semitorquata Swains. Black-billed Blue and Brown Kingfisher.
Not common in East Africa, but occasionally obtained. Frequents the Kili- manjaro area,
453. Alcedo giintheri Sharpe. Giinther’s Blue and Brown Kingfisher. This bird has been obtained in the forest north of Entebbe by C. F. Belcher.
454. Ispidina picta Bodd. Violet-eared Little Kingfisher.
A Bugoma specimen is a variety, having the back light blue, not dark blue as in normal birds. Fort Halland Kisumu in East Africa; Lugalambo, Bugoma, and Entebbe.
455, Myioceyx ruficeps ugandae van Someren. Little Red-headed Kingfisher. Bull. B.O. Club, xii. p. 105, 1921. These birds have more decided blue spots on the head than Gaboon and Fantee specimens,
Lugalambo, Mabira, and Budongo in Uganda. Type gj, Budongo, 1.vi.1919. Tring Museum.
456. Corythornis cristatus Pall. Little Crested Kingfisher. Kisumu, Kibos, Nairobi, in East Africa ; Entebbe in Uganda.
457. Ceryle maxima Pall. Eastern Giant Kingfisher.
A ¢ bird was shot by a small pool which had formed in a disused quarry, a most unusual locality. Nairobi, 4.i1.1917.
458. Ceryle rudis rudis Lin. Pied Kingfisher. 3 9, Kisumu.
459. Melittophagus revoili Oust. Little Buff-breasted Blue Bee-eater.
Insufficient material prevents me from ascertaining whether these are the same as typical birds, but they probably are. Northern Guasso N’yiro. Only two obtained.
460. Melittophagus lafresnayii oreobates Sharpe. Large Brown-breasted Yellow- throated Bee-eater.
It is a pity the type locality, Elgon, is so far north, because birds from the Turkwell are sometimes very like the Abyssinian birds, having the blue forehead and supercilium and the blue neck-patch.
Nairobi, Kyambu, Kisumu, Marakwet, Elgon, and Turkwell River.
80 Novirates ZooLocicaE XXIX. 1922.
461. Melittophagus variegatus loringi Mearns. Uganda White-cheeked Yellow- throated Bee-eater.
The Uganda race of M. variegatus can be recognised, differing from the western bird in having a distinct blue torehead and supercilium.
Budongo, Bugoma, Masindi, Mubendi, Entebbe, and Jinja in Uganda; Kisumu in East Africa.
462. Melittophagus pusillus cyanostictus Cab. Little Blue-eyebrowed Bee-eater.
(M. p. sharpei Hart.)
All my twenty-five birds have blue foreheads and superciliary stripes. The distribution of this race and the next is such that they run parallel for part of their distribution. In the Kisumu and East Uganda-Turkwell districts they interbreed.
Mombasa, Changamwe, Lamu, Maungu, Tsavo, M’buyuni, Voi, Simba, Nairobi, Fort Hall, Kibos, Kisumu, Kibingei, Turkwell River,
463. Melittophagus pusillus meridionalis Sharpe. Southern Little Bee-eater.
These birds have a small pale blue patch over the eye. From South Africa they range to North Abyssinia via the lake districts. Some of the birds taken in East Africa are intermediate.
Masindi, Busiro, Kyetume, Sezibwa, in Uganda; Kendu Bay, Kisumu, Kibengei, and Elgon in East Africa.
464, Melittophagus miilleri yalensis van Som. Uganda Red-throated Blue
Bee-eater.
Bull. B.O. Club, xi. p. 26, 1919.
This is a pale form of M. miilleri miilleri (from Gaboon), having the back lighter chestnut and the blue of the underside not so deep.
North Kavirondo, Elgon, and Kakamegoes.
465. Melittophagus bullocki frenatus Hartl. Red-throated Green Bee-eater.
Ranges into the north-west corner of Uganda as far south as Masindi.
466. Melittophagus bullockoides Smith. White-headed Red-throated Bee-eater.
Nakuru, Naivasha, Kisumu, Turkwell River.
467. Dicrocercus hirundineus hirundineus Licht. Fork-tailed Bee-eater.
Specimens from Vanga undoubtedly belong to the southern race,
468. Dicrocercus hirundineus heuglini Neum. Blue-vented Fork-tailed Bee-eater.
A 3, January, belongs to the northern form, which, if the Abyssinian birds are a valid race, under the name of D. h. omoensis, would probably have to be so named,
Mt. Moroto, Turkana.
.
Novitates Zoonocicar XXIX, 1922. 81
469. Merops apiaster apiaster Linn. European Bee-eater.
This is a common species on migration. Kikuyu, Kyambu, Kitui, Tsavo.
470. Merops albicollis maior Parrot. East African White-throated Long-tailed Bee-eater.
Type locality, Bagamoyo. Length of wings, 100-108 mm. The longest tail 220 mm.
Masindi, Bugoma, Budongo, Busiro, Singo, in Uganda ; Kisumu, Kendu Bay, Rudolf, N’zoia River, in East Africa.
471. Merops nubicus nubicus Gm. Crimson Long-tailed Bee-eater.
Tsavo and Mombasa.
472. Merops persicus persicus Pall. Yellow-throated Green Long-tailed Bee-eater.
Two birds have tails with the central feathers 70 mm. beyond the rest and as long and as graduated as the North-west African birds, M. p. chrysocercus. It is quite possible that the north-west race (the eastern extension of breeding range is perhaps not known) migrates to West Uganda and that these birds belong to it.
Masindi, Entebbe, in Uganda; Kisumu, Kobua, Lake Rudolf, and Nairobi.
473. Merops superciliosus Linn. Brown-throated Long-tailed Bee-eater. Masindi, Mubendi, in Uganda ; Kisumu, Simba, and Tsavo in East Africa.
474, Upupa epops epops Linn. European Hoopoe.
Two specimens belong undoubtedly to the European form. Dr. Hartert confirms this identification. Two other birds were obtained by local ornith- ologists.
Kyambu and Naivasha.
475. Upupa epops somalensis Salvad. Somali Hoopoe.
This race can be distinguished from the European bird by having more rufous on the mantle and the breast, and by having no white band on the crest before the black tips. It has the white band on the primaries, thus distinguishing it from U. epops africana.
Nairobi in East Africa; Singo in Uganda,
476. Upupa epops africana Bechst. African Hoopoe.
This race is resident in East Africa throughout the year and breeds regularly in suitable localities. Much variation exists in the coloration. Young males are much richer in coloration than young females. It is particularly common in the dry thorn-bush country.
Kisumu, Nairobi, Simba, Tsavo, M’buyuni, Lake Jipe.
6
82 Novirates ZoonogicaAr XXIX. 1922.
(C. Grant’s review of the genus J7risor in the Ibis, 1915, simplifies the division of these birds into races. In the main he is correct ; but my series shows that certain modifications will have to be made in the matter of distribution.)
477. Irrisor erythrorhynchus marwitzi Rchw. Green Red-billed Wood Hoopoe.
An old male collected at Kibos has several white feathers on the head and throat, but is not J. jacksoni! One female has the primary coverts uniform green, not tipped white, as is usually the case. Two young birds have these coverts entirely white. A female shot with the nestlings, 23.vii.1918, has the culmen and the whole of the lower bill black, but is not a specimen of J. d. granti. It is perfectly adult.
Mubango, Lugalambo, Elgon, Kimiriri River, in Uganda; Nairobi, Kisumu, Burnt Forest, Marakwet, Simba, Tsavo, and Changamwe in East Africa,
478. Irrisor erythrorhynchus niloticus Neum. Blue-tailed Red billed Wood Hoopoe.
All my five birds have heads and throats and breasts with bluish gloss, and blue tails without any purplish tinge, or just a shade of purple at the base of the central rectrices. They have much larger and longer bills than I. e, marwitzt.
Mt. Moroto, Kabua River, Rudolf, and Turkwell River.
479. Irrisor damarensis granti Neum. Purple-headed Red-billed Wood Hoopoe.
Although the majority of adults have black-and-red bills, nevertheless, very old birds have bright red bills. Simba, Kitui, Tsavo, Samburu, and Lake Jipe.
480. Irrisor somaliensis Grant. Black-billed Wood Hoopoe.
3, December 1912 (A. B. Percival coll.). Occurs on the Juba River.
481. Irrisor bollei jacksoni Sharpe. White-headed Red-billed Wood Hoopoe.
There are three groups which may turn out to be recognisable races of this species. I append measurements of bills and wings and other characters, in- cluding the series in the Tring Museum.
Serres I. : 11 969. Wings, § 125-131, 9123-127 mm. Bills, from nostril to tip, f 26-38 mm. Head and mantle on the average bluer than in Kikuyu birds, Heads purer white.
Elgon, Mabira, Bumasifa, Mubango, Bugoma, in Uganda.
Serres II. : 5 29. Wings, 130-145mm. Bills, from nostril to tip, J 35-41, ° 27-37 mm.
These are typical I. b. jacksoni. General colour of head and mantle more golden green.
Kyambu, Molo, Escarpment, Kenia.
Series IIl.: 7949. Wings, 120-135 mm, Bills, from nostril to tip, g 27-37, © 25-27 mm.
Males with distinct bluish wash on head and mantle; only two birds with white heads as in Kikuyu birds, though less extensive on the throat. The others
Novirates Zoorocicar XXIX. 1922, 83
have the white limited to the forehead and a few feathers on the throat; some have altogether green heads. They are all adult. Apparently a small mountain race, showing a strong tendency to loss of white feathers on the head. I refrain from naming this race, as I find a bird in the Tring Museum, collected at Es- carpment Station, with uniform green head; it, however, is long-billed. A larger series from the Sherengani is required.
North end of Elgeyu Escarpment, 8,000 feet, Sherengani Hills.
482. Scoptelus aterrimus emini Neum. Uganda Black Wood Hoopoe.
3, 17.vi.1916. This bird has no white on the tail-feathers, and is not so large as the type of S. a. maior Neum. which I have examined, Wing, 101 mm, In S. maior the wings are 112 mm.
Bukedi in Uganda,
483. Scoptelus pallidiceps van Someren. Pale-headed Wood Hoopoe. Bull. B.O. Club, 1915.
I described this bird on the evidence of eight males and females. Since then I have collected four more birds, and these bear out the characters given for this species. Wings, 90-105 mm.
This bird has a darker, more brownish head and greener belly than S. adolfi- friedrici Reichw. from Belgian Congo.
Lugalambo, Mubango, Elgon.
484, Rhinopomastus cyanomelas schalowi Neum. Black Scimitar-billed Wood Hoopoe.
The inner primary coverts are white in the majority of specimens, but in some uniform bluish. One old male from Lamu has not only all the primary, but also all the secondary coverts pure white. It is probably an aberration.
Lamu, Manda, Changamwe, Sagala, Simba, Nairobi, Naivasha, Elgeyu.
485. Rhinopomastus cabanisi Filippi. Yellow-billed Scimitar-billed Wood Hoopoe.
One male has a white bar on the fourth primary of the right wing, indicating close relationship to R. minor.
As I have no birds from near the type locality I cannot compare my speci- mens, but from the measurements given by Reichenow it would seem that my birds are larger: wings, 108-112 mm,
Mt. Moroto and Kobua River in Uganda; Kisumu, Kerio River, Kendu Bay, Tsavo, Voi, M’buyuni, Campi-ya-bibi, and Maungu in East Africa,
486. Caprimulgus europaeus europaeus Linn. European Nightjar. I saw a bird of this species as late as April 24th in my garden at Nairobi.
487. Caprimulgus europaeus meridionalis Hart. Mediterranean Nightjar.
9, 29.iii.1917, Nairobi. This bird agrees perfectly with the type. Identifi- cation confirmed by Dr, Hartert.
84 Novirates Zootocioar XXIX. 1922.
488. Caprimulgus europaeus unwini Hume. Unwin’s Nightjar.
Q, 31.i11.1918; g, 12.iv.1917. Very pale birds with silvery backs and pale undersurfaces with clear bars. Dr. Hartert has verified my identification. These migratory Nightjars roost in trees more frequently than do the local species.
Tsavo and Mombasa.
- 489. Caprimulgus fraenatus Salvad. Salvadori’s Nightjar.
Young birds are very like C. inornatus, but more rufous on the back, and the spotting is larger. A common species in suitable localities. Wings measure 165-175 mm, ; average lengih, 170 mm.
Kisumu, Nakuru, Nairobi, Fort Hall, Simba.
490. Caprimulgus keniensis van Someren. Kenia Nightjar. Bull. B.O. Club, November 1919.
g ad., April 1919 (A. B, Percival coll.), type !
Superficially resembles C. fraenatus, but very dark with much bigger and more numerous dark buffy tips to the wing-coverts on an almost black ground, the vermiculations almost invisible. The longitudinal pale markings on the scapulars are golden buff on blackish ground. The inner webs of the upper scapulars have a silvery tinge contrasting with the rest of the black plumage. The shafts of the primaries are white for a part of the length of the white spots and about 30 mm. beyond ; the white in the outermost primary does not extend to outer web. The breast is blackish with rusty buff spots. Throat with two white patches.
Northern Uasso N’yiro.
491. Caprimulgus nigriscapularis Rchw. Black-winged Nightjar.
This is not a common species in East Africa, but more frequently met with in Uganda. 3 2, Nairobi, Entebbe, in Uganda.
492. Caprimulgus inornatus Heugl. Plain-backed Nightjar.
There appear to be two extreme types of coloration in this species, grey and rusty brown. Intermediate colours are common. The young of C. fosser in first plumage are very like the greyish form, but can be recognised by the outer web of the outer tail-feather being whitish, not white tipped as in C. iornatus.
Taveta and Kisumu in East Africa ; Lugalambo in Uganda.
493. Caprimulgus trimaculata tristigma Riipp. Black Nightjar.
36 2, 7.viii.1917, These birds have wings of 174-175 mm. respectively. It is not a common species, and appears to frequent rocky hillsides in preference to plains.
Fort Hall, Kenia Province.
Novirares Zootocicar XXIX. 1922. 85
494, Caprimulgus nubicus taruensis van Someren. Taru Desert Nightjar. Bull. B.O. Club, xl. p. 25, November 1919.
The coloration of the specimens is similar. Not rare in the desert thorn- bush country, yet not common. More rufous than CO. nubicus torridus, and smaller, Wings 43-51, as compared with 52-58 mm.
Tsavo and M’buyuni. 3 ¢ 2 9, type, 17.11.1918.
495, Caprimulgus donaldsoni Sharpe. Little Desert Nightjar.
My series shows a great range of coloration, from bright chestnut to pale greyish. It is a most beautiful sight to see these birds sitting on an open bit of ground with the sun shining on them, the yellow markings glistening like gold. When I visited Tsavo I saw no less than forty of these beautiful little birds! They were nesting in the district at the time.
M’buyuni, Tsavo, and Taveta.
496, Caprimulgus poliocephalus poliocephalus Rupp. White-tailed Nightjar.
After comparing my series and the birds in Tring, I have been compelled to recognise two races: the typical bird ranging from Abyssinia to North Kenya Colony, and a southern darker race inhabiting the Kilimanjaro district to Nairobi and Kenia. The latter must bear the name C. p. palmquisti Sjstedt. In both the northern and the southern race, birds occur which have no white on the throat! Thus one of the characters claimed for Sjéstedt’s form does not hold good.
Kyetume in Uganda; Kisumu, Elgeyu, Eldoret, Nakuru, in East Africa.
497. Caprimulgus poliocephalus palmquisti Sjostedt. Kilimanjaro White-tailed Nightjar.
Differs from the northern race by being slightly larger and darker, and show- ing a strong tendency to lose the white on the throat. Two of my birds agree perfectly with the figure of this bird, allowing, of course, for slight faults due to colour reproduction, The amount of black on the outer penultimate pair of feathers of the tail varies. In some birds the second outer feather is pure white, in others it is edged with sandy or even brownish black.
Taveta and Simba,
498. Caprimulgus natalensis chadensis Alexander. Spotted Golden Nightjar.
Eight birds belong to the northern race. One is just as fulvous as a speci- men from Angola, It is not stained, but a beautiful clean specimen. The wings vary from 150 to 155 mm.
Mubendi and Kyetume in Uganda ; Eldoret in East Africa.
Caprimulgus fossei and supposed races.
I have gone carefully into the supposed races of this bird and have arrived at the conclusion that C. clarus and apatelius are in reality a distinct species.
First of all, throughout a large part of the range of C. fossed fossei the form clarus occurs as a breeding species, though elsewhere C. clarus is found where C,
86 Novirates ZooLocicaE XXIX. 1922.
fossei fossei is unknown. Now, as regards the supposed character of elongation of central tail-feathers and graduation of the others in C. fossez, I find that this is not a marked feature and not any more emphasised than in C. europaeus. But in CO. clarus and C. apatelius the graduation is marked, the average length of the central rectrices over the outermost being 30 and in some as much as 50 mm.
I am therefore compelled to treat C. fossei as a species with a small race in Mozambique ranging into Tanganyika Territory, and also to treat C. clarus as a species or parent race with one subspecies, C. c. apatelius, and would suggest that possibly ‘‘ Scotornis climacurus” should not be kept in a distinct genus, but united with Caprimulgus. The body marking in Scotornis is no different in pattern from that of C. clarus, and the bird differs only in the exaggerated elonga- tion and graduation of the tail. I have compared a large series in coming to these conclusions. Lord Rothschild concurs in my opinion. I thus treat my birds as follows :—
499. C. fossei fossei Hartl. Gaboon Nightjar.
These birds are large and dark and have the tail not graduated. Wings 160-162 (in Gaboon and Angolan birds 155-165 mm.). These large birds range from Gaboon to Uganda and Angola and thence to Transvaal.
Unyoro, Duro River, Kampala, in Uganda; Kisumu and Kenia in East Africa,
500. C. fossei mosambiquus Hartl. Mozambique Nightjar.
Rather more boldly marked than C. fossei fosset and darker, besides being smaller. Wings, 145-152 mm. Range: Mozambique to Central Tanganyika Territory (Lumbo, Morogoro).
501. Caprimulgus clarus clarus Reichw. Little Pale Nightjar.
This form cannot be a subspecies of C. fossei, as they occur together through- out Uganda and East Africa, My series of adult birds has been collected prac- tically throughout the year. One of the characters of the “‘ clarus”’ group is the marked elongation of the central tail-feathers and graduation of the rest towards the outer ones, the central ones projecting about 50 mm. beyond the outer ones. Smaller than C. fossei. It is much paler, more greyish on the back, with golden or sandy markings. The wing measurements of a large series of adults are 135-150 mm.
Of C. clarus there is one subspecies, C. c. apatelius Neum., South Ethiopia. It is larger than C. clarus, rather more greyish, and has the same elongated tail- feathers. The wings measure 147-162 mm. The character on which Neumann separated this bird from C. fossei and C. clarus, viz. the white wing-spot extend- ing over both webs in all the primaries, does not hold good in all South Ethiopian birds, and it is found in specimens of true C. fossei, C. clarus clarus, and Scotornis climacurus. I have maintained Neumann’s name for the South Ethiopian race, because it is larger, not because of the character of the wing-spot. Records of C, clarus apatelius from Kilimanjaro and Taveta should be referred to C. clarus clarus |
Lamu, Manda, Mombasa, Manugu, Voi, Taveta, Nairobi, Kyambu, Kisumu, in East Africa ; Jinja, Kampala, Bugoma, in Uganda.
Novrrates Zoorocican XXIX. 1922. 87
502. Scotornis climacurus Vieill. Long-tailed Nightjar.
The variation in this species is enormous, from black and deep chestnut to fulvous and greyish. Masindi, Unyoro.
503. Macrodypteryx longipennis Shaw. Racquet-winged Nightjar.
In February males are in the non-breeding plumage, lacking the long wing- plumes. Kisumu. Not common.
504. Macrodypteryx vexillarius Gd. Standard-winged Nightjar.
One male has white plumes, the other greyish, while the third has them white at the basal half and grey for the rest. A gin August was shot high up in the air, catching flying white ants.
Kisumu, Kendu Bay, in East Africa ; Mubendi in Uganda.
505. Apus apus apus Linn. European Black Swift.
3, 7.iii.1917, Nakuru. This specimen has a wing of 175 mm, and is no doubt an example of Apusapus. It lacks the dark bluish mantle of the next species.
506, Apus roehli Rchw. Blue-backed Black Swift.
This race is very much like the European bird, but can be recognised by having the head and rump blackish brown and the mantle glossy blue-black. In size it is very little smaller, having wings of 161-175 mm. It is a resident breeding bird in East Africa and nests in the cliffs at Longonot, Naivasha, and Nakuru Lake.
507, Apus shelleyi Salvad. Shelley’s Brown Swift.
2 319, November, December, show no wear. This is a small brownish bird with greenish gloss, which is very much like Apus apus pekinensis, but much smaller. I have found it breeding at Nakuru in some crevices of a cliff side and obtained the eggs. As a nesting bird it ranges from Abyssinia to British East Africa, It nests alongside a black swift which I describe later.
Naivasha and Nakuru.
508, Apus nakuruensis van Someren. Nakuru Swift.
3, 14.v.1917, type. I had noticed that from the same cliff issued three distinct swifts—one a brownish bird, A. shelleyi, the second a large white-rumped species, and a blackish one. On obtaining specimens, I found them to belong to distinct species. As Apus shelleyi has been admitted a subspecies of Apus apus, we cannot recognise these blackish birds also as a subspecies of A pus apus, though they are nearer to Apus apus than to A. “ pekinensis.” These birds differ from Apus shelleyi in being altogether blacker above and below and from Apus apus rhoeli in lacking the deep bluish gloss to the mantle, which is glossy black, and in being smaller; wings 150-159 as compared with 161-175 mm. They are also distinct from Apus niansae of Reichenow.
88 Novitates ZooLoaicaE XXIX. 1922
To my knowledge the following birds nest together or in close proximity : A. shelleyi, A. roehli and A. nakuruensis, A. horus and A. streubeli! The latter two, of course, have white rumps, and do not come into the Apus apus group.
I would suggest that Apus pekinensis should be raised to specific rank and Apus shelleyi admitted as a subspecies of this parent race. The dark Swift which I have described would be a race of Apus apus apus, as it resembles this bird in appearance, and is merely smaller,
Nakuru, Naivasha, Kisumu.
509. Apus pekinensis Swinhoe. Pekin Swift.
Is a regular migrant to East Africa and has been obtained in Uganda.