256 KOVITATES ZOOI.OGICAE XXII, 191G. 



with Neumann {Journ.f. Or/i. 1904, p. 396) and Zedlitz (op. cit. 1010, p. :.j4). I 

 also agree with the latter that it will be better to use Reicheuow's name centralis 

 than the uncertain name poicephulus, because Swainson failed to give an exact 

 locality. 



78. Dendromus punctatus (Valenc.) 



? ad., Sokoto. 



The spots on the throat and chest are rather large, and specimens from the 

 ( 'asamanze as well as one from Gambaga (Giffard coll.) agree with it, while a series 

 from Tliies (Riggenbach coll.) have generallj' tiuer spots ; but there is so much 

 variation, that one conld not separate two forms without farther evidence. 



79. Colius macrourus (L.) (?sul>si>.) 



Niamei, Ujiper Niger. 



I cannot here discnss the various races of this species, but from the material 

 at hand cannot confirm the distinctness of " sfn/'f/d/i'/isis" and '■^ jjidc/ier." Cf. 

 Reichenow, Voi/. A/r. ii. ii. 210, Sclater, Gt-nera Aciiim, part 6, Coliidae, p. 4. 



80. Eurystomus afer afer (Lath.) 



c? ? , Zaria, 25. x. 1912. 



Neumann, Journ. J. Orn. 1905, pp. 184-186, has given an excellent review 

 of the various forms of this Roller, with which I entirely agree. 



81. Lophoceros erythrorhynchus erythrorhynchus (Temm.) 

 Cnzanar, on the line from the Niger to the Senegal. 



82. Lophoceros nasutus nasutus (L.) 



? ad., Zaria. 



83. Ceryle maxima (Pall.) (?) 



An immature male was obtained at Zaria on April 17, 1913. It is rather 

 largely spotted above, and thus appears to belong to maxima and not to " sharpei." 

 For the latter Swainson's name yii/antea will have to be adopted, if we suppose that 

 the locality " Senegal," given in the original description (Swainson, B. Afr. ii. 

 p. 93, pi. xi.), is erroneous. The question, whether C. maxima and sharpei (or 

 gigantea) are representative subspecies or two species found locally in the same 

 places has been raised, but there might be another solution of the supposed 

 occurrence of the same form in the same places — /.(■. that young C. sharpei are 

 spotted, and only adult birds are uniform on the back : I suggest the possibility of 

 this, because young birds of C. maxima are heavier spotted than old ones ; in that 

 case they would be subspecies, and they can hardly be anything else, being so 

 closely allieil, and Sharpe's view would be correct that " sharpei " extends from the 

 forest-region of the Congo to Gabun, to which should be added Kamerun and Niger 

 to Benne, where I shot typical sharpei at Loko. On the other hand, the spotted 

 maxima would occur from the Senegal to Zaria, and in the greater part of tropical 

 Africa, south to Cape Colony. 



