(75) 



35. Merops nubicoides Des Mnrs & Pnch. 



A male and vi, female, both shot on the shore of Lake Nyassa on July 5th, 1895, 

 have the crowns rather bright blnish, and the red of the back somewhat light, if 

 compared with a series of nine skins from the Transvaal and the Congo region. If a 

 larger series of specimens from Lake Nyassa constantly shows these differences, they 

 could be separated subspecifically. 



3(1. Merops persicus Pall. 

 February 26th, Ujiper Shire River. 



37. Merops boehmi Rchw. 



A male and & female were shot in June and July on the Up])er Shir^ River. 

 "Bill black; irides crimson; feet horn-colour; tarsus purplish brown. Stomachs 

 full of Hymenoptera and other insects. Shot when sitting hunched up on a bough, 

 its tail wagging backwards and forwards." The capture of this rare species of Bee- 

 eaters so far south extends its known distribution considerably. 



38. Melittophagus meridionalis Shell. 

 June 2Gth, Upper Shire River. " Bill shiny black; irides carmine." 



39. Caprimulgus fossei Hartl. 



?. April, Fort Johnston; S. June, Upper Shir6 River. "Bill horn-colour, 

 with a lighter shade on the lower mandible; iris dark brown ; tarsus flesh-colour, 

 verging to light brown on the feet." 



The female differs from the male in having the white line across the wings, 

 formed by the tips of a line of smaller upper wing-coverts, deep buff; the white 

 spots in the middle of the primaries brownish buff ou the outer webs; the outer 

 webs of the outermost rectrices brownish buff. The nostrils are rather prominent 

 in this species, as also noticed by Dr. Randall on the labels. 



40. Ceryle rudis (L.). 

 C'ommon on the Upper Shir6 River. 



41. Corjrthornis cyanostigma (Rlipp.). 



Evidently common on the Upper Shire. An immature male has the bill 

 blackish brown (instead of vermilion in the fully adult bird); the wing-coverts deep 

 brown, with alight cobalt anteapical bar; the feathers of the back dark brown, with 

 very large light cobalt tips; below paler and more brownish, but the entire pileum 

 and crest well developed and of the same colour as in the adult birds. 



42. Irrisor viridis (Licht.). 



In moult in June, Upper Shire River. " Bill sealing-wax-red ; iris dark 1)rown; 

 feet coral-red. Stomach full of insects and larvae. Birds restless, uttering a loud 

 harsh chattering scream." 



