E. LÖNNBERG, BIRDS FROM EASTERN CONGO. 3 



About 37 species, or 20 % are typical West African birds. 

 With regard to their habits they are ohicfly forest birds, 

 although some of thera prefer to live at the glades of the 

 forests, and others hide in the densest foliage, or skulk 

 through the darkest thickets. 



About 22 species in this collection may be regarded as 

 endemic in the Lake district and adjoining parts of the 

 Congo forest. The majority of these as weJl are forest- 

 loving birds. 



Retciienow states the number of properly West African 

 birds found in the Lake district to be about 130, but to 

 this may novv be added some few species in the present 

 collection vvhich have not been found so far East before, 

 thus the western percentage of the fauna is somewhat in- 

 creased. To the number of endemic forms, which according 

 to Reichenow amounts to about 200, also a eouple of no- 

 velties are now added. It is this comparatively great number 

 of endemic forms which has caused the Lake district to be 

 regarded as a zoogeographical unit. As it is situated be- 

 tween the East African and the West African subregions, 

 it is evident that its fauna must be composed of a mixture 

 from both sides, the more so as the varied natural condi- 

 tions of the landscape admit this. The steppe country 

 is occupied by East African birds, and the forests by such 

 from West Africa. The abundance of water gives oppor- 

 tunities for the more or less widely distributed birds which 

 are bound to this element. 



I, Podiceps infiiscatns Salvad. 



(^5> Rutshuru Vs 1914. Iris »carmine». 



2. Podiceps capensis (Lcht.) Salvad. 



1 J*? Riitshuru Vs 1914; 1 ^, 1 juv. ibid. ^/s 1914. Iris 

 »burnt umber». 



3. Rhynchops flavi rostris Vieill. 



2 cfc?, 1 $, Lake Albert Edward. Jiine 1913. Reiche- 

 Now records this species only from Tanganyika. 



