IB ARKIV FÖR ZOOLOGI. BAND 10. N.O 2é. 



93. Mesopicos xaiitholophiis Harg. 



1 $ Beni, Jan. 1914; 1 juv. (?) ibid., July— Aug. Also 

 this chiefly western Woodpecker has been obtained by Sassi 

 in numerous specimens from Beni etc. 



94. Mesopiciis sclioeusis Rupp. 



3 (^(^, 1 5 from Kasindi, Aug. 1913. Iris »ocre brune». 



In all tbese specimens the breast is di^tinclly spotted, 

 not barred, but in none of tbcm tlie black stripes bordering 

 the throat and före neck join behind, and only in one of 

 the males the black stripe thrcugh the eye unites with the 

 stripe of the före neck on one side, but not on the other. 

 In the female this junction takcs place on both sides of the 

 neck but rather indistinctly and with interruptions. All 

 four specimens have as well above as below a very pro- 

 nounced olive tinge in opposition to the typical schoensis 

 specimens which are said to have »scarcely any olivo tinge 

 either above or below». There are thus decided differences 

 between these specimens and as well typical »namaquus>> as 

 typical »schoensis», although the resemblance to the latter is 

 greater. Intermediate forms between the races mentioned 

 have already previously been recorded as well by the pre- 

 sent author as by Saji^si. 



Claude H. b. Grant has recently described a Wood- 

 pecker which he has nam( d »Thripias namaquus intermedius» . 

 This is said to differ »from namaquus in having the auri- 

 cular patch as in schoensis and from this latter in having 

 the chest as in tbe typical form». The author quoted regards 

 Northern German E. Africa, Southern Uganda, Ugogo as the 

 home of this intermedius-iovm. It is evident, however, that 

 the Woodpeckers, which C. H. B. Grant has named,, re- 

 present another intermediate stage than those from Kasindi, 

 which latter agree pretty well with two of my own speci- 

 mens from Nairobi, Brit. E. Africa. 



It is very difficult to get a fully clear view of the naina- 

 quus — schoensis Woodpeckers and their intergrading especi- 

 ally because sometimes barred and spotted forms appear to 

 occur within the same district. It seems, however, to be 

 stated that in the area between the habitat of the typical 



