4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 124 



Abyssinian roller Coracias abyssinica Hermann 



This roller, one of the largest birds known to be used as a host 

 by the greater honey-guide, only recently has beer added to the host 

 catalog by Parker (1966, p. 81), who reported a set of eggs in the 

 British Museum, containing one Indicator and three Coracias, col- 

 lected by Schuel at Zaria, Nigeria, Apr. 13, 1964. 



African hoopoe Upupa epops Linnaeus 



The hoopoe, subspecies africana, for which earlier (1955, pp. 143- 

 144) I had compiled nine records, is clearly one of the birds most 

 frequently selected as a fosterer. I know at present of 10 additional 

 records, and it now appears that little is to be gained from further 

 accumulations of such cases. So far, I have not heard of the lesser 

 honey-guide, /. minor, affecting the hoopoe. 



Red-billed hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus (Miller) 



Increasing information indicates that this species is a fairly regular 

 host of the greater honey-guide. I have now learned of seven instances, 

 involving four races of the red-billed hoopoe: purpureus, marwitzi, 

 angolensis, and guineensis. Jubb (1966) has found that this bird is 

 a real fosterer, not just a victim. He noted a young greater honey- 

 guide reared successfully by a pair of red-billed hoopoes. The latter 

 continued to feed it regularly for at least 12 days after it had left 

 the nest fully feathered, and they were observed feeding it even as 

 late as 22 days after it had fledged. The following (twenty-third) 

 day the young parasite was attacked and driven off by its foster 

 parents. 



Yellow-headed barbet Buccanodon tvhytii (Shelley) 



This barbet was added to the list of known victims of the greater 

 honey-guide in Southern Rhodesia, by Benson, Brooke, and Vernon 

 (1964, p. 67) on the basis of a single observation. The record refers 

 to the race B. w. sowerbyi (Sharpe). 



Crested barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii Ranzani 



This is another host for which enough records now have been 

 amassed to show that it is one of the greater honey-guide's regular 

 victims, especially in Southern Rhodesia, where four of the seven 

 cases known to me have been found. 



Golden-tailed woodpecker Campethera abingoni (Smith) 



This small woodpecker now has been found to be parasitized by 

 the greater honey-guide in South Africa, Malawi, Southern Rhodesia, 

 and Kenya. A total of eight records, involving four races of the 

 host (abingoni, suahelica, mombassica, and smithii), demonstrate that 

 this is a frequently used host. 



