no. 3648 BROOD PARASITISM — FRIEDMANN 3 



Pygmy kingfisher Ceyx picta (Boddaert) 



The southern race, C. p. natalensis, of this diminutive kingfisher 

 was added to the list of known hosts of the greater honey-guide by 

 Benson and Pitman (1966, pp. 26-27), on the basis of a nest con- 

 taining one egg of the parasite and three of the host found at Living- 

 stone, Zambia, October 21. The disparity in size between the two 

 species makes one wonder if the pygmy kingfisher could rear a young 

 greater honey-guide successfully. 



Striped kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti (Stanley) 



The recent reporting of a fourth instance of this kingfisher as a 

 honey-guide host in Southern Rhodesia (Benson, Brooke, and Vernon, 

 1964, p. 67) demonstrates that this kingfisher is a regular victim, at 

 least in that area. All the records refer to the nominate race of the 

 host. The fact that this kingfisher is largely a fish eater and not an 

 insect eater may subject a young honey-guide to a diet quite different 

 from what it receives in nests of other hosts. 



Brown-hooded kingfisher Halcyon albiventris (Scopoli) 



Two races of this insectivorous kingfisher, albiventris and orientalis, 

 are known to be victims of Indicator indicator. In my earlier account 

 (1955, p. 140) I listed two South African records for the nominate 

 race, whereas, more recently, Brooke (1965, pp. 6, 9) reported one 

 case for orientalis, from the Lingove River, Furancungo district, 

 northern Tete province, Mozambique, Oct. 20, 1928, a record 

 that had remained unpublished for several decades. 



Boehm's bee-eater Merops boehmi Reichenow 



Benson, Brooke, and Vernon (1964, p. 67) list this bee-eater as 

 a host of /. indicator in Zambia. While they give no further details, 

 the record appears to be definite. Previously there was a single, not 

 completely certain record from Chikwawa, Malawi. 



White-fronted bee-eater Merops bulocki Vieillot 



This bee-eater is known as a host of the greater honey-guide in 

 Southern Rhodesia and in Kenya. With six records now available, 

 it seems obvious that it will be found to be one of the "usual," regu- 

 larly chosen fosterers. This host has been found rearing the young 

 parasite in addition to merely having the parasite's eggs laid in its 

 nest. All the records refer to the host race bullockoides. 



Swallow -tailed bee-eater Merops hirundineus Lichtenstein 



Previously recorded as a host near Elisabeth ville, Congo, and at 

 Dedza, Malawi, this bee-eater recently has been found to be victim- 

 ized in Zambia as well (Benson, Brooke, and Vernon, 1964, p. 67). 

 The nominate race of the host is the one involved in both instances. 



