BIRDS OF ETHIOPIA AND KENYA COLONY 



163 



is similar in color to typical coronatus^ but the males are larger; 

 wings 205-215 as against 184.5-207 millimeters; culmen 32-36 as 

 against 28-33 millimeters. 



The color of the upper parts is not a constant character in southern 

 and eastern birds, but in fresh specimens from the lowlands of 

 Somaliland the feathers of the back are edged with light sandy 

 rufous, and give the upperparts the light sandy tone mentioned by 

 both Erlanger and Zedlitz. It should be noted, however, that as 

 these tips wear off, the birds become quite similar to those of tropical 

 East Africa. It follows, then, that only specimens in fresh plumage 

 are of value in a subspecific study of this bird. Experience will 

 probably show that it will not always be possible to identify other 

 than freshly plumaged birds of the pale Somali race, deinissus, ex- 

 cept by locality. However, worn examples are slightly more 

 avellaneous above than similarly abraded specimens of coronatus. 

 It is essential that similar plumages of the two be compared. The 

 subspecies S. c. demissus is known as yet only from British Somali- 

 land, but probably occurs throughout Italian Somaliland as well, 

 and possibly the adjacent parts of Ethiopia, east of Gallaland. A 

 specimen from Barsaloi, Kenya Colony (south of the southern 

 end of Lake Rudolf), is intermediate between coronatus and 

 demissus, a fact which suggests that the latter race, like so many 

 Somaliland forms, may range across Jubaland into northern Kenya 

 Colony. On the other hand, the present three birds from near Hor 

 and Malele, are best referred to the nominate form. 



For the convenience of students with less adequate material avail- 

 able for study, I append a table of measurements of the adult birds 

 examined. 



1. S. coronalus coronatus 



94312—30- 



-12 



