BIRDS OF ETHIOPIA AND KENYA COLONY 



481 



specimen of typical 7iuhica the red appears simultaneously on the 

 crown and the malar region. As in the typical race, the innermost 

 pair of Juvenal primaries are very small, agreeing with the condition 

 found in Gampethera femihta and G. nivosa by Chapin.* 

 The measurements of these specimens are as follows: 



The breeding season of this form in northern Somaliland is in 

 January and February. Lort Phillips ^ found a nest with two 

 fledged young at Sogsoda, British Somaliland, February 16. 



Mearns observed this form on the Guaso Nyiro River, July 31 to 

 August 3, 35 birds seen; Leldundu River, August 4-8, 35 noted; 

 Meru swamp, Equator, August 9, 2 seen; Tharaka, August 12-13, 

 6 birds; Tana River, August 14—23, 30 seen; Thika River, August 

 23-27, 50 birds; west of the Ithanga Hills, August 28, 6; and on 

 the Athi River, August 29 to September 1, 52 birds. 



DENDROPICOS FUSCESCENS MASSAICUS Neumann 



Dendropicos guineensis massaicus Nehjmann, Journ. f. Ornith., 1900, p. 206: 

 Ndala-lani, Lake Nguruman. 



/Specimens collected: 



Two males. Tana River at mouth of Thika River, Kenya Colony, 

 August 23-24, 1912. 



In identifying these birds (and the series of hemprichii) I have 

 studied a series of all three of the species that have been confused 

 in the literature — fuscescens, lafresnayl, and ahyssinicus, totaling 

 some 91 specimens in all, and representing all the East African races. 

 My conclusions agree exactly with those arrived at by Bannerman '^ — 

 that is, I agree that ahyssinicus has no valid races, that fuscescens 

 and laf7'esnayi are best kept as specific groups, the former with four 

 races {fuscescens^ massaicus^ hetnprichii^ and cosensi), the latter with 

 six forms {lafresnmji^ ca^ne7'unensis, sechi, lepidus, hartlauhli, and 

 loandae) . For the convenience of investigators who may refer to the 

 present work, the following disposition of synonyms may be useful. 



^Auk, 1921, pp. .^531-552. 



5 Ibis. 1898, p. 415. 



•Rev. Zool. Afilcaino, vol. 10, t&sc. 2, 1922, pp. 94-98. 



