BIRDS OF ETHIOPIA AND KENYA COLONY 147 



Occasional specimens of the former race have a fringe of chestnut on 

 the lower edge of the black throat patch, formed by rufous tips to 

 the black feathers, but never a really vrell-developed brown pectoral 

 band. Females of alhofasciata are darker than those of axillaris. 

 The migrant race inaura is similar generally to axillaris but differs 

 in having the rectrices white basally instead of solid black as the 

 resident African birds. 



The present race (if we consider the Ugandan birds as rmmae) 

 inhabits the highlands of Kenya Colony from Mount Elgon, Escarp- 

 ment, Molo, etc., east to Mount Kilimanjaro. The northern form 

 alhofasciatus occurs in the highlands of Ethiopia from Adigrat south 

 to Harrar, Arussi-Gallaland, and Kaffa, 



The present males have wings measuring 67-74 mm (average 72 

 mm) ; females — 67-72 mm (69 mm). Five males from Uganda have 

 wings of from 66 to 69 mm. 



When in very fresh condition, the black feathers of the back in the 

 males are margined with brown, but with wear the edges are lost 

 and the back becomes uniform black. The present birds are all in 

 fairly fresh plumage, 



Granvik ^- has discussed in detail the color variation of this bird. 

 The present birds (all from one locality) are remarkably uniform in 

 color. All are adults, which eliminates the age factor. As is well 

 known, young males have less black and more brown on the throat and 

 breast than older birds. 



This little stone-chat is one of the commonest birds throughout its 

 range. The breeding season is in May. 



SAXICOLA TORQUATA ALBOFASCIATA Ruppell 



Saxicola alhofasciata RtippEix, Systematische Uebersicht der Vogel Nordost- 



Afrika's, p. 39, 1845 : Simieu Province, Ethiopia. 

 Specimens collected : 



5 males, 4 females, Adis Abeba, Ethiopia, December 31, 1911-January 8, 

 1912. 



1 male, Hakaki, Ethiopia, January 14, 1912. 



4 males, 3 females, Arussi Plateau, Ethiopia. February 15-23, 1912. 



The Abyssinian stone-chat is a very distinct race. The male lacks 

 all the rufous-chestnut on the breast and has the black of the throat 

 extending over the breast to the anterior margin of the abdomen. 

 Occasionally there is a rufescent fringe to the black breast, but this 

 disappears with wear. 



Two of the males from Arussi Plateau have some dark dull brown 

 feathers among the black ones on the crown and occiput. They are 

 otherwise similar to the other specimens and may be in their first 

 adult plumage. 



"Journ. fiir Orn., 1923, Sonderheft, pp. 234-256, pis. 2, 3. 



