180 BULLETIN 15 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



West of Lake Rudolf this race merges with micrura, according to 

 van Someren,^ who finds birds from Meuressi, Turkwell, Kobua 

 River, and West Rudolf less grayish, more sandy above than true 

 leucopsis. 



SYLVIETTA BRACHYURA LEUCOPSIS Reichenow 



Sylviella leucopsis Reichenow, Orn. Centralbl., 1S79, p. 114: Kibaradja, Tana 



River, Kenya Colony. 

 Specimens collected: 



1 male, 1 female, Northern Guaso Nyiro River, Kenya Colony, August 1-3, 

 1912. 



1 female, Lekiundu River, Kenya Colony, August 5, 1912. 



I agree with van Someren,^ Sclater and Mackworth-Praed,* and 

 Sclater ^ that tavetensis Mearns is a synonym of leucopsis. I have 

 examined the type of the former and find that the only difference 

 between it and the present specimens is that it has the rufescent- 

 tawny more extensive on the underparts, the white areas more re- 

 stricted. At first sight the bill of tavetensis appears to be smaller, 

 but measurements fail to substantiate this visual impression, as the 

 base of the bill is less exposed than in the present examples. 



The range and characters of this race have already been given 

 and need not be repeated here. 



The present specimens are in rather worn plumage ; they have the 

 following dimensions: Wings, males, 48, 52; female, 47; tail, males, 

 21, 23; female, 20; culmen from base, males, 9.5, 9.5; female, 10; 

 tarsus, males, 16.5, 17 ; female, 17 mm. 



Erlanger ° found this bird breeding in April in Gurraland. 



SYLVIETTA VVHYTII JACKSONI Sharpe 

 FiGUEE 13 



Sylviella jacksoni Sharpe, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 7, p. 7, 1897: Kamassia, 



Kenya Colony. 

 Specimens collected: 



1 male, 2 females. Tana River at mouth of Thika River, Kenya Colony, 



August 23-24, 1912. 

 1 male, 1 female, Athi River near Juja Farm, Kenya Colony, August 31, 

 1912. 



I find that the arrangement followed by Sclater ^ in regard to the 

 races of this bird is incomplete and, as far as the available material 

 shows, inaccurate in some respects. He recognizes three races — 



^Nov. Zool., vol. 29, p. 226, 1922. 



3 Ibid., p. 225. 



"Ibis, 1918, p. 671. 



* Systema avium .asthiopicarum, pt. 2, p. 532, 1930. 



•Journ. fiir Orn., 1905, p. 732-733. 



' Systema avium ^tbiopicarura, pt. 2, pp. 532-533, 1930. 



