BIRDS OF ETHIOPIA AND KENYA COLONY 



359 



Mount Elgon, characterized as intermediate between hlicki and 

 ignewentris. This may well be a valid form, but I have seen no 

 material of it. 



The present series is the one on the basis of which Mearns de- 

 scribed hlicki. In the original description of this bird he stated 

 that it was smaller than falkenstein^ but this is not so. The meas- 

 urements of the present adults are tabulated as evidence of this 

 fact (table 70). 



Table 70. — Measurements of 12 specimens of Cinnyris venustus blicki 



The immature males are molting into adult plumage. The molt 

 begins on the throat with the appearance of glossy violet feathers 

 there; the upper wing coverts are the next feathers to be affected; 

 then come the scapulars and some of the interscapulars and the rec- 

 trices; then the rump, lower back, breast, crown, and the center of 

 the abdomen begin to show yellowish feathers. 



The two adult males taken on May 17, one collected June 17, and 

 one, July 29, are in worn plumage, as are the females. The male 

 from El Ade, June 12, is in molt. 



Nothing seems to be known of the breeding season of hlicki, but 

 Erlanger^^ found a nest with eggs of alhivenfns on April 21 in the 

 Ganale Valley, and another on May 3 at Karo-Lola in the Garre- 

 Lewin district. Mearns observed this bird at the following places: 

 Tertale, June 12, 4 seen ; El Ade, June 13, 4 birds ; Mar Mora, June 14, 

 2 noted; Turturo, June 15-17, 10 seen; Anole, June 17, 10; Wobok, 

 June 18, 10 birds; Yebo, June 19, 2 seen; Chaffa, June 23, 1 noted, 

 10-25 miles southeast of Lake Kudolf , July 12, 50 ; Nyero Mountain, 

 July 13, 100 ; Indunumara Mountains, July 13-18, 30 ; Endoto Moun- 

 tains, July 21-24, 50; Er-re-re, July 25, 20 birds; Le-se-dun, July 26, 

 20 seen; Malele, July 27, 20 birds; 18 miles south of Malele, July 28, 

 4 birds seen. 



» Journ. fiir Orn., 1907, p. 55. 



