374 BULLETIN 15 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



ZOSTEROPS ABYSSINICUS ABYSSINICUS Gu6rm 



Zosterops abyssinica Gu6bin, Rev. Zool., 1843, p. 162: Abyssinia, 



Specimens coixected: 1 unsexed, Gada Bourca, Ethiopia, December 26, 1911. 



This race of the white-breasted white-eye occurs from Erkowit in 

 the Sudan south through Eritrea to Somaliland and to the northern 

 end of the Shoan lake region. In the Omo Valley of southwestern 

 Ethiopia it is replaced by omoensis, which differs in having no isabel- 

 line on the sides and flanks and in having the yellow on the throat 

 and under tail coverts somewhat darker. Other forms occur in 

 Socotra and in southwestern Arabia. 



The single specimen collected is in very worn plumage. 



Zedlitz^^ has reviewed what is known of this species, and I have 

 nothing to add to his comments. Erlanger ^*' noted that a specimen 

 from the Shoan Lake region was a little stronger green above than 

 examples from Arussi-Gallaland and the Hawash Valley. The pres- 

 ent example is so worn that it is impossible to say much about its 

 original intensity of dorsal coloration. 



The species is said to inhabit the open forests dotted with acacias 

 and euphorbias. A male in breeding condition was shot on May 27 

 at Bakora, in the Danakil country. 



ZOSTEROPS POLIOGASTER Heuglin 



Zosterops poliogaster Heuglin, Ibis, 1861, p. 357, pi. 13 : Highlands of Abyssinia. 

 Specimens collected: 



10 males, 3 females, Arussi Plateau, 9,000 feet, Ethiopia, February 20-21, 

 1912. 



3 males, 1 female, Cofali, Ethiopia, March 2-3, 1912, 



4 males, 2 females, Aletta, Sidamo, Ethiopia, March 7-11, 1912. 



Since no north Ethiopian birds (typical poliogaster) have been 

 available for study, I can not pass judgment on Neumann's form 

 erlangeri^ and so follow S'clater's arrangement.^^ If erlangeri, how- 

 ever, should be found to be valid, all the present specimens would 

 have to be identified as of that race, since they uphold its diagnostic 

 character of having the forehead and forepart of the crown yellow. 



The present series are very uniform in their coloration. Their 

 size variations are given in table 73. All the specimens are fully 

 adult, and all are in fairly fresh plumage. None shows any sign of 

 molt. Although some males are as small as the females, the latter 

 do not attain to the same maximal dimensions as the former. 



"Jouin. fur Orn., 1911, pp. 56-57. 



^Journ. fiir Orn., 1907, p. 51. 



^ Systema avium ^thiopicarum, pt. 2, p. 678, 1930. 



