312 



BULLETIN 15 3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Of the western Sudanese race kordof amicus^ Sclater ^^ states that 

 two eggs were taken by Major Dunn at Ogayeh Wells, but gives no 

 clue as to the date. However, Sclater and Mackworth-Praed ^^ list 

 three specimens of hordofanicus "collected by Capt. W. H. Dunn, 

 at Ogayeh Wells, in western Kordofan, on November 13, 1902," 

 which may or may not suggest that the nesting season in Kordofan 

 may be quite different from that in Ethiopia, or that the season is 

 prolonged in both regions. As is noted below, the race hilgerti is 

 known to breed in May in Ennia Gallaland. 



This handsome shrike lives in the rather dry thornbush country 

 where its bright coloration, shrill chirping notes, and general rest- 

 less activity render it quite conspicuous in spite of its shyness. 



The dimensions of the adult specimens obtained are given in 

 table 61. 



Table 61. — Measurements of six specimens of Rhodophoueus cruentus cruentus 



from Ethiopia 



RHODOPHONEUS CRUENTUS HILGERTI (Neumann) 



Pelicinins cruentus Mlgerti NiJaMANN, Orn. Monatsb., 1903, p. 182: Sheikh Hus- 

 sein, Somaliland. 

 Specimens collected: 



1 adult male, 1 adult female, 1 immature female, Bodessa, Ethiopia, May 

 25-29, 1912. 



1 adult male, Sagon River, Ethiopia, June 6, 1912. 



1 adult male, 1 female adult, Tertale, Ethiopia, June 11, 1912. 



1 adult female, Indunumara Mountains, Kenya Colony, July 14, 1912. 



1 adult male, Northern Guaso Nyiro River, Kenya Colony, August 3, 1912. 



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



Soft parts : Iris dark brown. 



As already mentioned, this race is found in Somaliland, Gallaland, 

 southern Shoa, and most of northern and central Kenya Colony, 

 where it lives in open thornbush savannahs, going about either in 

 pairs or in small groups, apparently more numerous in the northern 

 than in the southern parts of its range. 



32 In Shelley, The birds of Africa, vol. 5, pp. 393-394, 1912. 

 «• Ibis, 1918, p. 633. 



