BIRDS OF ETHIOPIA AND KENYA COLONY 447 



existing data, which indicate nothing as to the breeding season in 

 Ethiopia itself other than Heuglin's statement that in the warmer 

 (that is, lower) parts of Ethiopia and the "White Nile the birds 

 assume full plumage in July and August when they commence nest- 

 ing. It is quite probable that the birds breed over a fairly prolonged 

 period. In Darfur, Lynes *^ recorded them as breeding in the winter. 

 In Uganda the race ruberrima nests in every month of the year. 



LAGONOSTICTA SENEGALA ABAYENSIS Neumann 



FiGUKE 29 



Lagonosticta senegala abayensis Neumann, Journ. fiir Orn., 1905, p. 349: 

 Giditscho Island in Lake Abaya. 



Specimens collected : 



1 male, near Gardula, Ethiopia, March 28, 1912. 



12 males, 1 female, Gato River near Gardula, Ethiopia, April 3-May 9, 1912. 



Soft parts: Iris reddish brown, eyelid yellow; bill red with blue- 

 black line above and below (in female the black line on the maxilla 

 is broader than in the male) ; feet and claws dark purplish brown. 



The Abaya red-billed fire-finch is confined to a small area in 

 southern Shoa from a little north of the Abaya Lakes to the Gato 

 liiver and Tertale. It is only slightly different from hrunneiceps, 

 having a little reddish wash on the back. 



The present specimens are in somewhat worn plumage. Their 

 dimensional variations are as follows: Males — wing, 47-50.5 (average, 

 48.8) ; tail 31-38 (36) ; culmen, 9-11 (10.4) ; tarsus, 11-13 (12.6 mm). 

 Female — wing, 48; tail 34.5; culmen, 9; tarsus, 12 mm. 



Besides the actual specimens collected, Mearns noted this bird ag 

 follows; Aletta, March 7-13, 25 seen; Loco, March 13-15, 10 birds; 

 Gidabo River, March 15-17, 10 noted ; Abaya Lakes, March 18-26, 35 ; 

 between Abaya Lakes and Gardula, March 26-29, 10 birds; Gato 

 River near Gardula, March 29-May 17, 200; Anole village. May 17, 

 20 birds ; Tertale, June 7, 4. 



Nothing has been recorded of the habits of this race. 



LAGONOSTICTA SENEGALA KIKUYUENSIS van Someren 



FiGUKE 29 



Lagonosticta senegalla kikuyuensis van Someeen, Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, vol. 40, 



p. 55, 1919 : Nairobi. 

 Specimens collected: 



1 immature male, 2 adult females, Tharaka district, Kenya Colony, August 

 12-13, 1912. 



2 adult males, Tana River, Kenya Colony, Augxist 23-25, 1912. 



1 adult male, 2 adult females. Escarpment, Kenya Colony, September 6-7, 

 1912. 



'•'Ibis, 1924, p. 671. 



