THE HONEY-GUIDES 91 



the interior of Kenya Colony (all but the lowland coastal and sub- 

 coastal belt), to Tanganyika Territory chiejQy west of the Rift Valley 

 (not on Kilimanjaro and the Usambara Mountains), the Katanga, 

 Angola, the Rhodesias, Mozambique, and South Africa. 



I. V. virescens: ^' Southern Italian Somaliland, coastal Kenya Colony 

 (Sokoke, Malindi, Rabai, Ualimi, Tana River), and eastern Tangan- 

 yika Territory (Kilimanjaro area, Usambara Mountains, Useguha, 

 Uvidunda Mountains, Lindi (?)). It is possible that the birds of 

 eastern Mozambique may yet prove to belong in this race rather than 

 in the nominate one. 



Breeding Range and Season 



The scaly-throated honey-guide undoubtedly breeds throughout 

 its very extensive range, but actual data are scanty. Below are 

 listed all bits of evidence known to me. 



South Africa: Isipingo, Natal, October 29, egg record; Woodbush, 

 Transvaal, December 3, egg record. 



Southern Rhodesia: Banket, November and early December, 

 eggs. 



Nyasaland: Mlanje, April 24, adult male, gonads indicating 

 "at end of breeding season"; 70 miles south of Fort Hill, October 24, 

 adult male with testes somewhat enlarged; "breeding, August to 

 October" (Mackworth-Praed and Grant, 1952, p. 741). 



Mozambique: Namuli, August 2, 3, adult females in breeding 

 condition. 



Tanganyika Territory: Amani, Usambara Mountains, fledgling 

 observed; no date. 



Kenya Colony: Kjdong Valley, May 21, egg; Ngong, July, 

 nestling; coastal belt, June, nestling; west of Lake Magadi, South 

 Uaso Nyiro River, May-June, fledgling. 



Uganda: February and May, nestlings; Mubendi, September, 

 adult male in breeding condition, 



Belgian Congo: Kenia, Upemba Park, July 15, male in breeding 

 condition. 



Songs and Calls 



The usual "song" of the scaly-throated honey-guide, given regularly 

 at the call posts by adult birds (it is not yet known if this note is given 

 only by the males or if the females may also give it) is a low, rather 

 gutteral purring, or almost croaking, froglike note that may be written 

 ghrrrr. It lasts about 2 or 3 seconds and is given at intervals from 1 



" [Indicator variegatus] var. virescens Reichenow, Joum. Ornith., vol. 17, p. 274, 

 1889. (Lews, Usambara, East Africa.) 



