_ 75 — 



Foicephahis fusdcapillus (Verr. & Des Murs). — Rchw. II. p. 16. 



2 (5(5 ad. 27. 4., 29. 4. •, 2 §Q ad. 26. 4., 27. 4. Mombasa. 



Iq the coast al districts round Mombasa this species was 

 common and inhabited the cocoa -plantations both in the town 

 and its surroundings. Sometimes seen in single specimens, some- 

 times in pairs, but never in small flocks like the preceding. 



Both females are in moult, the two males have already 

 assumed the new dress. 



wing, bill, 



cTd' 151, 155 mm, 99150, 150 mm. cfcf 22, 23 mm, 99 22, 22 mm. 



tarsus, 

 cfcf 17 mm, 99 16, 18 mm. 

 Irides pale yellow (almost white); bill dark greyish brown, 

 upper mandible yellowish brown; legs dark-grey-black. 



Musophagidae. 



Musophaga violacea rossae Gould. — Rchw. II. p. 29. 



Korongo . . . ki-kamba, ki-suahili, etc. 



1 (3 14. 5. Soy 7.500 feet. - 1 Q 19. 5. ; 1 2 24. 7. Mount Elgon 6.800 feet. 



Already at Soy, 35 miles south -east of Elgon, the first 

 specimen of this very beautiful bird was shot. It was found in 

 the topmost- branches of the large trees in the dense forest- 

 vegetation growing on both sides of a little river. 



This birdmay frequently be seen running along the branches 

 at a great speed, at the same time assisting its movements 

 by flapping its wings rapidly, and then the brilliantly purple- 

 coloured wings glitter from a distance, by means of which it is 

 not difficult to discover, in spite of the secluded and well hidden 

 abode. Sometimes — though less frequently — I have seen it 

 fly, but then only for short distances from one tree to another. 

 Sometimes it stops quite suddenly in the cover of some branch 

 and will then remain quite still for several minutes. 



Someren has met the bird on the western slopes of 

 Elgon and says (Nov. Zool. 1918, p. 267) that it is rather common 

 there. On East Elgon it is, however, a rare creature and was 

 only observed twice, both times in the depths of the forest. 



Someren states, further, that in one of the specim ens, 

 which was moulting, the old feathers were purplish blue, but 

 the new ones dark-blue. In one of my specimens, which is also 

 evidently in moult, a number of the feathers of the back — pro- 

 bably the new ones — are quite black at the tips. 



In the stomachs of the individuals shot I only found the 

 hard-stones of different stone-fruits. 



wing, bill, tarsus, 



Cf 225 mm, 99 220, 222 mm. 40-42 mm. 43-44 mm. 



