— 227 — 



from leucomelas and lacuum in having no wliite fringes to the 

 outer rectrices. Wing: cT 83—85 mm., 9 78—82 mm. 



The specimen from Soy has a wing-measurement of 85 mm., 

 tarsus 19 mm. Irides dark-brown; bill and legs black. 



Farus albiventris Shell. — Rchw. III. p. 514. 



2 (5(5 ad. 18. 4. Kiambu. - 2 (5(5 ad. 18. 5., 31. 5. Mount Elgon. — 

 2 gQ ad. 17. 4., 18. 4. Kiambu. — 1 Q ad. 23. 5. Mount Elgon. 



In the environs of Mombasa this Tit occurred rather com- 

 monly, and two specimens were shot, but unfortunately they 

 were lost. 



On the eastern slopes of Elgon the race was also common, 

 being always found on the edges of the forests at an altitude 

 of about 6500—7000 feet. 



The specimens before me vary only with respect to the 

 white fringes on the outer tail-feathers. Thus, some have a very 

 broad fiinge, and at times the whole of the outer web is white; 

 others only a narrow, white edge. 



Wing, tarsus, 



72, 83, 84, 87 mm. 19-20 mm. cTcf. 



77, 77, 80 mm. 19 mm. 99. 



Irides dark-brown; bill black; legs dark lead-grey — greyish 

 green. 



Sylvildae. 



Melocichla mentalis amauroura Pelz. — Rchw. III. p. 539. 



2 (5(5 ad. 26. 5., 25. 7. ; 2 gQ ad. 26. 5., 25. 7. ; Mount Elgon. 



This bird was found below the eastern slopes of Mount 

 Elgon in the dense brushwood and bushes, fringing the rivers 

 and streams. As a rule it was found in pairs and I never saw 

 it in flocks of 4— 10 in number as N e u m a n n mentions (Journ. 

 f. Orn., 1916, p. 264). The bird is very timid and difficult to 

 get within range, as it keeps well concealed in the almost im- 

 penetrable brushwood. When it is alarmed it utters an agita- 



IGQj bllOrL cry* vjvjuuvj) Kj\j\j\j\j* 



Neumann separates (op. cit.) three allied forms: men- 

 talis, orientalis and amauroura and makes Reichenow's atri- 

 cauda synonymous with the last, which is no doubt correct. 

 V. Someren (Ibis 1916, p. 450) shares this opinion, but later 

 on (Nov. Zool., XXV, 1918, p. 287) he styles specimens from 

 West Elgon atricauda. S c 1 a t e r and Mackworth-Praed 

 (Ibis 1918, p. 645) include Neumann's three forms but do 

 not express any opinion of atricauda. Reichenow gives the 



15* 



