246 Capt. J, H. Speke on Birds collected 



16. NoTAUGEs ALBiCAPiLLUs (Blyth) : fiprco albicapillus, 

 Blythj Journ. As. Soc. xxiv. p. 301 : Noiauges albicapillus, Hartl. 

 Somali, Planagur. (Plate VII.) 



Mr. Blyth describes this bird, as follows : — " Length about 

 12 in., of wing 6^ in., and tail 4|in.; its outermost feathers 

 I in. shorter; bill to gape ly^g- in.; and tarsi If in. Colour 

 dull metallic green, with a white cap, vent, lower tail-coverts, 

 tibial plumes, flanks posteriorly, auxiliaries, and under wing- 

 coverts; rest of the lower parts with narrow brownish-white 

 mesial streaks to the feathers, which are subacuminate, and but 

 slightly streaked on the chin and throat; secondaries chiefly 

 dull white on their exterior webs, forming a large patch on the 

 wing. Bill and feet black. As compared with the Cape species, 

 N. bicolor {Lamprotornis albiventris, Swainson), the bill is less 

 slender and Thrush-like, having more of the Lmnprotornis form ; 

 and the tarsi are shorter ; but we do not hesitate to refer it to 

 the same genus." I found these birds feeding and flying about 

 in the same manner, and on the ground, as the Noiauges su- 

 perbus, and also in large flocks. Irides white *. 



17. BuPHAGA ERYTHRORHYNCHA, Stanley. Somali, Hurio. 

 Common about the country. They feed chiefly on lice and 



ticks, which they find on cattle, and are very annoying to camels 

 who are galled by carrying baggage, by pecking at and prevent- 

 ing their sores from healing ; five or six are generally to be seen 

 clinging to one animal at once. When cattle are sound in skin, 

 they seem to enjoy being cleansed by these birds, and allow them 

 to cling about the head and neck in quiet repose. The eye of 

 this bird is of a light and brownish red. 



18. Hyphantornis baglefecht, Vieillot ? 



I found this little Baya bird on the Plateau in considerable 

 numbers, feeding where there were long grasses and plants in 

 flower, in company with many beautiful little Creepers. 



19. Passer castanopterus, Blyth. 



This specimen was shot on the Plateau, amongst a large flock. 



* The figure (Plate VII.) is copied from an Indian drawing forwarded 

 to Dr. Hartlaub bv Mr. Blvth.— Ed. 



