Expedition to the White Nile. 249 



22. Lamprotornis porphyropterus Riipp. 



Dr. Sharpe has differentiated the Central-African short- 

 tailed bird, under the name of L. brevicaudus, from the 

 longer-tailed Abyssinian form (Ibis, 1897, p. 450) . My speci- 

 mens evidently belong to the Abyssinian species, their tails 

 measuring: ^ 8", ? 6'''75, ? 6"-87. 



These birds were plentiful as far as we went south of 

 Duera, but we did not observe them more than ten miles 

 north of that place. Their song is sweet, but they have a 

 perpetual and irritating call-note which is decidedly harsh. 

 We found them in small companies, generally frequenting 

 the tops of the trees ; they were very tame. 



Adult. Iris pale yellow ; bill, legs, and feet black. 



23. Spreo pulcher (P. L. S. MiilL). 



We only observed these birds near Gerazi and Getaina, 

 between 50 and 60 miles south of Khartum. They were 

 in companies of from six to eight in thick bush. Although 

 very conspicuous, looking dark when perched, and showing 

 a whitish wing-patch when flying, they are nevertheless 

 difficult to shoot owing to their exceedingly shy and crafty 

 nature. When four or live are in a tree, one of them is 

 almost always perched upon the top of it or upon some outside 

 branch, where he can get a good view. Just as you arrive 

 within gunshot, the sentinel gives a warning whistle, so shrill 

 that it sounds almost like a squeak, at which all the flock 

 take a short straight flight to another tree. You creep up 

 again, but the sentinel seems to know the exact range of your 

 gun, as do so many birds. When feeding on the ground, 

 this species is more easily approached, and its gait and action 

 are similar to those of our Starling. 



Adult. Iris white ; bill, legs, and feet black. 



24. CoRVUs scAPULATUs Daud. 



These Crows were at most points common and tame. They 

 were generally in fairly large flocks, but we saw many pairs 

 and a good many single birds. They make a very hoarse 

 '' quaa "" rather than a " kaa.'^ 



Adult. Iris hazel; bill, legs, and feet black. 



