250 Mr. H. F. Witherby — Ornithological 



25. *CoRvus UMBRiNus (Sundev.). 



Ravens were seen here and there either singly or in pairs. 

 On the desert railway from Wady Haifa to Abu Hamed 

 there was a Raven or two at every '^ station.^'' These,, and 

 very rarely a Kite, were the only biixls to be seen. 



The river is a great distance from some of the stations, 

 and it is puzzling to discover where the Ravens drink unless 

 they take their chance at some bucket or tank. 



26. BUCHANGA AFRA (Licht.). 



This species was by no means common, but one or two 

 individuals were observed at most points. When the bird is 

 flying overhead or towards the observer, the light grey 

 underside of the primaries shows up conspicuously. It has 

 a peculiar low squeaking little song. 



Adult. Iris bright red ; bill, legs, and feet black. 



27. Lanius senator Linn. 



Mr. Hartert has lately (Novitates Zoologicse, vol. vi. 

 December 1899, pp. 4J 6-418) separated this species into 

 four subspecies. My bird agrees with subspecies d {Lanius 

 senator paradoxus A. E. Brehm) in having the central 

 rectrices pure white at the base. 



We only saw one of these birds. This was obtained near 

 Khartum, and it was very wild. When flying away, the 

 white rump at once distinguishes it from Lanius nubicus, 

 which it much resembles at a distance, the red head being 

 inconspicuous except at close quarters. 



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



28. Lanius nubicus Licht. 



This Shrike was everywhere common. It was plentiful 

 on May 16th at our last camp near Khartum, and we observed 

 a pair at Korosko on May 23rd. We obtained an immature 

 male on April 8th at Kawa. To me these birds had every 

 appearance of being residents and not migrants. They 

 haunted the same trees day after day, and always seemed 

 thoroughly at home. They showed no sign of nesting, but 

 were continually chasing one another as though mating. 

 The call on these occasions is a harsh, rapidly-uttered "keer, 



