640 Messrs. Ogilvie-Grant and Reid on Birds 



c, d. c? ? imm. Alaga, S. Abyssinia, 21tli & 25tli Feb. 

 Nos. 568 & 574. 



e. S • Hoorsa, S. Abyssinia, 22nd Mar. No. 721. 



Iris dark yellow ; bill black ; legs slate-coloured. 



It seems to us questionable how far the three forms known 

 as L. poliocephalus (Licht.), L. blanchoti (Steph.), and 

 L. approximans (Cab.) are really specifically distinct from 

 one another ; the two former at least occur side by side 

 in Nyasaland, for among many specimens of L. blanchoti 

 received from Mr. Alfred Sharpe there is a small specimen 

 from Karungwisi, which can only be referred to typical 

 L. poliocephalus, while intermediate forms can be found 

 which might be referred to either L. poliocephalus or 

 L. blanchoti. The birds brought home by Mr, Pease are very 

 interesting as representing L. blanchoti in its most typical 

 form. This, so far as we are aware, has never been obtained 

 so far north, the smaller and darker-breasted L. approximans 

 being, according to Neumann, the form found in Southern 

 Abyssinia. The examples of L. approximans in the British 

 Museum Collection are from Mombasa, Pangani River, and 

 Lamu. In a female shot by Mr. Pease (specimen b) the 

 cinnamon is much more developed on the sides of the breast 

 than it is in the male, and extends to the sides of the 

 abdomen. This characteristic is also found in examples of 

 L. apjjroximans. 



In two young birds the plumage above resembles that of 

 the adult, but the feathers of the head and neck are edged 

 with brownish, the under parts are whitish yellow, and on 

 the throat and chest the bright yellow and cinnamon feathers 

 are beginning to make their appearance. It is clear that at 

 an early stage the young closely resemble the adults in 

 plumage. 



a. Wing 4'8 inches. 

 e. „ 4-65 „ 



b. „ 4-6 „ 



[The Grey-headed Bush-Shrike was not rare in certain 

 localities. It was never seen on the high plateau or east of 

 Gildessa. I saw four young birds in a tree together. When 

 disturbed it often lit upon the ground. — A. E. P.] 



