Birds from British East Africa and Uganda. 241 



is nothing but a black phase of this species ; therefore 

 M. (Sparvius) niyer Bonn, et Vieill. (Enc. Meth. iii. 1823, 

 p. 1269 : Senegal) must in future become a synonym. 



Mr. Lowe's interesting field-notes also bear out this 

 conclusion. 



The December bird is in full moult, and the January one 

 is in clean dress, though the wing aud tail are a little 

 worn. 



The immature bird is assuming the adult feathering on 

 the back aud head. 



\_Ad. Irides brown or red -brown ; bill black ; cere black 

 and orange or yellowish black ; legs and toes orange, black 

 in front or orange and black. Imm. Irides orange-yellow ; 

 bill black ; cere orange ; legs and toes orange-red. Stomach 

 contained mice. 



The female from Lake Naivasha, which is in the black 

 phase, was undoubtedly paired to another in normal plumage, 

 and I watched them together for some time before shootir)g 

 the female. ]\ly experience seems to show that females are 

 frequently black, whilst the males, on the other hand, are 

 more frequently in normal dress.] 



103. Astur sphenurus. Kiippeirs Goshawk. 

 Falco (Nisus) sphenurus Riipp. Neue Wirb. A^og. 1835, 

 p. 42 : Dabalak, nr. Massowah. 



a. c? imm. 10 miles N.W. of Kerio River, 3600 ft. 

 Jan. 5. 



b, c. ? ad. & imm. Weiwei River, Rift Valley, 3100 ft. 

 Jan. 7 & 9. 



d, e. ^ ad. ; ? imm. Kittigom, Chua Dist., 2850 ft. 

 Feb. 20 & 21. 



Total length in flesh : (^ 11 & 11^ inches ; ? 12^ & 13^ 

 inches. Wing : ^ ad. \77 mm., imm. 170 mm. ; ? ad. 

 193 mm., imm. 196 & 184 mm. 



Both the adults are in clean dress and just a little worn ; 

 the female is more broadly banded below than the male. 

 All three of the immature birds are starting to assume the 

 adult featherincr. 



