Birds from British East Africa and Uganda. 2G3 



Range. Portuguese E. Africa, Rliodesia, Transvaal, Orange 

 River Colony, Beclmanaland, Uaraaraland, and Angola. 



It is of interest to note that the young bird of one race is 

 not distinguishable from the young bird of the other race, 

 and both have the top of the head green. 



Two apparently adult specimens from Gambia and one 

 from British E. Africa have a wash of gi-eeu on the top of 

 the head. 



In the adults of C. n. mosambicus the lilac of the head 

 fades to a brownish tone, and worn birds, if compared with 

 freshly moulted specimens, appear at first sight to belong 

 to different races. 



]35. Corythornis cristata. Malachite - crested King- 

 fisher. 



Alcedo cristata Vroeg, Gat. Aduml). 176^ No. 55 : Gape 

 of Good Hope. 



This name preoccupies Alcedo cristata Linn. (Syst. Nat. 

 12th ed. i. 1766, p. 178 : India) and antedates Alcedo 

 cyanostigma Riipp. (Neue Wirb. Vog. 1835, p. 70, pi. xxiv. : 

 Zana See, Abyssinia), which latter would, however, be avail- 

 able, should the northern bird prove to be a different race. 



a. ? ad. Amala River, 5300 ft. Oct. 23. 



b. ? ad. Lakwa, Naam River, 3100 ft. Feb. 16. 

 Total length in flesh : 5| & 5^ inches. Wing : 57 & 



55 mm. 



Both are somewhat worn and faded. 



[Irides brown; bill red; legs and toes red. Stomach 

 contained aquatic beetles.] 



I have recently spent some time carefully examining 

 Linnaeus' original copy of Vroeg's Gatalogue in the Linnean 

 Society's library, and have come to the conclusion that it is 

 as good a scientific production as Lichtenstein's Gatalogue, 

 or the quite anonymous "TunstalFs " Orn. Brit., and must 

 therefore be accepted. 



In the Smiths. Misc. Coll. vol. xlvii. 1905, pp. 332-347, 

 Messrs. Sherborn & Richmond have given partial reprints and 

 discussed the position of the names, but neither have quoted 



