290 Mr. C. II. B. Grant on a Collection of 



In namiuj? tliese birds I have had to examine all the series 

 in the National Collection, and have come to the conclusion 

 that only two races can be recognised; as follows : — 



E,HINOPOMA.STUS CYANOMELAS CYaNOMELAS. 



Falcinellus cyanumelas Vieill. Noiiv. Diet. d'Hist, Nat. 

 xxviii. 1819, p. 165 : Namaqualand. 



A .short-tailed race, being without or with only incomplete 

 spots on the tail. 



Range. River Quanza, Angola, Benguella, Damaraland to 

 Lake Ngauii, western Matabeleland (Bumangwato, Tati, 

 Kanye) across to the high country of N.E. Transvaal (Wood- 

 bush, Zoutpausbcrg). western Transvaal, and Kroonstad, 

 O.li.C, to Natal and Griqualand East. 



RhINOPOMASTUS CYANOMELAS SCHALOWI Neum. 



A long-tailed race, having the spots on the tail always 

 well developed. 



Range. Low country of N.E. Transvaal (Unizila's Country, 

 Lehtaba) to east Matabeleland (Makalaka), Mashonaland, 

 Portuguese East Africa, Zambesi River, N.E. Rhodesia, 

 Nyasaland, German East Africa, Belgian Congo (Ddvuhve 

 Yalley), Uganda, British East Africa, and Manda Island. The 

 most northern limit appears to be along a line from Manda 

 Island and Lamu through to ]\lt. Elgon to Ruwenzori. 



Since writing the above I have seen Roberts' description 

 in the Ann. Transv. Mus. vol. iv. 1914, p. 171, of Rhino- 

 pomastus cyanomelas intermedius, the type locality being 

 given as Koodoes River, Zoutpansberg District, N.E. Trans- 

 vaal. The characters on which it is founded are the 

 length of the tail, i. e. males 165-155, females 146-136 mm., 

 and '* less white on the tail-feathers.'' 



Another careful examination of the large series in the 

 British Museum collection shows that the white on the tail, 

 though constantly greater in R. c. schalowi when compared 

 with specimens of R. c. cyanomelas, varies quite considerably 

 individually and, moreover, in series from the same district, 

 as is exemplified in British East African and Uganda 

 specimens. 



The measurement of the tails gave the following results : 



