494 Mr. D. A. Bannerman on the 



27. Graucalus caesius preussi. 



Graucalus preussi Reichenow, Journ. fiir Orn. 1892, 

 p. 183 : Buea, Cameroon Mt. 



a. ^ ad. (No. 1). Cameroon Mt. 24.iv.09. 



6, c. c? ? ad. (Nos. 2, 3). „ „ 11. v. 09. 



d. ? ad. (No. 4). „ „ 12. v. 39. 



This interesting Cuckoo-Shrike is very similar in appear- 

 ance to G. ccBsius and G. c. pnrus. It is distinguished from 

 eacli by its smaller size ; the wings o£ the two males obtained 

 by Alexander measure 113 and 1 14 mm., and of the females 

 111 and 116 mm. respectively. 



Mr. W. L. Sclater (Shelley, Birds of Africa, vol. v. 

 pp. 221-2.24) gives the range of these three Cuckoo-Shrikes 

 as follows : — 



Graucalus ccesius : type loc. Kaffraria. Ranges from 

 Cape Colony into Pondoland, Natal, and Zuhdand. 



Graucalus ccesius purus : type loc. iMt. Elgon. Ranges 

 over central and eastern Africa from the Nyasa- 

 Tanganyika plateau to Abyssinia. 



Graucalus ccesius jjreussi : type loc. Buea: "inhabits 

 Cameroon.^' 



The female specimen of G. c. preussi, which Mr. Sclater 

 mentions as having been obtained by Alexander in Fernando 

 Po, is possibly correctly referred to tliis species, but appears 

 to be of a lighter grey colour throughout. It must be 

 renjarked, however, that the bird was obtained in Fernando 

 Po in November, whereas the series with which I have 

 compared it was secured in May. 



The wing of the Fernando Po bird is slightly larger than 

 the largest female from the mainland and measures 118 mm. 

 When a series is available it may therefore prove to be 

 distinct on the grounds that it is larger and paler. 



[Found in the forest above Buea, not in the higher alti- 

 tudes.— B. A.J 



28. Bleda poliocephala. 



Xeriocichla poliocephala Reicliw. Journ. fiir Orn. 1892, 

 p. 189 : Buea, Cameroon Mt. 



