266 Mr. W. R, Ogilvie-Grant on Birds collected 



small collection of the birds of this district. The few species 

 procured "were, however, interesting, as shewing the likeness 

 between the highland fauna of Mfumbiro and that of 

 Ruwenzori. The country surrounding the volcanoes is 

 covered with long grass, while the volcanoes themselves are 

 forested on the lower slopes with vegetation very similar to 

 ihat of Ruwenzori at 8000 ft. This gradually merges into a 

 bamboo-forest of large area, and above it there is a moss- 

 and lobelia-region similar to that met with on the higher 

 parts of Ruwenzori. There is also a good deal of bare rock, 

 and on the highest volcano, Karissimbi, often a little snow 

 at about 13,000 ft. Of the eight volcanoes only one is 

 active. 



At 7000 ft. I procured the following birds : — The 

 Yellow-shouldered Weaver-Finch [Pyromelana xanthmnelas) , 

 the Grey-headed Waxbill [NeisnanyanscB), Sharpens (^rimson- 

 wang {Cryptospiza ocularis), Grauer's Seed-eater {Serinus 

 graueri), the Black-headed Babbler (Tnrdinns atriceps), 

 Doherty^s Bush -Shrike {Laniarius dohcrtyi), and the 

 Ruwenzori Bush-Robin [Tarsiger ruivenzorii). Had I been 

 able to explore the higher slopes, many more of the species 

 met with on Ruwenzori would, no doubt, have been found. 

 It would be difficult ground to work, for the country is 

 entirely unknown, and to enable one to travel about on the 

 volcanoes it would be necessary to cut paths. 



After reaching Lake Kivu, a small but exceedingly beauti- 

 ful lake surrounded by steep hills and clotted with innumer- 

 able islands, we passed down the western side in canoes, 

 visiting the island called " Kidjwe." This is well forested, 

 but all the other islands as Avell as the hilly shores are 

 covered with short grass. 



Journeying through very hilly country almost devoid of 

 bird-life, and passing down the Russisi Valley, we reached 

 Lake Tanganyika. Here I saw many birds not met with 

 further to the north. 



West of Lake Tanganyika, and between that lake and the 

 Congo, parts of the country are hilly, covered with grass and 

 acacia, and interspersed wath wide plains, overgrown with 



