— 3^4 — 



Col. Meinertzhagen's review has been published in the October 

 number of the Tbis for 1921 to which 1 will refer the reader for 

 further information as to the views which Col. Meinertzhagen 

 holds. 



There are other spécimens from Southern Nigeria in the Muséum 

 obtained by Kemp at Agoulerie in [une 1905, which must belong 

 to the same form. 



There is also a verv large séries form Northern Nigeria which 

 Col. Meinertzhagen believes to belong to A. /. zcukeri. 



I contess to being anything but satisfied with any « grouping » 

 I hâve yet seen of the African Pipits, though I hâve not yet 

 examined Col. Meinertzhagen's proposed aiTangement. There 

 seems to be a light torm and a dark form living side by side. If \ve 

 refuse to believe that the West African Pipits are dimorphic, the 

 only alternative is that two distinct species Aiit/nis goti/di and 

 Aiit/ius leucophrys or their subspecies are found inhabiting the 

 same districts. 



If this latter is the correct view then Meinertzhagen is right 

 that goiddi and leucophrys must each be considered species having 

 their own subspecies, and not, as we hâve donc in the past, 

 consider ^■o?//c/7' a race of leucophrys : the fact that Mr Lowe shot 

 at Iju two birds which be noticed in the Held appeared différent 

 froin the others is certainly proof that obvions différences exist. 

 I therefore hâve assigned two birds ivith dark outcr tail feathers 

 to AntJius gouldi gouldi. They lack the distinct rufous under 

 parts of the other eight spécimens, althrough shot in the same place 

 and at the same time of year; they agrée closely with typical 

 spécimens oï gouldi {rom Libéria. 



How for up the West African Coast A. l. zenkerl ranges I ani 

 not as yet prepared to say. I shall not therefore attempt to give its 

 range, but see Col. Meinertzhagen's remarks on this and the next 

 species. I am inclined to think that A. gouldi goîildz extends from 

 Gambia to Southern Nigeria and that A. leucophrys zenkeri 

 inhabits Cameroon, Northern and Southern Nigeria, and does not 

 occur at any rate north of Libéria. Col. Meinertzhagen holds 

 somewhat différent view; his review should be compared with 

 Neumann's (J. f. O., it)o6). 



