276 THE FAUNA OF BRITISH EAST AFRICA part iii 



except for a red tip to the wings, and Catopsile pyrene, 

 Swains., which is wholly of a light creamy white. The dark- 

 brown forms disappeared from the open steppes before seven, 

 and they were followed into obscurity by the light brown 

 Limnas, of which not a single specimen could be found during 

 the heat of the day. Then the open " barra " was tenanted 

 only by white and light-coloured species. 



This rule, however, is not universal, for other factors modify 

 it. Thus in dull, cloudy weather the dark-coloured forms fly 

 abroad all day ; while some species of rapid flight habitually 

 do so, such as many of the swallow-tail butterflies. Papilio 

 demoleus, Linn., for example, a common species in the Sabaki 

 and Tana valleys, was met with at all times of day ; but it 

 lived mainly under trees, darting out across open places from 

 one shady place to another. 



In connection with birds, the most interesting point ob- 

 served was the presence of some of the Kilima Njaro species 

 on the meadows around the glaciers of Kenya ; these have been 

 identified by Dr. Bowdler Sharpe as Nectarinia joJinstoni, 

 Shell., and PinarocJiroa hypospadia, Shell. 



The birds on the Lower Tana were only typical examples 

 of the East African coast forms, such as the Grossbeck 

 i^Melaiiobucco melaiioptcnis), and numerous Weaver birds of the 

 genus Hypanto7'nis ; and on the march inland, neither time nor 

 cartridges could be spared for them. Of the latter I hoped 

 to make better use on Laikipia, where the drought, however, 

 had cleared the district, and a vulture was the only bird seen 

 until we approached the Kikuyu frontier. But elsewhere birds 

 were abundant ; wild duck swarmed on the fresh-water lakes ; 

 enormous flocks of flamingoes {PhcE7iicopte7'us roseus, Pall.) 

 lived on the salt-lakes of the Rift Valley ; guinea-fowl and 

 pigeons were common in the woods. An interesting adaptation 

 in form is met with on the open plains, where many of the 

 birds have long tail feathers, which flutter in the wind like the 

 tail of a kite, and aid in the balance needed for flight against 

 the powerful winds that sweep across the steppes. 



As reptiles can be preserved without the expenditure of 

 time involved in skinning birds, I lost no opportunity of 

 collecting them. The members of this group of most general 



