CAMPETHERA SMITHII. 185 
collected specimens before we can hope to understand the sequence 
of changes through which this bird passes. After careful con- 
sideration, however, we have come to the conclusion that the bird 
first described by Malherbe as C. smithii is the same as the Wood- 
pecker subsequently described by him as C. brucei, and more 
recently still by the author of the present work as Dendrobates 
striatus. The latter title must in any case be suppressed, for re- 
examination of the subject shows us that the Matabili bird must be 
the true 0. brucei of Malherbe. Whether the Damara species is 
identical with the one from the Matabili country is at present rather 
difficult to say ; inasmuch ag all the specimens collected by the late 
Mr. Andersson show considerable difference when compared with 
other examples from South Eastern Africa. None of the latter, as 
yet examined by us, have shown the black cheeks and throat which 
appear to characterize the adult plumage of the Damara bird. The 
chief distinguishing mark of CO. brucei is perhaps its regularly banded 
mantle, which is numerously and distinctly barred across with 
yellow, or yellowish white: this however is, perhaps after all, a 
doubtful character, for it would seem as if there was a regular 
transition in a large series from spotted, to barred specimens. 
C. brucei was originally described by Malherbe from the Bechuana 
country, and Professor Sundevall records two specimens which he 
doubtfully separates from the above-named bird as C. smithii, as 
obtained by the late Professor Wahlberg on the Limpopo river on 
the 29th October and 11th November, 1843. Dr. Exton shot three 
specimens at Kanye in the Matabili country. Mr. Andersson says 
that it is not unfrequent in Damara Land, and he also shot it in 
Ondonga: one specimen, which we believe to be referable to this 
species, was obtained by Mr. Monteiro in Angola. Senor Anchieta 
has obtained it in Mossamedes at Capangombe, Biballa, and Gambos. 
Adult male——Above dusky greenish, everywhere barred across 
with greenish yellow or dull white, all the feathers having a terminal 
bar of the same, and lighter median spots of a diamond shape i in the 
centre of the bars: this spotted appearance is very distinct on the 
mantle, but is not seen on the lower back and rump, nor on the 
upper tail-coverts, where the cross bars are very regular; wings 
olive brown, the coverts minutely spotted with yellowish white, the 
greater series having a narrow yellowish shaft-line with indications 
of a few whitish bars on the inner web; primary coverts brown, 
