CYANOMITRA VERTICALIS. 127 



The species apparently crosses the continent, for I cannot 

 detect any character for separating from it Elseocerthia ragazzi, 

 Salvad. The one example from Shoa in the British Museum 

 does not differ in any of its measurements from some of the 

 West African specimens. It has, however, the throat and 

 breast slightly greener than the general run of specimens, 

 but, to my eyes, the colouring is exactly matched by one of 

 Hamilton's birds from Angola. 



Therefore I think I am right in referring to G. obscura 

 the male procured in May at Witu by Mr. Jackson and the 

 Shoa specimens collected by Dr. Ragazzi in the forest of 

 Fekerie-ghem which includes the type of E. ragazzi, Salvadori. 



With regard to the habits of G. obscura, Mr. Keulemans 

 writes : " When in Prince's Island I met with this species 

 only in the dense forests, where, owing possibly to the thick- 

 ness of the undergrowth and creepers, it was rarely to be 

 seen. The high trees in the more retired parts of the forests 

 are its favourite haunts ; and it is seldom observed near the 

 ground, excepting when the aroma of the ripening fruits 

 attract it towards the plantations, where it may at such times 

 be occasionally met with around the banana and papaya 

 plants. Its song, which it constantly utters, is totally unlike 

 that of G. hartlaubi, being a more guttural sound, like ' hoo- 

 hoo-hoo ' rapidly repeated ; but its call-note is a soft ' foo-cet,' 

 and can hardly be distinguished from that of G. hartlaubi. It 

 is known in the island by the name of ' Siwie-barbeiro- 

 grande.' " 



Cyanomitra verticalis. 



Cyanornitra verticalis (Lath.), Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 65 (1896). 



Cinnyris verticalis, Shaipe and Bouvier, Bull. S. Z. France, 1876, 

 p. 304 Loango ; Shelley, Mou. Nect. p. 301, pi. 97 (1879) ; Gadow, 

 Cat. B. M. ix. p. 80 (1884) ; Biittik. Notes Leyd. Mus. 1885, p. 168 ; 

 1886, p. 251 Liberia ; Beichen. J. f. 0. 1887, p. 306 Leopoldsville ; 



