PARUS. 225 



P. masukuensis, n. subsp., inhabits the Mambwe country to 

 the west of Lake Nyasa. It differs from the last form only 

 in having the breast pale cinnamon, and broader white edges 

 to the feathers of the wings and tail. 



P. pallidiventris, Reichen., inhabits Central Africa from 

 Mashonaland to the Usegna country. It differs from the last 

 form only in having the breast cinnamon, shaded buffy white. 



P. rovumae, Shelley, inhabits the Rovuma river district of 

 the East Coast. It differs in its smaller size — wing 3"05 — and 

 in having the breast buffy white. 



Further research may fill up the gaps still closer between 

 these forms, as they would probably interbreed in the countries 

 where they meet, but at the same time I do not believe that 

 P. rufiventris, Bocage, will ever be found on the East Coast or 

 P. pallidiventris on the "West Coast. 



The African Cole Tits, distinguished by having a pale 

 patch on the sides of their black heads, form a very well 

 marked group. They are represented in Cerman East Africa 

 by P. griseiventris, and in South Africa by P. afer, Cm. ; this 

 latter includes three local races or subspecies, differing only in 

 the size of the bill. The typical form has a large strong bill 

 and inhabits western South Africa. P. afer intermedins, n. 

 subsp., a bird with a medium sized bill, ranges from Durban 

 into Rhodesia, while a very small billed race, P. afer parvirostris, 

 n. subsp., inhabits Mashonaland and Nyasaland. 



In Equatorial East Africa this group is represented by 

 P. thruppi, to which species I refer P. baralese, Sharpe. The 

 former is a native of Somaliland, and the latter, which is 

 distinguished by having less white on the nape, is known from 

 Somaliland and the adjoining country. I cannot regard the 

 extent of the white on the nape in skins as even of subspecific 

 value. The only two specimens of P. baralcx I have seen 

 were killed in September, and I find a similar partial absence 



[April, 1000. 15 



