246 PASSER CORDOFANICUS. 



Passer cordofanicus. 



Passer cordofanicus, Finsch. Suppl. Heugl. Orn. N. 0. Afr. p. 141 (1871) 

 Kordofan. 



Passer rufocinctus, Fisch. and Eeichen. J. f. 0. 1884, p. 55 Naiwasha ; 

 Fisch. J. f. O. 1885, p. 136 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii. p. 325 (1888) ; 

 Eeichen. J. f. 0. 1887, p. 72 Loeru ; Sharpe, Ibis, 1891, p. 256 

 Masai, Kikiuju ; Eeichen. Vog. D. O. Afr. p. 195 (1894) Masai; 

 Shelley, B. Afr. I. No. 263 (1896) ; Hinde, Ibis, 1898',- p. 678 

 Machako's ; Hawker, Ibis, 1899, p. 63 Somali ; Hinde, Ibis, 1900, 

 p. 494 N'gong ; Nehrkorn, Kat. Eiers. p. 109 (1899) egg; Neum. 

 J. f. 0. 1900, p. 287 Masai. 



Passer motitensis rufocinctus, Hartert, Nov. Zool. 1900, p. 42 Nairobe. 



Afhdt male. Very similar to P. motitensis, but with the mantle dis- 

 tinctly browner, less rufous than the lower back and much more strongly 

 streaked with black ; cinnamon patch on sides of head and neck more 

 contracted; ear-coverts uniform grey, gradually fading into white on the 

 cheeks and sides of the black throat. "Iris pale yellow; bill black; legs 

 dark." Total length 5-6 inches, culmen 0'5, wing 3-0, tail 2-1, tarsus 0-8. 

 J , 29. 11. 99. Nairobi (Delamere). 



Adult female. Differs from the females of P. motitensis in much the 

 same manner as the males, esjjecially in having the ear-coverts uniform 

 grey. In the specimen before me the black throat, characteristic of the 

 male, is indicated by a dusky grey shade. ? , 31. 10. 99. Athi E. 

 (Delamere). 



The Kordofan Sparrow ranges from the Masai country into 

 Somali-land and Kordofan. 



In the British Museum there are specimens collected by 

 Dr. S. L. Hinde at Machako's and N'gong; by Lord Delamere 

 at the Athi, Gilgil and Molo rivers, as well as at Nairobi, 

 Likipia and Soguro ; and by Mr. R. Hawker at Jifa Medir in 

 Somali-land. 



Fischer procured the type of P. riifocinclus at Naiwasha 

 lake, and a specimen at Loeru, and Mr. Neumann has also 

 collected specimens in Masai-land. From Machako's Dr. Hinde 

 writes : " Large numbers breed here in May and June. It is 

 common in the Station. Builds sometimes in the eaves of the 

 houses, but more often among the fruit of a banana-bunch or in 



