TSCHAGRA JAMESI 385 
Erlanger found this bird very plentiful from Ginir in 
central Somaliland, southwards along the valley of the Juba 
River to Kismayu; and on the examples obtained by him in 
the lower valley of this river Neumann described 7. jamesi 
kismayensis. HKylanger observed the birds generally in pairs 
slipping in and out of the undergrowth. He found it nesting 
on several occasions between March 23 and April 6, and took 
the eggs. The nest was quite low down, generally in an acacia 
bush, and was easily seen. It was small and flat, and con- 
structed of grass stems and rootlets. The eggs, two to three 
in number, were very glossy and milky-white, with violet 
scale-like blotches and brown spots, chiefly at the larger end. 
They averaged about 0°'9 x 0°6. 
In Hast Africa this bird was met with by Jackson at 
Turquel in the Sik country north of Mount Elgon. He 
found it plentiful in the open bush, and subsequently, in 1892, 
he met with it on the Tsavo River, in the desert country in 
the south-east corner of British East Africa. He writes: 
‘This is the first specimen that I have procured so far south, 
and I am inclined to think that the Rivers Tsavo and Sabaki 
are probably its southern limit. At Lamu it is very common, 
and it is also very plentiful in the bushy country of Karakan, 
a district of the Sik country, which is in the same latitude 
as Somaliland, where it was first obtained. At Lamu I once 
found a nest with two young in it. It was placed in a small 
bush quite exposed to view, and was built of small twigs, 
fibres, &c., being not unlike that of our Bullfinch.” 
One of the most remarkable features of this species is the 
coloration of the iris, which is brown with a series of white 
spots set round the pupil. The number of these is given by 
various observers as between five and ten. The other Somali- 
land Tschagra (7. habessinica) also shares this peculiarity, 
and it is difficult to give any explanation of it. 
