376 Mr. V. G. L. van Somereu on Birds 



bush or grass-stem. They nest in holes in banks, the tunnel 

 being about seven to fourteen inches in length, with a slight 

 upward inclination. The nesting-chamber is lined with 

 grass and a few feathers. The eggs are white, three to 

 four in number. 



These birds breed in June and in October. A female 

 shot off the nest is uniform dark brownish black with an 

 oily-green sheen ; it has no white cap or throat. A second 

 female has a grey head. 



Localities. Bale, Mawokota, in Uganda ; Embu and Kenia, 

 in British East Africa. 



Bradyornis pallidus murinus. 

 S 1-2. 12.iv.l3; 12.xii.l2. 



Frequently met with in the scrub and acacia country, and 

 in the open forest. They sit motionless on some low bush 

 and fly out when they see an insect passing. 



Localities. Londiani and Kisumu, in British East Africa. 



Dioptrornis fischeri. 



cJ & ?. 14.vi.l2; 17.xi.l2. 



A common species in British East Africa, frequenting the 

 outskirts of forests, gardens, and scrub. They are most 

 active in their search for insects just before sunset, especially 

 when the white ants are flighting after a shower of rain. 

 At these times they sit on the lowest branches of a shrub 

 or on a low rock, and as the ants take flight they pounce 

 down on them. When the light has almost gone it is a 

 weird sight to see these grey shadows flitting low to the 

 ground. 



Nesting birds have been shot in May and June, and 

 young taken in January and February and July. 



Localities. Londiani and Nairobi, in British East Africa. 



Melaenornis pammelaina. 



S 1-7. 14.xi.10; 12.xii. 13; 

 13.V.12; 14.xi.l0; 23.vii. 12; 15. 



? 1-5. 24. vii. 10 ; 3. iii. 09 ; 

 13.V.12. 



Nestlings 2. 



