observed in Northern Somali-land. 81 



but it is also gifted with mimicry, imitating the call of the 

 Guiuea-fowl so well that on several occasions members of 

 our party were completely deceived, not to say horribly dis- 

 appointed, after a stealthy creep through the bushes. For, 

 instead o£ the expected '' family shot " and subsequent 

 luscious roast for which the hungry soul yearned, behold a 

 flock of useless chatterers, which fly off, evidently delighted 

 with their little joke. 



34. Anthus soRDiDus, Kiipp, ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 

 X. p. 560 (1885). 



A female bird shot by Aylmer at Durra Surri. 



35. Anthus rufulus, Vieill. ; Sharpe, Cat. B. x. p. 574 

 (1885). 



A male, also shot by Aylmer at Woob. 



36. MoTACiLLA BOREALis, Suudev. ; Sharpe, Cat. B. x. 

 p. 522 (1885). 



Fairly common, and seen hunting for insects among the 

 feet of the feeding cattle, as at home. 



37. CiNNYRis HABEssiNicus (Hcmpr. & Ehr.) ; Shelley, 

 Ibis, 1885, p. 406. 



This living gem is extremely common in the Goolis range, 

 and both high up and low down it is one of the most 

 familiar objects of bird-life. Whilst on the wing it utters 

 continually a sharp " chat-chat-cliat,'' as if to draw attention 

 to its flashing colours. That it was breeding I feel sure, 

 but we looked for its nest in vain. Miss Cole found a beau- 

 tiful little hanging nest resembling a " Bottle Tit^'^ made of 

 cobwebs, with a regular pent-house protecting the entrance ; 

 but we failed to identify its owner, though we strongly sus- 

 pected it belonged to C. habessinicus . 



38. CiNNYRis OSIRIS, Fiusch ; Shelley, Mon. Sunb. 

 p. 215. 



This specimen was first seen by my wife, and was the only 

 one obtained. It was among the large-leafed colchicums (?), 

 where it was feeding in company with C. habessinicus. We 

 had great hopes that it would prove a new species, for I had 



SER. Vll. VOL. II. G 



