BIRDS 333 



southward to Kitui in Ukamba," a form which he called Colius 

 leucotis affinis, and of which he says that it is found on the 

 " Upper White Nile to Dar-es-Salaam," and that it differs from 

 C. leucotis typicus in being smaller, and in having the neck and 

 back generally less distinctly barred, the white on the throat 

 and sides of the head clearer, the tail-feathers generally slightly 

 narrower. He adds that "these sub-species appear to run into 

 each other." In 1892, in the catalogue of Birds, vol. xvii. p. 

 342, Dr. Sharpe separates " Colius affinis" as a sub-species from 

 C. leucotis. Of the latter he says that it occurs in " Abyssinia 

 and Bogosland, south to Shoa," and of the former that it is found 

 from the " White Nile district to Central Africa, and thence to 

 Eastern Africa." In 1898 (Nov. ZooL, vol. v. p. 76) I was able 

 to quote what I called C. affinis as far south as New Heligoland 

 in German East Africa. According to Reichenow it occurs all 

 over German East Africa. After carefully reviewing the available 

 material, I find that there are two forms now mixed under " C. 

 affinisy' i.e. a smaller form from the drier parts of East Africa, 

 and a larger one from the interior. Shelley (1. c.) had already 

 noticed that his C. leucotis affinis were not all alike. Both forms 

 have been found by Dr. Ansorge. One from Mombasa Island 

 (13. X. 1896) and another from IMaharagwe-fundi in the Taru 

 desert, British East Africa (24. X. 1896) are true affinis. " Iris 

 dark brown." 



The three forms might be separated as follows : — 



1. Throat and neck distinctly and strongly barred, some bars 

 indicated on the whole back, wing longer (100 mm.), ear-coverts 

 silvery grey : 



C. leucotis leucotis Riipp. 

 (Abyssinia, south to the elevated parts of Somaliland.) 



2. Throat and neck less strongly barred, back without indica- 

 tions of bars, wing as long and ear-coverts of the same colour as 

 in leucotis : 



C. leucotis berlepschi, subsp. nov. 

 (Central Africa, from the White Nile to German East Africa.) 



3. Throat and neck less strongly barred (as in berlepschi), back 

 without bars, wing much shorter, 90-94 mm., ear-coverts of a 

 less silvery-grey, more buffy shade, upper and under surface 

 generally slightly more rufous : 



