24 Dr. R. B. Sharpe on Birds 



a. <J ad. Deelfontein, Feb. 23, 1902. 



b, c. S ? ad. „ March 5, 1902. 

 d. ? ad. „ March 8, 1902. 

 e,f. S ? ad. „ March 29, 1902. 

 g. £ ad. „ April 30, 1902. 

 h. ? ad. „ May 15, 1902. 



i. <$; k,l. ? ad. „ May 23-25, 1902. 



m. ? ad. „ June 29, 1902. 



n. ? ad. „ Sept. 17, 1902. 



This interesting series shews that in the South-African 

 form, Bubo maculosus, the dark phase is predominant, 

 and the rufous phase somewhat exceptional, but the latter 

 occurs in both sexes, and is therefore an evident phase 

 of plumage. 



I consider that the true B. maculosus extends into Nyasa- 

 land and East Africa, and that in Somali-land and Abys- 

 sinia it is replaced by a race B. cinerascens, which I have 

 misnamed B. abyssinicus more than once. The two forms 

 are very closely allied, and are indeed sometimes barely 

 distinguishable. 



[This Eagle-Owl was very common with us all the year 

 round, but we never succeeded in finding a nest. It could 

 be seen any evening sitting on the telegraph-poles, and 

 roosting on the kopjes and veldt. Those that we kept alive 

 throve and became very tame.] 



42. Strix flammea. 



Stria flammea Linn. ; Sharpe, Cat. B. ii. p. 291 (1875); 

 id. ed. Layard, p. 82 (1875) ; id. Hand-1. B. i. p. 300 (1899). 

 Strix capensis Smith ; Reiclienow, t. c. p. 678 (1901). 



a. Ad. Deelfontein, June 27, 1902. 



b. ? ad. „ Nov. 9, 1902. Died in cage. 



[Not a common bird, and. we did not find a nest. It is 

 met with both ou the kopjes and on the veldt. The Boers 

 call this the li Lady " Owl.] 



43. Merops apiaster. 



Mcrops apiaster Linn.; Sharpe, cd. Layard, p. 96 (1875); 



