from Somali-Land and Abyssinia. 261 



Fringillaria septemstriata. (Grant, p. 137.) 

 a. <$ . Manuiballa, 15th July. No. 425. 



Al.emon desertorum. (Grant & Reid, p. 626.) 



a-c. <J ? . Zaila, 13th & 16th December. Nos. o, 4, 12. 



Spilocorydox hypermetrus. (Grant it Reid, p. 627.) 

 a. S • Billen, 1st February. Xo. 171. 



MlRAFRA DEGENI. (Plate V.) 



Mirafra degeni, Grant, Bull. B. O. C. xiii. uo. xciii. p. 28 

 (1902). 



Mirafra fischeri, Salvad. (nee Reich.) Ann. Mus. Civ. 

 Genov. xxvi. p. 267 (1888) [Shc-a] ; Grant & Reid, Ibis, 1901, 

 p. 628 [Rora, S. Abyssinia]. 



Adult male in summer plumage. — Differs from M. fischeri 

 Reich, in being somewhat larger and in having most of the 

 feathers of the interscapular y region l>lack, with rufous-brown 

 margins ; the inner secondaries similarly coloured ; and the 

 feathers of the chest and sides of the breast brick-red, fringed 

 with pale buff. Iris chocolate-brown ; bill grey ; feet light 

 brown. Total length ca. 6 inches, wing 3'3-3"4, tail 2'o5, 

 tarsus 1'05. 



In M. fischeri the feathers of the interscapular}- region are 

 mostly reddish brown, with irregular, confluent, transverse 

 black markings down the middle ; the inner secondaries are 

 mostly reddish brown, with a black and pale buff marginal 

 band ; and the chest-feathers cinnamon-buff. 



The types were obtained by Mr. Degen at Hiressa, 8000 ft., 

 between Adis Ababa and Lake Tsana, on 20th June. 



A male procured by Mr. A. E. Pease at Kora, South 

 Abyssinia, on 10th February, and at first identified as 

 M. fischeri, belongs to this species, and may be described as 

 follows : — 



Adult male in winter plumage. — Resembles the male in 

 summer plumage in having the feathers of the interscapulary 

 region black ; but the edgings of the feathers of the upper parts 

 and wings are whitish, while the chest and under parts are 

 coloured as in M. fischeri. 



