from Somali-Land and Abyssinia. 271 



black pectoral bands are the males, and those with chestnut 

 bands the females. Other collections recently sent home 

 seem to prove that Mr. Degen's determinations are correct, 

 but the matter is certainly worth further investigation. 

 a, b. [c??.] Harrar, 3rd January. Nos. 48, 49. 



c. [c?.] Bijo, 17th January. No. 96. 



d. [ ? .] Seddimulka, 5th February. No. 178. 



Alseonax murinus. (Grant, p. 173.) 

 a, b. $ ad. et $ juv. Worrumbutchi, 27th June. Nos. 

 395, 396. 



Terpsiphone cristata. (Grant & Reid, p. 663.) 

 All these birds are in the transitional stage, with the back 

 chestnut : three of them have the middle pair of tail-feathers 

 white and the remainder chestnut ; in the fourth bird the 

 tail is white with the exception of one of the outer feathers, 

 which is particoloured. 



a. $ imm. Hoorsa, 19th January. No. 112. 



b. <$ imm. Billen, 31st January. No. 163. 



c. $ imm. Serba, Lake Zwai, 8th March. No. 238. 



d. <$ imm. Addet, 8th May. No. 323. 



Platystira cyan e a. 



Platystira cyanea P. L. S. Mull. ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. 

 Mus. iv. p. 145 (1879). 



As only a single female specimen of Platystira was pro- 

 cured, which scarcely differs from a large series of West- 

 African birds, I have for the time being included it with 

 the present species, though I think it quite possible that 

 when males are procured it may prove to represent a distinct 

 form. 



This appears to be a very scarce bird, and was not met 

 with by either the Blundell-Lovat or the Pease Expedition. 

 Mr. Degen met with it only twice, frequenting the densely 

 forested shores of Lake Tsana, where it appeared to keep 

 to the higher trees. 



a. ? . Zegi, Lake Tsana, 17th May. No. 332. 



Iris and feet light slate-coloured ; bill black ; eye-lappet 

 scarlet. 



u2 



