038 :Mr. W. R. Ogilvie-Grant on 



217. jMel.exorxis pAxMmelaina. 



Melcenornis jHimmelaina (Stanl.) ; Reicli. ii. p. 411 (1903); 

 Neumann, J.f. O. 1905, p. 205. 



Mehenoniis panunclfena Ogilvie-Graut, Ibis, 1907, p. 592. 



A large scries of Stanley^s CucAOo-Slirike was collecteLl 

 at the Didessa River and Gomnia in ]\Iay, at Gofaand Kubo 

 in June, again at Gofa and at Uba in July, and round Lake 

 Zwai in January and February. The adult birds killed in 

 May and June are in worn plumage and much blacker than 

 those killed in January and February, which are compara- 

 tively freshly moulted and have the plumage of a more slaty 

 tint. It seems probaljle that M. scJtistacea Sharpe is founded 

 on freshly moulted birds, and that Dr. Keiehenow was right 

 in uniting it with M. painmelaina Stanley. Immature birds 

 killed in the last week in June liave the upper- and under- 

 parts blackish heavily spotted with rufous-buflT. 



218, DlOPTRORNIS CHOCOLATINUS. 



Dioptrornls chocolatinus (Riipp.) ; Reich, ii. p. 441 (1903) ; 

 Neumann, J. f. O. 1905, p. 205 ; Erlanger, J. f . O. 1905, 

 p. G81. 



Muscicnpa reichenoivi Neumann, Orn. INIonatsb. x. p. 10 

 (1902) (Gimirra). 



Dioptrornis reichenoivi Reich, ii. p. 441 (1903) ; Neumann, 

 J. f. O. 1905, p. 205. 



A large series of this Grey Robin-Shrike collected over a 

 wide area from Addis Abbaba soutliwards to Gofa between 

 the months of June and November, clearly shows that the 

 differences believed by Neumann to be characteristic of his 

 M. reichenoivi are partly due to age and partly seasonal. The 

 specific name '' cJiocofatinus" is not a very appropriate one; 

 since freshly moulted old birds have the uppcrparts darker 

 and much greyer tlian birds in first plumage which are 

 brownish-gre}'. This point is clearly proved by quite young 

 specimens still partially in the first spotted plumage and 

 which are assuming greyish-brown feathers on the back ; 

 all the immature birds which have completed their first 

 moult may be recognised by having the greater wing-coverts 



