572 CAPT. G. E. SHELLEY ON [May 3, 



47. CiSTICOLA RHODOPTERA. 



Cisticola rhodoptera, Shelley, Ibis, 1880, p. 333. 



Usambara hills. 



The type specimen is the only one I have yet seen of this species. 



48. Melocichla mentalis. 



Drymoica mentalis, Fraser, P. Z. S. 1843, p. 16. 

 Melocichla mentalis, Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 221. 



Usambara mountains. 



Dr. Hildebrandt collected this bird at Kitui in Ukamba. The 

 only other locality I am aware of for this species is the Gold Coast. 

 Two specimens collected by Dr. Kirk agree well with skins in my 

 own collection from Fantee. 



49. Saxicola cenanthe. 



Saxicola ananthe, Linn., Cab. J. f. O. 1878, p. 220; Gurney, 

 Ibis, 1881, p. 125. 



Usambara hills ; Usambara mountains. 



The Common Wheatear was first collected in East Africa by Dr. 

 Hildebrandt, near the Adi river in Ukamba. 



This species ranges throughout North Africa, and extends south- 

 ward on the east coast to the Pangani river, and on the west coast 

 to the Gambia. 



50. Saxicola shelleyi. 



Saxicola shelleyi, Sharpe, new ed. Layard's B. S. Afr. p. 246. 



Ugogo. 



Dr. Kirk has sent me three^specimens (a, b, c), which differ con- 

 siderably in their plumage, although all collected at the same time of 

 the year. 



As this species is but little known, I shall give a short description 

 of the plumage of these specimens, as well as of two others {d, e) 

 from the Zambesi, collected by Dr. Bradshaw and also in my own 

 collection. 



In all the general plumage is black. 



Spec, a has the forehead and crown white slightly shaded with 

 brown, and with indistinct brown stripes down the centres of the 

 feathers ; the wing-coverts, with the exception of a few of the outer 

 cues, are white ; the primary- and greater wing-coverts broadly tipped 

 with black ; the basal half of the outer scapulars edged with white. 



Spec. b. Forehead, crown, and chin slightly mottled with white 

 feathers ; wings as in spec, a, only with the black tips to the primary- 

 and greater wing-coverts slightly broader. 



Spec. s. Entire chin and throat white, the feathers narrowly tipped 

 ■with black, forming irregular bars ; the centre of the chest mottled 

 with white ; wings as in spec, a, excepting that the black ends to the 

 greater wing-coverts gradually disappear towards the innermost ones, 

 which are entirely white. 



Spec. d. Similar in plumage to spec, c, but with the white feathers 



