10 EINAR LÖNNBERG, BIRDS. 



especially in places on a somewhat moister ground near water where the vegetation consists 

 of tall herbs. In such places Estrilda subflava seems to be at home as well. Poliospiza 

 striolata is a common occurrence in all kinds of not too dense bush in the cultivated 

 zone. From Solamim-thickets and similar vegetation of bushes and weeds the chirping 

 notes of several species of Cisticola (C. katonce, robusta, rujopileata, erytlirops and others) 

 may be heard, and they dive up and down among the greenery, perching for a while exposed 

 on some top-twig and then disappearing again. They have also excellent breeding places 

 there. If flowering weeds and bushes are to be found in these localities, especially some 

 big Labiatce, several Sun-birds (Anthreptes longmari, Cinnyris venustus falkensteini, Chal- 

 comitra gutturalis etc. ) f avour them with their beautif ul presence, and if no Erythrina-tvees 

 in the neighbourhood pro ve a stronger attraction with their redflowers the others are j oined 

 by the blacklooking Bronze Sun-bird (Nectarinia kilimensis). Cossypha caffra iolcema 

 appears to be at home as well on dry ground among the Solanum-bushes as in small clumps 

 of Papyrus along the small rivulets. On the other hand dry ground where the other vege- 

 tation is mixed with bracken and here and there some spöts are bare is more liked by Pra- 

 tincola salax and Anthus rufulus cinnamomeus. 



The cultivated ground in the Kikuyu and Meru country has to great extent been 

 conquered from the forest and therefore clumps of big bushes remain here and there, and 

 perhaps some few trees as well. Such localities, as well as the gardens of white settlers, 

 are much liked by the Bulbul (Pycnonotus layardi), and the beautif ul little Melittophagus 

 pusillus cyanostictus finds there suitable places from which it can make its aerial evolu- 

 tions to catch its prey. If a real forest is not far distant, Tympanistria visits clumps of 

 bushes in the shambas, and such are the favourite localities of Colius leucotis affinis. The 

 scattered trees are much appreciated resting places for several species of turtledoves (Tur- 

 lur senegalensis cequatorialis, T. semitorquatus etc. ) not to speak of the birds of prey which 

 have their hunting grounds in the shambas like Buteo augur, Lophaetus occipitalis, Elanus 

 cozruleus etc. Ploceus nigriceps builds its nests in such scattered trees in shambas, and 

 Hypochera ultramarina likes to display its steelblue plumage from the top of some small 

 dry tree. If the shambas consist of banana-plantations, or groves of small trees support- 

 ing the Dioscorea-vines intersected by hedges of Solanum, Salvia etc. the conditions be- 

 come more similar to those of a sunlit forest and several different birds have their more or 

 less permanent residence in such localities. Dioptrornis fischeri, and perhaps also Tchitrea, 

 can be seen there flitting up from some twig to catch an insect and returning again. Hal- 

 cyon albiventris orientalis watches from a dry branch if any beetles or something else 

 eatable shall appear. Upupa africana, and both species of Dicrurus visit such shambas, 

 and so does Chrysococcyx klaasi. Dryoscopus cubla hamatus is not uncommon among 

 bushes in this kind of shambas. In the hedges Camaroptera griseoviridis has its haunts. 

 In clumps of bushes, and other thickets round the rivulets in the bottoms of valleys and 

 ravines several birds live. Among those Pomatorhynchus australis minor and both species 

 of Centropus found by this Expedition may be mentioned. The two latter appear to 

 be especially fond of Papyrus. Among reeds Amblyospiza unicolor and Ploceus xanthops 

 build their nests and visit from there the neighbouring shambas. A great number of 

 Ploceids are attracted to the shambas by the crops of Andropogon, Pennisetum etc. and 



