KUKGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 7. N:0 5. I I 



they make considerable ravages 011 the same so that the natives are obliged to k<(|> ;i 

 constant watch from small platforms built in the fields, shouting, and pulling st rings 

 stretched across the eultivations. These obnoxious birds are mostly inhabitants of the 

 steppe where their regular food is seeds of grass etc. Among these small but destruc- 

 tive raiders of the native erops the following may be mentioned Drepanoplectes jacksoni, 

 Vidua serena, Coliuspasser laticauda and eques, Ploceus spelcei, Euplectes xanthomdu*, 

 Lagonostica brunneiceps ruberrima, and some others appear less numerous. From the 

 surrounding grass-steppe Pternistes leucoscepus injuscaius invades the shambas and is 

 equally at home there. The Francolins and the Quail are not so common but they visil 

 also the shambas, as is also the case with the Guinea fowl (Numida reichenowi), and the 

 big Lark (Mirafra africana athi). The occurrence of Poicephalus rujiventris and Ploce- 

 passer melanorhynchus in the shambas seems more accidental. They belong to the 

 acacia-steppe. 



The Crow, the Räven and the Kites are scavengers round the human habitations. 

 And small scavengers of quite another kind are Lagonosticta brunneiceps ruberrima, Polio- 

 spiza striolata, Vidua serena and some other small finches which are fond of picking up 

 remains of food outside the native huts. 



On the genuine grass-steppe I did not do much collecting work. Where the vegeta- 

 tion was scanty Stonechats (Saxicola isabeUina, oenanthe, pleschanka, and the endemic pile- 

 ata) appear to be most common. Cisticola brunnescens runs like a small mouse between 

 the tufts of grass. Stephanibyx melanopterus flies or runs nervously round in family flocks. 

 Flocks of Crested cranes (Balearica regulorum gibbericeps) are of ten seen flying över the 

 steppe, or seeking their food on the same. 



The Massai Ostrich is still not rare, and will probably continue to thrive, as it is 

 protected by law, till the settlements become too numerous when it will surrive in a do- 

 mesticated state only. Big Bustards are not common but single specimens are seen now 

 and then. The Secretary bird is rather rare but may be seen hunting with long strides on 

 open grass steppe. Where the grass is tall Francolins of different kinds, Quails, Guinea- 

 fowl and Turnix lepurana find suitable conditions of life. Especially if there are some 

 scattered bushes in this grass-steppe the big Lark (Mirafra africana athi), Fischers Red 

 Lark (M.fischeri), and a great number of Weavers are at home. They find here abund- 

 ant food in the seeds of the grass which also suits Spinus ciirinelloides frontalis and Ano- 

 malospiza. The beautiful Macronyx croceus is also a regular inhabitant of the grass-steppe, 

 but it perches also in trees and is therefore found among scattered trees as well, if the 

 ground is covered with grass. Among a rich growth of grass mixed with a greater or 

 smaller number of bushes several members of the genus Cisticola have their haunts. Myr- 

 mecocichla cethiops cryptoleuca appears to prefer such places where the grass is less richly 

 developed, while Lanius humeralis uropygialis wants bushes from the tops of which it can 

 overlook its hunting ground and on the thorns of which it can spit grasshoppers and other 

 kinds of prey. It is very conspicuous even at a distance in its shiny black and white plu- 

 mage. Its larger congener, Lanius caudatus, appears to prefer lower ground where there 

 are some trees or other objects to sit on. The small and swift Oena capensis seeks its food 

 on bare places in the steppe and is fond of perching in thornbushes. The Turtledoves are 



