12 



EINAR LÖNNBERG, BIRDS. 



f o und mostly 011 the acacia-steppe in scattered trees when they are not looking for food in 

 the shambas, where aniong other things the seeds of Ricinus are relished by them. The 

 acacia-steppe, bush-steppe and grass-steppe are not sharply defined at all, on the contrary 

 there are all kinds of intergradations, and the birds are not as a rule restricted to onetype 

 only. The Guineafowl, Barethroated Francolin, and some others occur everywhere, if 

 the growth of grass is not too scanty. Other species like the longtailed Weavers (Drepa- 

 nopectes, Coliuspasser), Euplectes etc. are not generally found in acacia-steppe. The beau- 

 tiful Roller (Coracias caudata) and the Hornbill (Lophocerus nasutus epirhinus) belong to 

 the acacia-steppe as also do such birds that need the acacias for building their nests like 

 Ploceus spekei, Plocepasser melanorhynchus, Passer gongone?isis etc. The glossy Starlings 

 (Spreo and Lamprocolius) are mostly found in acacia- and bush-steppe. The scavengers, 

 birds of prey and Swallows are of course independent of the growth on the steppe. 

 Marabout-storks, Eagles, and Kites soar high in the air keenly looking for anything 

 eatable and instantaneously appear at the spöt where some big game has been shot. 

 The wonderful Bateleur Eagle appears never to need rest but displays from morning to 

 night its admirable power of flight. During the European winter the Kestrel and the 

 Long-tailed Harrier are among the most familiar sights especially över the bush-steppe. 

 Storks, Bee-eaters and the common Roller are also then common in certain places, mostly 

 in bush-steppe. The small mouse-coloured Swift (Tachornis parvus) is quite typical of 

 the steppe. 



On low ground where a rich soil and some moisture produces a richer growth not 

 only of grass but also of different herbs etc. is the home of Melocichla mentalis orientalis, 

 and Schosnicola apicalis, and similar localities is liked by many other birds as well. The 

 reed beds in swamps are the regular nesting places for many Weavers which also out of 

 the nesting season take their refuge there. 



List of birds obtained in more or less completely cnltivated land or in grass-steppe, bush- 

 steppe, acacia-steppe between Nairobi and Meru bonia. 



B. 

 Ea. 

 F,a. 

 E. 

 A. 

 A. 

 Ka. (A.) 

 A. 

 A. 

 A. 

 E. 

 Eno. 



Struthio massaicus Neum 



Stephanibyx melanopterus (Cketzsohm). 



coronalus Bodd 



Balearica reyulorum gibbericeps Rciiw. 



Turnix lepurana (A. Sm.) 



Leptoptilus crumcnifer |(Cuv.) Less-] . 

 Turtur senegalensis cequaloriulis Eel. . 



» semitorquatus (Riipr.) 



Tympanistria tympanistria (Tem.) . . 



Oena capensis (L.) 



Numida reichenoivi Grant 



Pterniste8 leucoscepus infuscatus (Cab.) 





Grass- 







Cultivated steppe and 



Bush- 



Acacia- 



land pasture- 

 land 



steppe 



steppe 





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