KUKQL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 47. N:0 5. 21 



A comparison of these percentages with the corresponding oiics for the birds col- 

 lectedinthecultövatedland and the adjoining steppe (conf. abovep. 15 & 16) shows sevoral 

 interesting facts. The widely distributed birds are much more numerous among the 

 birds from the cultivated land and steppe (24,7 %) than among those from the torest 

 (9,8 %). In a similar way the in East Afriea widely distributed species are more nume- 

 rous among the former (19 %) than among the latter (6,t> %). The birds with northern 

 or southern range are almost equally numerous among the former (resp. 17 and 19 %) 

 but among the latter the southern species are more than twice (24 %) as numerous as 

 the northern (10,6 %). On the other hand, the birds which neither range north nor south 

 of East Afriea s. str. are much more numerous among the forest-birds (32 %) than among 

 the others (16,i %). The same is still more the case with the somewhat more western 

 birds which in the forest count 17,3 % but in the open country only 3,8 %. 



The landscape in the Guaso Nyiri district comprises chiefly two different types, viz. 

 the acaciasteppe around the tributaries from the southern side to the river mentioned, 

 and the thornbush which occupies the greatest part of the country on the northern side 

 but also extends to the southern side, especially further east, below Chanler Falls. To 

 neither of these types belongs the narrow belt of doum-palms, and other trees along the 

 rivers, which are inhabited by certain species. On somewhat moist ground at the upper 

 Luazomela very big yellow-barked acacias form groves or a thin forest. The bird-life 

 here is not exactly like that among the flat-topped acacias 011 the steppe. The following 

 species of birds were observed among these big yellow acacias: Coccystes cafer, Lybius 

 senex, Mesopicus namaquus schoensis, Dicrurus adsimilis divaricatus, Buphaga erythro- 

 rhyncha, Lam/pr ocolius chalybeeus, Fringillaria tahapisi, Parus albiveniris etc. Guineafowl 

 (Nurnida ptilorhyncha) roost in these big trees and in the grass under them Macronyx 

 croceus, and Anthus cervinus were seen. This place is according to a barometric observa- 

 tion situated at an altitude of about 1500 m. 



On the real acaciasteppe there was in some places a very abundant bird-life. Ploceus 

 spekei nested in big colonies in some small acacias standing rather isolat ed in high grass 

 near a swamp at upper Luazomela but it is hardly to count to the real steppe birds. On 

 the steppe again Plocepasser melanorhynchus, and donaldsoni, Dinemellia dinemelli, Pseu- 

 donigrita cabanisi, and Passer gongonensis make it very lively round the trees where they 

 have their nests. The beautiful Spreo superbus is very common as well, and in certain 

 places swarms of Creatophora carunculata are seen. Where there is a rich growth of grass 

 Otis canicollis, Numida ptilorhyncha, Pternistes leucoscepus injuscatus, Francolinus ul- 

 uensis, Mirajra hypermetra have suitable localities. Bare ground is preferred by Cur- 

 sörius somalensis, Rhinoptilus cinctus, Pterocles decoratus ellenbecki etc, and on such places 

 Oena capensis is looking for food. Struthio molybdophanes strolls about on open plains in 

 the steppe-country and there big Bustards are seen as well. A bird typical of the grassy 

 plains in this district is Pyrrhulauda signata, but it is also now and then perching in thorn- 

 bush patches. The Crested Cranes live chiefly near some of the small rivers. A great 

 number of Turtle döves {Turtur senegalensis mquatorialis, T. capicola tropicus, T. ambiguus 

 perspicillatus) are al way s seen swarming in the acacias and heard cooing. The beautiful 

 Roller, Coracias lorti, lives here as well, and Lophocerus erythrorhynchus flies from one 



