32 EINAR LÖNNBERG, BIRDS. 



When studying this list it is of importance to keep in mind the localities and their 

 different natural conditions. A division of the birds according to their occurrence in 

 cultivated land and steppe between Nairobi and Meru borna, in forests (at Nairobi, Escarp- 

 ment, East Kenia, Meru borna), or on steppe and in thornbush in the Guaso Nyiri 

 district. 1 



Considering the first group it will be seen that these birds as a rule have been found 

 with swelled genital organs in the låter part of March and in the beginning of April, that 

 is when the rainy season has begun. At the first look there appears, however, to be some 

 discrepancies. For instance Pternistes and Coiurnix have been recorded with swelled 

 genital organs in the beginning of January. The facts known about Pternistes prove, 

 however, that it is an irregular breeder, which probably breeds almost at any time of the 

 year or at least more than once — as is stated above, it had fledged young ones, as well, in 

 the beginning of January. — It is probably the same explanation to be given about the 

 Quail as well. Concerning some others the same thing is quite plain for instance Ploceus 

 nigriceps was found breeding south of Meru borna 20 /i, and at Nairobi %, Euplectes xan- 

 thomelas at Kutu 25 /i, and at Fort Hall 30/ 3, Vidua serena at Nairobi 3 /n, and at Fort 

 Hall 31 /3, Passer gongonensis at Kagio 23 /i, as well as 8 %, and so on. Some specimens 

 of Coliuspasser laticauda, and Drepanoplectes jacksoni were in full plumage in the beginning 

 of January, but some others had not finished their moult at the end of March etc. The 

 Turtledoves have similar habits. They were always heard cooing and seen courting. 

 Turtur senegalensis cequatorialis had swelled genital organs as well 18 /i at Juja farm, as 

 8 7s at Fort Hall. 



But with the exception of the Gallinaceous birds, the Döves, some Weavers and 

 Finches the main lot of birds on cultivated, and steppeland in the country mentioned 

 appear to propagate in the låter part of March, and the beginning of April (or perhaps 

 a little earlier another year if the rains begin earlier). As examples may be mentioned 

 Lanius caudatus and humeralis, Pomatorhynchus minutus, Chelidon emini, Spreo superbus, 

 several Weavers, Poliospiza striolata, Anomalospiza, Spinus citrinelloides frontalis, Anthus 

 rufulus cinnamomeus, Mirafra fischeri, Nectarinia kilimensis, several Cisticolce, Prinia, 

 Myrmecocichla etc. For such birds that have bred during the »small rains» in No- 

 vember (conf. above) a couple of months are needed to recover strength for a new breeding 

 season. They probably cannot breed again before in March. 



If we turn to the forest-loving birds they appear ready to breed earlier already in 

 January. This was proved at Nairobi by the condition of the genital organs of Apalo- 

 derma, Colius leuc. affinis, Trochocercus, Tchitrea, Pycnonotus layardi, Cinnyris venustus 

 falkensteini, Parus albiventris etc, at Escarpment by the same of Poliospiza albi fröns, 

 and in the Kenia forest and at Meru borna by that of Aplopelia larvata, Turacus liartlaubi, 

 Tchitrea, Trochocercus, Oriolus larvatus percivali, Phyllastrephus kikuyuensis, And ropadus 

 latirostris, Cinnyris reichenowi, Alcippe abyssinica, Tarsiger orientalis etc. There are three 

 exceptions, however, to be mentioned viz. Alseonax murinus, Zosterops kikuyuensis, 

 and Bradypterus cinnamomeus which did not appear ready to breed before towards 

 the end of March. 



1 Conf. the lists above where the birds are enumerated according to their occurrence. 



