KUNGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR. BAND 47. \ :0 5. 41 



where this river widened to a broad pool, I observed a number of Parras running back 

 and forth on the floating leaves of waterlilies, sometimes chasing each other. They were 

 not shy, andlhad a good opportunity to watch tlieir behaviour, bul it was private ground, 

 and shooting was forbidden so that I could not secure any specimcns. 



Rallidae. 



Limnocorax niger (Gm.). 



Rchw. I. p. 279. 



This bird was frequently heard in small swamps with dense vegetation btit as it 

 did not leave its stronghold, there was no opportunity of securing any specimens tuilil 

 a bird ran across the path some distance ahead of me in a place where the road wenl 

 through a swamp between Fort Hall and Punda Melia 2 ,4. The rain had then begun, and 

 t ho waterbirds were more livelv than some months before. 



TarnicidaB. 



Turnix lepurana (A. Sm.). 



Rchw. I. p. 301. 



In grass-covered country, for instance at Fort Hall, this bird is not uncommon. 

 When finshed it flies straight away, just över and along the tops of the high grass 

 and is very easy to shoot. 



Pteroclidte. 



Pterocles decoratus ellenbecki Erl. 



Rchw. I, p. 310 & III, p. 303. 



The specimens of Sandgrouse which I ref er to this race were procured as well south 

 of Guaso Nyiri in such places of the acacia-steppe where some scattered bushes grew, as 

 also north of the river mentioned, in the typical thornbush-country. They w r ere very 

 common and arrived to the waterplaees at Njoro and Thera in flocks, but otherwise when 

 found in the thornbush they usually occurred in pairs in the months of Febr. and March. 



Some specimens may represent connecting links between the Somalirace, and the 

 East African Pt. decoratus decoratus. 



Pterocles lichtensteini hyperythrus Erl. 



Rchw. I, p. 311 & III. p. 803. 



Common in the thornbush country north of Guaso Nyiri. Specimens were obtained 

 at Njoro and at Thera where the birds came to drink in the waterholes. 



This Sandgrouse is a representative of the fauna of the southern Somaliland accord- 

 ing to v. Erlanger, while Pt l. lichtensteini belongs to northern Somaliland and Hawash. 

 The whole species is thus northeastern, and Guaso Nyiri may be its southern boundarv line. 



K. Sv. Vet. Akad. Handl. Band 47. No 5. G 



