KUNOL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDUNGAR. BAND 47. x:o 5. 47 



Chalcopelia chalcospilos somalica Erl. 



Rchw. TTr. ]>. 812; Eei.., J. f. Orn. 1905, p. 134. 



Tu the thornbush oountry north of Guaso Nyiri and below Chanlcr Falls two spcci- 

 mens of this little Döve were obtained, and other specimens seen. They appeared to be 

 oftener observed in the thornbush at a considerable distanee from the river, although 

 they of course came to the river to drink. The specimens observed were always single. 



Oena capensis (L.). 



Rchw. I. p. 429. 



Common in suitable localities for instance round Juja farm (Jan.), on the acacia- 

 steppe south of Guaso Nyiri river as well as in the thornbush north of the same. It looks 

 for its food on open more or less bare places and is sometimes shy, sometimes more con- 

 fiding. When perching it appears to prefer bushes before trees. 



Phasianidae. 



Numida reichenowi Grant. 



Rchw. I. p. 437. 



At Kutu a female specimen was shot 2t \ in the dry top of a high tree at the river. 

 This species appears to be the »Känga» of theKikuyu country. In the neighbourhood of 

 white settlements it is getting scarce in many places, and even several native tribes regard 

 it to be »chakula mzuri» (= good food) and catch it in snares. 



Numida ptilorhyncha rendilis n. subsp. 



Rchw. I. p. 445 & III. p. 812—813. — C. von Erlangek, Ornith. Monatsber. 1904, p. 97; Journ. i'. 

 Ornith. 1905, p. 137—139. — 0. Neumann, Journ. för Ornith. 1904. p. 406—410. 



As soon as the Expedition had come down from the foothills of Kenia on the acacia- 

 steppe round Luazomela river on the march northward from Meru borna Guinea-fowl with 

 bristles above the nostrils were found rather plentifully. The same kind of birds were 

 distributed all över this acacia-steppe south of Guaso Nyiri, and also in the thornbush 

 country north of the same river. In day time they were found among the grass running 

 about and seeking there food, in the evening they perched in the acacias roosting över 

 night. They remained in the trees till the sim was well up. North of Guaso Nyiri they 

 were principally found near rocky places. 



These Guinea-fowl belong evidently to the N. ptilorhyncha-growp in consequence 

 of the rich development of coarse bristles above the nostrils. As belonging to this group 

 have, however, quite a number of subspecies has been described, and, I regret to say, the 

 descriptions are rather scanty and unsatisf actory. For the purpose of making out to which 

 race the specimens of this collection belong I have prepared the accompanying table in 

 which the characteristics have been compiled from the writings of the different authors. 



