58 EINAR LÖNNBERG, BIRDS. 



of Nairobi). In the thornbush coimtry north of Guaso Nyiri it was more common than 

 in other places visited by me. I ne ver saw it approach a kill like Aquila rapax and the 

 Vultures. 



Haliaetus vocifer (Daud.). 



Rchw. I, p. (505. 



I did not see this beautiful Sea-Eagle except at Guaso Nyiri, where also a fine spe- 

 cimen was shot. 



Reichenow mentions a single specimen with »die kleinen Fliigeldecken schwarz; 

 Bauch, Hosen und Unterfliigeldecken wie die kiirzeren Unterschwanzdecken schwarz 

 mit rotbraunem Schimmer ». The author quoted thinks that this is a »sehr altes Tier ». ' 

 The specimen from Guaso Nyiri has the lesser wing-coverts black, edged, although not 

 very well defined, with red maroon. The greater number of the under wing coverts have 

 a similar colour, black with a reddish brown tint at the edges. On the belly and legs as 

 well as among the lesser tail coverts such feathers are mixed with lighter ones (partly 

 white-speckled) and the latter are more worn. Reichenow's opinion appears to be 

 strengthened by this fact. 



Milvus aegyptius Gm. 



Rchw. I, p. 609. 



Very common round Nairobi, at Juja farm, Punda Melia, Fort Hall, Embu borna, 

 Meru borna, on the acaciasteppe south of Guaso Nyiri as well as in the thornbush north 

 of this river. At every camping-place the yellow-billed Kite was a constant visitor ever 

 ready to swoop down and carry off anything that might appear eatable to her. It was 

 therefore very troublesome as it more than once tried to carry off small skulls and such 

 things outside the skinning tent. If a big animal was shot the Kite was the first of the 

 feathered tribe to appear on the scene, eager to get its share. It usually hovered över 

 and around the kill while the Vultures and Marabous more patiently waited at a respectf ul 

 distance. If a small piece of meat or something like that was thrown at the Kite it often 

 with great nimbleness caught it before it fell to the ground, and the bird was often seen 

 eating what it held in its talons even while flying. 



Milvus korschun (Gm.). 



Rchw. I, p. 612. 



This Kite was not by far so common as the yellow-billed. It was seen round Nairobi 

 and a specimen was shot at Juja farm on the steppe, where a Wildebeest had been killed. 



Elanus caeruleus (Desf.). 



Rchw. I, i>. 615. 



This beautiful bird was common round Nairobi and often seen sitting in solitary 

 trees in the cultivated region resting or eating. It appears to prey to great extent 



1 Vögel Afrikas Vol. I, p. 605. 



