70 EINAR LÖNNBERG, BIRDS. 



It was very stränge to observe how the splendid colours of this bird in certain lights 

 completely disappear so that a Roller of this kind when sitting motionless on a dry branch 

 of a tree may be quite difficult to see, even if it is within range for a shotgun. 



Iris brown or greyish brown. 



Coracias naevia Daud. 



Rchw. II, p. 225. 



One specimen shot in a doum-palm at the dry river bed at Njoro was the only speci- 

 men seen on that side of Guaso Nyiri but another had been shot before 10 /i in a dry tree 

 at Escarpment station, and one was seen at the upper Luazomela river 1500 ni. above 

 the sea. 



The specimen from Njoro had alength of wing amounting to 171 mm. The same 

 measurement in the specimen from Escarpment station is nearly 180 mm. but there is no 

 lilac in the colour of the head, and under parts, and it cannot be counted to the subspecies 

 C. n. sharpei for that reason. 



Eurystomus afer suahelicus Neum. 



Rchw. II, p. 825. 



On the way between Meru borna and Luazomela river a specimen which may be 

 correctly referred to this race was shot Va in a high tree which had been allowed to remain 

 in the shamba as a last rest of the forest. This specimen had the bill deformed. It was 

 the only one seen by the present author, and thus probably a rare bird in the country in 

 which I had the opportunity of studying the fauna. 



In a certain respect this specimen may be regarded as intermediate between E. afer 

 and E. a. suahelicus, because the middle, small tail coverts are mixed blue and brown, 

 being brown at the tips. 



Iris brown. Length of wing 174 mm. 



Bucerotidae. 



Bycanistes cristatus (Rupp.). 



Rchw. II, p. 240. 



The first place where I had any opportunity of observing this bird was at Mc Naugh- 

 tons farm outside Nairobi. It was found there in some large patches of dense forest with 

 partly high trees which as a rule were selected by these Hornbills for meeting places. When 

 two or three came together they made an awful croaking noise. When they should travel 

 any distance, as from one forest to another across an open piece of land they flew with 

 heavy strokes of wings (now and then soaring at little bit). They reminded one then a 

 little of Cormorants, when seen at a distance and in such a position that the big bill and 

 long tail could not be distinguished. 



