KUNOL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDUNGAR. BAND 47. N:o 5. 89 



Concerning the colour of the upper part of the head of this species t here appcars to 

 be some uncertainty. Peters 1 when describing the type says: »S. scopa frontali rufa; 

 supra schistaceo-niger» - -and in the german description: Die Stirnbiirste - 



hinten von einigen grauen Federn begrenzt». - - Wlicn Shell k y published a coloured 

 figure in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1881 Pl. LII he showed a broad, almost pure white band 

 across the head in the interocular region. 



In my specimens the corresponding band is much darker, very dark grey as the 

 figure (Pl. Ill fig. 1) proves. 



Nilaus afer minor (Sharpe). 



Rciiw. II, p. 540. 



This bird proved to be characteristic of the fauna of the acacia-steppe south of Guaso 

 Nyiri (round Luazomela, Lekiundu etc. ), but it was also a common occurrence in the thorn- 

 bush, north of the river mentioned, where specimens were secured at Thera and other loca- 

 lities. It was usually seen in the crowns of the acacias hopping between the twigs. 



The spöts and stripes on the back of my specimens are almost pure white and agree 

 thus with Neumann's description of »Nilaus afer erlangeri». 2 If the difference in this re- 

 spect should be proved constant and characteristic of a geographic subspecies the latter 

 name ought to be used for my specimens. Specimens from Kilimanjaro have also the spöts 

 on the back pure white. 



Whatever name is used, this race belongs to the Somali-fauna but extends south- 

 wards to the Kilimanjaro district. 



Pomatorhynchus australis minor (Rchw.). 



Rchw. II, p. 547. 



At Meru borna in bush and rich vegetation among the shambas near a small rivulet 

 in a valley 2 7a 1911. 



This bird belongs to the East African fauna but has not been found so far north- 

 east before. 



Pomatorhynchus jamesi Shell. 



Rchw. II, p. 551. 



When stalking big game in the thornbush at Njoro and other places north of Guaso 

 Nyiri this bird, so easily recognized on its three stripes över the head, was seen now and 

 then slipping away through the bushes, and finally I had the opportunity of shooting a 

 male specimen l2 lz. The middle stripe on the head appears to be differently developed 

 in different specimens, sometimes it is partly broken up. Iris dark brown. Length of 

 wing 72 mm. 



This bird is to be regarded as a member of the Somali fauna. 



1 Journ. f. Ornith. Jahrg. 1854, p. 422. 



2 Ibid. 1907, p. 363. 



K. Sv. Vet. Akad. Handl. Band 47. N:o 5. 12 



