114 EINAR LÖNNBERG, BIRDS. 



Mirafra hypermetra Rchw. 



Rchw. TIT, p. 346. 



This big Lark was a comparatively common occurrence on the steppe on the southern 

 side of Guaso Nyiri in open grass-covered places, but it was also found on the northern side 

 of the river mentioned. 



Iris brown, wing 111 — 114, tail 83 — 84 mm. A specimen shot 19 /3 south of Guaso 

 Nyiri is in very perfect plumage and more rufous than the others so that it might be ter med 

 the »rufous phase» while the other specimens are more apt to represent a »grey phase». 

 Both were found in the same locality and are of the same sex and size. Males with swelled 

 testicles were shot l0 U and 19 /a 1911. They often perched in the tops of bushes or small 

 trees. 



Pyrrhulauda signata Oust. 



Rchw. III, p. 368. 



On the steppe near Lekiundu river some specimens were shot among bush in a grassy 

 place 10 /2 1911. When I returned över the same steppe 6 weeks låter small flocks of 

 Pyrrhulauda were seen now and then all the way between Guaso Nyiri and Meru borna as 

 long as the road went över grass-steppe. 



As this Lark originally has been recorded from the countries at Lake Stephanie and 

 Lake Rudolph it was of great interest to find it together with other members of that 

 fauna (conf. Plocepasser donaldsoni) extending its distribution even south of Guaso Nyiri 

 towards the base of the northern foothills of Kenia. C. von Erlanger discovered it at 

 Garre Livin and along Lower Juba even to Kismayu in the east. It is evidently a member 

 of the Somali-fauna. 



Pycnonotidae. 



Phyllastrephus kikuyuensis (Sharpe). 



Rchw. III. p. 393. 



This bird was perhaps the most common species in the great unbroken forest on the 

 eastern side of Kenia, especially at a height of 2400 — 2500 m. Tt was also common in the 

 forests near Meru borna. 



Specimens shot at the end of January had the ovaries swelled, and indicating that 

 the breeding season was approaching. Iris brown. 



The same species 1 is according to Woosnam »the most plentiful bird found on Ru- 

 wenzori ». 2 This is quite an analogy to the condition on Kenia, even if there is a shade of 

 difference between the birds of the two mountains. It is also found on the mountains bet- 

 ween those mentioned, as on Mau etc. 



1 Or according to Reichenow a subspecies l'h. l\ schubotei (Vogelf. Mittelafr. Seongel>., p. 342). 

 - Träns. Zool. Soc. XIX. part 1. p. 383. 



