KUNGL. SV. VET. AKADEMIENS HANDLINGAR, BAND 47. vo 5. I 19 



Cinnyris mediocris Shell. 

 I.Viiw. [II, p. 190. 



At an open place in the forest 011 the Kenia mountain at an altitude of 2700 m. above 

 the sea specimens of this kind, were swarming around some large (2 — 3 m. ) plants of the 

 farnily Labiatce (Leonotis?) witli orange yellow blossoms. A female specimen shot at 

 the same place and at the same time as a male of this species is olive brown above, rump 

 washed with olive yellow, feathers of the wing edged with dull olive green, under wing 

 coverts whitish washed with yellow, lower parts dull olive yellow. 



This Sunbird was also found around the Escarpment station in bush. 



It has a distribution which broadly speaking reminds about that of Turacus harl- 

 laubi, although it may be more locally defined within the whole area to suitable places 

 at high altitudes, and in the forests. 



Cinnyris reichenowi Sharpe. 



Rciiw. III, p. 490. 



Common near Meru borna, where it was found at the edge of the forest and along 

 roads cut through the forest. 



One of the males shot 31 /i 1911 had swelled testicles. 



Reichenow regards this species to belong to the »Mittelafrikanische Seengebiet». 

 The locality, where I found it, extends its area of distribution in north-eastern direction, 

 but this place is most probably at the extreme boundary-line. The discovery of this 

 species on the north-eastern side of Kenia proves its distribution, Ruwenzori — Kenia to 

 be similar to that of several other birds. And if Ogilvie Grant's supposition, that 

 the West African Cinnyris preussi is perhaps identical, or at least very closely related to 

 C. reichenowi, proves true, we find another offshoot of the West African forest -fauna ex- 

 tending all the way to Kenia. 



Nectarinia kilimensis Shell. 



Rchw. III. p. 502. 



Common around Nairobi in suitable localities. The 6th of January a male specimen 

 was shot which was in moult, but nevertheless had swelled testicles. An immature 

 male shot the 2d of January had the lower side washed with yellow. It was also common 

 at Punda Melia, around Fort Hall, Kutu, Embu borna. Meru borna etc. In the end of 

 March they were usually found in the Kikuyu country round a tree (Erytlirina), which 

 at that season displayed its scarlet flowers on leafless branches. Some of the males had 

 swelled testicles then. 



A young (much damaged by the shot) had just begun to assume the bronzy feathers, 

 on the foreneck and breast 31 /3. 



The discovery of this Sunbird as far west as in the Semliki valley, and at Ruwenzori, 1 

 at Lake Kiwu, and in Ruanda etc. 2 has proved that it belongs to the fauna of the Central 

 African Lake district. 



' Träns. Zool. Soc. XIX, part 4, p. 317. 



- Heichenow: Vogelfauna Mittelafr. Seengeb., p. 353. 



