126 EINAR LÖNNBERG, BIRDS. 



Geocichla piaggiae (Bouv.). 



Rchw. III. p. 683. 



In the primeval forest 011 the eastern slopes of Kenia T succeeded in obtaining two 

 specimens of this pretty and shy bird. 



The difference between this race and »G. gurneyi kilimensis Neum. » is very slight, 

 and to refer them to different species does not appear to be right. The colour of the pre- 

 sent specimens is not by far so lively as on the plate in Catalogue of Birds B. M. Vol. 

 V, T. XI. 



Its distribution appears rather stränge as it extends from Shoa to Kenia (and Kili- 

 manjaro) and Ruwenzori, but this is to be explained by the similarity of the mountain 

 forests in which it occurs. 



Tur dus deckeni elgonensis (Sharpe). 



Rchw. III. p. 687. 



A comparatively common bird as well in the forest at the Escarpment station as 

 in the large forests on the eastern slopes of Kenia, but I also found it in some small strips 

 of forest round the Rooruka river not very far from Nairobi. 



Bill rich orange, an orange yellow ring round the eye. 



The specimens from the different localities are very similar. With regard to the 

 colour of the upper parts there is hardly any difference worth speaking of between my 

 specimens from the localities mentioned, and such from Kilimanjaro. Of course the 

 ] ätter have a little more olive in their colouration, but on the other hand there still re- 

 mains a little olive in the brown of the back of specimens from the Kenia forest, while it 

 has completely disappeared in the specimens from Escarpment. With regard to the 

 colour of the lower parts the difference from Kilimanjaro specimens is very considerable, 

 those from Kenia and Escarpment being much more vividly coloured with a rich rusty 

 red. There can be no doubt about Turdus deckeni and T. elgonensis being geographic 

 races of the same species, and then deckeni is the older name to which the other may be 

 used in a subspecific sense. 



The distribution of this Thrush resembles that of Turacus hartlaubi. In its general 

 behaviour this Thrush reminds about a Blackbird in the forests of Northern Europé. 1 



Monticola saxatilis (L.). 

 Rchw. III, i>. 699. 



Very common almost in all places visited, which could su.it its habits. I saw it 

 the first time at a rocky place at Ju ja farm. It was numerous among the mulberry-trees 

 at Fort Hall in January. It was shot on the acacia steppe south of Guaso Nyiri, and it 

 was especially conimon in the thornbush north of that river (f. i. at Njoro, Thera etc). 



1 Not England and Gerraany where the Blackbirds are half lame! 



