Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 
253 
At p. 290, Grant rejects my name of Rhinopomastus cyanomelas 
intermedins in the following terms : — ££ Since writing the above I have seen 
Roberts’ description in the Annals of the Transvaal Museum , Yol. IV, 
p. 171, of Rhinopomastus cyanomelas intermedins, the type locality being 
given as Koedoes River, Zoutpansberg District, north-eastern Transvaal. 
The characters on which it is founded are the length of the tail, i.e. 
AS 165-155, $$ 146-136 mm., and £ less white on the tail feathers.’ 
££ Another careful examination of the large series in the British 
Museum Collection shows that the white on the tail, though constantly 
greater in R. c. schalowi when compared with specimens of R. c. cyanomelas, 
varies quite considerably individually and, moreover, in series from the 
same districts, as is exemplified in British East African and Uganda 
specimens. 
££ The measurements of the tails gave the following results : Manda 
Island, '(£.148 mm. ; Uganda, A 165-147, $ 171-151 mm. ; British East 
Africa, A 176-163, $ 156-137 mm. ; German East Africa, A 166, $ 151 mm. ; 
North-Eastern Rhodesia, A 175-174 mm. ; Nyasaland, A 185-172, $ 163 mm.; 
Portuguese East Africa, A 183-168, $ 158-146 mm. ; Lower Zambesi, 
A 175-168, $ 167 mm. ; Eastern Matabeleland, A 167-146, -§ 164-161 mm. ; 
Mashonaland, A 187-162, $ 167 mm. ; Eastern Transvaal (low country), 
$ 144 mm. 
“ Neumann, Journ. fur Orn. op. cit., gives the measurements of the 
tail of four specimens from German East Africa : A A 205 and 180, $$ 175 
and 168. 
££ The above list shows not only that great individual latitude must 
be allowed, but that Roberts’ measurements are very closely matched 
in birds from German East Africa and are actually equalled by those from 
Uganda, thus compelling me to place his name as a synonym.” 
While I admit that a certain amount of latitude must be allowed, 
as indeed the figures I gave will show, yet there must be something wrong 
in the measurements quoted by Grant for specimens from Uganda and 
eastern Matabeleland, where it will be seen in the case of the former that 
the $$ are on the average larger than the AS and in the latter approximately 
the same. He seems to have made no allowance for errors in sexing, for 
the condition of the tail feathers, nor for the exact localities from which 
the specimens were obtained. I have already pointed out the necessity 
for closely observing these points, and it is not necessary to repeat them. 
I may point out, however, that the female specimen from near the type 
locality of R. c. intermedins which he records, falls within the minimum 
and maximum figures for the sex which I gave. Rhinopomastus cyanomelas 
intermedins, it will be seen on consulting the table of measurements given 
hereafter, is a distinct link between the typical and East African races. 
Specimens we have from German East Africa and Boror agree with 
Neumann’s figures, and for this reason, and on comparison of the series 
in the collection with these specimens, I came to the conclusion (which 
I still see no reason to alter) that the specimens from the low country of 
the eastern Transvaal should be named. 
