PREFACE 
On many occasioiH we have been asked, “How many birds are there in tliis 
country.” or “how iuany species of a certain genus”. The answers have no’t 
always been easj’. 
On going into the matter it occured to us that a Check last of the liirds of 
Uganda and East Africa would be a great help to those making a study of, or 
collecting birds in this country. 
With the literature at our disposal it was soon obVious that a list couipileil 
in this country must of necessity be incomplete and contain a certain number 
of doubtful species, the verification of which woulil mean endless research. 
It must be understood therefor that the list given is purely provisional and 
is submitted in the hope that it may be found of some use to those interested in 
the Ornithology of the two Protectorates. 
'I'liere are no books dealing entirely with the birds of the two countries 
and we have had to rely, in the main, on information gathered from Reichenow’s 
Vogel Afrikas, and Shelley’s “Birds of Africa,” the latter far from complete. 
Other papers and publications have been consulted such as “The Ibis,” 
Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Proceedings of the United States Natural 
History Museum, etc. etc. 
The arrangement followed is that of Shelley in his “Birds of Africa,” Vol, 1, 
while in many cases the nomenclature is that of Reichenow. 
The list deals with those species found in the area between 4% north lat. 
and the present East Africa — German East Africa border, bonndeil on the wesi 
by the Uganda-Congo border and the Western shore of Victoria Nyanza, and on 
- the east by the Indian Ocean. [Somaliland excepted.] 
Owing to official duties it was found very difficult to correct proofs 
accurately, and as the work has been in the hands of the Printers for almost 
a year, many of the more recently described species have been omitted. 
Corrections and additions will be found in the Appendix. 
The Authors trust that this attempt to bring together in one volume all the 
names >f the hitherto recognised species or subspecies of birds to be found in the 
two Protectorates, will induce some one, more able, to publish a more complete 
work, giving not only the names but also descriptions and habits of every 
species. 
Our thanks are due to Sir Frederick Jackson, for kind encouragement 
while the work was in process of compilation and with him, also to Ma.ior 
Meinertzhagen and A. B. Percival Esq., for financial aid towards the cost of 
production. 
Nairobi, 
November 1917. 
V. G. L. VAN SOMEREN. 
R. A. L. VAN SOMEREN. 
